Firmware Tools

The Firmware Tools menu displays commands available for managing the device's register firmware and modem firmware.

High speed mode firmware download takes about 15 minutes to transfer a firmware image file from the user's mobile device (laptop/taplet) to the target endpoint. If the endpoint does not support high speed mode, then the firmware download task may take 40-60 minutes. The following chart lists the firmware version required in each endpoint type that supports the high speed mode.

High speed mode firmware download requires an Itron Mobile Radio (IMR) with the proper hardware that supports high speed mode. Not all IMRs are high speed mode compatible.

  • IMR-0902-003 Rev 013

  • The new IMR has a gray label (instead of black)

Endpoint and firmware versions supported:

Device

Firmware version
Riva 500G, Riva 500W, Riva Intelis Riva Large Star firmware - 7.0.0.0 and higher
Gen5 500G, Gen5 500W, Gen5 Intelis 500S-INS release 3 firmware - 12.1.0.0 and higher
Riva Intelis 250/425 All versions
Gen5 Intelis 250/425 All versions
Riva Cellular 500G, Riva Cellular 500W All versions
Gen5 Cellular 500G, Gen5 Cellular 500W All versions
SBAP All versions

Firmware Tools are available in both Mobile (requires signed authorization) and Network modes for these devices when using Field Tools from Windows:

  • Itron Cellular Gen5 500G and 500W

  • OpenWay Riva Cellular 500G and 500W

  • OpenWay Riva 500G and 500W

  • Gen5 500G and 500W

  • All Intelis gas meters

  • SBAP

Note: The firmware tools do not offer firmware management for the module's cellular modem or the meter's encoder.

Whether updating the register firmware or modem firmware, use the Firmware Tools commands in the following order:

  1. Start FWDL. This command transfers a new firmware image packaged as a .zip file from your mobile device to the endpoint. Start FWDL typically takes 45-60 minutes to complete. Expect 15 minutes if the endpoint firmware and IMR support high speed mode firmware download. See About high speed firmware download.

  2. Check FWDL Status. After Start FWDL completes, perform this command to double-check that the firmware image package download completed successfully.

  3. Activate FWDL. After you've confirmed the successful download of the new firmware image, perform Activate FWDL to remove the old firmware image and start the new firmware image running.

  4. Check Firmware Versions. After the Activate FWDL workflow completes, you can use this command to confirm that your new (register) firmware version is the active one on the meter. Use this command any time necessary to view the meter's currently running firmware versions, including its register firmware, cellular modem firmware, and encoder firmware (for meters with encoded type registers only).

  5. Conversion Check. Determine whether the endpoint successfully switched from the OpenWay Riva network to the Gen5 Riva network after applying the necessary firmware upgrade for network type conversion.

Note: Other than Conversion Check, these commands are only operational in the Windows version of the Field Tools app. The Bluetooth connection used by Android and Apple devices is easily interrupted, causing the operation to fail.

  • Use a laptop or tablet.

  • Connect to the IMR using a USB cable.

  • Use the IMR to perform the firmware tasks.

Exception: The SBAP can also perform Check FWDL Status and Check Firmware Versions on Android and Apple devices.