Model 6487 Firmware Upgrade Notice for KE6485 IVI/VISA Instrument 
Driver Support and ExceLINX (ELNX-852C02),A Microsoft Excel Add-In
Supporting Keithley 6485, 6487 and 6514 Meters.

4/02/2003


Introduction

The Model 6487 requires firmware revision A02 to work properly 
with the KE6485 IVI/VISA Instrument Driver and ExceLINX (ELNX-852C02),  
If your instrument's firmware revision is lower than A02, 
a firmware upgrade is required. This upgrade can also be used for 
those who wish to have the latest  firmware enhancements and 
upgrades installed on their instrument.

Step 1.  Determine the firmware revision of your Model 6487

	The firmware revision is briefly displayed during the power-on
	sequence of the instrument.  When the instrument's power is
	turned on, all display annunciators will be illuminated for a
	short period.  Then
	the firmware revision is displayed briefly as follows:

		6487: yyy 

		where: 
		yyy is the firmware revision (e.g. A01) of your
		Model 6487.
        	

	To determine the firmware revision with remote control, use
	the *IDN? query command.  After sending the *IDN? command and
	addressing the instrument to talk, the following response is
	sent to the computer:

	KEITHLEY INSTRUMENTS INC., MODEL 6487, xxxxxxx, yyy/zzz

	Where: xxxxxxx is the serial number, yyy is the firmware
	revision, and zzz is the display firmware revision.

Step 2.  Determine next action

	Based on the firmware revision of your Model 6487, choose the
	appropriate course of action:

		If the firmware revision is A02 or higher, an upgrade
		is not required to use the KE6485 IVI/VISA Instrument 
		Driver and ExceLINX (ELNX-852C02) with your
		instrument.

		If the firmware revision is A01, an upgrade is
		required.  Proceed to step 3 to perform the upgrade.


Step 3.  Upgrade firmware

	To perform the firmware upgrade, a personal computer connected
	to your 6487 is required.  The PC must be at least Pentium
	class running Windows 98 or later.

        The firmware can be installed via the IEEE-488 bus or
        the RS-232 interface:

        IEEE-488 Bus - If using the IEEE488 bus, a Keithley, CEC, or
        National Instruments IEEE-488.2 interface board must be
        installed in the PC.  Use an IEEE488.2 cable to connect the
        interface board to the Model 6487 mainframe.

        RS-232 interface - If using the RS-232 port, use an RS-232C
        cable to connect the communications port to the Model 6487.
	When using RS-232 interface, the RS-232 cable must be a 
	straight-through cable, not a null modem cable.	

	Perform the following steps:

		Download the 6487 A02 Firmware upgrade.exe file from
		the Keithley Web site, www.keithley.com to a temporary
		directory on your PC.

		From Windows, click Start>>Run>>Browse.

		From the dialog box, navigate to the temporary
		directory and select the 6487 A02 Firmware upgrade.exe
		file. Click OK or Open. This will unpack the files
		required to install the flash upgrade utility.

		From Windows, click Start>>Run>>Browse.

		From the dialog box, navigate to the temporary
		directory and select the Setup.exe file. Click
		OK or Open.

		Follow all the prompted instructions to install the
		upgrade utility.

		From Windows, click Start>>Programs>>Keithley
		Instruments>>Model 6487 Flash Upgrade A02, and
		follow all prompted instructions.

Known Issues:
When using RS-232 interface, The user may get a timeout error 
at 99% (after instrument resets):
"Timeout Error: Error In Programming Model 6487!".
This error could be safely ignored.

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End of 6487 A02 Firmware Upgrade.txt