Upgrading Modem Firmware

There are several options for upgrading the firmware on the modem inside your 63xx-series cellular extender.  Users can upgrade the firmware on this modem either through the Accelerated View portal or the local web UI of the 63xx-series device, depending on the level of access and network connectivity the device has and how the user has chosen to manage their devices.

OTA Update using Accelerated View

Upgrading the modem firmware using either of the options below requires the device to be online and in sync with Accelerated View.

Option 1 - OTA command

If the 63xx-series router is on firmware version 17.8.128 or higher, users can send the Update Modem Firmware command from Accelerated View. Details on how to send a remote command from Accelerated View to a 63xx-series router can be found here.

This command will trigger the 63xx-series router to query the Accelerated firmware server.  If a newer modem firmware version is found for the current carrier-specific firmware used on the modem in the 63xx-series router, the 63xx-series router will automatically download the new firmware and flash it onto the modem.

If no new firmware is found, the 63xx-series router will send an event to Accelerated View stating that the modem firmware is up to date.

Option 2 - Scheduled OTA check/update

If the 63xx-series router is on firmware version 17.8.128 or higher, users can configure the router to check for modem firmware updates at a scheduled interval.  This option is found under the System -> Scheduled tasks -> System maintenance section of the 63xx-series router's configuration profile.  Details on configuring your 63xx-series router using Accelerated View can be found here.

Once the Modem firmware update scheduled task is enabled, the 63xx-series router will query the Accelerated firmware server at the specified timeframe.  If a newer modem firmware version is found for the current carrier-specific firmware used on the modem in the 63xx-series router, the 63xx-series router will automatically download the new firmware and flash it onto the modem.

Manual Upgrade using the Local Web UI

Upgrading the modem firmware using any of the following options requires the user to directly access the web UI of the 63xx-series device.

Option 1 - Select from pre-loaded firmware list

The Category 3 series of cellular modems have smaller firmwares that our 63xx-series routers have pre-loaded inside their flash memory.  Users can update the modem in their 63xx-series router to one of these pre-loaded firmwares using the following steps:

  1. Login to the web UI of the 63xx-series router.
  2. Click on the System link on the left navigation bar of the site.
  3. Under the Modem firmware section of the page, click the drop-down next to Install Modem Firmware Version and select the desired carrier firmware.
  4. Click Install Firmware.  A progress bar will appear indicating the status of the modem's firmware upgrade.  Once the upgrade completes, the 63xx-series router will automatically reconnect to the cellular network.
Option 2 - Query Firmware Server

If the desired modem firmware version is not listed in the pre-loaded firmware drop-down mentioned in option 1 above, users can query the Accelerated firmware server for additional firmwares for the modem inside the 63xx-seris router.

Note, your 63xx-series router must be online and have access to the Accelerated firmware.accns.com server in order for this query to work.  As part of this process, the 63xx-series router will download the new firmware file over the Internet (approximately 30-60MB) and onto the device.

To perform this query and upgrade the firmware on the modem:

  1. Click on the Query Firmware Server button.  
  2. Once the query completes, the drop-down will list the available remote firmware versions.
  3. Select the desired firmware version from the list
  4. Click the Install Firmware button.  A progress bar will appear indicating the status of the modem's firmware upgrade.  Once the upgrade completes, the 63xx-series router will automatically reconnect to the cellular network.
Option 3 - Manual Firmware Upload

Some vendors supply direct firmware images for their cellular modems.  If you have a specific firmware file you would like to apply to the modem, you can use the Upload Modem Firmware section on the 63xx-series router's System web UI page to upload the firmware onto the modem.  To manually upload a firmware file onto the modem inside a 63xx-series router:

  1. Select the Choose File button under the Upload Modem Firmware section.
  2. Select the desired firmware file from your file system.
  3. Click Upload & Install Firmware.  A progress bar will appear indicating the status of the modem's firmware upgrade.  Once the upgrade completes, the 63xx-series router will automatically reconnect to the cellular network.