The upgrade process is described in detail in the PB‑3 manual. Basically, it involves connecting the PB‑3 to a PC using a USB cable and then running a utility program (lpc21isp) on the PC to download the new firmware to the PB‑3.
Windows Users: To make the upgrade process a little easier, an updater program that contains both the firmware and the utility needed to program the PB-3 is available for recent releases. Simply download the zip file containing the updater exe, unzip it and double-click on the exe. A window will appear and in there you need to enter the name of the comm port that appeared when the PB-3 was connected to the USB cable.
Binary versions of lpc21isp are available for Linux or Windows.
On Windows systems, you also need to install the VCP (Virtual Comm Port) driver from FDTI.
Please contact support@smartavionics.com if you have any queries regarding upgrading the PB‑3 firmware.
The table below shows the PB‑3 firmware updates available. Later revisions will always have a higher revision number but the numbers are not necessarily consecutive. The column labelled Importance provides (on a scale of 1 to 3) an indication of how important it is to upgrade from an earlier revision to the new revision. The grades are as follows:
Later versions of the firmware contain all of the changes from the earlier versions so, you only need to install the latest version to get all the fixes/improvements listed below.
| Revision | Date | Importance | Description of Changes | Firmware |
| 2.2 | 23/12/2013 | 1 | One small change: the minimum recognised RPM in rotor mode has been reduced to 90 from 180. This just makes the app respond
a little quicker as the rotor speeds up. If you use this firmware you must upgrade the app to at least version 2.1. Windows Updater: PB-3 Firmware Updater-2.2.zip |
pb3-2.2.hex |
| 2.1 | 28/11/2013 | 3 | Major release that contains miscellaneous bug fixes and performance improvements. If you use this firmware you must upgrade the app to at least version 2.1. |
pb3-2.1.hex |
| 1.16 | 09/10/2013 | 1 | The fix in 1.15 wasn't applicable for all PB-3s. This version fixes the problem for any PB-3. You only need this
update if your Android device (most likely made by Samsung) refuses to pair with the PB-3. If you use this firmware you must upgrade the app to at least version 1.22. |
pb3-1.16.hex |
| 1.15 | 17/07/2013 | 1 | Changed Bluetooth Class of Device (CoD) to 0x100 to work around problem of some Samsung devices refusing to
pair with the PB-3 - otherwise, should behave the same as the last release. If you use this firmware you must upgrade the app to at least version 1.22. |
pb3-1.15.hex |
| 1.14 | 05/02/2013 | 1 | Further build software updates + misc other fixes - should behave the same as the last release. If you use this firmware you must upgrade the app to at least version 1.22. Windows Updater: PB-3 Firmware Updater-1.14.zip |
pb3-1.14.hex |
| 1.13 | 09/11/2012 | 1 | Upgraded build software (compiler & libraries) - should behave the same as the last release. If you use this firmware you must upgrade the app to at least version 1.22. |
pb3-1.13.hex |
| 1.12 | 10/10/2012 | 2 | Improved accuracy and stability of the polar point data. Improved accuracy and stability of the spectrum display. If you use this firmware you must upgrade the app to at least version 1.22. |
pb3-1.12.hex |
| 1.11 | 27/09/2012 | 2 | Fixed regression introduced in 1.7 that caused excessive PB-3 battery drain after leaving app when the engine was switched off. If you use this firmware you must upgrade the app to at least version 1.22. |
pb3-1.11.hex |
| 1.10 | 13/09/2012 | 1 | Spectrum velocities are now rounded to nearest 10 mIPS (were rounded down). Misc other minor tweaks. If you use this firmware you must upgrade the app to at least version 1.22. |
pb3-1.10.hex |
| 1.9 | 14/06/2012 | 1 | Can now reduce the power consumed by the internal tacho when the reflection from the tape is sufficiently bright. If you use this firmware you must upgrade the app to at least version 1.21. |
pb3-1.9.hex |
| 1.8 | 19/03/2012 | 1 | Bluetooth name now includes BT address. Fixed bug that would show the battery as having 100% charge when in fact it was empty! If you use this firmware you must upgrade the app to at least version 1.18. |
pb3-1.8.hex |
| 1.7 | 31/01/2012 | 1 | Removed spurious low-frequency spectral lines that could occur when using the Flat Top window. Fixed problem that could occur when switching between internal and external tachos. |
pb3-1.7.hex |
| 1.6 | 31/12/2011 | 2 | Fix ancient bug in calculation of RPM, IPS and DEG error values. | pb3-1.6.hex |
| 1.5 | 14/12/2011 | 2 | Can now source polar data from either the time domain or the frequency domain. Improved accuracy of time domain polar data. |
pb3-1.5.hex |
| 1.4 | 20/10/2011 | 1 | Improved battery level calculation. | pb3-1.4.hex |
| 1.3 | 11/10/2011 | 2 | Added min tacho pulses parameter and reworked filtering. | pb3-1.3.hex |
| 1.2 | 18/07/2011 | 2 | Added FFT window functions + sundry other improvements. | pb3-1.2.hex |
Copyright 2013 Smart Avionics Ltd.