Neurobit Firmware Loader 6

© Copyright by Neurobit Systems 2005-2026
http://www.neurobitsystems.com

This software application enables to upload firmware to Neurobit devices. It is also possible to read out information about the hardware and firmware from the device. Wireless (Bluetooth®) or USB communication with the equipment is used. The application is available for:

• Microsoft® Windows® system versions 11/10/8.1 (use Neurobit Recorder 5.x),
• macOS® systems for Apple® Silicon (Mx processors),
• Android™ tablets with ARM64 processor (10" or larger tablet is recommended).

Prerequisites

• Neurobit Optima[+] USB devices
  

  • Windows

    Required accessories:
    • USB cable with full size v. 2.0 type A plug or (depending on computer ports) type C plug on one end and micro B plug on the other end (the same as for some cell phone chargers).

    Neurobit Loader is typically installed with an application supporting Neurobit devices. Alternatively you can install Neurobit Recorder freeware containing the loader.

    If not already done: Install driver software for USB chip by FTDI, as described in the device quick start guide. Connect Neurobit device to the computer. The computer should detect the device and install necessary USB driver.

  • macOS

    Required accessories:
    • USB cable with type C plug (or full size type A plug with A to C converter) on one end and micro B plug on the other end (the same as for some cell phone chargers).

    Download and install Neurobit Loader.

    Connect Neurobit device to the computer. Allow USB device to connect, when the system asks.

  • Android

    Required accessories:
    • USB cable with type C or full size v. 2.0 type A plug on one end and micro B plug on the other end.
    • OTG USB adapter with type C plug on one end and USB socket compatible with the USB cable on the other end.

    Download and install Neurobit Loader. Note: This may require you to enable permissions to install unknown apps.

    Connect the OTG adapter to the tablet. Connect the USB cable to the adapter and Neurobit device.

• Neurobit Optima[+] BLE devices

  Windows 10 or newer / macOS for Apple Silicon / Android 6.0 or newer is required. Bluetooth® ver. 4.2 or higher communication hardware (built-in into a computer/tablet or as a USB adapter for computer) is necessary. To install Bluetooth adapter follow Neurobit Optima Quick Start Guide.

  Neurobit Optima device should be set in wireless communication range (usually a few meters). Before the first use a BLE device should be paired with your Windows computer. On macOS the pairing occurs on the go (on the 1st connection attempt). On Android you can pair in advance or on the go. The pairing code for Neurobit Optima[+] is 000000.

• Neurobit Optima[+] BT and older Neurobit Optima (without link type suffix) devices

  They work with Windows (including installations on Mac) and Android, but not with macOS. Bluetooth ver. 2.0 or higher communication port (built-in into a computer/tablet or as a USB adapter for computer) is required. To install Bluetooth adapter follow Neurobit Optima Quick Start Guide.

  Neurobit Optima device should be set in wireless communication range (usually a few meters). Before the first use a BT device should be paired with your Windows computer. On Android you can pair in advance or on the go (on the 1st connection attempt). The pairing code for Neurobit Optima[+] is 0000.

Parameters

• Firmware file - filename of binary file of firmware version selected to upload.
• Access key - a key string entitling you to a specific update. If a given firmware is made generally available, this field can remain empty.
• Link type - type of link used for communication with Neurobit device.
• Device id - Identifier of a Neurobit device. It can be:
  • general description of a communication module:
    • "Neurobit Optima*" - for Neurobit Optima+ and Neurobit Optima USB/BLE/BT,
    • "Serial Port Device" - for older Neurobit Optima (without link type suffix in the name),
  • Bluetooth address or
  • USB module serial number.
  If you have only one turned on Neurobit device paired with your computer or connected to it via USB, you can use the mentioned generalized identifier in this field.

Buttons

• Browse - opens a window enabling selection of a specific version firmware file,
• Check - reads out hardware and firmware information from the device,
• Upload - uploads a firmware to the device,
• Help - displays this help for the loader application,
• Exit - closes the loader application.

Device info

This information appears after connection to a device:

• Hardware - device model and serial number,
• Transceiver id - communication module identifier, i.e.:
  • Bluetooth address or
  • USB serial number,
• Bootloader - name and version of bootloader program residing in the device,
• Old firmware - name and version of previous firmware,
• New firmware - name and version of just uploaded firmware.

Update procedure

Typical firmware update

1. Download the latest firmware binary:

   • Neurobit Optima+ models and Neurobit Optima USB/BLE/BT devices,
   • older Neurobit Optima 2 / 4 models (without link type suffix),

2. Run the loader:

   • in your neuro/biofeedback application supporting Neurobit devices or in Neurobit Recorder open Neurobit device settings window and click/tap the Device services button on the General tab.
     NOTE: Not all interoperating applications give access to Neurobit settings window. Alternatively:
   • On Windows start NeurobitServ.exe program, if included in a (sub)folder of your application supporting Neurobit devices.
   • On macOS start "Neurobit Loader" application from Applications folder.
   • On Android start "Neurobit Loader" application from Android desktop.

3. Click Browse to select downloaded firmware file and choose Link type used by your Neurobit device. (If necessary, write down the Device id.)

4. Turn on Neurobit device (and wait for its beep signal).

5. Click Upload button of the application. Information about the hardware and its firmware is displayed. The bar at the bottom of the window indicates firmware transmission progress. The upload usually takes less than a dozen seconds for Bluetooth and USB.

6. After successful transmission the new firmware is automatically launched. It is signalled with a beep.

7. You can now turn off the device and close the loader application.

Remarks

• If there are several Neurobit Optima[+] devices paired with / connected to your computer, we recommend to turn off all of them but the one intended for firmware update.
  (Otherwise the updated device should be unambiguously identified with its transceiver identifier set in the Device id.)

• If a firmware transmission failed for any reason (like loss of connection between the devices or heavy load of processor), try to upload the firmware again.

• If you plan to use several Neurobit devices (having the same link type) with the same computer concurrently, you need to identify each device unambiguously with its transceiver identifier. (Note: This is not possible for BLE models on macOS.) To be able to do so follow the procedure at the beginning:

  1. Run the Neurobit Loader application (directly or using the Device services button on the General tab of the device settings window).
  2. Set suitable Link type. In the Device id field leave (or enter) the general identifier "Neurobit Optima*".
  3. Turn on only one Neurobit device (it should be paired with your computer or connected to it via USB at first).
  4. Click the Check button.
  5. When an identifier appears in the Transceiver id field, write it on a label and stick it to the device.
  6. Turn off the device.
  7. Repeat points 3-6 for each other Neurobit device.

  From now on you can use these identifiers to specify, which device piece will be used in a given instance.

• You can also consult the chapter "Firmware update" of device instruction manual.