Important notice regarding immediate software maintenance required for your Hypatia Model 308 or 309 High Current Sourcing Milliohm Meter.

Last update: 26 July 2002 (Previous: 14 February 2001)

A flaw in earlier versions of the internal Operating Software which controls your Model 308 or 309 High Current Sourcing Milliohm Meter can, under certain circumstances, cause test current reading errors which exceed specified tolerances. This flaw can be quickly and easily corrected on your site by simply installing the latest version of the Operating Software, free on this web site, using a PC and one of the network cables provided with your instrument or later in a separate shipment. Please install the latest version of the Operating Software for your instrument immediately - preferably before the instrument is used for any further safety tests. Installation of the Operating Software does not alter calibration data and thus does not change your instrument's underlying accuracy nor invalidate your instrument's certification. This is a software installation only - no hardware modifications or access are involved.

Details:

Some Model 308 or 309 Operating Software versions prior to x.58 harbor an algorithm flaw which can, under certain circumstances, yield test current readings which are out of tolerance. Inaccuracies of as much as 2% have been observed. Impedance readings are not affected - they remain accurate. The current Operating Software version is x.65 or later (click here for the latest version). If you are running any earlier version, you should install the latest version promptly. If you are running any version lower than x.58, you should install the latest version before using your instrument for any further safety testing.

The current versions of the Operating Software can be downloaded free from this web site. You will also need to download the latest version of the Model 309 Utility, a self contained executable Windows application, which provides a very fast and very easy means to install the Operating Software (as well as many other functions). It's also free on this web site.

If you have your network cable handy, your first Operating Software installation may require very roughly twenty minutes as follows: About five minutes to download and unzip the required software, about two minutes to connect the network cable from your computer to the Model 308 or 309, about three minutes to perform the installation from the Model 309 Utility, and about ten minutes of overall familiarization time.

The Model 309 Utility is a self contained executable Windows application. Simply download it from our web site, unzip it (decompression), place it in any convenient volume (such as a hard drive), and double click it to run it. The Operating Software is a self contained image file. Simply download it from our web site, unzip it (decompression), and place it in any convenient volume (such as a hard drive). You'll access the Operating Software file from the Model 309 Utility application. No other files are needed, and no PC oriented installation process is required.

Installation of the Operating Software does not alter calibration data and does not change your instrument's underlying accuracy nor invalidate your instrument's annual or semiannual certification.

However, the calibration procedure for the Model 308 and 309, posted on this web site, absolutely requires installation of the latest version of the Operating Software before calibration or verification is performed. If your calibration lab or calibration service agency failed to install the latest Operating Software during your instrument's last service, please notify them and ask that they rework your instrument and that they update their procedure promptly.

A full set of network cables and adapters has been delivered to all customers either with their original instrument shipment or by a later shipment, or in combination. If you've misplaced your network cables or desire additional sets, you may email us with your instrument's serial number, your shipping name and address, your invoice address, and a purchase order number for a replacement set(s) shipped promptly via Priority Mail for $13 total per set. A set of network cables includes one each of the following: A Mini DIN-8 to Mini DIN-8 Macintosh hardware handshake AppleTalk serial cable, a Mini DIN-8 to DB-25M hardware handshake serial network cable for PCs (also known as a "Mac to modem" cable), a DB-25F to DB-25F adapter (gender changer), and a DB-25M to DB-9F adapter. You can also acquire these items from local sources. This set should provide everything you need to network to either a Macintosh or a PC.

You should be able to install the current Operating Software for your Model 308 or 309 quickly and easily. But if you have questions or encounter any problems, please advise me, preferably by email, at the address below.

Click here to go to the quick Operating Software installation guide.

Hypatia Inc. Contact Information ucecage@Hypatia.com. Report mail misconduct to uce@ftc.gov.