Multi-stage Firmware Update for older CP540

Please contact us direct and we will review this with you. Please have your CP 540 serial number handy as well.

I’ve reached out to Tag Heuer directly and they’ve referred me to their Canadian representative. I’m presently in conversation with them to sort it out. 

Thanks. 

How is your situation going?

No change. Still waiting for files/update from supplier. 

I'm in the same situation. I have a CP540 S/N 1162 which has V.B-05 firmware, and can't be updated by the latest firmware programmer.

(Using Firmware Manager VA-10 and firmware file Ve07, it reports ""File not supported by Device Bootloader Version- Press OK")

I'm in Australia.

Do I have to chase up a local supplier?

I sent an email directly to Tag-Heuer through their web form and they replied with the authorized dealer in my area. The reply email was from info@tagheuer-timing.com

The dealer was going to assemble all the required files and forward them to us, however we opted to send the unit to them so they could do the update. 

Hope this helps. 

Thanks for the reply. I also sent an enquiry via their web form, and just received a boiler plate reply saying:

"Many thanks for your confidence.
You want to get more informations about our Timekeeping Solutions"

and then parroted my question back to me. Nothing more.

I'm still surprised that the required files are so hard to locate. There seems to have been a determined effort to obliterate every old version of the firmware from the web.

Yes they followed up after the boiler plate with the local rep info. Like you, I find it hard to believe that the files aren’t readily available for download. 

Good luck!

ok, one step forwards, two steps back.

I received an email from Olivier GREBER at Tag-Heuer, with a copy of VC02 firmware and a bootloader update program.

You're meant to install VC02, then update the bootloader, then you can install the latest firmware.

However, after installing VC02, the CP540 won't switch on, so I can't do the second step. I can run the firmware updater again, and it will install VC02 again, so the bootloader part is still operating. The hardware RESET button hasn't helped either.

I've emailed back to Olivier, and hoping he has some more ideas.

You tried the reset button kickstarter but I don't know if you did it the way we have had success.

Run the updater with the unit off

Attempt to start the timer with the on/off button 

Then reach back and press the hardware reset button with your paperclip.

If it works you are fortunate and please  do not try to update it again. 

 Remember that the CP 540 has been declared "end of life" and there are virtually no parts available. 

Aaron at Event Timing is a solid guy that I work with alot. However he has fewer resources than we do. I do have a couple of older CP 540 that we use for loaners and shop use. I would really try to work with Aaron first.

We readily supply the firmware and knowledge that we have.  I invite anyone to contact us and we will help you out.

http://www.tagheuer-timing.com...l-distributor/Canada

Success !

I had been using a laptop running Windows 7 and a USB/RS232 adaptor (two different manufacturers).

I tried it on an old desktop PC running Windows XP, with a real embedded serial port, using the old v9.1 Firmware Manager to install VC02, and it all ran through the way it is meant to.

I then successfully ran the UpdateBSL program, then used the VA-10 Manager to install VE07.

It ran much faster than it had on the laptop, so I assume it was doing lots of retries or similar, but wasn't reporting them.

You must remember to uncheck the "With Docking" box, or it will stop with a "Download not fully completed" error.

Very good. Good point about the desktop. I always use a desktop with native serial port here in the shop with Windows 10. I will try to find an older one that works if I get stumped with a similar CP 540.  

Guys I have an old CP540 which I need to update. Can anyone provide me the files for the old v9.1 firmware manager and the VC02 firmware and the UpdateBSL program for the bootloader update.

Yes of course.  Please send us an email at info (at) protimingsolutions.com

Hi all! thanks for your valuable support.
Does anyone still have these files? I need them to continue trying to burn firmware on my old CP540. Have great week guys!

protimingsolutions posted:

Very good. Good point about the desktop. I always use a desktop with native serial port here in the shop with Windows 10. I will try to find an older one that works if I get stumped with a similar CP 540. 

JKPina posted:

Hi all! thanks for your valuable support.
Does anyone still have these files? I need them to continue trying to burn firmware on my old CP540. Have great week guys!

Hi, Ric thanks for your reply, for being honest, I don't know what firmware actually it has (as I can't see nothing in the display neither in the paper roll). But the firmware burned on it is the original one. The serial number is S/N 2717, I hope we can conclude what the firmware is.

it is critic to know the present firmware version before update to a new one?

Ok. First of all please pay attention to what is happening globally with Covid-19. 

The TAG Heuer CP 540 is a "walking dead man"  This product has virtually zero support. The people responsible for this device are long gone. And recently TAG Heuer discontinued the HL 440 so it will soon fade as well.

So Pro Timing Solutions is trying to be reasonable as we can for North American customers. Sorry but we can only help out in our designated zone. 

1) Trade in your working CP 540 on a CP 545 for $500 USD until June 30, 2020

2) Trade in your dead CP 540 on a CP 545 for $200 USD until June 30, 2020

3) Trade in your HL 440 on a CP 545 for $300.00 until June 30, 2020

Fact is it expires on July 1, 2023 so you can eke out remaining legal life if you dare.

Of course it makes a great hand timer!

1) 

2) TAG Heuer has not been able to service the vast majority of these timers since 2018.

3) The only parts that can be exchanged between CP 540 and CP 545 are the printer cover and paper

4) You can "kill" your CP 540 by upgrading firmware 

5) We will attempt to upgrade CP 540 sent to us with no guarantee other than an honest effort. 

We are of course always available to assist on whats app or email.

JKPina posted:

it is critic to know the present firmware version before update to a new one?

If your firmware is older than VC02, you must first update to VC02 using an old firmware manager program, update the bootlader, then finally update to VE07.

As documented in the posts above, you must run the software on an old PC with real serial ports, NOT via a USB/SER adaptor.

I was sent these files by TH Switzerland with no mention of not passing them on, so here they are:

Instructions:
http://ric323.com/cp540/BootloaderUpdate-2.pdf

Firmware manager, Bootloader updater, firmware VC02 + VE07
http://ric323.com/cp540/cp540-update.zip

Yes.

These are the files. You may have to "nudge " the install by pressing the reset recessed button in the battery compartment with a unbent paper clip.

The big question is why risk updating.

Most of our clients use the CP 540 as a time base with software in PTB 1-4 mode.

This has not changed for years and is not affected by updates.

In our opinion if your application such as transponder integration or equestrian requires an update than you need to REALLY consider getting a CP 545.  

I gather that the unit is currently dead, and JKPina is hoping a firmware update will bring it back to life...

Dudes, I forgot to reply here before but I really wanted to say thanks for your valuable support, files sharing, tips and experience .

Unfortunately, covid is still here and after following your guide I couldn't  change firmware so far ("Firmware update completed" but "Download not fully completed" even with a native rs232 port, I will copy my log register below).

• I can say as a strong assumption my unit has V.D-05 firmware (I can't guarentee it, as my unit has the "FWT Timeout 1" error and it can't boot normally and can't read anything from it).
• I'm using TagHeuerFirmManager V9.1 and trying to program VC02 firmware. (At the moment of trying to program the unit I can see blank iluminated screen on the unit, which looks like a normal procedure).
• I have tried pushing reset button many many times
• I removed the batteries for days.

I don´t know if the unit is simply dead, or I am trying wrong versions of firmware.

By the way, hope I have a chance to success, let my know If I'm missing something.

And have a great end of year! cheers.

pd: TagFirmLog referenced:

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date & time: 21-10-2020 1:55:14
TagHeuer Firm Manager V8.0
Open file C:\Users\Compu Timer 002\Dropbox\GTA\04-DRIVERS Y SW\1 - Drivers Tag Heuer\3 - Firmware\Cp540 Ve02 Dock Ve02\CP540_FrEn_VE02 Docking_VE02.dat
CP540 Firmware Data File
File Version V5.0
Modules to update : MABC
Open COM3
Device Connected
Product ID 50
CP540, Bootloader V5.0
Downloading Main Firmware
Module programming Completed
Connecting CP540 Timing
Connecting CP540 Timing
Connecting CP540 Keyboard
Ext Connected
Downloading Keyboard Firmware
Module programming Completed
Firmware Update completed
Download not Fully Completed - Try Again
Close COM3
----------------------------------------------------------------------