Flyer Board Change Notice

Product: Flyer

Platforms: 2000 3000 3000T 4000 4000T

The series of programmable logic chips originally used in the Flyer has been discontinued. New Flyers are now being made with the current equivalent chipset. This has required revision of the low-level programming files in the Flyer software. Flyer software is now specific to which version card is being run, and the use of the wrong set of files to run a board will -- not can, not might, but will -- damage the Flyer board. A warning to this effect is included with new Flyers, and dealers and end users who receive these new boards should not attempt to operate these boards in an existing software installation for the old boards. New boards will ship with the proper software, whether for new purchase or for replacement of an unrepairable Flyer, and also include a bright red advisory leaflet in the package.

The chipset in use is easily identifiable by the part numbers on the chips, just below the manufacturer's logo. The original series parts were "ATT1Cxxx" series, and the new set is "ATT2Cxxx" series chips. (Note: there are a very few "hybrid" boards which have some 1C chips and some 2C chips. Check all chips before you come to a conclusion.)

NewTek still has plenty of repair stock of the chips previously used in Flyer manufacture.

Flyer software shipped from this point on will contain a revised set of files which can identify the board type from proprietary information stored in EEPROM, and will load the appropriate binaries. This software is distinguishable from the original software by checking the filenames in the directory NewTek/Programs/Flyer_Support. The old software contains files which end with the ".bin" extension, and can only be used with the original 1C chipset Flyers. The new software contains files which end with the ".dat" extension, these files are about twice as large, and the new software may be used with either the 1C or the 2C chipset Flyers.

Performance of the Flyer is identical regardless of chipset.