Product Change Notification PCN 01272022-001 (Conduit - mPower) January 27, 2022
Product Change Notification
MultiTech Conduit® Programmable Gateway
Select Devices Include:
Overview
In response to the global demand for semiconductors and microelectronics,MultiTech has qualified substitute components for MultiTech Conduit® Programmable Gateways (MTCDT Series). In addition to substitutecomponents, an updated version of mPower Edge Intelligence Software is required.
Schedule:
- Starting in January 2022, MultiTech will ship select MTCDT devices with substitute components
- Starting in January 2022, select MTCDT devices shipping fromMultiTech will require an updated version of mPower embedded software
- See part numbers impacted for details
- See Schedule for Date of Manufacture details
Suggested Action Plan
Customers
- 1. Recognize that MTCDT device shipments starting in 2022 will include an updated version of mPower
- Technical inquiries: support.multitech.com
- Sales inquiries: email sales@multitech.com
2. Evaluate new MTCDT devices and updated mPower version with your application and make updates if needed
3. Additional information
Distributors
- Forward this announcement to others in your organization who are actively involved in the sale or support of programmable IoT gateways
- Notify existing customers that select MTCDT devices are now shipping with substitute components and an updated version of mPower software
- Encourage customers to evaluate new MTCDT devices and updated mPower version in their environment.
Updates to the mPower operating system may result in updates to the customer application
Hardware Overview - MTCDT with Substitute Components
The MTCDT devices with original components require a number of long lead time items that challenge MultiTech’s shipping schedule and our customers’ deployment schedules. MultiTech has qualified substitute components for select MTCDT devices to reduce the need for longer lead time components. Starting in January 2022, select MTCDT devices ship with substitute components and an updated version of mPower software.
Overview of Changes
| MultiTech Conduit Programmable Gateway |
MTCDT Original Components |
MTCDT Substitute Components |
|---|---|---|
| Models Impacted | See part numbers impacted | See part numbers impacted |
| New Model Numbers | Existing model numbers will continue to be used | |
| Technical Overview of Hardware Change |
Original device design | Substitute components |
| Debug Cable Connector |
USB Micro B Connector | Proprietary 3-Pin Connector |
| Debug Cable | Standard USB A-Male to Micro B cable | Custom USB A-Male to 3-Pin Cable |
| Hardware Version (*) | MTCDT-0.1 | MTCDT-0.2 |
| mPower Versions | mPower 5.3.X mPower 5.2.X mPower 5.0.X |
mPower 5.3.7 |
| mPower Downgrade Protection |
Not required | Downgrade protection prevents earlier versions of mPower from being loaded |
| Date of Manufacture | Starting May 2017 DOM 2017.05.01 (DOM differs by model) |
Starting January 2022 DOM 2022.01.12 (DOM differs by model) |
Identifying MTCDT Hardware
There are a number of ways to determine if the MTCDT device includes original components or substitute components:
- Model Numbers:
New model numbers are not required for MTCDT devices using substitute components. Existing model numbers will continue to be used. - Hardware Version:
- MTCDT device with original components – Hardware Version “MTCDT-0.1”
- MTCDT with substitute components – Hardware Version “MTCDT-0.2”
- API Commands:
The MTCDT uses RESTful JSON API for managing configurations, polling statistics, and issuing commands. Executing either of the following API commands will return the hardware version of the MTCDT device:
- API Commands:
- https://192.168.2.1/api/system
- https://192.168.2.1/api/system/hardwareVersion
- API Commands:
- Instructions:
- Log into the MTCDT device using a web browser
- Open a new tab and enter https://192.168.2.1/api/system or https://192.168.2.1/api/system/hardwareVersion
- Command is case sensitive
- Change the device IP address if necessary
- Press Return
- MTCDT device returns one of the following responses
- “hardwareVersion” : “MTCDT-0.1”, - MTCDT device with original components
- “hardwareVersion” : “MTCDT-0.2”, - MTCDT with substitute components
MultiTech DeviceHQ® is a cloud-based tool set for managing the latest generation of MultiTech devices, including the MTCDT devices. On the DeviceHQ Device Page, ensure that the Hardware field is chosen as a column selection in order to identify the hardware version.
Once this selection is made, the DeviceHQ dashboard will show the hardware version of each device:
- MTCDT-0.1 - MTCDT device with original components
- MTCDT-0.2 - MTCDT with substitute components
Changes to Debug Connector and Cable
The debug cable connector is located behind the MultiTech nameplate on the Conduit device. Using this connection, the host device has access to the Conduit USB COM port.
The current debug cable connector is a standard USB Micro B Connector. This connector has been available on Conduit devices for several years. A standard USB A-Male to Micro B cable is used to connect a host device to the Conduit.
Conduit devices with substitute components will ship with a custom 3-pin cable connector:
- A new 3-pin connector is used in place of the USB Micro B connector
- A custom USB A-Male to 3-pin connector cable is needed to connect a host device to the Conduit
Custom 3-Pin Debug Cable Specifications
The custom 3-pin debug cable can be purchased from MultiTech or built by the customer.
MultiTech Part Number: CA-MTCDT-DEBUG
Description: USB Cable Type A to 3-pin connector (3 feet)
Contact MultiTech Sales Manager for details
The 3-pin debug cable is built using the following components:
- USB to 3.3V Serial UART cable
Description Manufacturer Product Number Olinuxino Serial Console Cable
(USB to 3.3V Serial UART cable)Olimex LTD USB-SERIAL-F Debug Cable for Raspberry Pi
(USB to 3.3V Serial UART cable)FTDI TTL-232R-RPi - JST-ZHR-3 connector (3-pin connector with crimp-style contacts)
Description Manufacturer Product Number Contacts 3-pin connector with crimp-style
contacts (female socket)JST JST-ZHR-3 SZH-002T-P0.5 - Custom crimping tool (for use with JST connector only)
- Information on the 3-pin debug cable is also available in the Conduit Hardware Guide.
mPower Edge Intelligence Overview
mPower™ Edge Intelligence is MultiTech’s embedded software offering delivering programmability, network flexibility, enhanced security and manageability for scalable Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) solutions. mPower Edge Intelligence simplifies integration with a variety of popular upstream IoT platforms to streamline edge-to-cloud data management and analytics, while also providing the programmability and processing capability to execute critical tasks at the edge of the network to reduce latency, control network and cloud services costs, and ensure core functionality – even in instances when network connectivity may not be available.
MTCDT devices with substitute components (hardware version MTCDT-0.2) will begin shipping with mPower 5.3.7. mPower Software Release Notes can be downloaded at
https://www.multitech.com/documents/publications/sales-flyers/mPower%20Software%205.x.x%20Conduit%20Gateways.pdf
mPower Software Release Notes is a separate document and includes the release notes and cumulative changelog for mPower Edge Intelligence embedded software. Detailed information is listed in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent mPower release:
- Operating system updates
New hardware supported
New features
Enhanced features
Known behaviors
Bug fixes
Feature deprecations
Schedule
MTCDT devices with substitute components and mPower 5.3.7
- Manufacturing: Starting January 2022
- Date of Manufacture: Starting January 12, 2022
- See part numbers impacted for details
- Identifying Date of Manufacture (chassis label)
Ordering Part Numbers Impacted
The following ordering part numbers are impacted by these updates:
| Model Name Ordering Part Numbers |
Ordering Part Numbers | Ordering Part Numbers |
|---|---|---|
| Conduit® IoT Programmable Gateways | ||
| Status: Active | Status: Active | mPower version |
| MTCDT-240A-US-EU-GB (1) MTCDT-246A-US-EU-GB (1) |
MTCDT-L4E1-246A-EU-GB (1) MTCDT-L4N1-240A-US (1) MTCDT-L4N1-246A-US (1) MTCDT-LAP3-246A-AU (1) |
mPower 5.3.7 |
| Conduit® IoT Programmable Gateways with LoRa Accessory Cards | ||
| Status: Active | Status: Active | mPower version |
| MTCDT-246A-868-EU-GB (1) MTCDT-246A-915-US-EU-GB (1) MTCDT-246A-923-JP (1) |
MTCDT-L4E1-246A-868-EU-GB (1) MTCDT-L4E1-246A-868-EU-GB (1) MTCDT-L4N1-246A-915-US (1) MTCDT-LAP3-246A-915-AU (1) |
mPower 5.3.7 |
Footnotes:
| mPower Version | Manufacturing Updates |
Comments | |
|---|---|---|---|
| (1) | mPower 5.3.7 | January 2022 | Active devices start shipping with substitute components and mPower 5.3.7 |
Additional Information
If you have any questions regarding this Product Change Notification/Software Release Notice, please contact your MultiTech sales representative or visit the technical resources listed below:
World Headquarters – USA
+1 (763) 785-3500 | sales@multitech.com
EMEA Headquarters – UK
+(44) 118 959 7774 | sales@multitech.co.uk
MultiTech Developer Resources:
www.multitech.net
An open environment where you can ask development related questions and hear back from MultiTech engineering or a member of this community.
Knowledge Base:
http://www.multitech.com/kb.go
Immediate access to support information and resolutions for all MultiTech products.
MultiTech Support Portal:
support.multitech.com
Create an account and submit a support case directly to our technical support team.
MultiTech Website:
www.multitech.com
Trademarks and Registered Trademarks
Conduit, mCard, MultiTech and the MultiTech logo are registered trademarks of Multi-Tech Systems, Inc. All other trademarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.