The AIM meter from AT&T is one awesome piece of gear. From top to bottom it’s designed to make the job of a satellite installer easier. It has a guided mode that helps you figure out where the problems are. It can help with aiming and setup. It’s the only meter out there that will help you align today’s SWM dishes and commercial installations.
For DIRECTV installers, it doesn’t get any better.
Where can you get firmware for the AIM meter?
AT&T has closed their satinstalltraining site, which hasn’t been updated for a few years. For that reason, we’ve taken a copy of the latest AIM firmware and put it here. We don’t claim any copyright on this data and it was taken directly from the AT&T site. We made no changes to it at all.
Here’s how you upgrade the AIM meter. Again these guidelines come directly from the AT&T site.
On your computer:
- Insert the memory stick (supplied with the meter) into a USB port on the PC.
- Delete all files from the memory stick.
- Save the zip file you downloaded above to the root directory of the memory stick.
- Double-click on the zip file to open, then extract all the files to the root directory of the memory stick. IMPORTANT: Make sure the files are extracted to the root directory and not extracted into another folder. Uncheck the “Use Folder Names” option if displayed.
- Remove memory stick from computer.
On your meter:
- Power on the AIM meter.
- Press CONFIG > Firmware Upgrade.
- Insert memory stick into the USB port on the AIM meter.
- Press “OK”.
- This upgrade process can take up to a few minutes to complete.
- When the upgrade is complete, press OK to reboot.
- The AIM meter will then upgrade and reboot. (If AIM does not power back up, press the power button).
- Verify that the AIM meter received the new code.
How to troubleshoot AIM meter issues
Here are some steps found in other troubleshooting documents that have helped other users:
“AIM HAS DETECTED A CRASH” error
- Reboot meter
- If that doesn’t work – Follow “AIM Recovery Instructions” below
“ENCRYPTED SCRIPTS ARCHIVE NOT FOUND” error
- Be sure that the unzipped files are in the root directory of the USB stick and not in any subfolders (some unzipping applications create a separate folder that it unzips to)
- Sometimes the USB Drive doesn’t “seat” well in the port and basically you just need to remove and re-insert the drive and try it again- take care not to move or jostle the meter during the update process
- Although Its strongly recommended to use the USB drive that comes with the meter for updates you may need to try another USB drive
Here are the AIM recovery instructions
This is the information you need to correctly recover a crashed AIM meter. Again this information comes straight from the old AT&T site and has worked for other people.
- Recovery files are included with the firmware update link
- Make sure USB thumb drive has the latest upgrade installation files copied. This includes:
- Application_Upgrade folder
- Database_Upgrade folder
- scripts.tar.en file
- aim_recovery_kernel
- Make sure that the recovery mode file is also copied to the USB thumb drive. This file is labeled aim_recovery_kernel. Make sure all files are in the root directory of the USB drive (not in a subfolder)
- Insert the thumb drive into the AIM.
- Make sure the AIM is off.
- Perform the 4-button press (1-3-Back-Fn simultaneously) and press the POWER button.
- The AIM will make a beep.
- Release the 4-buttons.
- The AIM should start of series of beeps (beeping every ~500 ms.)
- A screen will be displayed asking the user to perform the installation. Press OK to continue.
- A screen will be displayed showing the progress of the installation.
- Once the installation is complete, press OK to restart the AIM. Don’t remove the thumb drive yet.
- Once the AIM restarts, confirm the version of the AIM software by selecting Config| Firmware Versions.
- Remove thumb drive.
Share your experiences
If you’re an installer who has had a bad experience with an AIM meter, leave a comment below! This a great way to share your solutions and help other installers make it through some potentially rough issues.
Still having problems?
Solid Signal can help you diagnose meter issues to some extent. If you are having issues that might be hardware related, check out the manufacturer’s web site. To find out how we can help, call us at 888-233-7563 or fill out the form below.
