Updating Elite firmware.

[Bighandz]

Hi everyone. It’s me again.

I have just bought an second hand Elite controller to replace my Select.

The first thing I intend to do is upgrade the firmware.

Can I do this using my MacBook or do I need to use a pc?

Yes you’ve guessed it, I’m even more useless with computers than I am with model railways.

All joking aside I know someone will have the answer.

Thanks again in anticipation of your help.

[P-Henny]

It has to be Windows, but you might be able to use a MAC Windows emulator.

If you know someone with Windows, be aware the the Elite firmware update process requires the Windows USB Serial port driver to be installed so that the Windows PC recognises the Elite USB connection. The driver is usually installed on a PC when plugging in an Elite to the USB port that triggers Windows 'Plug n Play' to auto install the driver from the Microsoft Driver Server. Hornby is very 'Windows PC' centric with very little or non-existant support for MACs.

[SteveM6]

Alternatively contact Hornby Customer Services to arrange for them to do the upgrade for you. There will be a small charge made.

[Bighandz]

@P-Henny. Yes, I suspected that might be the case. I have noticed that Hornby are a bit light on Mac support, so you can imagine my surprise when they launched HMDCC on Mac, first.

@SteveM6. Yes, I remember this being an option as it is what I had to do when I upgraded my Select a couple of years ago.

thanks to both of you for your invaluable help.

[P-Henny]

......so you can imagine my surprise when they launched HMDCC on Mac, first.

 

 

To be slightly pedantic, they launched on Apple mobile IOS, which is not quite the same in my view as a MAC. I consider a MAC to be AKA an equivalent to a PC or Laptop.

[mcr22]

Hi....I use a MacBook with windows 11 running concurrently, via 'parallels' software. Elite firmware update worked fine within the windows option.