Blastware FAQs

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1. Connect the Minimate Plus/Blastmate-III to PC via USB Cable – Unit should beep.
2. Driver software may require installation. Follow Dropbox link if this isn’t automatically completed or you have issues with next steps (https://www.dropbox.com/sh/63p3x5tgrfay9tl/AABdKVzkuN7DV9fpfd8IzVx-a?dl=0).
3. In your PC device manager verify the COM port that you need to choose to communicate with the unit in Blastware.
4. Open Blastware and select the correct unit type at the bottom of the window (Blastmate III unit and Minimate Plus = Series III and Blastmate II = Series II).
5. Open Unit/Communications window and select the COM port from the device manager window to communicate as well as check the Serial communications box.
6. Press Test Communications and confirm the Unit Communications OK dialogue box opens.
7. To view saved events select Series III unit from the event manager.
8. To save a local copy you can then select the copy icon and save the events.

NOTE: If you are using an Auxiliary to Ethernet cable follow the instructions below.

Ethernet cable connected to the Auxiliary port

1. Disconnect all other Ethernet connections other than the one from Auxiliary of the unit to your computer.
2. Get the IP address of the device. For Minimate Plus units the IP address is in Setup=>Maintenance Menu=> View Ethernet Data => Automatic: IP (write down the IP).
3. Open Blastware and click on Unit and then Communication.
4. Check “Modem Communication using a Com port redirector” option. And put the following information:
   1. Port: COM1:
   2. Baud Rate: 115200
   3. Retries: 2
   4. Timeout Factor: 1
   5. Modem Type: No Modem
5. Select “Ethernet/Modem Communications”
   1. Protocol: TCP/IP.
6. Select “Static IP Address” and Input the IP address (The one you wrote down in step 2) from the Minimate Plus unit.
   1. Use port “9034”. 
7. Click Test Communication to verify that Blastware can now communicate with the unit.

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Some users manually collect event data from field installations and require a means of pushing these events to the Vision Server. It is possible to batch process up to approximately 500 events at a time using the Blastware Auto Call Home program following the steps below.

Note: Blastware PDF formatting looks different from the THOR or Vision PDF formatting done through ACH.

1. Download and configure the Forwarding Agent. The Forwarding Agent download is available in the drop-down menu on the top right of the webpage.
2. Install the forwarding agent and run the software. Enter Group alias (Webservice username) and Group Password (Webservice Password). Select the same directory in target directory mentioned below in Step 3.
3. Setup the Auto Call Home reports as shown below and make sure you select the right measurement units and the right compliance is selected at the bottom. 
   1. Database Files Section: Select Create Database Files and Save to D:\ Blastware 10\Vision Migration Folder
   2. Deselect Use Serial number as Subdirectory
   3. Event Data Section: Select the Event Report PDF and Save to D:\ Blastware 10\Vision Migration Folder
   4. Event Data Section: Select the Convert Event to XML and Save to D:\ Blastware 10\Vision Migration Folder
4. Open the Processing window in Auto Call Home located under the Test tab.
5. Select the Events from the file location you have manually saved the events on your system and click on the File Convert button
6. You can view the files being created and processed to Vision from the Target directory selected in the Reports Options/Forwarding Agent. Once processed they will be moved to a Sent folder in the same directory.

NOTE:  you can process up to 500 events using this tool if you have large files you may have to process in smaller batches for the tool to work)

To retrieve Service Logs from Micromate or Minimate Pro units:

1. Establish communication with the unit in the Unit/Communications to verify a connection.
2. Switch the unit type to Series IV by checking the box at bottom of the screen if connecting to a Micromate (Be sure the COM port in the Series IV communications menu matches the Micromate communications port if you are connecting to a Micromate).
3. In the Tools menu, select Save Series IV Service Log.
4. Select a location to save the file in the Select Output file prompt.  You will see a confirmation window listing the number of service log records copied, if there is data in the service log.  If the service log is empty you will receive an error that 0 service logs were written.
5. Navigate to the file location and find the .SVR file to be sent to Instantel for review.

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Blastware will only communicate with units that are assigned ports between COM1 and COM20. Any higher value COM ports will not allow communication, even when assigned. Following the directions in the COM Device Manager document will allow you to view all hidden port assignments and either delete these unused ports or re-assign your Instantel units a port in the useable range.

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1. Open Blastware and go to Remote Access=> Auto Call Home=> Start
2. From the Auto Call Home window, click "disconnect" to make the options active. Go into “Settings” and select "Reports".
3. In the Event Data tab select “Event Report PDF” and select a destination folder to store files after conversion. Press “Ok”.
   1. NOTE: Under the Measurement System section, you can change Pascal to dB, by selecting the dB button.
4. Click the "Test" tab at the top right corner of the Auto Call Home and select the "Processing" option. Click on “Select Event” and navigate to the folder with the stored events. Select the events and click open.
5. Click “File Convert” and wait for the process to finish.
   1. Note: This may take a few minutes depending on the number of events to process.