Installing the MECControl firmware

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The MECControl firmware must be installed on your Arduino/Genuino Uno or Mega. It gives you the ability to control devices connected to it, either by sending commands to it directly via the USB port, or by using the MECControl software.

If you have purchased the MECControl Starter Pack or an Arduino/Genuino-compatible Uno from the MECControl shop, your Arduino/Genuino-compatible Uno will already have the current version of the MECControl firmware installed, so you don’t need to reinstall it. However, if you ever install a new version of the MECControl software, it may ask you to install a new version of the MECControl firmware on your Arduino/Genuino-compatible Uno too.

To install the MECControl firmware, follow these steps:

  1. Download and install the Arduino IDE software.
  2. Download the MECControl firmware.
  3. If you didn’t open the downloaded file directly from your web browser, locate it and double-click on it to open it.
  4. The Arduino IDE will ask you to create a sketch folder for the file. Click on the OK button to allow this.
  5. Plug your Arduino/Genuino Uno or Mega into a USB port.
  6. Click on the Tools menu and look for the Board: Arduino/Genuino Uno or Board: Arduino/Genuino Mega item, depending on which board you have. If it is present, you know your Arduino/Genuino Uno or Mega is successfully connected to your computer. If it is not present, click on the Tools menu, select the Port item, and choose different serial ports until you succeed.
  7. Click on the Sketch menu and choose the Upload item. Wait for the sketch to upload.
  8. If no orange error messages have appeared, then the MECControl firmware has been successfully installed.

You can now close the Arduino IDE and start using the MECControl software or the firmware communication protocol.