VAS ( Veypor Analysis Software )

Nonlinear Engineering Inc. 2007.

Contents:

The VAS Software

An Overview of the VAS Software

The Run Timing View

  1. An overview of the Run Timing Screen
  2. Downloading Data from the Veypor/VR2 to the PC
  3. Viewing Data Saved on Disk
  4. Adding Notes to your Runs
  5. Graph Overview
  6. Using Graph Tools
  7. Selecting the Horsepower and Torque vs RPM Range
  8. Selecting Runs for Viewing
  9. Horsepower and Torque vs RPM
  10. Horsepower vs Time
  11. RPM vs time
  12. Speed vs time
  13. G-Force vs time
  14. Distance vs time
  15. Switching between Imperial and Metric modes
  16. Data Trimming
  17. Run Statistics
  18. Printing
  19. Saving Graphs
  20. Exporting data CSV
  21. Exiting and Saving Notes
  22. Troubleshooting

The Lap Timing View

  1. An overview of the Lap Timing Screen

The Circuit Datalogging View

  1. An overview of the Circuit Datalogging View
  2. Downloading Data from the Veypor to the PC
  3. Viewing Data Saved on Disk
  4. Adding Notes to your Runs
  5. Graph Overview
  6. Using graph tools
  7. Selecting Runs for Viewing
  8. Selecting Laps for Viewing
  9. Selecting Data for Viewing
  10. Switching between Imperial and Metric modes
  11. Printing
  12. Saving Graphs
  13. Changing Units ( Time and Distance )
  14. Exporting data as CSV
  15. Exiting and Saving Notes
  16. Troubleshooting

The Firmware Programmer

  1. Programming Veypor/VR2 Firmware Updates

 

An Overview of the VAS Software

The VAS software is for all Veypor and VR2 users.

This software is broken up into 3 main Views or Tabs:

Main Views

Description of the Screen

Run Timing

The Run Timing View is for all timing runs such as Auto/Staged 1/4 Mile, Auto 0-60, Braking Run, Datalog28, Dynamometer, and Roll-On Timing.
This view is used for Veypor and VR2 runs.

Lap Timing

The Lap Timing is used to download saved Lap Timing Sessions. This could be either Button Triggered, Distance Triggered, or VIR Triggered lap timing sessions..
This view is used for Veypor and VR2 runs.
Circuit Datalogging The Circuit Datalogging View is ONLY available to VR2 Users. It is used to Download and View Data Logging sessions that are saved on the VR2. This view is not used by Veypor owners since the Veypor does not support full-time race datalogging.

 

An Overview of the Run Timing Screen

Up to Eight runs can be seen at once. A brief description of all the elements:

Menu Bar/ToolBar

Various options such as Opening files, Printing, Download Data from the Veypor/VR2, Switching between US and Metric modes and other options not directly related to the display of specific data.

Run Timing

The list of currently open runs. If you click on the check box beside it then the data will appear, if unchecked then the data isn't visible.

Run Details

Details relating to the currently selected run. You can add details as you wish and this will be saved to the file.
Run Performance Performance data related to your run, this varies from run to run. Performance data features are continually added to subsequent releases of VAS.

Graph Selector

Choose the type of graph to view.  Graphs for all selected runs (up to 8) are shown on the same plot.

Graph ToolBar

Zoom in, Zoom out, Pan, Print, Save and Full Screen functions.

Graph

A plot of the data, up to 8 graphs at once on the same plot.

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Downloading Data from the Veypor/VR2 to the PC

NOTE:

When in the Run Timing View you can only download Run Timing and Lap Timing Runs. To download Circuit Datalogging Runs you have to change Views to the Circuit Datalogging View

  1. Connect your Veypor/VR2 to the computer with the supplied serial cable. 
  2. Take notice of which serial port you have connected to on your PC, since you must specify this same port in the VAS software. You can check by going to the download menu on the PC and selecting Serial Settings as the VAS will only show available serial ports.
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  3. The picture shows the typical settings, but choose a different com port if you know you have plugged the Veypor/VR2 cable into a different port.
  4. Power up the Veypor/VR2 with the supplied 9V DC adaptor.
  5. From the Driving Mode screen (default on power up), press menu and leave the unit at the Main Menu.
  6. From the PC Download menu, select Download Data.
  7. If the connection was made a progress window will appear on the screen.  Please wait until all runs are downloaded.
  8. During the download, you will see a figure like the one below which shows an example of a run download in progress, and 5 additional runs waiting to transmit.
  9. If something is wrong with the communication between PC and Veypor/VR2, you will see the following screen:
     
  10. This screen may also show up if your Veypor is not ready to transmit.  If everything on the Veypor/VR2 side is ready, then something may be wrong with your communications settings.
  11. Once the runs have been downloaded, you will be asked to save them to disk on the PC:

    The above example shows runs received from the Veypor/VR2.  The filenames are generated by the VAS software and are a combination of the run name on the Veypor Run, random number and date. You can change these filenames by clicking on them and changing the name.
  12. You must choose a directory to save the files into. A directory is automatically created for you, but if you feel the need to change it, You can type in a different directory name (which will be created if it did not already exist) or use the browse button:
  13. You will see a file browse box, choose the proper directory and then click the set button to set the directory.
  14. Press the 'OK' button to save your data.

Troubleshooting the download process:

If you see the following on the PC:

This error will occur if the the Veypor/VR2 unit is busy or there was a error sending the data. Either way just try to download again and make sure that the serial cable is on the Veypor/VR2 unit and your are in the main menu on the Veypor/VR2 unit. If an error occurred while downloading the data it is recommended to reboot/power cycle the V eypor/VR2. 

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Viewing Data Saved on Disk

Select Open File from the File menu.

And then select the file you want to open.

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Selecting Runs for Viewing

Once many runs are loaded, Click on check boxes beside the run to determine if the run is visible to not.

The picture above shows a case where 3 runs were loaded, and 3 are visible because all 3 are checked.  Note that you can hide a graph by clicking on the checkboxes to deselect the run.

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Selecting Horsepower and Torque x RPM Ranges

The VAS Software allows you to choose your own HP and Torque x RPM Ranges to plot.

  1. Select the run that you would like to plot as shown below.
  2. Next determine at which RPM range you want to start the plot. Click on the graph as shown below to set the start of the range. The program will show a black marker to indicate where you have clicked
    3. .
  3. Next select the end of the range to plot by clicking on the graph once again, as shown below. The VAS will then plot the HP and TQ vs. RPM for the range you selected. To clear the graph just click a third time.
    4. You can keep doing this for different runs to see what your HP and Torque vs RPM ranges look like.

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Adding Notes to your Runs

You can always add notes to a run in the Run Details Area. Notes are saved with the run when you quit the PC software and can be seen again whenever you load the run. 

When you exit the VAS software, your notes will be automatically saved with your run and will appear the next time you view the run. NOTE: if you just close a run the details will not be saved.

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Graph Overview.

All graphs have similar features which will be discussed in this overview:

Item Description
Toolbar Lets you explore the graph by zooming, saving, panning, and printing.
Horizontal Axis Highlighted in black, to remind you where zero is.
Vertical Axis Highlighted in black, to remind you where zero is.
Grid lines These help you read off exact measurements from the graphs.

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Graph Tools


At the upper left hand side of any graph, there is a strip of graph tools ( If you right click on the graph you will get the same options as the Toolbar ).  The tool functions are as follows:

  1. Zoom Tool:  Put the cursor anywhere on the graph and hold the left mouse button, a Black box will appear and this will define the area you are zooming in on. Use this to zoom in by holding down the mouse and dragging over the range to zoom.
  2. Re-Center Plot:  Brings the plot back to the original condition, showing all the data without any zoom factor.
  3. Hand Pan Tool: Makes the graph behave as if it is a large piece of paper. Place the hand cursor on a part of the plot, then old the left mouse button down and drag the plot around. This is useful once you have zoomed in and want to see an adjacent part of the plot.
  4. Grid Line: Use this tool to remove and add the grid lines to the graph.
  5. Print Graph: Sends the graph to the printer.
  6. Save Graph: Saves the graph as a PNG file.
  7. Tool Tips: On the graph if you put the mouse over a given point a Tool Tip will Appear with the exact values for the point as shown below. This is the default setting for the Graph.

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Horsepower and Torque vs RPM Graph

The main plot region shows Power versus RPM, just like a standard Dynomometer plot. The plot is expanded so the data fills the screen.  The smaller plot on the top left shows the exact RPM range over which the Dyno plot was made. The plot on the right is the HP plot for your reference.

NOTE: The solid line is TORQUE and the dotted line is the HP line.

NOTE: In the VAS software you can pick your own RPM ranges to plot the data. To do this just click on the graph on the left to set the first range and then click again to pick the second range. To clear this just click a third time anywhere in the graph.

When making modifications, be sure you always perform your runs in the same way. A good HP run is not at all like a typical quarter mile run.  You want to engage the gear of choice at as low an RPM level as possible.  Doing a good HP run is not going to get your best quarter mile time, but it will get you excellent dyno plots.

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Horsepower vs Time

The HP vs time plot gives you some additional insight on the power production during the entire run, not just for the gear which produced the maximum power.

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RPM versus time

The information on this graph is simply the measured engine RPM level as time progresses.  It is good at showing exact shift points.

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Speed versus time

This function displays the speed versus time for the run.

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Gs vs time

This function displays the FORWARD G-Forces being experienced during the run.

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Distance vs time

This feature displays the forward distance traveled as a function of time.

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Switching between US and Imperial Modes

NOTE:

If you select US or Imperial Units these will be the units for all Views ( Run Timing, Lap Timing and Circuit Datalogging ).

Make your choice from the Tools menu:

This can be done at any time. Once the change has been made, everything which was previously displayed as Imperial will be shown in metric, or vice versa.

NOTE: Metric mode is a true metric mode with N-M (newton meters for torque) and KW (0.745 kilo-watts is 1 HP).

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Data Trimming

Click Tools and Data Trim, this will bring up the following dialog.

Select the run that you would like to trim and this will automatically populate the Trim Start Time and Trim End Time with the time data for the run you have selected. Use the two combo boxes to select the start and end time. You have to select the first start time or end time as one of the selections as you are not allowed to trim the middle of a run out. Once you are ready you can click trim run and the run will be trimmed of the specified data. NOTE: The Data Trimming feature causes you to lose all the trimmed data for the run. To avoid losing all the trimmed data, save the run as a different name before you trim the run.

NOTE: The Data Trimming feature causes you to lose all the data you have trimmed from the run. To avoid losing this data permanently, save a backup copy of the run as a different name before trimming.

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Run Statistics

Click Performance and Run Stats, this will bring up the following dialog.

Select the runs that you want to compare and the fields will automatically be populated with the run data

NOTE: The Braking data will only show up for a braking Run

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Printing

Simply prints whatever information is displayed in the graph. You can either use the menu bar or the popup menu to print the graph.

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Saving Graphs as PNG files

Currently VAS only allows you to save the files as PNG files. Future VAS releases will allow you to save as jpg, gif and pdf.

Click on the graph toolbar save option to save the file as png format or right click on the graph for the popup menu and click Save as...

Instead of printing the screen, saving lets you create a graphical file which can be easily stored, put on a website, or e-mailed to friends.

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Exporting data as CSV.

If you want to perform additional analysis on your data, you can export it as a standard CSV (comma separated values) file.

NOTE: Nonlinear Engineering Inc. will not provide any customer support related to the use of exported data.

  1. The run selected in the list will be exported, so be sure you have one selected.
  2. Select File -> Export File
  3. Then choose the location and filename and click SAVE.

The file format is comma separated values.

Metric and Imperial Exporting: If you are viewing your runs as metric before saving, the exported file will also be metric. The same applies for imperial.  It does not matter in what units the data was recorded, only in what units the VAS is displaying the data.

Exiting and Saving Changes

There are 2 options to Exit the program: Exit just exit the program and does not save any changes. The second option is Exit and Save Notes which will allow you to exit and save the changes you have made during the session.

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Troubleshooting

Accuracy:

There may be slight differences between the numerical values displayed by the Veypor/VR2 graphs and the VAS analysis software. The reason is that the VAS employs much better accuracy and more advanced smoothing algorithms on the data.

Where are my files? How to find your saved runs.

If you forget where your files were saved, first look in the directory where the Veypor program is located.  This is most likely in c:\Program Files\Veypor VAS\Download\

If you cannot find that, use the fact that all stored runs end in the letter .vpr (you may not be able to see this on all windows machines) and you can do a search for such files. On most windows operating systems, do the following:

  1. Right Click on 'My Computer' and select either 'Find' or 'Search' (depending on your version of Windows)
  2. The cursor should be in a box called 'Search for Files or Folders Named' or simply 'Named'
  3. Type *.vpr and hit the 'Search Now' or 'Find Now' buttons.
  4. Wait and see where the files are found, and make a note of the locations. Currently you cannot double click on the files to open them, this will come in a future version of the VAS program.

Customer Support:

If you any further questions or find problems we did not, please send us an e-mail at:

e-mail: vas.support@veypor.com

If you are having problems with a specific downloaded run, you must attach it to the e-mail.

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An Overview of the Lap Timing Screen

Use the combo box to select the Timing Run to show. Data shown is Lap #, Lap Time and Max Velocity.

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An Overview of the Circuit Datalogging View

Up to 2 Laps can be overlayed at once and you can have as many runs open as you want.

NOTE: Only VR2 Owners Can download Datalogging Runs.

Menu Bar/ToolBar

Various options such as Opening files, Printing, Downloading Data from the VR2, Switching between US and Metric modes and other things not directly related to the display of specific data.

Datalog Lap Data

The list of currently open VR2 Datalog Laps. If you click on the check box beside it then the data will appear, if unchecked then the data isn't visible

Details

Details relating to your particular run. You can add details as you wish and this will be saved to file
Performance Performance data related to your run, this varies from run to run. We will be adding more performance data to subsequent releases of VAS.

Measures

Choose what type of data you want to see on the graph. Click the specific measures ( RPM, Speed, Gs, Torque, HP, Time, Distance ).

Circuit Run Data / Circuit Open Runs Click on the tab to see which runs you have open and select the run you want displayed in the main screen
Split Times Split times for your Run. The VAS supports as many splits as you would like.

Graph ToolBar

Zoom in, Zoom out, Print, Save and Full Screen functions

Graph

A plot of your data, up to 2 laps at once

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Downloading Data from the VR2 to the PC

  1. Connect your VR2 to the computer with the supplied serial cable. 
  2. Take notice of which serial port you have connected to on your PC, since you must specify this same port in the VR2 software. You can check by going to the download menu on the PC and selecting Serial Settings as the VAS will only show available serial ports.
  3. The picture shows the typical settings, but choose a different com port if you know you have plugged the VR2 cable into a different port.
  4. Power up the VR2 with the supplied 9V DC adaptor.
  5. From the Driving Mode screen (default on power up), press menu and leave the unit at the Main Menu.
  6. From the PC Download menu, select Download Data.
  7. If the connection was made a progress window will appear on the screen.  Please wait until all runs are downloaded.
  8. During the download, you will see the figure like the one below.
  9. If something is wrong with the communication between PC and VR2, you will see the following screen:
     
  10. This screen may also show up if your Veypor is not ready to transmit.  If everything on the VR2 side is ready, then something may be wrong with your communications settings.
  11. Once the runs have been downloaded, you will be asked to save them to disk on the PC:

    The above example shows one datalogging session received from the VR2  The filenames are generated by the VR2 VAS software and are a combination of the the type of data (Datalog), a random number and the date. You can change these filenames by clicking on them and changing the name.
  12. You must choose a directory to save the files. A directory is automatically created for you, but if you feel the need to change it, you can either type in a different directory (which will be created if it did not already exist), or use the browse button.
  13. With the file browser box, choose the proper directory and then click the set button to set the directory.
  14. Now you can press the 'SAVE RUNS' button to save your data.

Troubleshooting the download process:

If you see the following on the PC:

This error will occur if the the VR2 unit is busy or there was a error sending the data. Either way just try to download again and make sure that the serial cable is on the VR2 unit and your are in the main menu on the VR2 unit. Also, if an error occurred while downloading the data it is good practice to power-cycle the VR2 unit before trying to download the data again.

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Viewing Data Saved on Disk

Select Open File from the File menu

And then select the file you want to open.

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Selecting Data for Viewing

One you have selected a Datalog lap to display you can select the units you want to display on the graph ( RPM, Speed, Gs, Torque, Hp, Time/Distance ).

Note: Colors of the buttons for each type of data correspond to the color of the line on the graph.

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Selecting Runs for Viewing

Once a run is loaded, Click on check boxes beside the lap to determine which run is loaded

The picture above shows a case where 2 runs were loaded.

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Adding Notes to your Runs

You can always add notes to a run in the Details Area. Notes are saved with the run when you quit the PC software and can be seen again at future viewings of the data.  

When you exit the VAS software, your notes will be automatically saved with your run and will appear the next time you view the run. NOTE: if you just close a run the details will not be saved.

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Graph Overview

 

Item Description
Toolbar Helps you explore the graph by zooming, saving, printing, panning and full view.
Horizontal Axis Highlighted in black, to remind you where zero is.
Vertical Axis Highlighted in black, to remind you where zero is.
Grid lines These help you read off exact measurements from the graphs.

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Graph Tools


At the upper left hand side of any graph, there is a strip of graph tools.  The tool functions are as follows:

NOTE: When you are not in another mode the default mode is selection mode where you can click on the graph to get the specific values.

  1. Zoom IN Tool:  A blue vertical line will appear when the mouse is over the graph. Use this to zoom vertically by holding down the mouse and drag over the range.
  2. Re-Center Plot:  Brings the plot back to the original condition, showing all the data without any zoom factor.
  3. Hand Pan Tool: Makes the graph behave as if it is a large piece of paper. Place the hand cursor on a part of the plot, then old the left mouse button down and drag the plot around. This is useful once you have zoomed in and want to see an adjacent part of the plot.
  4. Hide/Show Grids: Each click (left mouse button) on this symbol will
  5. Print Graph: Prints the graph to the printer.
  6. Save Graph: Saves the graph as a PNG file. In subsequent releases of VAS you will be able to save as .jpg, gif and pdf.

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Selecting Laps for Viewing

The main plot region shows all the Variables versus Distance or Time. The plot is expanded so the data fills the screen.

NOTE: In the VAS software you can pick your own ranges of data to plot. To do this just click on the bottom graph to set the start of the range (leftmost side of the range) and then click again to set the end of the range (rightmost side of the range). To clear the range and display all data just click a third time anywhere in the graph.

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Switching between US and Imperial modes

Make your choice from the Tools menu:

NOTE:

If you select US or Imperial Units these will be the units for all Views ( Run Timing, Lap Timing and Circuit Datalogging ).

This can be done at any time. Once the change has been made, everything which was previously displayed as Imperial will be shown in metric, or vice versa.

NOTE: Metric mode is a true metric mode with N-M (newton meters for torque) and KW (0.745 kilo-watts is 1 HP).

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Printing

 Simply prints whatever information is displayed in the graph. Click the print Icon on the toolbar for the Graph.

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Saving Graphs as BMP files

Currently VR2 VAS only allows you to save the files as BMP files. Future VAS releases will allow you to save as jpg, gif and pdf.

 

Click on the graph toolbar save option to save the file as bmp format.

Instead of printing the screen, saving lets you create a graphical file which can be easily stored, put on a website, or e-mailed to friends.

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Changing Units ( Distance and Time )

The default Setting for the Circuit Datalogging view is to have Distance along the horizontal Axis. You are able to change this by clicking on the Units Icon and this will toggle the units on the horizontal axis from Time to Distance.

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Exporting data as CSV.

If you want to perform additional analysis on your data, you can export it as a standard CSV (comma separated values) file.

NOTE: Nonlinear Engineering Inc. will not provide any customer support related to the use of exported data.

  1. The run selected in the list will be exported, so be sure you have one selected.
  2. Select File -> Export File
  3. Then choose the location and filename and click SAVE.

The file format is comma separated values.

Metric and Imperial Exporting: If you are viewing your runs as metric before saving, the exported file will also be metric. The same applies for imperial.  It does not matter in what units the data was recorded, only in what units the VAS is displaying the data.

Exiting and Saving Changes

There is 1 option to Exit the program. Clicking Exit will close the program and no changes are saved.

To save your changes during your session make sure you click 'SAVE'.

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Programming Veypor \ VR2 Firmware

  1. Launch the Firmware Programmer from the VAS tool menu, as seen above.
  2. You should get the dialog above.
  3. Connect your Veypor to the computer with the supplied serial cable.
  4. Take notice of which serial port you have connected to on your PC, since you must specify this same port in the Firmware Programmer Software. You can check by clicking on the Serial Port combo box, it will only show available serial ports. Select the Proper Serial Port ( It will defalt to COM1 if your computer has a COM1 ).
  5. Click the Button "Connect to Serial Port", if successfull the Green Indicator light should come on as shown below .
  6. Open the Veypor Firmware file in the specified location that you downloaded. If you have not done this yet go to the Veypor website and download the latest release ( http://www.veypor.com/downloads.html ).
  7. Veypor / VR2 Firmware files have the extension *.vfm. Once you open the file it should apper in the Veypor Firmware File box as seen below.
  8. Before you start this step make sure the supplied 9V DC adaptor is NOT plugged into the Veypor / VR2 Unit.
  9. Now take your Veypor / VR2 Unit and hold both Buttons Down ( Menu and Enter ) at the same time and plug in the power. Make sure to hold both the buttons down when you plug in the power to the Veypor / VR2.
  10. If Successfull then the Other Green Light in the Veypor Firmware Programmer on the PC should turn on. If this in not the case then repeat Step 8 Above until the Green light Turns on and says "Connected to Veypor / VR2 Unit".
  11. Click the Button "Program Firmware", this will disable the Buttons and a progresss bar should appear to show the programming progress as seen below.
  12. Once the firmware Programming is complete you will get this message.
  13. Now unplug the power from your Veypor / VR2 and then plug it back in. You should see the Veypor / VR2 Splash Screen which indicates the new firmware version.

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