Note: If you have Agera instruments with serial number <130, please contact us first before upgrading Agera Essentials. The green tile has assigned with color value by UV excluded mode in some Agera instruments (Serial No. <130). We need to re-assign green tile by UV nominal mode then you can do Essentials upgrade.

For Agera Essentials Non-ER customer: Attached, please check the latest Agera Essentials non-ER(.apk file), Version 1.12.

Please check the instrument for the latest Agera Essentials software. The current version of software can be found using JOBS Menu > ABOUT. The ABOUT menu provides information about HunterLab and the current software version. If your version is less than the update, then continue.

Figure. Jobs Menu > About

Figure. Current Software Version

To update the software version download the new version onto a USB flash drive. This software upgrade is found on support.hunterlab.com site.

Insert the USB flash drive with the upgrade into the port on the front of the instrument.

Figure. Insert Flash Drive into USB port

Open the JOBS > ABOUT menu and press UPDATE to continue. The Instrument will detect the corresponding Essentials apk file on the flash drive. If the latest Essentials is already installed in the instrument, the following message will be displayed: The application package is up to date.

Figure. Press Update to Continue.

Do you still need more information? Submit a ticket and our support team member will reach out to you soon!

Method #1: For Direct Connection between Agera and Computer with Ethernet Cable (No Network required)

Method #2: For Direct Connection between Agera and Computer with RS-232 Ethernet Adapter (No Network required)

Method #3: Through Network (Ethernet cable)

Method #1: For Direct Connection between Agera and Computer with Ethernet Cable (No network required)

1) Materials Needed

•  Hardware needed: Ethernet cable, and USB Ethernet adapter if you want to have multiple Ethernet cables connecting to the computer.  

 Ethernet Cable

USB Ethernet Adapter

2) Connect Agera to Computer:

• Plug Ethernet cable (Figure 1) into RJ-45 Ethernet connection at rear of Agera. Plug other end of cable into the computer directly or through USB Ethernet Adapter. 

3) Configure IP address of the Agera: 

• Check IP address in PC: Open Command Prompt in the PC. Type in "ipconfig" and check the "autoconfiguration IPv4 Address" as well as the "Subnet Mask". 

Computer IP address

•  Configure IP address in Agera: Open Agera Essentials, go to Preferences/Configure Network Settings. Uncheck "Use DHCP for Ethernet Config". Type in IP address and Subnet Mask manually, then apply. The IP address here should be similar to the "autoconfiguration IPv4 Address" in the PC, just change the last two digits. Restart Agera to get network setting applied.

Assign IP address to Agera

• Press Apply on the Ethernet Configuration
• Check “Automatic Network Data Export” and click to configure. For a direct connection between Agera and computer with Ethernet cable, set up the Agera as server. Port Number is 10001.        

 4) Configure the Computer Using HyperTerminal Software

• Go to the computer and open HyperTerminal.
• Make a new connection:
  1. Enter a name for the connection
  2. Connect using TCP/IP(Winsock)
  3. Set computer as client                                                                                                                        Enter the IP address of Agera which is recorded                                                                            Put the port number as “10001". 

5) Send Data from the Agera:

• Configure the Agera for the Color Data Screen:
  1. Select Color Scales, Indices & Illuminant/Obs (Workspace>Color Scales)
  2. Standardize the instrument. (Workspace>Standardize)

• Read sample and view the data on the computer.

Data from Agera through Ethernet Connection

The data string is shown as follows:

<STX><PACKET SIZE>$T<SCALE-LABEL>$T<ill/Obs>$T<LABEL NAME1><$T><VALUE1>$T<LABEL NAME2><$T><VALUE2><$T><LABEL NAME3>$T<VALUE3>$T ..... <LABEL NAME N><$T>

<VALUE N>$T<CHKSUM><ETX>

Where,

<STX> is the Start of Text (value =0x02)

<ETX> is the End of Text (value =0x03)

$T is the default delimiter.

<SCALE-LABEL> is the Scale Label (e.g. CIELAB)

<ill/Obs> is the ill/Obs name (e.g. D65/10)

<PACKET SIZE> is the Total size (HEX String) of the Packet excluding the <STX> and <ETX>

<LABEL NAME> is the label name (e.g. L*, a*, b*, dE* etc..)

<VALUE> is the value for the preceding Label Name

<CHKSUM> is the Checksum (HEX String) - the sum of all the ASCII values in the total packet play load starting from <PACKET-SIZE> and till <CHKSUM>

Method #2 - For Direct Connection between Agera and Computer with RS-232 Ethernet Adapter

1) Materials Needed

•  Hardware needed: Ethernet cable, Crossover adapter, Ethernet to RS-232 Connector, RS-232 to USB (optional)

Ethernet Cable

Crossover Adapter

Ethernet to RS-232 converter for Connection via Serial port

RS-232 to USB converter for connection via USB port

2) Configure Ethernet to RS-232

• Set up Ethernet to the RS-232 adaptor with static IP address and Port Number.
• In this example, the adapter was configured with IP address of 192.168.0.100 and port 10001.

3) Connect Agera to Computer:

• Plug Ethernet cable into RJ-45 Ethernet connection at rear of Agera. Plug other end of cable into Crossover Adapter.
• Plug Crossover Adapter into Ethernet port of Ethernet to RS-232 adapter.
• Plug Ethernet to RS-232 adapter into serial port of computer (if D-9 serial port is present) or into RS-232 to USB converter for connection to USB port. Plug power into Ethernet to RS-232 adapter.

Cable Configuration for Direct Computer Connection

4 ) Configure the Agera: 

• Configure the Ethernet port of Agera. Select Jobs Menu> Preferences and Select ‘Configure Network Settings’.  Uncheck “Use DHCP for Ethernet Config” and enter a valid IP address for the Ethernet port. In this example, the following parameters are selected.

Configuration Parameters for Ethernet

• Press Apply on the Ethernet Configuration and then Apply on the Preferences Page to complete.
• Go to Jobs Menu> Preferences, check “Automatic Network Data Export” and click to configure.

Preferences>Automatic Network Data Export

• For a direct connection between Agera and data collection computer, set up the Agera as a Client.
• Set the IP Address to match the settings of the Ethernet to RS-232 converter, in this case 192.168.0.100 and the Port as 10001.
• Press Apply and then press Apply on the Preferences screen to continue.

5) Configure the Computer:

• Connection configurations differ depending on data collection software. In this example, Hyperterminal is used to demonstrate connectivity. 
• The data collection computer will be set up as a Server.
• Connect as follows:
  1. Select the Com port that represents the USB or Serial port connection.
  2. Define the Connection:
  3. Bits per second: 9600
  4. Data Bits: 8
  5. Parity: None
  6. Stop Bits: 1
  7. Flow Control: None

6) Send Data from the Agera:

• Configure the Color Data Table with the color scale and parameters to be transmitted.
  1. Standardize the Instrument
  2. Select Color Scales, Indices & Illuminant/Obs (Workspace>Color Scales)
  3. Hit Read Button, data will be transferred to the computer.

 Data Output

 The data string is shown as follows:

<STX><PACKET SIZE>$T<SCALE-LABEL>$T<ill/Obs>$T<LABEL NAME1><$T><VALUE1>$T<LABEL NAME2><$T><VALUE2><$T><LABEL NAME3>$T<VALUE3>$T ..... <LABEL NAME N><$T>

<VALUE N>$T<CHKSUM><ETX>

 Where,

<STX> is the Start of Text (value =0x02)

<ETX> is the End of Text (value =0x03)

$T is the default delimiter.

<SCALE-LABEL> is the Scale Label (e.g. CIELAB)

<ill/Obs> is the ill/Obs name (e.g. D65/10)

<PACKET SIZE> is the Total size (HEX String) of the Packet excluding the <STX> and <ETX>

<LABEL NAME> is the label name (e.g. L*, a*, b*, dE* etc..)

<VALUE> is the value for the preceding Label Name

<CHKSUM> is the Checksum (HEX String) - the sum of all the ASCII values in the total packet play load starting from <PACKET-SIZE> and till <CHKSUM>

Method #3 – To export data through network 

Connect Agera to a Network. You can connect Agera to a network hub using the Ethernet cable. The computer must be connected to the same network as the Agera.

1. To connect Agera to network, go to Workspaces> Preferences and Select ‘Config Network Settings’. Select Ethernet configuration and check “Use DHCP for Ethernet Config”. Please write down the IP address showing in the Ethernet Setting dialog. You can also check the IP address of Agera in Jobs/About/Info.
2. Go back to Workspaces/Preferences and select Auto Network Data Export Measurement using a check and select “Config” button. Choose Agera as Server and Port number as 10001. You can also choose a delimiter to mark your data.
3. Configure the terminal program such as Hyperterminal in the computer with the following settings:

• Set computer as client
• Enter the IP address of Agera which is recorded above.
• Put the port number as “10001". 

After all the setting, you should be ready to get the data exported from Agera to the computer.

You can use the attached sockserverorclient tool to test this auto-export data feature. 

Attached, please check the instruction on Auto Export Client using ‘PuTTY’ or ‘Tera Term’.

Here are three methods that we can use to connect Agera with EasyMatch QC. Please select the right method and follow the corresponding instruction to connect.  Please note, only EasyMatch QC/EasyMatch QC-ER 4.95 and above support Agera sensor. 

Method 1: Connect Agera with EasyMatch QC to the same network hub using Ethernet cables.

Method 2: Direct Connection between Agera and a Computer using an Ethernet cable

Method 1: Connect Agera with EasyMatch QC to the same network using Ethernet cables

You can connect Agera and PC to the same network hub using the Ethernet cable. Except the company network, customer can also use a stand-alone router with DHCP server feature to connect Agera and PC.

1. Plug Ethernet cable into the back of the Agera and the other end to a network hub. Plug the PC to this network hub as well.

2. Connect Agera to network, go to WORKSPACE > PREFERENCES and select CONFIG NETWORK SETTINGS. Select CONFIGURE ETHERNET SETTINGS. Check USE DHCP FOR ETHERNET CONFIG  and click APPLY. If you used the other network setting before, please restart Agera to apply the new network setting.

 Agera is now ready to connect to EasyMatch QC. Open EasyMatch QC in the PC. From the menu, select SENSOR > ADD SENSOR and select AGERA. Select ETHERNET and check the box to DISCOVER AND SELECT A SENSOR IN THE NETWORK, then click SEARCH to automatically search.. There will be a drop-down list of all available Agera sensors. If the sensor in the list including IP address as well as sensor name, then it is connectable. If the sensor in the list with “??????” instead of sensor name, it means that EasyMatch QC can find the AGERA, while AGERA is not free to connect to EasyMatch QC. If you meet this problem, you can restart AGERA and click SEARCH again. Also, you can go to Agera Essentials, WORKSPACE > DIAGNOSTICS > ADVANCED and click RESTART COMM to have Agera communication available, and then go back to EasyMatch QC and click SEARCH again. 

Method 2: Direct Connection between Agera and a Computer using an Ethernet cable

1. Plug Ethernet cable into RJ-45 Ethernet connection at rear of Agera. Plug the other end to the PC. If PC does not have any available ethernet port, USB-Ethernet adapter can be applied.

2. Check PC IP settings. Open Command Prompt in the PC. Type in ipconfig, find the right ethernet (in this case, it is Ethernet adapter Ethernet) and write down autoconfiguration IPv4 Address as well as the Subnet Mask.

3. Configure the Agera IP settings. Open Agera Essentials, go to WORKSPACE > PREFERENCES > CONFIGURE NETWORK SETTINGS. First, select the ETHERNET CONFIGURATION. Uncheck USE DHCP FOR ETHERNET CONFIG. Type in IP ADDRESS and SUBNET MASK manually. The Subnet Mask is the exact same as the one showing in PC. The last factor in the IP address should be changed such that is different from the computer IP address by one digit. Press APPLY on the Ethernet Configuration and then APPLY on the Preferences Page to complete. 

4. Turn the instrument OFF and then back ON.
5. Agera is now ready to connect to EasyMatch QC. Open EasyMatch QC in the PC. From the Menu, select SENSOR > ADD SENSOR and select AGERA. Select ETHERNET and check the box to DISCOVER AND SELECT A SENSOR IN THE NETWORK and then click SEARCH to automatically search. There will be a drop-down list of all available Agera sensors. If the sensor in the list including IP address as well as sensor name, then it is connectable. If the sensor in the list with “??????” instead of sensor name, it means that EasyMatch QC can find the AGERA, while AGERA is not free to connect to EasyMatch QC. If you meet this problem, you can restart AGERA and click SEARCH again. Also, you can go to Agera Essentials, WORKSPACE > DIAGNOSTICS > ADVANCED and click RESTART COMM to have Agera communication available, and then go back to EasyMatch QC and click SEARCH again.

Do you still need more information? Submit a ticket and our support team member will reach out to you soon!

HunterLab Predictive Diagnostic is a software application that is designed to monitor the software and hardware components of HunterLab’s Essentials-based instruments in order to ensure a better color measurement experience for HunterLab customers. The Predictive Diagnostic is mainly used to capture different low-level and user-initiated data during normal operations of the Essentials-based instruments.

Following are predictive diagnostics features implemented in Agera Essentials Rev1.05 and above. 

1. Predictive Diagnostics settings in WORKSPACE MENU > DIAGNOSTICS > PREDICTIVE:   

1.1 Setup reminder interval (days) for the repeatability test and green tile test. Disable/enable alerts from predictive diagnostics. As default, "Disable Error/Warning Alerts" is checked.

1.2 View trend plots of repeatability diagnostics tests (white tile), green tile diagnostics tests, gloss tile diagnostics tests and monitor channel TOS (Collected from each standardization). In each trend plot, first select the time range, then click “Show” button to display the data. In the plot, click each data point to get the details showing in the right side. 

1.3 Export the predictive diagnostics data in csv files to a thumb drive. It is recommended to share the predictive diagnostics files when users contact support@hunterlab.com for instrument issues. There are three types of predictive diagnostics files:

Diagnostics Data records all the diagnostics tests (Repeatability, Green Tile and Gloss Tile test)

Standardization vector log records raw data from sample channel and monitor channel during each standardization. 

Initial Data is the record of original raw data from sample channel and monitor channel. This data should not be modified by users. 

2. Collect raw data from each standardization, analysis, and provide Warning messages.

  2.1 Record standardization vector data. 

  2.2 Record gloss data of instrument Black glass. Show an warning alert if Gloss value is below 20000.

  2.3 Record  the sample channel signal data of instrument Black glass. Show an warning alert if Max BOS is above 700. 

  2.4 Record the Monitor channel Signal data of instrument White tile. Show an warning alert if max monitor data from pixel 32-96 is below 21500.

  2.5 Record the Sample channel Signal data of instrument White tile. Show an warning alert if max monitor data is below 20000.

3. Except the above predictive diagnostics alerts, here are some additional alerts: Show an warning alert if green tile any XYZ difference is between 0.25-0.3. Show an warning alert if next service date of this instrument is in 1 month.

4. Once the "Disable Error/Warning Alerts" is unchecked and applied in WORKSPACE MENU > DIAGNOSTICS > PREDICTIVE, the info button in the tool bar will list all the existing warning and error messages and it will be labeled with different color dot. 

-If there is error(s), the info button will be shown with a red dot.

-If the instrument has warning(s) but no error, the info button will be shown with a yellow dot.

-If there is no error or warning, then no color dot is labeled on info button. 

Do you still need more information? Submit a ticket and our support team member will reach out to you soon!

Sample detection in Agera is used to make sure that the sample is placed at the Agera port before taking a measurement. It works for most types of samples. If no sample is detected, a "Sample Not Present" error is displayed. However, sample detection cannot recognize some dark samples with high gloss and  dark denim.

If a sample is placed while "Sample Not Present" is prompted,  please disable the sample detection function for these types of sample measurements.   

The feature to enable/disable sample detection is available in Agera Essentials Rev 1.06.0099 and above. To enable/disable Sample Detection, please go to WORKSPACE > DIAGNOSTICS > ADVANCED DIAGNOSTICS.

Do you still need more information? Submit a ticket and our support team member will reach out to you soon!

Help! My Agera is not recognizing my port plate and gives me error of invalid port plate.

A new port plate sensor design is used in Agera with serial number of AGR00477 and above. The sensor board and the port plate is updated as well. The old design has an optical sensor where as the new design has the magnetic sensor. If you have the new sensors (serial number >=00477), please keep using the updated port plate. If you have the older sensors (serial number <00477) and need to use the new port plate, please check with support@hunterlab.com to update the sensor board.  

Here are the part numbers of port plates used with old and new port plate design: 

Description

AGR00100-476

AGR00477+

Standard 2" Port Plate

D02-1018-483

D02-1020-139

Standard 1" Port Plate

D02-1018-548

D02-1020-140

Standard 5/8" Port Plate

D02-1018-549

D02-1020-141

Sample Cup 2" Port Plate

D02-1018-615

D02-1020-460

Glass 2" Port Plate

D02-1019-010

D02-1020-463

Glass 1" Port Plate

D02-1019-102

D02-1020-465

Glass 5/8" Port Plate

D02-1019-104

D02-1020-467

If the port plate is correct but Agera Essentials still could not recognize the port plate, please go to WORKSPACE menu > DIAGNOSTICS > ADVANCED DIAGNOSTICS. Place the port plate on the Agera, then click "PORT PLATE" in advanced diagnostics. This will show the detected signal in data view at the right side of this dialog.

Here is the general list of port plates: 

For all the standard 2''/1''/0.625'' port plates, the gloss detection is enabled.

LAV​ standard port plate : index 0001 Green-Red-Red
MAV standard port plate: index 0004 Red-Red-Green
SAV standard port plate: index 0002 Red-Green-Red

The port plate with gloss disabled (PP index 0003, 0005, 0006) can be detected correctly when Agera has

Essentials Rev1.01.0062 and above and Firmware V1.10.19.239A and above. Essentials and firmware version can be checked at AGERA ESSENTIALS > ABOUT > INFO.

If Agera has Essentials version lower than Rev1.01,0062, please download the latest Agera Essentials and upgrade. 

If you need to use these special port plates (PP index 0003, 0005, 0006) while the Agera has the older firmware version, please contact us support@hunterlab.com. In this case, the instrument needs to ship back to Service for a firmware upgrade. 

For an optical sensor with old port plate sensor design: When a wrong port plate index is detected in Agera Essentials (DIAGNOSTICS > ADVANCED DIAGNOSTICS), please check the back side of the port plate to make sure that all the three dots are placed correctly and there are no scratches on them. The following is a picture of the 2'' standard port plate, there are three dots, #1 white, #2 black, and #3 black.

If any of the white/black dots become scratched or dirty, a wrong port plate index could be detected. The new system uses magnets instead of stickers to avoid damaged dots. If these dots are placed correctly and not damaged while a wrong port plate index is still reported, the cause might be bad dot detectors in the Agera. 

Do you still need more information? Submit a ticket and our support team member will reach out to you soon!

Once a replacement instrument white standard is requested, we will send a new white tile-based disc pre- mounted in a protective centering puck and a thumbdrive with a csv file to load the new white.

Here are the steps:

Required: Agera Essentials 1.01.0060 and above

1. Attach the thumb drive including the white tile csv file in front USB port of Agera.
2. Go to WORKSPACE menu > DIAGNOSTICS > ADVANCED and, scroll down the center area to click “Restore tile data”.

3. Select the while tile csv file and click OK to update the white tile TOS data. “Restore tile data successfully”, will be showed after updating the TOS data correctly.

4. Now, it is ready to use the new white tile to do standardization and samples measurement.

Do you still need more information? Submit a ticket and our support team member will reach out to you soon!

https://www.hunterlab.com/agera-quick-start-guide.pdf

https://www.hunterlab.com/agera-brochure.pdf

https://www.hunterlab.com/media/documents/agera-brochure-spanish.pdf

Below is a picture of the Agera instrument and the standard accessories that ship with the instrument.

https://www.hunterlab.com/media/documents/users_manual_for_agera.pdf

Agera Supplemental Manual: https://www.hunterlab.com/media/documents/Supplemental_Manual_for_EZMQC_Agera.pdf

Spanish:

https://www.hunterlab.com/media/documents/Agera_Specifications_es.pdf

https://www.hunterlab.com/agera-specifications.pdf