August, 2008. Released version 5.1 of the PC Software, which has the following improvements and features:

2) The Verifier no longer makes an attempt to validate the content of responses to extended commands. Therefore, when using the transparent mode or the menu item Transmit/Transmit Extended Command, the PC software directs the firmware to not validate the content of the response. The PC software, does, however, check to see that the first character of the response is the address and that the response is terminated with a carriage return/line feed pair.

3) For the menu items Transmit/Transmit Command, and Transmit/Transmit Extended Commands, an error of 8.33 milliseconds of marking detected during a sensor’s response may be caused because the response is not properly terminated with a carriage return/line feed pair. All responses missing the carriage return/line feed pair are now flagged as an invalid response, in addition to any other error that is detected, when using these two menu options. This change was made to make it clear that the response was not property terminated with a pair.

4) In a rare case, a division by zero error could occur when computing the descriptive statistics when sending 100 iterations of a command to a sensor in the comprehensive sensor test or when using the Sensors/Exercise commands options. This has been corrected.

5) Modified the service request test to show intermediate results while the Verifier is waiting for the sensor to issue a service request.

November, 2007. Released version 5.0 of the PC Software and version 1.6 of the firmware, which have the following improvements and features:

• the monitor mode places time stamps on SDI-12 commands

• added a sensor test to check if a sensor retains its data between measurement commands

• the data recorder mode displays the number of retries issued before getting a response from a sensor

• the data recorder mode displays incoming service requests

• the transparent mode is easier to use

• the transparent mode displays incoming service requests

• the manual transmission of commands is easier to use

• the limits on the command transmission attributes (break, marking) have increased to 500 milliseconds

• the time to wait for a response from a sensor can now be changed when transmiting commands to a sensor

• it works with the serial port and the USB based Verifier hardware

• partial test results remain on the screen after stoping a sensor test before the test is done

• it runs on Microsoft ® Windows 98, Windows XP, and Windows Vista

• made other corrections and improvements as requested by users

March, 2007. Released the third generation of the hardware:

• the serial port was replaced with a USB port (all software changes--firmware & PC software, however, work on the serial port versions)

• it is RoHs compliant; this means that all manufacturing processes and materials purchased for this product are lead free

• power is supplied to the device via the USB port; no need for an AC adapter

• firmware updates can be loaded via the USB port; no need for a flash programming adapter