How to update the firmware over the network (OTA) on ClonerAlliance UHD Halo?¶

Important

Network OTA firmware update is an invitation-only internal test feature, available only on ClonerAlliance UHD Halo units that have network capability.

If your UHD Halo does not have network capability, do not attempt a network OTA update. Once your unit supports networking, ClonerAlliance after-sales support will contact you and guide you through the OTA update.

If support has not contacted you, please use the standard USB update method instead: How to update firmware on ClonerAlliance UHD Halo?.

This article explains how to update the ClonerAlliance UHD Halo firmware over a network connection, using a web browser instead of a USB flash drive and the on-screen menu.

Recommended Setup¶

Because the firmware file is large (around 460 MB) and this feature is still in testing, we recommend:

A desktop PC with any modern web browser.
Connecting the PC to the UHD Halo over Wi-Fi or Ethernet.

A desktop PC on a stable Wi-Fi or wired connection makes the large transfer more reliable than a phone.

Before You Begin¶

The UHD Halo’s network features are active only while a USB network adapter (Wi-Fi or Ethernet) is connected. With no adapter plugged in, the unit broadcasts no hotspot and runs no network service. ClonerAlliance support will tell you which adapter to use.
The UHD Halo has a single USB-A port, so storage and the network adapter cannot be connected at the same time. The procedure is therefore: remove USB storage → connect the network adapter → update → reconnect storage. A microSD card may stay in place, and recordings are not affected.
If you use a USB Wi-Fi adapter, connect it through the supplied USB 3.0 extension cable and keep it a short distance from the recorder. A Wi-Fi radio placed right next to the unit can interfere with it — most noticeably making the remote control slow or unresponsive.

Step 1: Stop Recording and Free the USB Port¶

Make sure the UHD Halo is not recording. Press REC/STOP if needed.
Unplug any USB storage (flash drive or portable SSD) from the USB-A port. A microSD card may stay in the recorder.

Step 2: Connect the Network Adapter¶

Connect the USB network adapter to the UHD Halo. For a Wi-Fi adapter, use the supplied USB 3.0 extension cable and place the adapter a short distance away from the unit.

Step 3: Connect Your PC to the UHD Halo¶

There are two ways to reach the recorder from your browser.

Option A — connect to the UHD Halo’s own hotspot (no Internet needed)

On your PC, open Wi-Fi settings and join the network CA-989UH (default password: cloneralliance, or as provided by ClonerAlliance support).
Open a browser and go to http://192.168.44.1:8080/
Sign in with the device password (default: cloneralliance).

Option B — put the UHD Halo on your own network (Wi-Fi or Ethernet)

Join the CA-989UH hotspot and open the page as above.
Open Network, select your Wi-Fi network (or connect the Ethernet adapter), enter the password if needed, and choose Save and connect.
The UHD Halo now appears on your own network. Open it at the address shown on the Network page.

Step 4: Open the Firmware Update Page¶

On the device page, click Firmware update (or go directly to /ota, for example http://192.168.44.1:8080/ota ). The page shows the recorder’s current firmware version.

Step 5: Install the Update¶

The firmware file is close to 500 MB, so make sure your network connection is stable and be patient while the firmware downloads or uploads. This normally completes within 10 minutes.

If the UHD Halo has Internet access (Option B): click Check for updates. If a newer version is offered, click Download and install the latest version and wait for the download to finish.

If you upload the firmware file yourself (also works with Option A):

Make sure the firmware file is named exactly ums600_update_ota.img. The recorder accepts no other name. If your browser saved it with a suffix such as ums600_update_ota (1).img, rename it first. (Upper and lower case do not matter.)
Click Choose file, select the file, then click Upload.
The recorder verifies the file after the upload finishes.

Either way, a confirmation message appears. Click Install and restart.

Step 6: Wait for the UHD Halo to Restart¶

Do not disconnect power during installation. The recorder restarts, installs the firmware, and comes back on the new version. This normally takes a few minutes, and the screen shows the progress.

Note

If power is lost during installation, the recorder resumes the installation automatically the next time it is powered on. It does not need to be re-flashed.

Step 7: Confirm the New Version¶

Point the remote control at the recorder and briefly press the information button (i). The firmware version is shown in the bottom-right corner of the screen while the information overlay is visible.

Note

Press i briefly only — holding it for 5 seconds starts remote-control pairing instead. For pairing help, see How do I pair the remote control with ClonerAlliance Device, and how can I confirm the pairing is successful?.

Step 8: Reconnect Your Storage¶

Unplug the network adapter, then plug your USB storage back into the USB-A port. The UHD Halo is ready to use.

If Something Goes Wrong¶

“The file must be named exactly ums600_update_ota.img” — Rename the file to that exact name and try again. This usually happens when a browser adds a suffix such as (1) to a repeated download.
“Check failed — the device needs Internet access” — The recorder is on its own hotspot, or your Wi-Fi has no Internet. Use the upload method instead (Step 5, second option).
The transfer stops partway — Restart the transfer. It cannot resume from where it stopped, so it starts again from the beginning. Move the Wi-Fi adapter closer to your router, or use the recommended adapter.
“MD5 mismatch” or “not a valid firmware package” — The file is damaged or is not firmware for this product. Download it again and retry.
“An update is already in progress” — Wait for the current operation to finish, or restart the recorder and try again.
The remote control becomes unresponsive — The Wi-Fi adapter is too close to the recorder. Connect it through the supplied USB 3.0 extension cable and move it away from the unit.
The recorder does not come back after several minutes — Power it off and on once. If it still does not start, contact ClonerAlliance support.

Nothing that happens during the transfer can damage the recorder: the firmware file is verified before anything is installed, and a damaged or incomplete file is rejected while the recorder keeps running its current firmware.

Notes¶

Your recordings are safe. The update writes only to the recorder’s internal memory. Files on the microSD card or USB storage are not touched.
Your settings are kept. A network update preserves the device name, network settings, and web password, so you do not need to set them up again afterwards. (The older USB-drive / on-screen-menu update method does reset them.)
The UHD Halo’s network features are active only while a USB network adapter is connected. With no adapter plugged in, no hotspot is broadcast and no network service runs.

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