FR1SX(FireREX1) New firmware (1.21 or later) and Utility for MacOS.
*What's new?
*Who should use the new firmware(1.21 or later)?
*Who should use B'sCrew SIM driver?
*How the SIM driver works?
*How to use SIM driver?
*Compatibility List

What's new ?
  1. New supports SCSI Film Scanner, Flat head Scanner, Scanner Driver/Application, SCSI based Disk utility and CD-R writing software.

    The new firmware (1.21 or later) and the utility software for MacOS are available now. The new firmware (1.21 or later) includes some bug fix and supports SCSI Interface Module for the SCSI based application software. This new feature allows you to use SCSI Scanners and Scanners application/drivers. Also it allows you to use SCSI based Disk Utility software such as ORB tools. But to use this new feature, you have to download B's Crew SIM driver from our Registered User only page. You have to register yourself as a registered owner of FR1SX(FireREX1) before downloading the SIM driver. The new firmware and the utility are downloadable from our regular web site. And the utility includes a firmware loader function. You can update the firmware without any hard ware settings by yourself.

    Note 1: The product name FireREX1 was changed to FR1SX in January 2001.

  2. MacOS X support

    The utility for MacOS X is also available, if you need to change some SCSI parameter, you can change them simply with the software.

    Note 2: B's Crew SIM driver does not work on MacOS X. So, you can not use SCSI Scanners or Disk tool software on MacOS X. But actually, the Scanner application/Driver or Disk tools for MacOS X are not available yet.


Who should use the new firmware (1.21 or later)?
We strongly recommend to update the firmware of your FR1SX(FireREX1). IF you intend to use SCSI scanners, SCSI based Scanner application/driver software or SCSI based Disk utility software, you have to update the firmware to 1.21or later. If you have no experience of any trouble with FR1SX, you may not need to update the firmware. Firmware1.0 also works fine with MacOS X.
If you feel any difficulty in updating the firmware or fail in the updating, please contact us. You can send back your FR1SX to us. We will provide the firmware updating service.

Who should use B'sCrew SIM driver?
If you have following devices , software and you intend to use them, you have to install B's SIM driver.
  1. SCSI Film Scanners, Flat head Scanners. The scanner TWAIN driver has only SCSI API.
  2. SCSI Removable Storage device such as ORB. The Disk Utility software has only SCSI API.
  3. SCSI CD-RW devoces and the writing software does not support FireWire.
    Note 3: If you have the writing software Toast, you can download Toast FireWire Support and use it.
    You don't need to download and install B's Crew SIM driver.
  4. SCSI device and the specified driver/application has only SCSI API.

The B's Crew SIM driver has following restrictions, please understand before using it.
  1. The driver requires FR1SX firmware (1.21 or later). You have to update the firmware before using the SIM driver.
  2. The FR1SX firmware operating mode must be set to SIM Enabled mode. This mode is set in default after updating the firmware by utility software. You can set or reset the mode with the utility software.
  3. The SIM driver does not support FireWire Plug and Play, Hot swapping because the original SCSI API does not include these features.
  4. As the SIM driver hooks the standard SCSI APIs for Add-on SCSI ports and substitute for FireWire API, some SCSI applications or drivers which dedicates for the embedded SCSI port or does not call standard SCSI API will not work prperly.
  5. The SIM driver still has some compatibility issues with SCSI devices, please refer our compatibility list on our web site before using it.

How the SIM driver works?
Basically, FR1SX provides FireWire interface capability to legacy SCSI device. It communicates with MacOS FireWire drivers through FireWire interface, send and receive FireWire protocol based commands and data. And then, it interprets and transfer them to SCSI protocol based commands and data. Besides the driver or application software for legacy SCSI devices do not use new FireWire API and can not send/receive the command or data through FireWire, they use SCSI API. The SIM driver works as a bridge between the application/driver which has SCSI API and MacOS FireWire drivers. In this situation, it gets/puts SCSI requests, substitute them for FireWire requests and makes FR1SX a show of the SCSI device. Please refer the figure 1.
How to use SIM driver?
Example 1

If you would like to use SCSI Scanner with FR1SX and will not use other device, FireWire Hot swapping, Plug and Play, please refer to the following example 1.
  1. You have to update FR1SX Firmware to 1.21 or later.
  2. After updating, SIM Enabled mode is enabled in default. We recommend checking it with the utility software.
  3. Download and install B's Crew SIM driver into the Extensions folder. You must set the SIM driver to EnabledÓ mode.
  4. Turn off your Mac and hook up FR1SX and Scanner to the FireWire port.
  5. Turn on Scanner. Please check the green LED of FR1SX lights on. If not, please check the SCSI terminator power at the scanner SCSI connector.
  6. Turn on your Mac and start MacOS.
  7. Use Apple System Profiler Device and Volumes menu and check the scanner will recognized as a SCSI device.
Example 2

If you would like to share one FR1SX with two different SCSI device such as a Scanner and HDD and to use FireWire HDD driver which supports Hot swapping and Plug and Play, please refer to the following example 2.
  1. Use SCSI scanner as follows above Example 1.
  2. Use Extensions manager and set the SIM driver in Disabled modeÓ before shut down the Mac.
  3. Turn off the Mac and remove FR1SX and the Scanner.
  4. Turn on Mac and start MacOS.
  5. After the MacOS starting up, hook up FR1SX and HDD to the FireWire port.
  6. If you are using MacOS9.0.4 or 8.6, you have to install FireWire HDD driver such as StorageMaster or BsCrew.
  7. The SCSI HDD with FR1SX will be mounted on the desktop.
  8. If you would like to use the SCSI scanner again, unmount HDD, remove it and use Extensions manager to set SIM driver in Enabled mode again. And then follow Example 1-4 to 7.
Example 3

If you have two FR1SX and hook up them to the Scanner and HDD each in daisy chain, please refer to the following Example 3.
  1. You have to update FR1SX Firmware to 1.21 or later.
  2. After updating, SIM Enabled modeÓ is enabled in default. You have to set one FR1SX for the Scanner to SIM Enabled mode, and another FR1SX for the HDD to SIM Disabled modeÓ. We recommend checking it with the utility software.
  3. Download and install B's Crew SIM driver into the Extensions folder. You must set the SIM driver to EnabledÓ mode.
  4. Turn off your Mac and hook up the SIM Enabled FR1SX and Scanner to the FireWire port.
  5. Turn on Scanner. Please check the green LED of FR1SX lights on. If not, please check the SCSI terminator power at the scanner SCSI connector.
  6. Turn on your Mac and start MacOS.
  7. Use Apple System Profiler Device and Volumes menu and check the scanner will recognized as a SCSI device.
  8. Hook up SIM Disabled Mode FR1SX and the HDD to the FR1SX/Scanner in daisy chain. The HDD will be mounted automatically. The SIM driver detects FR1SX operating mode and switch itself.


Compatibility List
The current compatibility list is here, we will continue the test and update the list whenever we learn the new test result. All these compatibility testing are done with B's Crew SIM driver1.0, FR1SX firmware (1.21 or later) (must be set SIM Enabled mode) and MacOS9.1.


Category Manufacture Model Result Comment
FilmScanner Nikon CoolScan3 OK * *Can scan 35mm film. Can not scan APS film with SA-20 adapter.
Minolta DimageScanDual OK  
DimageScanSpeed OK * *Can scan 35mm film. Can not scan APS Cartridge.
FlatbetScanner Canon CanoScan300 OK  
CanoScan600 OK  
FB620 OK Have to set 2 Seconds at SCSI Bus RESET delay time after Power-On parameter with FR1 Utility.
EPSON GT-7000 OK  
GT-7600 OK  
GT-8700 OK  
ES-2000 OK  
ES-8500 OK  
Agfa SnapScan600 OK As this scanner does not provide the SCSI term power, the optional AC adapter(FR-AC05) is required.
Sharp JX-370 OK Have to set 2 Second at SCSI Bus RESET delay time after Power-On parameter with FR1 Utility.
JX-270 OK  
Storage Castelwood ORB OK Tested with ORB tool V1.42.
Iomega zip100 NG * * Can Read/Write as a storage device but the IOMegaTool can not recognize the drive.
Jaz 2.2 NG *
CD-R/RW YAMAHA CRW8824 OK With SCSI based writing software(B's Gold 1.2.1).
CDR400tx OK
Plaxtor CDR820T OK
JVC XR-S4224 OK


The current version still has some compatibility issues with following devices.
Category Manufacture Model Result
FilmScanner Canon FS-2710 NG
Minolta DimageScan Elite NG
FlatbetScanner EPSON ES-6000 NG
Agfa DUOSCAN HiD NG
DUOSCAN T1200 NG
Microtek ScanMaker V600 NG
Umax PowerLook3 NG
HP ScanJet 4C NG
Printer/Scanner ALPS MD-1500 NG
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