PINNED - Info on PROGRAMMING PGDT and others

[woodygb]

The Chinese /Korean /Tiawanese manufacturers aren't obliged to follow the "normal" colour code ..especially when using a 3 or 2 core output cable from the USB plug..they do however seem to adhere to Black being common.

Standard "A" and Standard "B" Plug and Receptacle Pin Assignments
Contact
Number Signal
Name Typical
Cable Colour
1 VBUS Red
2 D- White
3 D+ Green
4 GND Black
Shell Shield Drain Wire

[woodygb]

You could pop the case and have a look ...
The other side of the board ..Not shown in this view ...should have 3 pads RX , TX and GND where the output cable is soldered.

[woodygb]

I'm not happy with the programming cable thing....

I bought the radioarena cable but i'm having even less sucess with this one than my previous cable; I think it's faulty.

In windows, on two separate machines, in win2k and XP the driver will not start correctly (error 10). I've tried different driver versions, etc but to no avail.

I have four or five other USB cables with use the PL2303 driver and on each one of these, they show up and work with no problem.

I'm going to have to contact radioarena and see if I can sort this out. The only trouble is, i've already chopped the modular plug on the end and soldered on an XLR

I'm confused as to why you ignored this pic ...or did you not see it?

And how you came up with your own colour connection version.

The one I had worked out to white common, black and red TX and RX.

[rune]

Well, I worked it out from the 6 pin modular pinout before removing it so pretty sure, yes. The casing is not "pop-able", it's moulded.

I did however try wiring it with black and ground also when it didn't work.

[woodygb]

You can pop the case ..the bad photo is of an actual Radio Arena cable USB case.

Just squeeze it gently in a vice to break the join of the glued halves and then prise apart.

[Guessrow]

OK, so IF I can get this cable thing figured out. Will a windows VISTA machine work? Or is XP REQUIRED? I think I could get mine to run in XP mode with a little work if necessary or else try to find an XP machine.

good luck -jim

[woodygb]

I've tried a few KPG 4 programming cables sourced via Ebay ... and KPG 46 and ICOM plus a few others.... only one make/model has worked for the Pilot+.

The KPG 4 cable sourced from Radio Arena works for the Pilot+ ..and with some faffing around with the drivers seems to work on any Windows O.S.

However should the Radio Arena or their cable supplier change the model/type being supplied ( I have no firm data on the origin of the actual cable ) ...then it may not work.

[Guessrow]

I have Woody's special cable ordered, but picked up this one as well to give it a try... http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009AE ... d_i=507846

The new cable shows up as a usb serial port (com 8). I have installed a driver called 2.8.24.0 and set the PG programmer to Com 8 as well. I have tried all 8 ports and get the 'Not Connected / Comms Inactive message on the software on all 8 ports.

I think the software is communicating with the new cable because if I switch the com port on the usb port I get the 'unable to open comms port' message.

Am I getting anywhere? In all my tests, there has been noindication the cable is connecting to the wheelchair. Maybe a different driver? XP mode? Or do I need to wait for my cable to ship across the pond? ;^)

-jim

[woodygb]

I'm unable to offer an explanation as to why the Radio Arena cable works for the PILOT+ ... and why other make/models of cables fail .

NOTE ...The only Comms active success that has been reported is with the PILOT+ Controller.

[woodygb]

If anyone has a VR2 ( joystick,controller & lead ) or a VSI that they'd lend me then I could perhaps investigate.

[Guessrow]

Does the Radio Arena cable work with VR2 controls?

[woodygb]

I just can not get the comms to go active?? tired all comms ports but no Acitve?

As I recall you are trying on a VSI ? ..
If so... I have one report ...from the same person ..of the lead not working on a VSI but working on a Pilot+ ...I have NO reports of any success with any of the Penny and Giles controllers apart from the Pilot+.

[woodygb]

Putting an 1N4148 Diode into the TX line may help those with non functioning KPG type cables connect and get an ACTIVE Comms on the PILOT+.
The above has today worked for me on a previously non working cheap Ebay bought cable.

1N4148 KPG.jpg (92.98 KiB) Viewed 11338 times

I've also ordererd for testing a 5v FTDI cable ...
if it's succesful for me ..then I'll pass it around to various members for further evaluation on the Pilot+,VSI and VR2.

[ex-Gooserider]

It seems possible to me that the FTDI chip may be a part of the "magic sauce" that makes the difference between the items that work and the ones that don't... The FTDI parts are reported by at least some folks in the Linux world to be more reliable at doing the USB-Serial conversion. I also seem to recall some discussion in the past by folks attempting to use the OEM P&G serial port cable with a USB-Serial converter, and that the converters with FTDI chips in them were reportedly much more reliable than the other brands of chips used in the converters.

ex-Gooserider

[woodygb]

Lead has arrived and with the addition of the 1N4148 Diode works for me on an OLD PILOT.

Just need to pass it around for testing.

Lead is USB to Serial TTL Converter cable

TTL-232R-5V

NOTE MORE TESTING IS NEEDED

[Guessrow]

UPDATE: COMMS ACTIVE!!!

Thank you sooooo much Woody! The diode mod worked. Here's what I got:

Vista Computer, KPG 4 Cable with diode as described, Com8, FTDI Driver- 2.8.28.0. I was so excited when I saw 'Comms Active' (VR2 joystick and power control module).

I do have a Radio Arena cord on order as well. With any luck, I will have a second operational cable ready to use in a week or so.

Thanks again. This really made my week!!!

good luck -jim

[woodygb]

Brilliant!
I've posted the lead I made to B.M...
Hopefully ...(and I now see no reason why not after your report) ...he will also have success.

FTDI Driver- 2.8.28.0.

...Isn't that a Prolific PL2303 Driver... 2.0.28 ?

[Jason12]

I will go maplins and buy a diode...

[Burgerman]

Where does this diode go? And why does my lead work without one?

Is it the forward volt drop (making it closer to 3.3v in which case 2 in series may be better) or the "non return" signal that is making the difference?

[Burgerman]

Hopefully ...(and I now see no reason why not after your report) ...he will also have success.

To be fair I had success before the diode! Is the type of diode critical? (1N4148 Diode) I wouldnt expect so.

So cant see how this will not work!

After this we should unsticky this complete thread (I think) as its complex and confuses people. And let woody UK post all the details clearly once for everyone interested to follow. And I will make it sticky instead.

And post the software on a file sharing site somewhere with a link.

[woodygb]

It's the "non return" signal as you've called it...it's stops any unwanted chatter in the wrong direction on the TX line.

The pic a couple of posts up shows the diode ( 1N4148 Signal diode ) position in the TX line ..banded end ( Red + ) away from the XLR connector.

The Radio Arena lead appears to have a built in equiv ....you could add one in the TX line and see if it has any adverse effect.

They're pence each in bulk... or 42p from Maplin.

[woodygb]

Good idea on removing/re doing this thread...once a bit more feedback is received.

With a bit of luck Jason will report success with the diode mod .

Jason ..IF you do get Coms active ...can you give a complete spec of the lead or leads that you get success with.

[Burgerman]

Woody posted cable. This is the FTD1 cable with diode.

I unpacked and plugged into chair, and USB port. Windows 7 64bit said it couldnt find a driver on windows updats. So I went to DEVICE MANAGER and clicked PROPERTIES, UPDATE DRIVER, and windows automatically downloaded a driver and stuck it on COM 10. The software only goes to 8, so I changed it to an unused poert - COM 7.

Restart PG Drives software, change to COM 7 inside this software and COMMS ACTIVE - working great.

I will post it back woody.

[Jason12]

Woody posted cable. This is the FTD1 cable with diode.

I unpacked and plugged into chair, and USB port. Windows 7 64bit said it couldnt find a driver on windows updats. So I went to DEVICE MANAGER and clicked PROPERTIES, UPDATE DRIVER, and windows automatically downloaded a driver and stuck it on COM 10. The software only goes to 8, so I changed it to an unused poert - COM 7.

Restart PG Drives software, change to COM 7 inside this software and COMMS ACTIVE - working great.

I will post it back woody.

Any chance you can post that cable to me? Then I can try it on my VSI..then I will post back to woody.

[Burgerman]

Well its already been posted back! Literally 5 minutes after I tested it. My carer took it and posted it as she left.

[woodygb]

P.M. me your addy Jason...I'll repost it to you.

[woodygb]

REFERENCE ONLY:-
F.T.D.I
Future Technology Devices International Ltd ...
http://www.ftdichip.com/Products/Cables ... Serial.htm

I'll probably be recommending one of the above leads... if testing continues to be positive ...as they're globally available and the drivers seem to install without much hassle.

[woodygb]

3 leads posted to you Jason.
1 FTDI with 1N4148 diode
1 ICOM with 1N4148 diode
1 STD ICOM

[Jason12]

3 leads posted to you Jason.
1 FTDI with 1N4148 diode
1 ICOM with 1N4148 diode
1 STD ICOM

Ok cheers will report back once tested.

[woodygb]

I have now successfully connected to PGDT's scooter controllers with a homebrew lead... I'll update with instructions to make this scooter lead and the wheelchair lead once I'm confident that it'll work for others.

I can get Comms active on a SOLO controller in my possession BUT the MOBILITY software isn't compatible with the INDUSTRIAL range thus I can't read the parameters.

So ...I'm now searching for Access | Trio+ | I-Drive | Solo | P.C. based software INDUSTRIAL....

Anyone able to help?

Cheers Woody