PGDT Serial interface cable ...USB Alternative :D

[woodygb]

Have a look in Device Manager.

Check the properties and see if it's ....like BM suggested...installed correctly.

My COM Ports look like this WITH USB lead plugged in.
COM 2 being the USB -Serial.

usb lead plugged in.jpg (67.06 KiB) Viewed 13524 times

[segreen]

BM Woody, done all the re-installing driver (disc that came with the cable-) Windows 7 64 bit & 32 bit. Seems like a lot of people have trouble with the Prolific USB/Serial cable. Divice Manager showing error (This device cannot start. (Code 10))

Any suggestions?

Steve

[woodygb]

Well ...I can upload the drivers from my disc ..or send via email to you...

Perhaps BM still has the specific driver that installed on his Windows 7?

I use XP

[segreen]

Anything would be appreciated.

stephen.greenhalgh2@ntlworld.com

[woodygb]

sent

[Burgerman]

I used woodys disk. And its now installed and so just appears in device manager automatically when plugged in.

[Seajays]

I would like to try that driver too if possible. natt2@telus.net

[woodygb]

I've uploaded some of the other drivers to my puter...

Device manager
USB COM PORT
UPDATE DRIVERS
let me pick

compatible drivers list ...

2003 for my XP

2009 would probably be Windows 7

drIVERS.jpg (49.31 KiB) Viewed 13901 times

[Burgerman]

I dont have it, went back in the box when I returned the lead!

[woodygb]

This is the mail system at host mwinf5d56.orange.fr.

I am sorry to have to inform you that your message could not
be delivered to one or more recipients. It is attached below.

For further assistance, please send mail to postmaster.

If you do so, please include this problem report. You can
delete your own text from the attached returned message.

The mail system

<stephen.greenhalgh2@------.com>:------------- said: 552
5.7.0 review our attachment guidelines. e58si12399523wed.84

[woodygb]

skydrive link.

Hope it works!

https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=5e5d2839 ... 1343%21148

[segreen]

Woody do you need another address? segreen02@yahoo.co.uk

Running out of ideas to fix this...

[woodygb]

Rehashed the skydrive .... not used it to post link before..

https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?ci ... pNXrA4soAo

[woodygb]

Should you wish some screen capture software to help us aid you with the errors...try this.

http://www.mirekw.com/winfreeware/mwsnap.html

[Burgerman]

Screen capture?

JKust press "print screen" key, then control v to past it into any image editor...

[segreen]

Having installed your driver Woody, I'm getting 'Software driver not properly installed'. I've uninstalled, re-booted, installed numerous times to no avail. Beginning to wonder if its the chipset on this USB - maybe a fake, cheap Chinese copy?? Bought it from Radio Arena, same as you so maybe I'm unlucky?

[woodygb]

Try this...

go to control panel
device manager
click
prolific usb
right click or click on thru till you get.
update driver

update.jpg (134.41 KiB) Viewed 15102 times

click on that

Install Hardware

install from list
don't search

SEE HOW MANY AND WHAT DRIVERS YOU HAVE LISTED....

Try another if you have more than one... the CORRECT one will give you a device installed.

[woodygb]

Tried following the "install_guide_win7" pdf in the USB download? ...USB\win7

install.jpg (32.18 KiB) Viewed 15090 times

[segreen]

BINGO!!!

Thanks Woody, working now perfectly. All I did was just follow your last post and one of drives just worked.

Thanks again.

Steve

[woodygb]

Phew!!

Also working fine on connecting to controller?

[segreen]

Yes, just read and made a few adjustments.

I can now do Dynamics & P&G - don't know what I used to do before I came on this site!

[ex-Gooserider]

Not sure if anyone here can help on my setup...

I have an official PGDT serial cable, and the FTDI USB-Serial adapter that was suggested earlier. According to the FTDI website, the drivers for the adapter have been in the kernel mainline since around 2.6.24, per uname-a, I'm running 2.6.32 ("2.6.32-40-generic #87-Ubuntu SMP Mon Mar 5 20:26:31 UTC 2012 i686 GNU/Linux" to be precise)

I also have a copy of the P&G Pilot+ software. I have attempted to get it started under WINE, and was able to get it started once (before I got the cable) but not sure just what I did at that time. It came up looking about like the screenshots BM has posted, just (as expected) giving a "controller not found error"... I haven't been able to get it to start since - I get a bouncing icon for a little while, and then it disappears. If I try starting it a second time, I get an "already running" error message. I can see it running as a task in my system monitor, but don't seem able to switch to it.

When I tried starting it with the chair connected, I got an inhibit error code on the chair, and the computer hung badly enough that I had to do a power cycle reboot (just like a Windows box ) I did get some flashing LED's on the USB adapter like it was attempting to communicate.

Suggestions on how to get the P&G software to start up reliably?

What is the appropriate sequence for connecting the chair and starting the software?

ex-Gooserider

[woodygb]

Buy or borrow a Windows based puter .... doesn't need to be anything flash ....$50 dollars secondhand from a garage sale... or something along those lines.

[woodygb]

What is the appropriate sequence for connecting the chair and starting the software?

Doesn't really seem to be one .... I prefer ...start software ...plug into chair ... turn on chair

[ex-Gooserider]

I really seriously want to avoid the Microsoft Kool-aide if at all possible... IMHO it is not only seriously crappy, but there are serious ethical / moral reasons not to use it

(Among other things, Mary-Anne and I are long-time sustaining members of the Free Software Foundation, and as of this past weekend have made 4 of their last 5 annual Assoc. Member meetings... One of the things that I own is a genuine stuffed GNU signed by Stallman himself I am not quite as hard nosed about such things as he is (my machine has a few binary blobs on it) but I definitely try to stay with Free / FLOSS software if at all possible....)

It is good that you are suggesting that getting the software running first, then connecting the chair - at least that gives me a slightly easier task sequence to make things work...

ex-Gooserider

[Burgerman]

and the computer hung badly enough that I had to do a power cycle reboot (just like a Windows box )

You have a bad impression of windows. Things got better many years ago. I doubt the above could happen now. My super stable windows box runs everything in the universe, never gets restarted from one month to the next, and is full of dodgy beta and alpha software that crashes when testing every day.

And its "free" too... if you know what I mean. More importantly almost everything just works. And most software that is specialist or small stuff is written to work on the most popular software... All my hobby speed controllers, chargers, transmitters, programmable gyros, sat nav updates, powerchair controllers etc all just work as intended.

Wheras your system is a big fight, nothing works, and is no more stable than mine is. Plus it looks like its a ten year out of date partly functional windows system... I tried linux a few times. Its retarded!

My server is linux, it gets bugs, infected, and attacked regularly. Right now its running slow, with high cpu load and the tech guys are trying to figure out why... I have other sites on a more user freindly windows server host, all running perfectly as usual.

Run a dodgy copy of Win7 64bit for a few weeks on your machine and you will see how difficult and backwards your linux is. Do a multi boot to test. I will send you a copy if you want.

Suggestions on how to get the P&G software to start up reliably?

Easy, get a proper operating system!

[brax]

Woody

I bought this cable.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/120869703645?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2648

i was supprised to find only 3 wires in the lead red, white, black.

the driver disk they sent me was defective.

downloaded your drivers and tried black and white connected as per your instructions, the absence of the green baffles me, says kpg4, no go.

I will go back and try to buy the same brand as you.
brax

[woodygb]

My lead used the "universal" USB colour code.

BUT ...others don't.

Check the RED with a meter or pop the USB case... you will find that the board has TX and RX marked on it and see which wires go where..

If it's like John's in Canada the RED isn't a 5V line..... So it's more than likely red/white and black.

[woodygb]

Pop the case and you will something like this....
Note the colours and attach to the appropriate XLR plug pin.

You could also assume the Black is always GND and the other two wires ...by default...must be RX and TX.

[woodygb]

A drawing showing the posItions of RX TX and GND in the RJ12 and RJ45 plug and the colours of mine in a RJ12 .

colours.JPG (21.74 KiB) Viewed 14732 times