Further to PG PC programmer level C, and also DX-HHP

[Garry]

I have received some interest about my previous post regarding the P & G level C factory programming software and also the Dynamic DX-HHP and a Mark 6.

I have contacted the chap in the USA who is selling the software etc. He is happy to sell directly to you, so send him a email. Tell him the Garry from the UK gave you his address. His trading name is Mr Mobility. Email address is mrmobility@consolidated.net

I am not sure, but you might need a particular computer to wheelchair cable in order to gain full access to all your P & G level C factory programming software settings, but I am sure he will be able to tell and sell you what you need. You also need a three digit numeric code to access the Dynamic DX-HHP and a Mark 6 technicians mode, which mr*mobility does not provide. You can access your joystick without the code, but not your drive controller.

[TwoTeasChris]

Re. PG PC programmer level C
Is this everything needed to program a Pilot+. Hardware, software, code(?) for any PC?

Is the Pilot+ now obsolete? Will this do other, more modern P&G systems should I upgrade later? (RNet?)

[Garry]

I know much more about Dynamic DX systems than I do about P & G. The following is a quote from a email mr*mobility sent to me.

“I also have the level C factory programming (see attached) software that I use on my laptop for $300. This is the system I charge $100 a session when I program someone’s chair.”

He also sent a PDF file of the installation, instruction and operating manual which goes with the P & G programmer. I can forward a copy of that PDF if you send me your email address via private mail. I cannot send PDF’s via this message board. I am sure that mr*mobility will tell you all if you contact him directly.

Hope this is helpful.
Garry

[JoeC]

The P&G system for Pilot+ is not compatible with R-net.

Don't know if there is an R-net specific program backward compatible to handle Pilot+.

[TwoTeasChris]

Re. PG PC programmer level C
Is this everything needed to program a Pilot+. Hardware, software, code(?) for any PC?
...

I emailed the guy over a week ago confirming that if this is everything I need I would like to buy, but he hasn't replied.
Has anyone successfully bought from him?

[CPguy]

My suff is still being shipped but I shall inform you as soon as the goods arrive.

He does not give technical advice. You must know what you need. And yes, I bought all the stuff needed to modify the Pilot+ system I have here.

[CPguy]

As promised, I can hereby confirm that my goods have arrived yesterday (so including customs that was about 4 weeks delievery time). They work perfectly, it is such a joy to work with them. Perhaps I should reprogramm my wheelchairs every day just for fun...

Please note that I tested the PG PC programmer level C on Windows XP and that the cable needs an serial port on the PC. I did not test it with an adapter on a USB port, as I still have an old PC, lol.

Edit: For the R-Net system you need a different PC programmer. I am just reprogramming Pilot+ systems currently.

[Burgerman]

I couldnt get it to work on my laptop with 3 different USB to serial adapters. Works great with a real serial port though.

[JoeC]

Great to hear- I've been able to get it to work sporadically with two different USB to serial converters, working well with some Pilot+ modules but not others. Very frustrating- and I have no serial port on my laptop, my only computer.

[TwoTeasChris]

As promised, I can hereby confirm that my goods have arrived yesterday (so including customs that was about 4 weeks delievery time). They work perfectly, it is such a joy to work with them. Perhaps I should reprogramm my wheelchairs every day just for fun...

Please note that I tested the PG PC programmer level C on Windows XP and that the cable needs an serial port on the PC. I did not test it with an adapter on a USB port, as I still have an old PC, lol.

Edit: For the R-Net system you need a different PC programmer. I am just reprogramming Pilot+ systems currently.

Thanks for that. I have an old PC with a serial port.

[Burgerman]

As promised, I can hereby confirm that my goods have arrived yesterday (so including customs that was about 4 weeks delievery time). They work perfectly, it is such a joy to work with them. Perhaps I should reprogramm my wheelchairs every day just for fun...

Why not I do!

Actually I could start a business doing just reprogramming. I get people from all over the country here to get "fixed" because in frustration they contact me. I must do about 20 or so a year for people I really dont know! And more still for people that I do know...

[hyperpower]

Hi all!

can the level c programming software program the following controller?

- pilot (not pilot+)
- VSI
- dynamic controllers?

[Burgerman]

Dynamic is a different manufacturer so no,

PG controls programer can program the others. But not their latest R-Net modules.

Se pgdt.co.uk

[hyperpower]

Burgerman, can the software increase speed? for example, from a 4mph to a 7 or 8mph? cos yesterday I heard someone saying that he can do that and I was totally shocked! Not sure how he do that though

[Burgerman]

No in the vast majority of cases speed cannot be increased in programming. Unless its been reduced at some time by a dealer or end user.

Reason? Because it far more battery, control and torque efficient to set the controller to give full speed and limit the powerchair to 4 or 6 or 8 mph in the gearing instead. So its highly unlikely that they would do this. EG a 4 mph F55 has different gearboxes to a 6 mph one. Both are set to 100 percent speed.

In fact to increase speed requires a lot of different things.

To go from 4 to 8 mph needs taller gearing, bigger motors to "pull" the taller gearing, a bigger controller to supply enough (double) power, and bigger batteries to cope with the demand... And heavier cables to move all these electrons about!

It takes twice the amps to double your speed with no losses due to mechanical leverage caused by the taller gearing. But frictional losses also increase. it takes 4x the power to double speeds aerodynamically.

So at the speeds we go at its probably somewhere between 2 and 4 times more power required. I estimate 2.5 to 3 at slow speeds. Hence my new 12.75mph chair needing 36v and 150 amps per channel 300 Amps total to be a success. And it will give half the range if not worse. But I top up very fast and regularly so not an issue for me. See http://www.wheelchairdriver.com/ultimat ... ir-mk3.htm

[TwoTeasChris]

I have managed to place an order for a P&G programmer after not having a reply for some time. Phew.
Note that Bob might reply to your emails from a different account but all emails should be sent to the address in the first post here.

[TwoTeasChris]

Collected the programmer today. Plugged in and working.
Yippee!!!


Thanks Garry.

[TwoTeasChris]

Great to hear- I've been able to get it to work sporadically with two different USB to serial converters, working well with some Pilot+ modules but not others. Very frustrating- and I have no serial port on my laptop, my only computer.

Do you have a link to the partially working adaptors? Or pictures maybe.
I have a PC that is purely used to programme chairs. I'd like to put it somewhere else.

[Burgerman]

Serial ports? I just bought a DELL laptop for £50 delivered on ebay. Its 700 cpu, 512 memory, 20gb hard disk but has a serial port... And runs XP Pro. So can drive my real computer remotely (from the pub) via remote desktop and the wireless network etc.

So cheap its barely worth trying to get a USB to serial adapter to work. They dont or dont properly...

[JoeC]

I may just have to buy one of those 5+ year old laptops so that I can have a real serial port in a portable machine. I have never found a single USB to serial converter that worked reliably for either P&G or Dynamic, and I gave up looking. I got a PCI card with two serial ports, and i leave the programming cables permanently attached there, and bring the chair to the computer. On the one hand it's less convenient to not be able to carry the PC programmer with me, but on the other hand it's nice to have it connect every time on the first try instead of waiting around forever and getting a lot of error messages.

I've written emails asking for a recommended USB to serial converter and told the controller manufacturers that none of them work, but they don't have any recommendations. My best guess is that they've implemented the serial port communication in some way that's only borderline supported by the USB converters' capabilities, and they don't have any payoff from improving that. Most people who regularly connect the chairs to computers are able to do so in a workshop, so they can get away with the trick I used.

[Burgerman]

All the latest fastest pc's have no paralell, serial, old syle ide, eide, even for optical drives, no floppy drive controller or connectors and 1 or no pci slots...

Many have 3 pci-e slots only...

All that old stuff is gone. Hence the cheap laptop... And after spending more on USB to serial adapters and having no success reliably, I gave up.

[Burgerman]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Dell-Lattitude-D6 ... 1e608d56d4

EG... there are loads...

[TwoTeasChris]

All the latest fastest pc's have no paralell, serial, old syle ide, eide, even for optical drives, no floppy drive controller or connectors and 1 or no pci slots...

Many have 3 pci-e slots only...

All that old stuff is gone. Hence the cheap laptop... And after spending more on USB to serial adapters and having no success reliably, I gave up.

Over the past few weeks I've tried 3 different USB to serial adaptors without success.
Then two serial cards, but couldn't get the drivers to install.
So I started looking at old laptops ...
Today I checked the kids' PC and found it had a serial port.
So I can put this old PC down by my feet out of my way and just ride across the room if I want to reprogram.

[Burgerman]

I never got any of those usb to serial gadgets to work. Its the only way...

[Martin O Refurbisher]

First, can I take this opportunity to thank Garry for finding Robert Lee - Mr. Mobilty.

I bought my software and cable from Robert Lee, had a setup problem which he resolved by return e-mail (choice of com port), run it on a 10 year old IBM notebook via the serial port, and it does all that I expected. I can't offer a better recommendation.

Best,

Martin

[Burgerman]

This info needs to be in the where to find stuff thread at the top!

[Martin O Refurbisher]

Done,
Best,
Martin

[saintort]

i have the usb to serial adapters working on 3 machines 2 desktops with xp and one laptop with 7

found out that we have to run the driver update routine twice
once to install the usb to serial adapter and a second time to set up the comm port
it was a bit confusing reading the instructions but the second time around it finally made sense

i am running both the p&g and dynamic software on all 3 machines both oem without any problems

[Burgerman]

So was I for a bit. But its not every machine or every time. You will likely get problems sooner or later!

[saintort]

i just aquired a used chair like mine but with a dx controller a dx-pmb2

both chairs have the same motors but the vr2 is set at 70 amps max current limit and the pmb2 it set at 60 amps max current limit
even though the pmb2 is rated at 80 amps per motor

is it ok to increase this in the pmb2?

thanks