BOEBOT Parallax USB to Serial Adapter cannot connect

loudboy

Hello all.

I am in a bit of a pinch here. I am trying to get my Mac to talk to my BoeBot and am having no luck. I need this to work for class!

I am using an Intel MacBook Pro running OSX 10.5.5.

I am using the Parallax USB to Serial Adaptor running the drivers found on the FTDI site found here: http://www.ftdichip.com/FTDrivers.htm

I am using the program MacBS2 to try to communicate with the BoeBot. The program is found here http://www.parallax.com/tabid/441/Default.aspx

I have followed all instructions that go along with these various components, but when I try to "Identify" the BASIC Stamp, I get the message "No BASIC Stamp detected. Check connections and port selection" from the MacBS2 program.

The only thing that I am confused about and may have done wrong/not done at all is to configure the port for this application. I do not know how to do this.

Yes, batteries are installed properly, BOEBOT has been tested with a PC and works, all cable connections are being made, and the robot is turned on

Any ideas how to remedy this?

Thanks.

MovieMaker

Won't talk to my macpro either. I think it requires a special serial to USB adapter. Also, check your baudrate.

Mike Green

I use MacOS 10.5.6 on a MacBook with several different FTDI-based USB to Serial Adapters all the time including the ones Parallax sells. I use the drivers downloaded from FTDI along with MacBS2 and BradC's Spin Compiler. The default Baud doesn't matter because the Mac programs set their own Baud. I've never configured the FTDI drivers. I don't know if there's even a way to do this.

When you tested the BoeBot with a PC, were you using the USB to Serial Adapter? Are you using the same cables you used with the PC?

I'd check the batteries again or use an AC adapter, check the cables again, reinstall a fresh copy of the drivers from FTDI and MacBS2 downloaded from Murat's website.

loudboy

When I used the Bot with the PC, I was using the supplied Serial cable plugged into the computers Serial port. I was not using the USB adapter.

The batteries in the Bot are brand new and power up the Bot fine.

Ezsynn

Yo, I had the same problem, too. My BOE short-circuited (You can tell if your BOE heats up or your Batteries become hot).
And after that, It will not connect to the computer.
Is this what happened to you?
Or do you have a Homework Board? (Technically a Homework Board BOE-BOT is called a HOBO-BOT [noparse][[/noparse]HOmework BOard - roBOT)
You can ask Parallax tech support about the problem. Just send them an email.
Send it to support@parallax.com. Happy Camping!


Post Edited (Ezsynn) : 1/22/2009 5:54:18 AM GMT

Jessica Uelmen

Finding the right driver can be tricky using OSX. I own a MacBook Pro myself, and have successfully connected to and programmed the Boe-Bot.

The first thing you'll have to do is check if you have any current drivers installed. You can check this in /System/Library/Extensions/ and the file name will be FTDIUSBSerialDriver.kext. If there is currently a driver there, you'll have to remove it and restart before installing a new driver.

The Parallax USB to serial adapter uses the FT232R chip from FTDI. You can download the driver for this here.

Scroll down until you find your version of Mac OS. There are drivers for Intel based versions of Mac OS X and for Mac OS X, so be sure to select the correct operating system. Also, make sure the FT232R chip is supported and download the driver.

Hope this helps!

Jessica

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Jessica Uelmen
Education Department
Parallax, Inc.