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I must be jinxed — Parallax Forums

I must be jinxed

TomLewisTomLewis Posts: 5
edited 2009-09-05 07:52 in Propeller 1
I got my USB Propeller Education·kit today. I installed the USB driver as per the web link, then plugged my Propeller Plug in, the tiny red and blue LEDs flash,·and.... nothing happened! I tried all the USB ports, and even tried 2 other computers! Nothing·on any of them!

I send an email to support...

Then opened up my USB Boe-Bot and got the same thing!

Obviously, unless there is a bad batch of FTDI chips, it must be me, so here's what I have for systems and what I've done.

I followed both kits as per the instruction manuals.

I've uninstalled ALL the Parallax software and reinstalled.
I've checked my USB ports to make sure they are setup for 'legacy'.
My systems are a Pentium 4 with XP SP3, an I7 with Vista 64, (also has Windows 7) and a Core 2 Duo laptop with Vista 64.

Every computer/OS has the same symptoms! LEDs flash, then no action!

So, what am I doing wrong?

Tom Lewis

Comments

  • Clock LoopClock Loop Posts: 2,069
    edited 2009-09-05 07:23
    Any way you can post a picture of the circuit? You sure that you wired it all up properly? Did you swap the TX RX lines? How about VSS is it connected? Did you remember to use a battery/power supply? (the usb will only power the prop plug, not your circuit or the propeller chip)
  • W9GFOW9GFO Posts: 4,010
    edited 2009-09-05 07:33
    Did you reboot? That's always my first step when I have a problem with a windoze PC.

    There is not much that will happen when you plug in the Prop plug, until you try to use it to communicate with the Propeller chip via the Propeller Tool software.

    Not sure how you can use the Boe-bot to test the Prop plug... maybe you have a bad cord.

    Rich H

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    The Servo Boss, a 12 channel servo tester kit from Gadget Gangster.
  • TomLewisTomLewis Posts: 5
    edited 2009-09-05 07:44
    The manual says when I plug the Propeller Plug onto the USB cable, I will see a brief flash from the 2 LEDs, then Windows will display "Found New Hardware..." (It didn't. Never did with ANY of the installations.) Battery is still disconnected at this point. All power and conductor checks completed satisfactorily.

    With the Boe-Bot, I only need to plug in the Basic Stamp, then the USB cable (LEDs flash), plug in battery pack, slide switch to position 1, (green LED glows). Test communications with BASIC Stamp Editor -> Run -> Identify. (No port found.)

    Also, when I go to Device Manager, no Ports (COM & LPT) displayed.
  • TomLewisTomLewis Posts: 5
    edited 2009-09-05 07:48
    W9GFO said...
    Did you reboot? That's always my first step when I have a problem with a windoze PC.

    There is not much that will happen when you plug in the Prop plug, until you try to use it to communicate with the Propeller chip via the Propeller Tool software.

    Not sure how you can use the Boe-bot to test the Prop plug... maybe you have a bad cord.

    Rich H

    I did reboot, but you solved it for me! It WAS the USB cable! Seems to work! Now I can go to bed!
  • W9GFOW9GFO Posts: 4,010
    edited 2009-09-05 07:52
    TomLewis said...
    I did reboot, but you solved it for me! It WAS the USB cable! Seems to work! Now I can go to bed!

    Good deal! Think I'll do the same.

    Rich H

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    The Servo Boss, a 12 channel servo tester kit from Gadget Gangster.
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