linking the laptop with the basic stamp board

Wipeout · 2011-01-25 11:44

Hi to everybody!
My laptop has not the serial port 9 pins. Can I use a cable 9pins-usb to link the laptop and the basic stamp? Does it work?

sam_sam_sam · 2011-01-25 11:59

First of all welcome to the Parallax Forum

This what you need and here is the link to it

Parallax USB to Serial (RS-232) Adapter

I hope this helps

Wipeout · 2011-01-25 12:03

thank you very much for your welcome and for the quick answer.
but now I have further questions:
where have I to insert the usb to serial 232 on the board?
Then can I use the usb-usb cable?

sam_sam_sam · 2011-01-25 12:17

If you look at the photo one end has a small USB end and the other end has the serial RS- 232 which hook to the Basic Stamp Board
I use this on my laptop all the time and work very well

I hope this helps

Wipeout · 2011-01-25 12:24

ok, it is clear!
thank you sam!

Wipeout · 2011-02-08 11:42

Finally I bought the parallax usbto232 converter (like the one in the photo).
The hardware is correctly installed in my laptop...but the link does not work.
If I click in the pbasic environment the icon "identify" the result is:
port: Com5
Device type:
version:
loopback: Yes
Echo: Yes

If I try to run a simple code, a communication error reports: No basic stamp found.
how is it possible?

I hope someone can help me!

Mike Green · 2011-02-08 11:55

The Stamp board has to have power for it to be identified. You also need the Windows driver for the USB to serial adapter. There's a link on the main Parallax website for this (USB/VCP Driver Installer). Follow the directions.

Wipeout · 2011-02-08 12:15

Hi Mike,
of course I installed the driver following the instructions reported at the following link:
http://www.parallax.com/ProductInfo/Accessories/USBDrivers/tabid/530/Default.aspx

The hardware configuration is:
BS board<

>serial cable<---->usbto232 converter<---->usb cable<

>laptop

Spiral_72 · 2011-02-08 12:31

Make sure your Serial cable is connected to the Stamp as the schematic I've attached shows. You're also going to need two 0.1uF capacitors.

I've had the same results you did and the capacitor was between the wrong two pins. That might not help, but check your wiring and let us know.

I'm assuming you are using the microcontroller and not a board here.

Mike Green · 2011-02-08 12:32

There is nothing wrong with what you've shown / explained. Since it doesn't work, you have to check your assumptions:

1) The Stamp has to have power. It has to be plugged into its socket correctly.

2) The serial cable has to be in good condition. The USB cable has to be in good condition. Have you tried tried other cables? Have you tried plugging the USB to RS232 adapter directly into the Stamp board?

Wipeout · 2011-02-08 12:52

Mike, I checked the cables and I tried also to plug the USBto232 adapter directly in the stamp board.
Concerning the first point how can I check if the stamp is plugged into its socket correctly?

Spiral_72, If I use my old pc with a serial 9 pins port it works properly. I think I am having troubles because of the usb adapter.

Wipeout · 2011-02-08 12:58

If it can help, I am attaching a link to my board:

http://www.google.it/imgres?imgurl=http://www.adrirobot.it/bs_autocostruita/bs2_to_bs2sx/Scheda_BS2SX-Dopo%2520modifica.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.adrirobot.it/bs_autocostruita/bs2_to_bs2sx/bs2_to_bs2sx.htm&usg=__WV61IbbsoAVyPjvfHomWc_czCZs=&h=469&w=640&sz=54&hl=it&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=5xQoCToSpvpS9M:&tbnh=127&tbnw=169&ei=Sq5RTb_KKcSfOunOxbsH&prev=/images%3Fq%3Ddea%2Bbasic%2Bstamp%2Bboard%26um%3D1%26hl%3Dit%26sa%3DN%26biw%3D1259%26bih%3D565%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=312&oei=Sq5RTb_KKcSfOunOxbsH&page=1&ndsp=19&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0&tx=76&ty=34

Mike Green · 2011-02-08 16:11

The USB to RS232 adapter works fine for me. I use it all the time with my Stamp boards. Try deleting and reinstalling the driver. Make sure the adapter is not plugged in when you initially install the driver. Make sure your USB cable is ok.

Your Stamp board doesn't use a Stamp module. It has a specially programmed SX microprocessor chip. I don't know which Stamp module it replaces. It would not be the BS2 which uses a PIC16F57, but could be a BS2sx.

Spiral_72 · 2011-02-08 19:45

Oh! the cable is not broken a.k.a. a connector on both ends. I see. I'm with Mike then, I have that exact USB-Serial converter and it works great..... I just has to be a botched install. Not that it should matter, but what OS?

Wipeout · 2011-02-08 23:24

my os is windows xp!
Ok, I will try to install again the driver and check with different cable

linking the laptop with the basic stamp board

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