Usb to serial conversion with the prop plug to UM6-LT

zwdavis

I am trying to connect to the UM6-LT using the prop plug to do the usb to serial conversion. CH robotics, the manufacturer of the UM6-LT sensor, provides a program to connect to the sensor via a computer. Some of the functions of the program work when trying to connect to the sensor while others do not. I continue to get an error of "Timeout while communicating with sensor". I contacted CH robotics technical support and they insist that there is a problem with my usb to serial conversion. I have the rx pin and tx pin of the prop plug connected to the tx and rx pin of the sensor respectively. I then connected the Vss pin of the prop plug to ground and have nothing connected to the res pin. I am extremely confused why some parts of this communication are working and some aren't. Any help anyone can offer would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Zach

Franklin

I contacted CH robotics technical support and they insist that there is a problem with my usb to serial conversion.

The prop plug was not designed to be a general purpose USB to serial adapter. That said, what works and what does not?

Duane Degn

It doesn't look like the UM6-LT is expecting any sort of flow control signals so I don't see why it shouldn't be able to use the Prop Plug as a USB to serial.

I've used the Prop Plug many times as a general purpose USB to serial adaptor without issue.

As Franklin asked, what type of things aren't working as expected?

zwdavis

Im trying to calibrate the magnetometer. In order to do that the software takes readings from the sensor and then you upload the information the software generates back to the sensor. I havnt been able to get any readings during the magnetometer calibration part. Furthermore, when I try to read the configuration settings from the sensor a status bar appears and eventually stops, giving the error I mentioned before of a timeout while communicating with the sensor. The status bar goes a different length every time so I am unsure why sometimes its able to read more data than other times. Some communication is working with the sensor such as getting readings from the various individual sensors and sending commands such as zero-ing the gyro. When you have used the prop plug before did you do anything in particular with the RES pin or is it ok that I have it disconnected?

Duane Degn

zwdavis wrote: »

Im trying to calibrate the magnetometer. In order to do that the software takes readings from the sensor and then you upload the information the software generates back to the sensor. I havnt been able to get any readings during the magnetometer calibration part. Furthermore, when I try to read the configuration settings from the sensor a status bar appears and eventually stops, giving the error I mentioned before of a timeout while communicating with the sensor. The status bar goes a different length every time so I am unsure why sometimes its able to read more data than other times. Some communication is working with the sensor such as getting readings from the various individual sensors and sending commands such as zero-ing the gyro. When you have used the prop plug before did you do anything in particular with the RES pin or is it ok that I have it disconnected?

This sounds like the connection with the PC is noisy. Make sure you're using a good USB cable and not a retractable one. It would also be good to keep any wire between the Prop Plug and the UM6-LT relatively short (6" or less).

What is the baud being used in the communication line?

Also, what are you using to power the UM6-LT? It would be a good idea to make sure the power source is nice and clean.

Do you have another USB to serial device? I've had several Prop Plugs stop working on me, it's possible there's a bad solder joint somewhere that's interfering with the communication.

I always just left the RES pin unconnected myself. I doubt that's the problem.