I'm pretty sure there was a thread quite a few months back regarding a USB version of the SxKey, and my recollection is that Parallax decided not to pursue it. However, it's unclear to me that a USB version of the key would really do anything different for you. All the COM calls in the SXKey are raw, Windows API calls - there is no library or additional overhead involved. Given the simple nature of serial ports and whatever problem you are having, it seems unclear to me that going to a more complicated interface (USB) would guarantee success, despite the fact that a USB based serial port is working for you on one of your setups.
Thanks,
PeterM
Peter,
The USB serial port works on ALL of my setups. It's never failed. The USB serial port always works. The hardware serial ports have always been intermittent for me. Even under WIN98SE.
As for the USB version, I was thinking the better way to approach it would be to use the direct drivers, and bypass the Serial mish-mash completely. FYI, the FTDI drivers has an interface that mimicks the windows serial port API calls. (ie. just change your target function calls to the FTDI drivers.) Theoretically, the USB version would be almost identical (of course, you and I both know nothing works as planned!)
The real reasons for the USB would be to build a self powered device, capible of debugging any voltage target SX, and to increase throughput to the·host PC system. (i.e. a snappier debug/walk).·For me,·a self powered·SX-Key would be worth the trouble.·Enough so, that I've·considered building a USB to serial converter, with the device registered for enough current draw to power·the SX-Key and USB to Serial IC, and a 5V output.·IC count could be reduced (no need for a TTL-RS232-RS232-TTL conversion, etc).·Then I started thinking about it, a parallel interface could make it just that much easier on the·SX side (no serial generation to deal with), and·faster (~200KB/s vs ~11KB/s). It would require some redesign of code, both PC side and SX-Key side.·· Actually, there·are a lot of options. Speed/complexity being the decision maker)
If I had the source code, I'd probably be working on one·right now. I could probably bang out the hardware in month of weekends. Of course that being said, there are lots of things that would be easy to build.·It's·just a matter of choosing·things with·the market potential...
-Dan
(P.S. Parallax guys, I really am willing to discuss this one...)
Comments
The USB serial port works on ALL of my setups. It's never failed. The USB serial port always works. The hardware serial ports have always been intermittent for me. Even under WIN98SE.
As for the USB version, I was thinking the better way to approach it would be to use the direct drivers, and bypass the Serial mish-mash completely. FYI, the FTDI drivers has an interface that mimicks the windows serial port API calls. (ie. just change your target function calls to the FTDI drivers.) Theoretically, the USB version would be almost identical (of course, you and I both know nothing works as planned!)
The real reasons for the USB would be to build a self powered device, capible of debugging any voltage target SX, and to increase throughput to the·host PC system. (i.e. a snappier debug/walk).·For me,·a self powered·SX-Key would be worth the trouble.·Enough so, that I've·considered building a USB to serial converter, with the device registered for enough current draw to power·the SX-Key and USB to Serial IC, and a 5V output.·IC count could be reduced (no need for a TTL-RS232-RS232-TTL conversion, etc).·Then I started thinking about it, a parallel interface could make it just that much easier on the·SX side (no serial generation to deal with), and·faster (~200KB/s vs ~11KB/s). It would require some redesign of code, both PC side and SX-Key side.·· Actually, there·are a lot of options. Speed/complexity being the decision maker)
If I had the source code, I'd probably be working on one·right now. I could probably bang out the hardware in month of weekends. Of course that being said, there are lots of things that would be easy to build.·It's·just a matter of choosing·things with·the market potential...
-Dan
(P.S. Parallax guys, I really am willing to discuss this one...)