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mac running windows xp — Parallax Forums

mac running windows xp

Tom MixTom Mix Posts: 3
edited 2007-02-06 12:22 in BASIC Stamp
I just installed windows xp with bootcamp on my macbook pro so I can learn about microcontrollers.
I have the green controler kit.
I've downloaded usb drivers from your web site.
I have a green light on the board and a USB to Parrallel connection.
I am trying to do the basic set-up. When i click run, indentify i get com5 and no, no.

I hope i've given enough info for you to advise me on how to get communications to and from the board?

Cheers

Comments

  • Tom MixTom Mix Posts: 3
    edited 2007-02-06 01:24
    Sorry thats a serial connection, smile.gif

    Cheers
  • ForrestForrest Posts: 1,341
    edited 2007-02-06 03:35
    What's a green controller kit? Who's USB to serial adapter are you using? Do you have a Basic Stamp? What model?

    If you've got a Basic Stamp and are running a Parallax FTDI or Keyspan USB to serial adapter, the first thing I would do is to boot into OSX and run www.muratnkonar.com/otherstuff/macbs2/

    Post Edited (Forrest) : 2/6/2007 3:40:09 AM GMT
  • Mike GreenMike Green Posts: 23,101
    edited 2007-02-06 04:35
    You have to have a proper USB to serial adapter. Many of them don't handle the handshaking lines correctly. The Keyspan and Parallax ones do. You'll need to have the matching Windows drivers installed. As Forrest mentioned, you can use the Mac with MacOS using Murat's PBasic IDE. In that case, you need to have MacOS drivers for the USB to serial adapter you're using.

    I use Parallels Desktop with Windows XP for both Propeller and Stamp development with the Parallax USB to serial adapters and the Keyspan High Speed adapter. I have used Murat's IDE as well under the MacOS with the Keyspan adapter, works fine.
  • aalegadoaalegado Posts: 66
    edited 2007-02-06 04:39
    My $0.02...

    I've had great success with MacBS2 under OS X using the FTDI drivers for my USB-based Parallax boards and the Keyspan driver for my Keyspan USB-to-serial adapter (for my serially-connected BS2's). The FTDI and Keyspan drivers coexist nicely. I've also been able to use Win2K Pro running inside a Parallels virtual machine under OS X. In that case, I disable the drivers in OS X (I move them out of the /System/Library/Extensions directory and then reboot) after which the Win2K/Parallels environment can "see" the USB ports, allowing the Parallax software to access my Parallax boards.

    Unfortunately, I've not tried BootCamp so I can't provide any info along those lines.

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    I wouldn't connect that if I were you...

    Vive Le Tour!
    Le Grand Depart July 6-8, 2007
  • Professor ChaosProfessor Chaos Posts: 36
    edited 2007-02-06 07:30
    MacBS2 is very elegant - more so than the Windows software IMHO.

    It does lack a memory map and DEBUGIN support, but if you don't need those features stick with MacBS2. You can run a terminal application if you need to use DEBUGIN.
  • Tom MixTom Mix Posts: 3
    edited 2007-02-06 12:22
    First I want to thank all of you for your responses.

    I was not aware there was a MAC version I could use, I think I will follow that route in my early stages of learning.

    I got my serial to usb cable from Radio Shack, so I will aquire the appropriate ones recommended here.

    I am confident now that I have made a good choice to learn micro controlers on.

    I look forward to new communications as I progress,

    Thank you, Professor Chaos, aalegado, Mike Green, Forrest.

    Cheers

    Tom Mix
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