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Can't get host to see Javelin through USBtoSerial device — Parallax Forums

Can't get host to see Javelin through USBtoSerial device

Don FrenchDon French Posts: 126
edited 2007-08-19 02:31 in General Discussion
I can't get either my XP or my Vista machine to see my Javelin through the Parallax USBtoSER connector. The XP machine has a serial port that I can use to connect to the Javelin, so I verified that the Javelin is OK. Both the XP and Vista machines recognize the USBtoSER device and show USB Serial Converter listed under USB Serial Bus controllers in the Device Manager.

USB Serial port (COM6) appears under Serial Ports in the Device Manager on XP, but only COM1 and COM2 appears in the Identify list. When I plug the USB cord into either host, it assures me with a beep that the device is installed and I briefly see a flashing red LED on the USBtoSER, then the green LED stays on constantly. I have the problem with both a Javelin Demo board and a Super Carrier Board.

I installed the USBtoSER drivers from here:
http://www.parallax.com/html_pages/downloads/software/ftdi_drivers.asp

Any ideas?

Comments

  • Peter VerkaikPeter Verkaik Posts: 3,956
    edited 2007-08-19 00:04
    In the Javelin IDE, go to Project->Global Options
    Select tab Debugger and click on button ...
    to edit the port list. Add com6 to the list.

    regards peter
  • Don FrenchDon French Posts: 126
    edited 2007-08-19 00:11
    Thank you!
  • Don FrenchDon French Posts: 126
    edited 2007-08-19 00:18
    Oops, that worked for the XP system, but not for the Vista system, which is where I really need this capability. On the Vista system, no serial ports do not appear in the Device Manager, so I had to guess which it might be. I tried adding ports 1-9 and none of them show the Javelin.
  • Peter VerkaikPeter Verkaik Posts: 3,956
    edited 2007-08-19 01:01
    I don't have Vista, but if there are no ports showing, I guess the usb drivers
    need to be updated. Try the ftdi website to see if there are Vista drivers.
    http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/VCP.htm

    regards peter




    Post Edited (Peter Verkaik) : 8/19/2007 1:06:32 AM GMT
  • Don FrenchDon French Posts: 126
    edited 2007-08-19 01:47
    It doesn't appear that they have a Vista driver but their driver download page is less than 100% clear on that point. They show Vista in OS column but no devices in the Devices supported column. And there are no installation instructions. Why would they even include Vista in the list if they don't have any devices that they support for it?
  • Peter VerkaikPeter Verkaik Posts: 3,956
    edited 2007-08-19 01:58
    Check out this thread.
    http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?p=667184

    It is about a basic stamp connection, but may apply to javelin as well.

    regards peter
  • Don FrenchDon French Posts: 126
    edited 2007-08-19 02:02
    Upon looking at their driver download page again I changed my mind and now think that the driver that they list in the section that includes Vista is the same one for all those OS's. However, it is not at all clear how to install it. I tried the executable and it does something in a command window and then stops without notifying you if it succeeded or what it did. The other one is a zip file with a bunch of files but no executable or instructions. Arrgh! Is it so hard to include a readme or to make a driver installer that is interactive ?

    In any case, after running the executable, it still doesn't see the Javelin and no COM ports show up in the Device manager and I don't know what COM port to add. I added 1-11 with no luck. On my machine, there is no section called Ports in the Device Manager, and therefore no Serial ports are listed.
  • Peter VerkaikPeter Verkaik Posts: 3,956
    edited 2007-08-19 02:08
    The basic thread shows

    11. In the Device Manager, you should now have 2 New Entries: (1) under USB Controllers, "USB Serial Converter" and·*most important*(2) under Ports, "USB Serial Port (COMx)".· #2 is what will allow the Basic Stamp Software to "Identify" and "Connect" to the Basic Stamp.

    You need to see the ports before the javelin can be identified.
    The thread also tells not to run the executable. Use the zip.

    regards peter
  • Don FrenchDon French Posts: 126
    edited 2007-08-19 02:10
    Our messages crossed in the ether.

    I can't follow the instructions in that thread exactly because I never get the request to install the driver but I will try to get it to work somehow. I need to figure out how to uninstall the one I already did install.

    (God, I hate Vista! New laptop came with it and I have delayed the pain of going backwards (not) to XP till now, but think it might be time.)
  • Don FrenchDon French Posts: 126
    edited 2007-08-19 02:26
    And I never see this:

    11. Open the Device Manager. You should see a new entry with a Yellow exclamation!, that says "ft232r usb uart".
  • Don FrenchDon French Posts: 126
    edited 2007-08-19 02:31
    Well, I finally got it to work but I had to go to USB Serial Converter in the Device Manager (under USB serial bus controllers) and choose update driver and delete driver from disk. Then I pointed it to the unzipped folder as the suggested in the other thread. This finally worked and now I have a Ports section in the Device Manager and under that USB Serial Port (COM8). And yes, now the Javelin IDE can find the Javelin. Thanks for pointing me to the driver site and to that other thread.
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