No joy with a USB to DB_9 to SX-Key tool chain for programming SX-28.

adrift

I'm connecting my HP desktop system via USB and using a usb mini male end into a parallax item 28030 "USB to DB-9·connector/232 adaptor" rev b.· Then I plug into·my SX-Key rev f.· The usb to db-9 thing installs itself using the lastest ftdi drivers, which are Windows cert.· I view the port that has·opened via the Windows Hardware list in the control panel.· It says com3.· I· try all the IDE's I found (2.02, 2.3, 2.3+)...with and without connection to the 4-pin port on my sx-28 and 48/52 boards.· According to the failure msgs when I try to set the clock, with the normal clock disconnected, the IDE consistently fails to find the sx-key on com3.· So, my question is whether the usb-28030-SXkey tool chain is possible?
··

Post Edited (adrift) : 9/14/2007 5:17:21 AM GMT

CCraig

Yes, it is possible. I don't normally use that connection, but I just tested it (again), to make sure. (read, write, debug)

Make sure you have the latest drivers from FTDI.
You should have a green led (top one) on the USBto323.
When sending data, the red led (bottom one) should be flashing. (data)

HTH, Chris

adrift

Thanks.· I have the green light and a sometimes red light...like it blinks once to try to connect and then nothing but long spaces and sometime blinks.· Green is solid.· I'll look·for·driver update.
Regards,
Jim

Post Edited (adrift) : 9/14/2007 3:15:08 PM GMT

Peter Verkaik

If you're running windows Vista, check this out:
http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?p=667184

regards peter

adrift

Thanks, Peter.· My desktop system is XP with current updates.· The drivers it installed were from Windows Update and the same as the ones from FTDI.· Nevertheless, I uninstalled them and reinstalled from the Parallax site again.· Still no talk from the USB thru to·the sx-key...green light but only sporadic red light...and it is powered by the board 4-pin set.

Regards,

Jim

Peter Verkaik

Have you set the latency for the usb serial port to a minimum?

regards peter

adrift

It was 16 ms. I've set it to 1 and turned things off and on. It didn't seem to have an effect. What about the rest of the settings? Are any others potentially effecting me?

Guenther Daubach

adrift,

the steady green LED, and the sporadically blinking red LED indicate that some comminucation via the USB port takes place. Therefore, you should check if the problem is not eventually caused by the SX-Key. Do you have any computer with a COM port available where you could hook up the SX-Key without the need for using the USB/RS232 adapter?

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Greetings from Germany,

G

Peter Verkaik

My usb2ser settings are:
latency 1ms, usb transfer sizes 64 bytes.
Works for me.

regards peter

adrift

Peter, changing the transfer size to 64 bytes did not fix the problem.· I am going to try an older comp per Guenther's suggestion, to· try to verify the Key's integrity.· I'll let you know.· Thanks to both of you.

Regards,

Jim

adrift

Hello, G

Capdiamont

Make sure your board is powered by five volts, or close to it, otherwise the sxkey will not run. The sx key is powered by the board. They are going to be coming out with a usb sx key, that will be powered by the usb, not the board.

adrift

Thanks.· The supply is solid at 5 volts.· I just got a Blitz programmer and it works fine
so I'm going to send the key back to xgamestation (where I bought it) for testing.

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Regards,
Jim

Bashar Sadig

I have been able to Resolve a Similar Problem
=============================

I have encountered the same problem with generally FTDI chips (USB2SER, SXKey):
1) I tried everything, changing paramters, and so on. All seem to be ok
2) I tried using the windows terminal to test connectivity
3) I tried "Disabling the Device" from the hardware manager
4) I tried "Rebooting" after Disabling the Device
5) I tried "Disabling" the COM and toggling back and forth with reboots
6) I also "Updated the Driver" from the update dialog box

ABOVE DID NOT WORK

---

How I resolved it:
What Worked:
After a number days, I was successful. It appeared that the device installation had a corrupted binding and the operating system had issues with driver.

Resolution:
1) I simply UnInstalled the Device
2) I rebooted
3) I plugged in the device again for recognition
4) And did use the emulator and a home grown program to send back and forth
5) Resolution Worked

So, I say, the reson I mentioned all of these steps, is simply to trace back the troubleshooting of the process or any similar process. I believe having 2 FTDI chips on one computer system may or may not sporadically have a similar behavior.

Note: Once I have done what I needed to do to fix this problem, I have never had any problem.

Follow These Steps to Get to the Device Manager
Go To Start, Find "My Computer", Mouse Over, Right Click, Select "Properties", Dialog Opens, Select "Hardware" tab, and locate the USB section on the hierarchical view(Tree View).

Cheers

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Bashar Sadig

Senior Solutions Architect - Enterprise Applications

adrift

hello and thanks.· I haven't mailed the key back yet, so i'll try the uninstall and ge back to you.

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Regards,
Jim

adrift

You are correct.· It is possible to get the usb-to-com-to-sxkey to work.· I did the uninstalls and restarts to both the com port and to the usb drivers.· Between that and the finicky nature of the 4-pin plug, I can get the thing to program and run about 3 out of ten times.·
And not in a row.
I bought·a Parallax Blitz key, which is usb-to-4 pin, with less functionality than the sx-key but with way more reliability.· The main missing feature as far as I'm concerned is the lack of the adjustable clock with the Blitz.· But it'll do.
Thanks for your detailed and considered response.

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Regards,
Jim

adrift

This is an happy update to maybe close out the topic.· Bottom line is that the connection works flawlessly if both the components are good.· I bought another sxkey from the xgamestation people, where I got the original...primarily because·the second one·was a good deal.· Anyhow I connected up the sxkey and the usb to db9 adapter and it worked immediately...no restarts, no adjustments needed.· So joy at last.

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Regards,
Jim