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More %$$##$ port problems — Parallax Forums

More %$$##$ port problems

bufflerbuffler Posts: 22
edited 2007-12-23 18:03 in BASIC Stamp
OK, I added a six port serial card to my PC. I get valid loopback testing with hyperterm, pins 2-3 and 6-7 connected in a test socket. But no loopback and no echo on any of the 6 expansion ports from stamp editor, and it does not show a connected stamp. I can get a response to the stamp on the "real" port, ie com1. But another device I have seems to have the same problem. What the heck? How do I get REAL PORTS ???????I HATE to have to go to a competing processor board, but this business of hardwired DCD or whatever it is is killing me!
Thanks for the opportunity to rant. jumpin.gif
Don

Comments

  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2007-12-17 22:29
    A USB to Serial Adapter will provide a serial port that's "real" enough to use with the BASIC Stamp.

    -Phil
  • Peter VerkaikPeter Verkaik Posts: 3,956
    edited 2007-12-17 23:10
    I think you must edit the available comports that are checked by the IDE.
    Edit->Preferences->Debugport
    Click ... button and add comports to the list.

    regards peter
  • Bill ChennaultBill Chennault Posts: 1,198
    edited 2007-12-17 23:33
    Don--

    As Phil said, a USB to serial should solve all your communication problems in this area. I use Parallax's USB2SER.

    I had a com issue once. I solved it by sticking a USB hub in and programming myself to forget serial. The USB2SER device was just one device I drove off a single PC USB port. Today, I have a complete computer dedicated to the Stamp IDE, so that problem does not exist anymore.

    --Bill

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  • allanlane5allanlane5 Posts: 3,815
    edited 2007-12-18 02:49
    Don:

    I've installed multiple serial ports in PC's before. They handle "COM1" through "COM4" relatively well -- any more than that, and you start 'sharing' addresses on multiple cards, which does NOT work (this depends heavily on the card you use). So, you can have at MOST 4 hardware serial ports on the PC architecture.

    Now, having said that, Keyspan does make the "USA-49W" interface. This is a USB driven module, which has 4 serial ports on it. These serial ports can be COM3 through COM6. You can add multiple Keyspan units to the USB port (using a USB splitter) up to COM16. I haven't been able to get the Windows software to recognize more than 16 (COM1 through COM16) serial ports at one time.

    Note also, when the BS2 IDE says it's testing "LOOPBACK", it's testing that an on-BOE connection connects pin 6 to pin 7. Testing 'Echo' verifies if the BS2 pin 2 transistor is echoing things to pin 3. I'm not convinced a fully passive 'loopback' connector will achieve this -- but I agree it should. The final test uses the DTR (pin 4) signal as a 'Reset', and expects the BS2 to send back an identity string of some kind when it gets reset. And reports "no stamp found" if the IDE doesn't get the right identity string at the right time.
  • Chris SavageChris Savage Parallax Engineering Posts: 14,406
    edited 2007-12-19 15:43
    Assuming the ports show up in the scan list in the BASIC Stamp Editor, have you tried disabling their FIFO buffers?

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    Chris Savage
    Parallax Tech Support
  • bufflerbuffler Posts: 22
    edited 2007-12-23 18:03
    They do show up on the scan list. I'll see about the FIFO, and thanks to all...
    Don
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