Trouble connecting BCT8 to my PC via RS-232 cable

[biggysmalls0409]

I have 2 BCT-8 scanners.I wanted to be able to hook them to my pc and read what's in them and make some changes.Here's the problem:I bought and installed the ARC8 software.I bought the RadioShack brand RS-232 cable.I put the scanner in remote mode,hook the cable from the scanner to the pc,set the baud rate in both units and what I'm getting is that my computer is not "seeing" the scanner.The com1 port is enabled in the device manager on the pc.It says it's functioning properly.The scanner says "RMT" on the screen,and yes the scanner is turned on.,but still no luck.I even installed the ARC8 on my laptop,used a usb to serial port converter cable and still it won't recognize it so I think that it's something I'm doing or not doing with the scanner.Tried both scanners with identical results.I have the manual.It seems easy enough to put into the remote mode,but ??????????????? Oh yea,and just for the sake of a possible bad RS-232 cable,I exchanged it for another today and got same results.I'm out of solutions.

 

[mule1075]

is their a auto detect feature in the software.if their is try an see if that helps.did that with arc 250 for my 796 and it solved all my problems.

 

[kwrxxx]

Have you set the com port speed IN the SCANNER?

 

[iMONITOR]

Are you certain the RS232 serial cables you bought from Radio Shack are straight through and not null-modem cables? Null-modem cables will have pins 2 & 3 reversed at one end, and won't work. If you're not sure, but have an ohm meter, or continuity checker you could test them.

 

[iMONITOR]

Have you set the com port speed IN the SCANNER?

He says he did: "set the baud rate in both units"

 

[biggysmalls0409]

Yes I've tried the auto detect and same result.

 

[biggysmalls0409]

The cable I bought from RS is part # 26-117B,a RS-232C cable.The numbers on the pins at each end are the same.It's a maleDB9 to female DB9 and supposedly is a "straight through" cable.I don't believe it has the null adapter in it.

 

[iMONITOR]

Have you confirmed that the serial port on your computer is working? Sometimes they are disabled in the BIOS setup, and you need to enable them. Another thing to check in the BIOS is if the serial port is set to "AUTO", or manually configured. Some software does not pick up on the port if it's set to auto. If you configure it manually to IRQ = 4, and ADDRESS = 3f8h (for COM1), or IRQ = 3 and ADDRESS = 2f8h (for COM2), it may help.

 

[biggysmalls0409]

If I open my port settings box in the device manager I can see that the port is "enabled" It says it's working properly.......Under "resources" the settings are I/O range 03F8-03FF and the IRQ is 04. I only have 1 comm port on the computer and have never used it.The box for auto settings is checked and I tried unchecking it and it still didn't help.I know you're on the right track with the comm port being the problem,I just can't quite figure it out.Thanks for your help so far.

 

[iMONITOR]

What anti-virus, firewall, Internet security software are you running? Some versions of MacAfee (especially the one from AOL) can cause problems with allowing scanner software to communicate with scanner hardware.

Disconnect your computer from the Internet, and then disable your anti-whatever software and see if that makes a difference. Don't forget to re-enable it after the test.

 

[biggysmalls0409]

OK,dissconnected from the web,turned off windows firewall,turned off TrendMicro Anti-Virus,turned off Webroot SpySweeper,Uninstalled the ARC8 and then Reinstalled it and still no luck.Still get a message on the screen saying scanner could not be detected.Also I double checked my cable for continuity and it's ok as suspected.I've also "rebooted" a couple of times and nothing.......If I click on "read scanner data" in arc8 I get a box that says my comm port is either unavailable or another software is using it,or select another comm port.I don't have another port nor did I ever have anything plugged into this one?The scanner is in remote mode and is scanning the CA freqs while it's hooked up.I've even tried pushing "hold" on the scanner while in remote mode and still no luck.Like I said,I have 2 scanners and unable to get the software to recognize either one so I'm sure it's something in my computer.Also I have the ARC8 cd and I've registered my copy so I'm not running in the demo mode.Who knows.........

 

[iMONITOR]

Does your computer have an internal dial-up modem?

 

[biggysmalls0409]

Yes it does,but I'm connected on Brighthouse cable via the Ethernet port.

 

[Butelsoftware]

The ARC8 message means that the selected comport is already in use. Comports can not be 'shared'.

Are you running any software for PDA/pocket PC/mobile phone etc. like MicroSoft Activesync? If so disable that software since it polls the serial ports looking for new devices.

Gommert
www.butelsoftware.com

 

[biggysmalls0409]

No.I don't have any software of that type installed.How can I find out what might be using the port? I've gone to my control panel and looked at my programs and I don't see anything that could or would use it?

 

[Butelsoftware]

Howmany comports are shown in the control panel?
If there is only one comport shown and you have an internal modem that modem is probably running at com1.

In the control panel there should be an options to check the modem settings and tell you which comport is used by the modem.

Gommert
www.butelsoftware.com

 

[biggysmalls0409]

I show 2 ports in my device manager.One says comm1 and the other is LPT1.The LPT1 is the large serial port for a parallel cable for a printer which I dont use.Neither port is being used other than me trying to use the comm1 port.I also disabled the dial up modem and it says it is not using any resources since it is not enabled.Still getting the message from the software that the scanner cannot be detected.I also installed the Butel ARC8 on my laptop and just as a test tried a serial port to usb converter on that computer.Same result,software could not detect either one of my BCT8"s.Could it be I'm missing something that I'm not doing with the scanner? It says RMT in the upper right corner of the screen,I have tried seveal baud rates,I use the auto detect function of the ARC8,however even in the remote mode it's still scanning.Is that correct?

 

[iMONITOR]

What COM port is your internal modem assigned to? It will be assigned to one, even if you're not using it.

 

[biggysmalls0409]

I can't see anywhere in the device manager that it's assigned to anything,but it saysCI Slot 3 (PCI bus 2,device 10,function 0).Under "resources" it says it's not using any because the device has been disabled(the dial up modem). I'm not sure what else I can do,but I'm confident that port is the problem.Whenever I plug something into a usb port,my computer will make an audible tone signifying it recognizes something's been plugged into it.When I plug the RS232 cable into the port........nothing,no tone,no blinking hourglass on the monitor,nothing.It's like it doesn't exist.Go figure........

 

[Butelsoftware]

Since there is only one comport shown it is probably assigned to the modem. LPT is a printer and not relevant.

When you have an internal modem and external comport you should see 2 'COM' ports.

Are you sure the external com port is enabled in the BIOS? It may have been disabled to avoid IRQ conflicts under Win98, XP handles the resources differently (and better).
Also if you don't use the internal modem I would remove it.

Gommert
www.butelsoftware.com