ProScan: comm port issue (in use by this instance)

[scanphreak]

I have a BCD436HP connected to Proscan and from time to time I may have to close down the application. Once Proscan is restarted and I try to establish connection with my scanner I'll go to Comm Port and select Auto Detect and instead of it recognizing my scanner and letting me click on the "Set selected available port" it just says Port # and In Use By This Instance.

So far all I've been able to do to correct this is to physically power down the scanner, or disconnect and reconnect the USB cord between the scanner and PC. Once doing that I'm able to go back into the Comm Port settings of Proscan and auto detect and select the scanner.

My apologies if this has already been covered somewhere in here already, I didn't see it. Also this isn't a new issue, it's been like this for as long as I've used the program with this scanner, going on a couple of years now. It wouldn't really be nothing more than an annoyance, except that right now I'm not home, and I'm remoting into my PC trying to do some things and can no longer communicate with the scanner in Proscan because of this.

 

[IAmSixNine]

For me, anytime i reboot my computer, i have to then restart my BCD996P2 or else it wont connect.

 

[ProScan]

I have a BCD436HP connected to Proscan and from time to time I may have to close down the application. Once Proscan is restarted and I try to establish connection with my scanner I'll go to Comm Port and select Auto Detect and instead of it recognizing my scanner and letting me click on the "Set selected available port" it just says Port # and In Use By This Instance.

{rewritten}
I can't duplicate the problem. If a Windows reboot is involved then that's the driver to scanner UART issue.

For me, anytime i reboot my computer, i have to then restart my BCD996P2 or else it wont connect.

You won't have that problem when using the rear port with your own USB Serial Port converted and a null modem adapter or cable.

 

[ToddWilkinson]

Ive never had a problem with proscan, i turn proascan on and its already going, no need to c hoose a port or anything!

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

Perhaps a faulty port or outdated driver. Try a different port?

 

[ka3aaa]

I've been having the same issue since i purchased my 996p2 years ago and read that their was a special driver required to make the scanner communicate with the computer. i dont know why Uniden did something stupid and made their front port a usb port, so when i get that message i just unplug the usb cable from the computer front port which sits right beside me, close proscan, reopen proscan and let run a minute, plug the usb cable back into the computer, use auto detect and all is good.

 

[ProScan]

i just unplug the usb cable from the computer front port which sits right beside me, close proscan, reopen proscan and let run a minute, plug the usb cable back into the computer, use auto detect and all is good.

I don't think you need to do all that. The next time it happens, just reinsert the USB cable and the communications should resume by itself. If it doesn't then click the Auto Detect button.

 

[ka3aaa]

doesnt work, done that many times, it needs to be disconected or power cycled, trust me.

 

[ProScan]

doesnt work, done that many times, it needs to be disconected or power cycled, trust me.

In post #6, you mentioned all kinds of thing that you had to do. Now you mentioned only 'disconected' which is what I said (or reinserted). Go figure.

 

[FrensicPic]

Pretty much the same for me with my 996P2 with Windows 10.
If I reboot (or shut down and restart) the computer with the scanner USB connected I encounter "In use by this instance" when I use "Auto Detect". Un-pluggng and reconnecting the USB cable then trying Auto Detect again will connect to the scanner.
If I unplug the USB cable, do a shut-down (or restart) then reconnect the cable Auto Detect will find the scanner and allow me to select it.
On occasion, I have to turn the scanner off and back on to get it reconnected.
I have also observed this when I let the computer go to sleep.
Since I shut down the computer each night (except the one night when a backup to an external drive is scheduled) I frequently encounter the "In use by this instance" message.

 

[ProScan]

Pretty much the same for me with my 996P2 with Windows 10.
If I reboot (or shut down and restart) the computer with the scanner USB connected I encounter "In use by this instance" when I use "Auto Detect". Un-pluggng and reconnecting the USB cable then trying Auto Detect again will connect to the scanner.
If I unplug the USB cable, do a shut-down (or restart) then reconnect the cable Auto Detect will find the scanner and allow me to select it.
On occasion, I have to turn the scanner off and back on to get it reconnected.
I have also observed this when I let the computer go to sleep.
Since I shut down the computer each night (except the one night when a backup to an external drive is scheduled) I frequently encounter the "In use by this instance" message.

Use the rear port with your own USB Serial Port converter and a null modem adapter or cable. Problem solved.

 

[FrensicPic]

Use the rear port with your own USB Serial Port converter and a null modem adapter or cable. Problem solved.

Like the USB serial adapter I use for my 396XT?

 

[scanphreak]

Hmm ok I might have something going on with this PC I'm going to try maybe updating the drivers and change my USB ports around. Thanks for the feedback so far.

 

[ProScan]

Like the USB serial adapter I use for my 396XT?

No. The 996P2 rear port is a DB-9 connector RS-232 so it will take a USB Serial Port converter with a DB-9 connector on one end.
A null modem adapter or cable is nothing more then swapping pins 2 & 3. That's needed because the rear port doubles as a GPS port.

 

[FrensicPic]

No. The 996P2 rear port is a DB-9 connector RS-232 so it will take a USB Serial Port converter with a DB-9 connector on one end.
A null modem adapter or cable is nothing more then swapping pins 2 & 3. That's needed because the rear port doubles as a GPS port.

This is the adapter I currently have...

USB-A Male 2.0 to Serial DB9-Male Adapter

USB-A Male 2.0 to Serial DB9-Male Adapter

www.microconnectors.com

Looks like I need a DB-9F to DB9F null modem cable. The above adapter has a male connector.

 

[ProScan]

This is the adapter I currently have...

USB-A Male 2.0 to Serial DB9-Male Adapter

USB-A Male 2.0 to Serial DB9-Male Adapter

www.microconnectors.com

Looks like I need a DB-9F to DB9F null modem cable. The above adapter has a male connector.

{edit} It should work and this should work too.
DB9 null modem female to female slimline data transfer serial port adapter 2 Pack

 

[FrensicPic]

{edit} It should work and this should work too.
DB9 null modem female to female slimline data transfer serial port adapter 2 Pack

Got it...thanks Bob!

 

[ndebaggis]

I have this issue as well. SDS100, USB to serial converter. Bob, when Proscan detects that its process is being terminated is Proscan issuing a close COM port command to the scanner? I'm wondering if the COM is left in the open state during process termination during a PC reboot while Proscan is running...

 

[ProScan]

I have this issue as well. SDS100, USB to serial converter. Bob, when Proscan detects that its process is being terminated is Proscan issuing a close COM port command to the scanner? I'm wondering if the COM is left in the open state during process termination during a PC reboot while Proscan is running...

Are you using the Uniden or Microsoft driver?
What version of Windows?

I did a test just now. I can't duplicate the problem now. I may try the Uniden driver later.

Test using
BCD996P2 with front panel USB
Microsoft serial driver 6/21/20006, Version 10.0.25375.1 (interesting that 10.0.25375.1 is the same as Windows 11 version)
Windows 11 Pro, 23H2, 10.0.25375.1

Test 1. ProScan port set to None then ProScan shutdown then Windows reboot
Test 2. ProScan port set to 5 then ProScan shutdown then Windows reboot
Test 3. ProScan port set to None then Windows reboot
Test 4. ProScan port set to 5 then Windows reboot

After the computer rebooted, I had to go to the comm. port Auto Detect but I never needed to reinsert the USB cable or power cycle the scanner.

 

[ndebaggis]

Interesting, I'm running Win 10 Pro 22H4, latest build, patched up to May 2023. It appears my COM6 is Uniden version 1.0.0.0 from 2014 but if I drill into the details of the port it says it's from Microsoft. Screenshot attached below.