Problem running PRO-96com

[Thayne]

I just received a PCMCIA type adapter for adding 2 RS-232 ports to my laptop (Toshiba Satellite, about 4 years old), that doesn't have any REAL serial ports.

It has 2 USB ports, but I found out later that they are not USB 2.0, only 1.

Anyway, win96 works ok for programming radios using a USB/serial adapter and the orig GRE cable, but PRO96com won't read any data with this setup. That's why I thought the PCMCIA might be better. I wanted it anyway because I have other older software that doesn't seem to like the USB setup.

Anyway I still can't make PRO96com work--Any ideas??

 

[wesm1957]

What version of Windows are you running? I have XP Home on my main computer and "junk" Windows ME on my laptop. PRO96com runs fine with XP but locks up on ME. There was documentation with 96com about Me having a problem with serial ports. My laptop is too pld to even think about putting XP on.

 

[Dubbin]

Anyway I still can't make PRO96com work--Any ideas??

Did you check to make sure that the correct com port is selected?

 

[Thayne]

I am running XP home w/SP2--pentium 4
I am sure it is the right port selected. It's funny but COM 8 is the only one that works with the USB adapter and win 96.

The new PCMCIA card comes up with COM 6 and 7. I have tried PRO96com with all combinations; it I'm sure the COM port is right because when I stop the program the radio reboots.

Maybe that PCMCIA card doesn't properly power the serial port.

I am going to try it on an older 486 that has 2 REAL serial ports that I use for programming other radios. But that wont help me take it on the road like I want to.

 

[Thayne]

Well, on one of the pentium 2's running win98, when I click to read the data it brings up the blue screen of death.

Getting back to the laptop, I messed around with the FIFO settings, and I know the com port is right, but when I try to read it it works for a second and comes up with the tower info, the a pop up box says "win96 has encountered a problem and needs to close"

Any ideas?

TX

 

[Al42]

It's funny but COM 8 is the only one that works with the USB adapter and win 96.

Control Panel/System/Hardware/Device Manager. Look at your USB port and it'll tell you what serial port it's emulating. (In your case it's emulating COM: 8.)

The new PCMCIA card comes up with COM 6 and 7. I have tried PRO96com with all combinations; it I'm sure the COM port is right because when I stop the program the radio reboots.

Maybe that PCMCIA card doesn't properly power the serial port.

Bingo! That's the most common problem with serial ports - RS-232C is a document. If someone (hardware designer, software designer) doesn't read and follow that document, something stops working.

I am going to try it on an older 486 that has 2 REAL serial ports that I use for programming other radios. But that wont help me take it on the road like I want to.

1) Try a different manufacturer's PCMCIA serial card.
2) Try a different USB->Serial adapter and/or a different programming cable. I can tell you from experience that the Belkin F5U409 adapter works with XP/SP2.

Getting back to the laptop, I messed around with the FIFO settings

That won't have any effect - the speed isn't high enough for the FIFO setting to matter.

the a pop up box says "win96 has encountered a problem and needs to close"

Sounds like a problem with the program itself. Or with the serial port's driver.

If I were you, I'd return the serial card and get a Belkin adapter. (I've gone through a few adapters to get Win95 to work. And there's nothing wrong with Win95.)