Using USB port for Servopod

[cmmffhc]

Hi,

My new computer does not have a serial port. So i have bought a USB to serial port converter...

Can i ask what are the settings I need to change in NMITerm for me to download the program to the servopod so as to use the USB port?

Regards

[nmitech]

Nothing need to be changed on the NMITerm other than the Comport use by the USB adapter cable, and IsoMax Baudrate (9600, or 115200 on the latest V0.82 ) if the system detected your serial to USB and the driver installed correctly. The Ascii default settings for the NMITerm should have the Character Pacing checked, and Line Pacing 10 (dec) . You can uncheck the Character Pacing to increase the download speed for a large program, or leave it alone and it will work just fine.

To find out what comport is used by the USB adapter cable, Go to System control panel , under Hardware Device Manager, and look up under Ports(COM & LPT). If you don't see it there you may reinstall your serial<->Usb driver again

[cmmffhc]

Hi,

I have done the above already but when I switch on the servopod,

IsoMax V0.82

comes on on the NMITerm screen but I when i type, nothing is displayed on the screen...

[RMDumse]

Well, you're more than half way there when you see the sign on prompt from the board. It means you have the port and the baud set correctly. Of course, if you get this far, it is hard to imagine what is preventing the PC side from transmitting (or the board from listening, perhaps loosing power after powerup???).

Try reseting the board (reset button), to see if the signon message repeats. This might answer the power issue.

NMITerm lets you control the DTR and RTS with Alt-R and Alt-T. Be sure they aren't inhibiting communications, i.e. the PC thinks the attached device isn't ready to talk. This might answer the preventing the PC from transmitting.

Do you have any other serial device you could connect to, to see if it is the cable, or the board? Other than that, you could take a scope to the serial line coming into the board to see if there is really activity coming from the PC. If not, there's still something blocking the PC from sending to the board. If there are characters coming through, then the problem is on the board.

[cmmffhc]

Hi,

I'm not very sure what was the problem but I deleted NMITerm and re-installed it and now it works fine already.

Thank you very much for your prompt responses.

Regards

[RMDumse]

I have seen NMITerm lock up after sitting a long time, most prominently with a USB serial, which would fit. Just exit, and restart the app, will get past that. Sounds somewhat similar. Anyway, glad you're going.