Show Posts

This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.


Messages - LAF

Pages: [1] 2
1
Finished COOPS / Re: Dongle PCB coop
« on: February 04, 2010, 11:25:08 pm »
You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login
This coop is only for the pcb so there is no PIC with it. We have never done a parts coop for the dongle because it never made a savings. We do have plenty of people that will program you pic for you and there is a list in the wiki of them.

RJ

Thanks for letting me know, RJ. 

2
Finished COOPS / Re: Dongle PCB coop
« on: February 02, 2010, 09:36:37 pm »
Two for me, please.

Question: Do the PICs typically come pre-programmed in coops? I've read somewhere that they often do, but want to be sure.

Thanks, RJ.

Larry F

3
Lynx USB DMX Dongle / Re: Problems with new Dongle
« on: January 13, 2010, 11:36:22 pm »
I sent an email to FTDI about uninstalling the drivers, and even though their support pages state they do not have the uninstaller anymore, the support tech at FTDI gave me the following link:

You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login

I have not yet tried this (too busy with my real job), but will. I will also try rebuilding the Dongle, or at least just putting in the USB adapter in a new PCB.

I appreciate the effort made in trying to solve this. I will let you know what happens.

4
Lynx USB DMX Dongle / Re: Problems with new Dongle
« on: January 10, 2010, 02:39:25 pm »
You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login
Update: Larry, I found that the add / remove program thing didn't work - when I plugged the dongle back in after removing the driver (through add / remove programs) & rebooting, the dongle was detected & seemed to work properly.

HOWEVER, I built 2 dongles at the same time, when I plugged the second one in, it couldn't find the driver. So I told Windows to let me configure the driver. I had downloaded the file "FTDI Driver - CDM 2.06.00 WHQL Certified.zip" previously (but I used the .EXE to install the driver on my first pass, 'cause that's usually a little easier). But to install the second copy, I opened the zip file, copied the directory structure in the zip into my directory, then pointed the HW Detected driver installer to the driver directory. Note that there are two driver parts, so you'll go through the same process (pointing the HW detect installer to the CDM 2.06.00 WHQL Certified directory). As soon as I did that, everything worked properly.

So you should be able to initiate the process from the Device Manager (where the exclamation point is shown next to the device) & have it update the driver in this manner.

Hope this helps.

--Dave

Thanks so much for your help. The problem with me using your method of updating through device manager is that the USB serial port listing is not there at all.  

I really think it is a problem with the module - maybe I have a bad one or somehow I ruined it when building the board. I cannot be sure, however; I need to figure out a way to test it - maybe get one working and then I will know.

I wonder - how much of the Dongle board to I need to have put together for the USB adapter to work? I have the parts for a 2nd Dongle, but I was thinking of soldering the USB adapter without the other items first, so I can check the adapter sooner rather than later.

5
Lynx USB DMX Dongle / Re: Problems with new Dongle
« on: January 10, 2010, 02:24:07 pm »
You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login
FTDI has a utility that uninstalls all it. I have never used it but did see it somewhere? Make sure your module is pulled in well with no bent pins.

RJ

They no longer have their uninstall program.

I checked the module's connection to the PCB - it looks OK to me.

6
Lynx USB DMX Dongle / Re: Problems with new Dongle
« on: January 09, 2010, 04:55:42 pm »
An update... Even though I had tried 2 USB cables already (both >6 feet long), I decided to try a 3rd (it is amazing I have so many of these laying around).

When I plugged it in, Windows recognized it, but stated the device would not install properly. Under device manager, under USB controllers, it had something listed (do not remember what) with an exclamation point.

I disconnected the USB, and now when I plug it in again, I get nothing. Back to square 1.

I remember this happened when trying the 2nd USB cable - it worked initially, but nothing afterwards.

7
Lynx USB DMX Dongle / Problems with new Dongle
« on: January 09, 2010, 04:40:12 pm »
I've moved this discussion from the TidBits section (You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login).

I am having trouble getting a newly-built Dongle to be recognized by Windows.

I used the VCP set up executable file (CDM20600.exe) in the laptop (running Windows XP Tablet Edition).  But, after I plug the device with the USB cord (2 different ones tried) into the laptop, nothing happens. Windows does not seem to recognize that the device is connected. I tried reloading the software (even with internet disconnected, as suggested by FTDI) and still no luck.

I was going to uninstall the drivers and reinstall, but even after reviewing the documentation file (You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login), I could not determine which files within Windows to delete to uninstall.

I would appreciate some help in determining if the drivers are loaded correctly, how to uninstall and reinstall, or if there is something else that may be the cause of my difficulties.

Thanks in advance.

Larry F

By the way, the chip on the USB adapter from Mouser says the chip is FT245BL, but the documentation at Mouser says the processor supported is 245BM... I suspect that does not make a difference because it is the same driver from FTDI, but thought I'd mention it.

Also, I already checked all the USB adapter's joints on the Dongle PCB - they look OK to me.


8
Lynx Wireless DMX / Re: Confused about wireless
« on: January 04, 2010, 09:53:39 pm »
You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login
...
With the external receiver (RX),  there is a cat5 data cable running from the receiver to the "IN" on the LE.   The external receiver also needs power (provided via walwart).  

 Larry

(Keith beat me to the "send") 

What do you mean by "provided via walwart"?

LF

9
Lynx Wireless DMX / Re: Confused about wireless
« on: January 04, 2010, 09:48:15 pm »
Thanks for all the replies. It all makes sense now. The picture I was looking at (You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login) did not have the connectors for the wireless.

10
Lynx Wireless DMX / Confused about wireless
« on: January 03, 2010, 05:01:31 pm »
OK, so this may be a dumb question, but I must confess I am quite confused about how the LE is used with wireless. The diagrams posted a while ago at You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login were helpful, but I am still not sure how the LE is used with wireless. I've looked everywhere, including all the posts in the wireless DMX section, but I still do not have a good grasp on this.

Can someone please clarify how the LE is attached to a receiver, I presume the EX/RX (but am not sure - maybe the Rx?)?  The LE has a space for "wireless module" but I am not sure how anything gets attached to it.

Thanks for clarifying things...

Larry F.

11
Finished COOPS / Re: Express Coop for 2010
« on: December 30, 2009, 11:50:18 pm »
Thanks RJ.

I would like 2 please.

Larry F.

12
Lynx USB DMX Dongle / Re: Dongle parts backordered at Mouser
« on: December 24, 2009, 04:09:15 pm »
You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login
The manual refers to not installing a socket for the whole module.  You will see two rows of pins on the USB module these get soldered directly to the PCB.

Thanks for clarifying. Glad to know I did it right.

13
Lynx USB DMX Dongle / Re: Dongle parts backordered at Mouser
« on: December 20, 2009, 11:36:22 am »
You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login

The data sheet shows a dot on it. But the pin #1 which is where the dot on the orginal is can be found by looking at the courners. There are three rounded ones and one sharp pointed one. The sharp pointed one is where the dot should be.

RJ

Thank you for the quick reply. I looked closely again and there is not dot, but the difference in corners is evident. Pin 1 is not the way I assumed.
Thanks again.

One other question...

When installing the USB module the manual states I should "not install a socket on this device: it must be soldered to the PCB directly. "  I am not sure what this refers to. The module already has a USB socket on it.

14
Lynx USB DMX Dongle / Re: Dongle parts backordered at Mouser
« on: December 20, 2009, 10:59:21 am »
You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login

The Clock can be replaced with mouser # 815-ACH-40-EK  just a different manufactor.


I am putting this together now (finally - my first attempt). The manual indicates the black dot on the clock should be in the lower right corner, but the replacement part has no black dot. I assume the lower right corner of the replacement part is indicated by the writing on the part, but want to be sure. Can anyone confirm? If not, let me know the proper orientation. Thanks.

Larry

15
Vixen / Re: Vixen software
« on: November 19, 2009, 10:04:08 pm »
I have not been successful in opening older version of sequences, even after using prepare.exe. I first tried using that with v. 2.5. Then I read that I needed to take older sequence versions and import to v. 2.0 first, then to 2.5. That did not help, either.

Now, when I open the sequences I still get the error noted below ("Unhandled exception has occurred...").  It is the same error as I noted earlier in this thread, and in the first post of You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login.

Is there a way to tell the version of Vixen used to create a sequence by reviewing the sequence in a txt editor? I looked but could not determine it.

I am able to save my own sequences.  Maybe it is a profile issue. I do not know.

Thanks.

Larry

Pages: [1] 2