wxSpokePOV 1.4 - Can't choose com port?

[WillynHook]

I have built a SpokePOV kit successfully (passed all the LED tests) and built the serial dongle for programming. My problem is with version 1.4 of the software. When configuring the software I can choose (USB, Serial, Parallel) but choosing the "com" port is a problem.

Let me go thru my choices.

If I choose
Port Type = "serial"
Port = "com1"
Wheel Size = MTB
Hub Size = 10

then select "test port" I get the following dialog:

"Do you want to test the SpokePOV dongle connected to serial port lpt1?"

The problem is nothing I do changes the lpt1 part. (On further review if I choose any option under parallel port coms to lpt1, lpt2, lpt3 then the diaglog for the serial port ends with:
"connected to serial port lpt#?")

Doing some other things,... choosing

Port Type - "USB"
Port = the section is greyed out providing no choices
Wheel Size = MTB
Hub Size = 10

then select "test port" I get the following dialog:

"Do you want to test the SpokePOV dongle connected to usb port USB?"

I am running a windows XP based machine.


Any advice?

\couple hours later
[[ I stepped back to spokepov v1.2 software. It works. I can connect and program all the banks with an image. So, v1.4 seems to be a problem (for me at least) with the serial dongle connection. I didn't bother with v1.3 as it said it was already broken for serial connections. I would still like to figure out why v1.4 isn't functioning for me. So any clues would be helpful. Thanks!]]



Dr. Joe
SU Physics, Chair

[WillynHook]

Oh, and I have successfully built and programmed a minipov3 using the same computer and serial connection. Just in case the information helps.


Dr. Joe

[WillynHook]

I have now built three kits, but still have the same issue with software v1.4. It just does not work with serial dongle. I've attempted it on a few different computers.

v1.2 software seems to work fine.

Next up, I'm gonna try v1.4 with my serial to usb converter but I haven't had much luck with any serial to usb so far with the minipov.

Dr. Joe

[adafruit]

kinda strange because nobody else has complained and there's thousands out there. what OS is this?

[vodstrup]

Hi,

I can confirm this. I've had this same problem (and same solution using 1.2) on both Mac SLeopard and Win7. On the Mac I tried using an old keyspan USB2Serial and on the Win7 I used some no name USB2Serial.


The problem might be that I have SpokePOV v1.0b.

anyway all seems ok here now..

vod

[jarable]

I'm having some similar issues with 1.4 and the serial port.
I'm pretty familiar with working with serial ports - is there a particular baudrate/stop bit/etc... the port should be set to?
What does setting this delay feature do?
Also, I seem to recall that laptops have issues with poor port signal strength ... a possible?
I did forget I had a version of Microsoft ActiveSync hogging the com port at first - so I disabled that in short order.
V 1.2 seems to work for me now.
I did try my PC with a USB-Serial adapter, but the lowest COM port I can access with it is COM10. V 1.4 will only allow up to COM 9

Anyways, I never trust a project that works perfectly the first time - that just means my mistakes show up later.

Thanks!

[adafruit]

you can rename the serial port - just set it to com4!

[jarable]

OK. In the 11th hour I tried again and lo and behold it worked. On all three. No grumbles, issues or nonsense.... which meant my brother got his Christmas present for his racing bike ( the bling factor cancels out the additional weight ). I used my skills as an artist to make a dragon.

trogdor.zip

Trogdor bmp and dat files

(46.02 KiB) Downloaded 242 times

[times2]

I can verify that wxSpokePOV v1.4 doesn't work with the serial dongle on Win7 or OSX SL. Switching to v1.2 solves the problem. (the error message is 'failed to open port', on both platforms).