I just got a usb to serial (RS-232) interface cause the laptop doesn't offer any serial ports. I cannot get the pcm and laptop communicating, brought the cable and the laptop to the store I purchased the converter from and it works w/ a serial mouse. Anyone have any ideas? The main reason I got this laptop was so I could data log and program without lugging around my garage pc and ac inverter!! my wife is going to kill me if i can't get the damn thing working.

Does lt1edit/pcmcomm/pcmprog work in XP? That's what's installed on this machine, it's a intel 2.0 ghz, 128 mb pc2100, 30 gig hd, etc etc.

heres the converter I got, it's just rs-232, not the a version. http://www.manhattan-support.com/driver-usb-rs232.shtml

Any help or ideas is appreciated. The converter works w/ a mouse, the aldl interface works w/ my garage 166mhz running win95. so, is there something I am missing in xp?

Jeff

 

I bought a brand new Dell Inspiron laptop when I bought LT1 edit for my OBD II WS6 about 6 months ago. I used the Belkin serial to USB adapter and it's working great.

 

Maybe yours doesn't have the sticker!!
Just kidding. First, I hate Windows XP. That's probably part of the problem but I also noticed they had two different drivers, are you sure you have the correct one?

 

thanks for the replies guys, yeah, i'm running the right driver.

may take it back and get a belkin, have always had good success w/ their brand. was just trying to save money, you know what happens when you do that... can't wait to start datalogging and tuning, that's been my main goal all this time...

Has anyone else had problems w/ usb to rs-232 adapters?

 

Sorry, I know how frustrating computers are, I help manage several hundred servers. And I love Dell's, that's all I use.

I'll bet on the Belkin too. Let us know.

 

Jeff,

Unfortunately, most of the USB-Serial do not work with the ALDL.
Most of the people go with the Belkin adapter, that one works perfectly. I bought a regular, noname adapter, but it didn't work for the ALDL, howewer I could use it for my camera without any problems...
So, get the Belkin stuff. If you still have problems, shoot Andrew at www.akmcables.com an email, or visit his website, he has a nice writeup on troubleshooting.
Hope this helps.

 

www.quatech.com makes a PCMCIA to RS 232 adapter for 129.00. This always works as a com port. I had a Belkin USB doggle and it would'nt work but the card works great. Plug and Play after instaling the software.

 

that's a little high man.

I took the manhattan adapter back, got a belkin f5u409 and it still won't work. I see all kinds of jibberish come up on the screen like it's trying to talk to it, but it's not making sense. I have autotap for my 97, and it works fine.

has anyone had problems w/ xp and lt1edit? I really want to get this going, was at the track tonight and want to tune my truck baaaadd!!! are there any commands, or something I need to put before I run? I can't connect w/ pcmcomm or pcmprog.

thanks.

 

I couldn't get the belkin stuff to work with XP. My old laptop had millenium and the USB Doggle I had (It was a Zircom now discontinued) worked fine with Autotap but it's not supported for XP so I had to bite the bullet You could do a google search but this price was actually reasonable compared to others. It's a drag sometimes. Hope you find something cheaper that works.

 

do you remember what belkin products you tried, like part numbers? I have one more belkin adapter to try out, think its $59.99, and i really don't want to have to pay that. it has db9 and ps/2 connector on a little box that connects w/ a long usb cable.

what i have now is all built into the cable with cute little leds that light up and tell you when you are connected and when data is running through... it's F5U409, just paid $39.99 at compusa, really hurt to dish that out..

 

i believe it was fu103. i gave it to my girlfriend and it worked for her palm pilot. I got it at comp usa cause it was all i could find for xp. it was 69 dollars i think. belkin said it worked as a virtual port. if you visited comp usa maybe you could find it under adapters. since i now have something that works i can't recommend anything else.

 

imine had 2 ports and a usb cable and was round on one end. i don't have it here but it didn't work for me.

 

ok, thanks. running through the akmcables serial.doc troubleshooter guide, i'll let you know what i find. so far the serial port and converter are working as per directions.

 

I also have a brand new Dell Inspiron 8100 model and it will work sometimes and others it wont..I think its an issue with XP but then again people use it with no trouble..

Cody

 

has anyone running winxp tried right clicking on the program, going to properties, clicking on the compatibility tab and tried running it as win95/98 compatibility mode?