Diag interface & Software
08-15-2006, 08:57 AM
#361
Three Wheelin'
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Pasadena, MD - Land of Taxes
Posts: 1,879
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
3 Posts
Well... Now that I think about it (and/or recall reading about it somewhere) I'm not sure if the USB idea will work. Won't it search for drivers? Drivers that it won't find? (And I don't know what to give it...)
I guess I'll research pinouts on the 15 & 9 pin serial ports.
If anyone has any other ideas... Please let me know. I guess I'm not opposed to hauling out my desktop PC into the garage at this point! Maybe I should plan on a longer cable!
I guess I'll research pinouts on the 15 & 9 pin serial ports.
If anyone has any other ideas... Please let me know. I guess I'm not opposed to hauling out my desktop PC into the garage at this point! Maybe I should plan on a longer cable!
08-15-2006, 09:36 AM
#362
Burning Brakes
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 909
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Rs-232 has a limited range of about 50 feet at max throughput. We arent dealing with anywhere near max bps here, so you'd probably be fine to 150ft or so.
I thought I had read somewhere on here that someone found a usb adapter that worked? i guess I imagined it.
Smokin, What about hooking a long rs-232 cable to your desktop and then using your laptop, through wireless ethernet, to control your desktop. I think there are some shareware/freeware programs to show you another computers screen and use your mouse as theirs. Just a thought.
I thought I had read somewhere on here that someone found a usb adapter that worked? i guess I imagined it.
Smokin, What about hooking a long rs-232 cable to your desktop and then using your laptop, through wireless ethernet, to control your desktop. I think there are some shareware/freeware programs to show you another computers screen and use your mouse as theirs. Just a thought.
08-15-2006, 10:16 AM
#363
Three Wheelin'
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Pasadena, MD - Land of Taxes
Posts: 1,879
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
3 Posts
Originally Posted by Heirsh
Rs-232 has a limited range of about 50 feet at max throughput. We arent dealing with anywhere near max bps here, so you'd probably be fine to 150ft or so.
I thought I had read somewhere on here that someone found a usb adapter that worked? i guess I imagined it.
Smokin, What about hooking a long rs-232 cable to your desktop and then using your laptop, through wireless ethernet, to control your desktop. I think there are some shareware/freeware programs to show you another computers screen and use your mouse as theirs. Just a thought.
I thought I had read somewhere on here that someone found a usb adapter that worked? i guess I imagined it.
Smokin, What about hooking a long rs-232 cable to your desktop and then using your laptop, through wireless ethernet, to control your desktop. I think there are some shareware/freeware programs to show you another computers screen and use your mouse as theirs. Just a thought.
I thought I did too... I went back and re-read the posts and jjbunn tried the uSB interface and it didn't work. I may go ahead and try it... I'll stop by Radio Shack and buy the DB9 connectors and fab something up tonight in case the USB connection doesn't work.
Someone else said they were working on a PCMCIA connection. I haven't heard any more about that.
08-15-2006, 01:21 PM
#364
Racer
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 424
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just my 2 cents - if you can possibly get a real 9-pin serial equipped PC out near the car you will be much better off when it comes to troubleshooting. After getting the board working you can move on to the USB thing.
Can you move your desktop out there temporarily? Does a neighbor have a laptop with a real serial port?
I didn't really keep track, but I'd say 10-12 hours to lay out the PCB. It was my first time so I spent a lot of time reading the help file and re-doing work over and over. Of course, it helps if you have a two-year-old keeping you up at all hours of the night. It really frees up a lot of time you previously spent sleeping. (Yawn).
Colin
Can you move your desktop out there temporarily? Does a neighbor have a laptop with a real serial port?
Originally Posted by Laurence Gibbs
How long did it take you ?
Colin
Last edited by cowtown; 08-15-2006 at 05:23 PM.
08-15-2006, 03:12 PM
#365
Originally Posted by Smokin
I thought I did too... I went back and re-read the posts and jjbunn tried the uSB interface and it didn't work. I may go ahead and try it... I'll stop by Radio Shack and buy the DB9 connectors and fab something up tonight in case the USB connection doesn't work.
Someone else said they were working on a PCMCIA connection. I haven't heard any more about that.
Someone else said they were working on a PCMCIA connection. I haven't heard any more about that.
Hi Smokin,
Actually I haven't tried the USB interface. I discovered none of my laptops had a serial interface, so was asking folks about recommended USB-Serial interfaces. I didn't get any input on that, so I have gone ahead and bought one on Ebay for 99c (yes, that's right!), which I will try in the next day or so.
For my tests so far I have used an old desktop PC in the garage, which has a serial interface.
08-15-2006, 04:17 PM
#367
Three Wheelin'
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Pasadena, MD - Land of Taxes
Posts: 1,879
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
3 Posts
Jason... I've gone back through the thread and read... and read... and read... The only reference I see to a USB interface is one that didn't work. I guess I'm looking in the wrong place. Can you point me in the right direction please?
08-15-2006, 06:53 PM
#369
Three Wheelin'
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Pasadena, MD - Land of Taxes
Posts: 1,879
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
3 Posts
I found it here too... More info... Post #9 I think...
https://rennlist.com/forums/showthre...&highlight=usb
https://rennlist.com/forums/showthre...&highlight=usb
08-15-2006, 07:27 PM
#370
Three Wheelin'
The USB adapters really are flakey.
The pcmcia based adapters are identical to on board rs232 ports, and will work 100% of the time.
http://www.socketcom.com/product/SL0700-004.asp
Looks like I am still a month or two away from being able to play with this stuff. Hopefully the topic is still active by the time I have a running car!
Kirk
The pcmcia based adapters are identical to on board rs232 ports, and will work 100% of the time.
http://www.socketcom.com/product/SL0700-004.asp
Looks like I am still a month or two away from being able to play with this stuff. Hopefully the topic is still active by the time I have a running car!
Kirk
08-15-2006, 07:53 PM
#371
Technical Guru
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Originally Posted by Smokin
Can you point me in the right direction please?
Code:
Hi My adapters (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/opendiag/message/5654) for ISO... (USB-KL-Line, USB-KKL-Line) is made on FT232BM FTDI-chip. Regards, Alexander -----Original Message----- From: opendiag@yahoogroups.com [mailto:opendiag@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Charlie Wallace Sent: Friday, October 14, 2005 8:36 AM To: opendiag@yahoogroups.com Subject: RE: [opendiag] Cheap usb to serial fix for VW http://www.pgmfi.org/twiki/bin/view/Library/NokiaCableDatalogging Nokia cables can be had much cheaper, I've seen reports of $4 -----Original Message----- From: opendiag@yahoogroups.com [mailto:opendiag@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of squeeto2 Sent: Thursday, October 13, 2005 9:17 PM To: opendiag@yahoogroups.com Subject: [opendiag] Cheap usb to serial fix for VW I have been fixing the family car for many years with the old serial port type cable and laptop. Unfortunately, new laptops no longer come with a serial port. A reliable, inexpensive solution to this problem is a usb to serial (RS232) cable with a FTDI chip. I tried 5 different usb to serial cables and none of them worked except for the one I found with the FTDI chip. I even tried a card slot type (quite expensive) that didn't work. See www.ftdichip.com for the specs. The Hewlett Packard hp5103a cable is an example. These are no longer sold but ebay may have them. Try http://www.dontronics.com/usb_232.html for a unit by Easysync. I found a cheap unit sold here in Canada (under $30 US) at a local computer store: www.boomerscomputers.ca The unit is made in China by Wiretek and it also uses the FTDI chip. www.wiretek.com
08-15-2006, 11:55 PM
#372
Originally Posted by KirkF
The USB adapters really are flakey.
The pcmcia based adapters are identical to on board rs232 ports, and will work 100% of the time.
http://www.socketcom.com/product/SL0700-004.asp
Looks like I am still a month or two away from being able to play with this stuff. Hopefully the topic is still active by the time I have a running car!
Kirk
The pcmcia based adapters are identical to on board rs232 ports, and will work 100% of the time.
http://www.socketcom.com/product/SL0700-004.asp
Looks like I am still a month or two away from being able to play with this stuff. Hopefully the topic is still active by the time I have a running car!
Kirk
I was surprised that setting a lower baud rate didn't work, either, but I haven't given up quite yet.
08-16-2006, 08:50 AM
#373
Three Wheelin'
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Pasadena, MD - Land of Taxes
Posts: 1,879
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
3 Posts
I didn't have the time to try it out last night... I'll be home early today and will try hauling my desktop out there. My second option (after everyone's input and much reading) will be the PCMCIA card with the DB9 dongle. I may also try (if I can find one for a decent price) a USB/Serial connector with the correct chip inside.
I'll post later today to let everyone know.
I'll post later today to let everyone know.
08-16-2006, 09:43 PM
#374
Three Wheelin'
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Pasadena, MD - Land of Taxes
Posts: 1,879
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
3 Posts
I bought a USB adapter from Radio Shack and it didn't work. It didn't say whether or not it had the needed chip inside but I figured I'd wing it and see. ScanTool just showed the red bar indicating that it was trying to connect but didn't do anything. I tried swapping the baud settings, etc but no joy.
I returned the part and ordered the PCMCIA / DB9 connector. I read (somewhere) that these work 100% of the time. The part is not something they stock so I paid for overnight shipping to my house. It should be here by Friday afternoon!
I'll post back when it arrives!
I returned the part and ordered the PCMCIA / DB9 connector. I read (somewhere) that these work 100% of the time. The part is not something they stock so I paid for overnight shipping to my house. It should be here by Friday afternoon!
I'll post back when it arrives!
08-21-2006, 01:42 PM
#375
Racer
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 424
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts