USB---> serial Adaptor

[skyy406]

Hey all,

I cannot figure out how to configure my laptop to "talk" to my MSII unit. I bought a USB adapter from DIYAutoTune.com, but was unable to lower the buffer to 0 or select a specific com-port with that adapter. I went to best buy yesterday and bought a different usb-serial adapter and was able to reduce the buffer to zero and set the com-port. When I go under communications on tunerstudio, and select the specific com-port I selected, when I click test- it says "Failed!". When I click "detect" it doesn't ever detect my Megasquirt.

What am I doing wrong with this? Also, how can I figure out what version of code my Megasquirt is running?

[LT401Vette]

I recommend using the DIY one. I know that works and has the preferred FTDI chipset.

but was unable to lower the buffer to 0 or select a specific com-port with that adapter. I went to best buy yesterday and bought a different usb-serial adapter and was able to reduce the buffer to zero and set the com-port.

Why are you setting the buffers to 0. That is not recommended unless you have some obscure and specific problems. All testing for TunerStudio is with the default settings and considerable effort has been made to insure there is no need for specialized settings for the majority of users.

What OS are you using?
Assuming it is some form of Windows, can you see the Port in the device manager?
How are you determining what com port it is?

[skyy406]

The reason I am trying to set the buffer to Zero is:

Taken from the Mega manual

Check the serial port on the laptop/PC. We need to verify that your laptop/PC actually has a functional serial port before proceeding.

1. If you have a USB/serial adapter instead of a built in serial port:
* In the INI file activated (see below), set:
o writeBlocks = off ; Default is on.
o interWriteDelay = 1 ; Becomes "interCommandDelay" if writeBlocks is "on"
* You may have to play with the USB adapter settings in Windows for the adapter to get it to work (see Control Panel/System/Hardware/Device Manager). If there is a 'buffer' setting, set it as low as you can (often 1 or 0).
* Make sure that your com port settings are correct for your serial port or your USB/serial cable. For example, change the baud rate (under 'start/Control Panel/System/Hardware/Device Manager/Ports (COM & LPT)') to 115200 for MS-II.
* Try re-installing your USB driver.
* Check this thread on the www.msefi.com support forums for new info: USB to Serial Adapters.

The MS has power because when th ecaris set to ON position for a few minutes I can touch it and feel that it's getting warm. I am using a Dell Inspiron Laptop running Windows XP. The computer doesn't designate a specific port for the USB adapter. I have to choose which one it is supposed to use. When I click the drop down menu on to select a comport, it says that "number 4 is in use". That's all it says. The Laptop has 4 USB ports.

[LT401Vette]

Yeah... Sorry about that. That is a problem with documents in a changing world. For the most part those are all issues from years ago when MegaTune was used. You should never need to mess those settings now. That is one of the first things I tried to eliminate was the need for people to have to dig in ini files

Remember there hasn't been an update to MegaTune in about 6 years.

So ignore all that and we will start from the top with the simple stuff.

Do you know what Port your OS reports your cable on? Check Device Manager.

[LT401Vette]

I just saw this:

The computer doesn't designate a specific port for the USB adapter.

That means either the drivers for your adapter are not installed or the adapter is broken. Is this true for both usb cables you have?

[skyy406]

No. Like I said on the Bestbuy adapter I can designate a comport quire easily. I downloaded a prolific (i think) driver for the adapter. At first when i tried to change settings my laptop wouldn't recognize the adapter. Once I downloaded that driver, it allowed me to change settings for the adapter.

I don't have the laptop here at work with me or else i'd have better information for you, I am just running on what I remember.

Also, when I go to change the com-port on the adapter, COM-Port 4 says "in use". Could that have an affect?

[LT401Vette]

When I click the drop down menu on to select a comport, it says that "number 4 is in use". That's all it says. The Laptop has 4 USB ports.

Which drop down? The one in the Advanced Settings?

The Com Port it is using is not directly related to the usb port. The usb-serial driver creates a Virtual Com Port that looks to the OS and everthing else like a good old serial port.

If you open Device Manager, on the tree there will be a node called "Ports (COM & LPT)"
If you expand that, you should see at least 1 port Called:
"USB Serial Port (COMX)"

That would most likely be the com port that your cable is using.

[LT401Vette]

Also, when I go to change the com-port on the adapter, COM-Port 4 says "in use". Could that have an affect?

Not necessarily. That could be a modem or something else. Also once you put a cable on, windows will reserve that port for that cable even if it is not plugged in, just so you don't end up with conflicts. Normally you should just use the port it assigns.

[LT401Vette]

I downloaded a prolific (i think) driver for the adapter.

If it is a Prolific chip, it will show up as an ATEN cable. Be careful of this on windows. If you don't have the latest driver there is a bad bug in their driver that can cause a BSOD.

[skyy406]

Ok. So if the computer assigns it as com 1, and I go into tunerstudio, check the connectivity, the key is at ON position, the MSII is powered, I click "detect" and it finds nothing. I click "test" and it says "failed!" on every comport I try.

What else could cause that?

[LT401Vette]

If you know what port it is, and still get a failed.

Try opening a Mini-Term from the communications menu. Open the port @ 115200 baud.

Type a Q, see if you get a response.

[LT401Vette]

Couple more questions...

Have you ever communicated with this MegaSquirt?
Have you loaded Firmware?

[skyy406]

I have never communicated with this Megasquirt.

I don't know if I have loaded firmware. So assume no.

[LT401Vette]

Ok... You do need to have firmware loaded before Test will succeed.

With no firmware loaded, in Min-Term you might get a 0x0e response to just about anything.
You can get firmware here:
http://www.megamanual.com/ms2/code.htm

And on that page you will see a link to the downloader program to install the firmware.

[skyy406]

Awesome. Thanks so much. When I get home i'll download the firmware and I hope that will fix this problem!!!

[skyy406]

OK when I attempt to open the code i get this with the bestbuy adapter:



Entry point: 0x0000
Code range : 0x4000-0x3db360
File read successfully.

Opened comm port 1 at 115200.
ERROR: Timed out reading response, 0xE0
Elapsed time: 14.03 seconds
MegaSquirt Download 2.00

Reading C:/Documents and Settings/Sylvia/Desktop/Monitor_v2.905.abs.s19:
Detected MS-II (HCS12) code.
Entry point: 0x0000
Code range : 0x4000-0x3db360
File read successfully.

Opened comm port 1 at 115200.
ERROR: Timed out reading response, 0xE0
Elapsed time: 14.03 seconds


I get this when I use the DIYAutoTune adapter:

MegaSquirt Download 2.00

Reading C:/Documents and Settings/Sylvia/Desktop/Monitor_v2.905.abs.s19:
Detected MS-II (HCS12) code.
Entry point: 0x0000
Code range : 0x4000-0x3db360
File read successfully.

Download failed:
Could not open comm port 1.
Exception caught: 2

What do you think?

[skyy406]

hmmmm

now I get this. I had to change the verbosity under the settings menu of the downloader to 5 to get this result. This is using the DIYAutoTune adapter. I found that the DIYAutoTune adapter makes itself com4 and the bestbuy adapter makes itself com 1. So if you say the DIYAutoTune one is better i'll use that.

My stim does not work. I have the MSII powered by the car. When i turn it on the car there is a red LED that stays lit and that is all.

MegaSquirt Download 2.00

Reading C:/Documents and Settings/Sylvia/Desktop/Monitor_v2.905.abs.s19:
S123400006A408660866086608660866086608660866086608660866086608660866086680

Tons of code here

S2243DB30056B7C54656B7C54756B7C54656B7C54756B7C54656B7C54756B7C54656B7C54727
S2243DB32056B7C546566C8B6E89F338C97C396BB754F938C8B938C77C39697238F9FC3BCBDC
S2243DB340BC308D24057938FA201A7238FAF638FAF132DB25147938FAFE38F38EFFFF240499
S2193DB360087E38F3C6037B3936C6018FC6027B38541BF05C3D69
S804000000FB
Detected MS-II (HCS12) code.
Entry point: 0x0000
Code range : 0x4000-0x3db360
File read successfully.

Opened comm port 4 at 115200.
TX: 21 21 21 53 61 66 65 74 79 46 69 72 73 74
TX: 0d
Wake up attempted (9).
TX: 0d
Wake up attempted (8).
TX: 0d
Wake up attempted (7).
TX: 0d
Wake up attempted (6).
TX: 0d
Wake up attempted (5).
TX: 0d
Reopening comm port.
Wake up attempted (4).
TX: 0d
Wake up attempted (3).
TX: 0d
Wake up attempted (2).
TX: 0d
Wake up attempted (1).
TX: 0d
Wake up attempted (0).
TX: 0d
ERROR: Timed out reading response, 0xE0
Elapsed time: 17.41 seconds