MSefi.com read only forum (Jan.15,2018)

Hello all you experienced megaSquiters . I am a brand new user, i just bought my megaSquirt and Jim Stim a few weeks ago and started building it last Saturday. I am following the steps on the website V3 DIY Main Board Assembly guide to the "T" and all was well. the Stim went together and works and I successfully assembled the MS up until step 40 when the the bottom fell out. I have tuner studio and plugged everything in. I opened the studio and started new project then selected "Detect" for it to detect what version daughter card I have, at least that's what I think its asking for.. then it just closes out Tuner Studio. I tried a couple different times and it closes it out every time. I must be doing something wrong. Can I get some advice please.

Hello and welcome to the MS world..

I'm by no means an expert, but I have a few questions.
1. What OS are you using to run Tuner Studio? (Win,Mac, Linux)
2. Is this on a desktop system, or laptop
3. What kind of serial port are you using (built in 9 pin, or USB converter)

The reason I ask this is because I had to try a couple of different combinations of systems and software to get the initial boot load for my MS II. I'm primarily a Mac and Linux guy so I tried Tuner Studio on each of those platforms, but ultimately had to build a Win XP system running Megatune to initially connect and verify I had built everything properly. After I had the firmware loaded on the Windows side, I was able to connect with my Mac using Tuner Studio to setup the initial tune.

Good luck.

Shawn

I'd say it's good advice to use a desktop with a serial port to initially load the software. Near enough any old PC will do. Rules out the problems many have with USB to serial converters.

1 The operating system is Win Xp on my laptop
3 And I am using one of those USB converters. It was in the kit when I got all the stuff from the DIY guys. I paid xtra for it so its got to be good..lol
Another thing, I hear the term loading firmware.. I did not come across that in the steps leading up to step #40 so obviously some reading between the lines is required. I set my com port and baud rate and communication program where it makes you test to see if when you type something it echos back to the laptop screen and it did, so that means the com port is correct?? I guess. So do you recommend just getting a DB25 to DB9 converter and doing away with the USB thing, thats what I am feeling. I do not want to keep rambling on and on and on so I will stop here... Baby steps. I expected bumps along the way, so here there are.... Thanks for your time

I figured it out.... Found out that I did not load the firmware to the daughter card as a result when I tried to communicate with it when I opened tuner studio, the program did not like that. the guys at DIY pointed that out to me and I got that done. now I can see the stim working, sending signals. So now I am onto steps 41 onwards.

Wheelandrimrepair wrote:1 The operating system is Win Xp on my laptop
3 And I am using one of those USB converters. It was in the kit when I got all the stuff from the DIY guys. I paid xtra for it so its got to be good..lol
Another thing, I hear the term loading firmware.. I did not come across that in the steps leading up to step #40

Correct, that is covered in step 40 itself.

I put in some more hours yesterday and got down to step 50 Where I have to chose between A Hall setup or a VR setup. I have a 1995 BMW 525i so I went with the VR setup. i was a little anxious about the choice but I know I do not have any hall effect sensors on there. The other thing that was unclear is when I installed the jumpers at step 52, not sure if I should use VROUT or VROUTINV?? I went with VROUT now I am not too sure because when I hooked the Stim up the RPM signals did not work. The instructions said it might not but if I played around with the variable resistors R52 and R56 that it should. I never got it to. But the Oxygen sensor worked and the TPS so I must not be doing too bad. If you could clarify the VROUT issue for me I would appreciate it.