Round and round in circles

[Earl]

My problem.

USB to serial external adapter for my Optec Focuser

USB to Serial EQ6 Control (internal adaption)

USB to Serial Filterwheel (internal adaption)

The filter wheel has added into the mix today and now the focuser refuses to talk to the computer, even with the wheel unpluged.

[Qwiati]

would something like this be a solution to your problem?

http://www.industrialnetworking.com/Manufacturers/Moxa-USB-to-Serial-Converters/Moxa-UPort-1410-Serial-Hub

K

[Earl]

I have the startech version I can try for that.

Im thinking there is some sort of FTDI conflict between the Focuser and the Wheel.

[Qwiati]

What about testing in another computer? Could it be simple driver or dll issue?

[Earl]

Im goign to unplug them all and put them on this PC tomorrow to try and narrow it down, the optec sotware does nothign at all at present, so im a bit stumped.

[Earl]

Well I have got round to unplugging it all this evening it is setup on my desk and all works perfectly fine all at once, so it has to be the laptop...

Great

[perfrej]

If it is FTDI chips then try forcing the com port numbers in device manager. They tend to jump around a bit - com10 one day, com21 the next...

/per

[Earl]

If it is FTDI chips then try forcing the com port numbers in device manager. They tend to jump around a bit - com10 one day, com21 the next...

/per

I was mondering this Per, do you know of a good Mini ITX machine with real serial ports by any chance? (I can find them in the US but not EU)

[perfrej]

ASUS has a few with two or four ports. But seriously, FTDI shouldn't be a problem. I have found two "rules" employed by their driver:

1) If the port set in advanced is available it will use it

2) If the port is not available it will throw it in at around com20 or so

So, golden rule is to set it in advanced and make sure that nothing that thinks it needs to communicate with the port is running.

/per

[Earl]

My solution has to been to buy a laptop with a real rs 232 port for the focuser to go into, the laptop top i was using was quiet old and falling apart so its worth it overall.