microsquirt connection problems

t_hoffman · Post by **t_hoffman** » Sat Feb 02, 2008 9:30 pm

I have the microsquirt wired to the stim board and am now trying to get it to communicate so I can use Megatune.

I have downloaded megatune but am unable to
communicate with the microsquirt. I have read all the posts and
sticky's on the forum and just cannot seem to get the computer to
communicate with microsquirt? I am using a USB-Serial adapter that
has been proven by others to work with microsquirt. (Prolific USB to serial...and I have used it previously for RS232 communication when programming PIC microcontrollers.)

1.) The board is powered with 12V from the stim board.(I checked and have 12V at the amp connector pin)
2.) Megatune is downloaded
3.) If I open megatune and try to connect it will not connect (I open the communications menu and select the appropriate comm port but it will not communicate.)
4.) I have the port # correct for the USB-serial cable, and have
tried all the others port #'s
5.) If I use port checker.exe it will give me two ports available,
but will not communicate
6.) I tried to open a hyperterminal, the hyperterminal will connect
and communicate, but it will NOT let me type anything into the
terminal text????

What can I try next to get this microsquirt to connect to my PC.
Thanks

Trent

Post by **Bruce Bowling** » Sun Feb 03, 2008 5:26 am

Hi Trent,

Can you download firmware to the uS (see docs on how to get into bootloader mode)? This checks out both the PC and the uS comm connection without MegaTune in the works.

- Bruce

t_hoffman · Post by **t_hoffman** » Sun Feb 03, 2008 9:02 pm

I tried to download firmware to the microsquirt in bootloader mode and I receive the following message...

MegaSquirt Download 1.04

Reading C:\Documents and Settings\Trent Hoffman\Desktop\Monitor_v2.883j.abs.s19:
C:\Program Files\Metrowerks\CodeWarrior CW12_V3.1\MSIIC_Proj\bin\Monitor.abs
Detected MS-II (HCS12) code.
Entry point: 0x0000
Code range : 0x4000-0x3db380
File read successfully.

Opened comm port 5 at 115200.
ERROR: Timed out reading response, 0xE0
Elapsed time: 14.98 seconds

.....

I am guessing that the problem is with my USB-Serial adapter? I have the baud rate to 115200 and the transmit receive buffers set to 1. (This is as low as they will go). The USB-Serial adapter that I am using is a 'Prolific' and some others on the forum have had success with this adapter. I have used it before for rs232 comm with PIC microcontrollers and it worked fine? Do you have any suggestions from the above ERROR message?
Thanks
Trent

Martin Wagner · Post by **Martin Wagner** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 6:46 pm

I am using a Prolific USB to serial adapter to talk to a microsquirt without problems. Two things you might check are the Prolific driver version and the Download program verbosity setting.

I downloaded a newer Prolific driver in 2006 to fix problems with the original driver that came with my adapter. The downloaded program is "PL-2303 Driver Installer.exe" with a creation date of August, 2005. I don't remember the problems I had before the update.

I am using download version 2 and had to set the verbosity level to 4 ( the default is 1) to get download to work properly. I don't remember the errors I got with level 1. Level 4 slows the download but works great for me.

t_hoffman · Post by **t_hoffman** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 7:31 am

I finally got microsquirt to communicate!!!!!

It turns out that the stereo jack-to-female DB9 comm cable that is supplied with the microsquirt had a loose connection at the femal DB9 end! If I would lightly pull on these wires or move them around the microsquirt would not connect. If I pushed the wires tight to the DB9 connector the microsquirt would connect EVERY time.

Thanks guys your help with this issue... This is the very first time I have used that cable...is their a replacement cable available at a local electronics/computer shop? Or is this cable specific to the microsquirt and I would need to order through DIY?

Thanks
Trent

hybrid · Post by **hybrid** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 1:47 pm

You should be able to make one yourself.

I'm sure there is a diagram around to show you how.
Or you could cut a couple of inches from the db9 end of the original cable and reconnect.

t_hoffman · Post by **t_hoffman** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 3:09 pm

yeah I thought about that after I wrote the post...I can just pick up a new DB9 connector and solder it on.

Bernard Fife · Post by **Bernard Fife** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 3:13 pm

t_hoffman,

MicroSquirt uses the same cable as the GPIO board (and the Innovate LC-1 wide band controller).

If you want to make one yourself, there are instructions (and Digi-Key part numbers) here: http://www.megamanual.com/betagpio/assemble.htm#cable

Lance.