I had some issues last night getting the Megajolt to talk to the PC. I reckon it was because i was using a serial to USB converter and then a USB cable to the laptop.

I have managed to find a 9pin male to female serial cable at work. I knopw there are a couple of types, and that one isnt a straight through cable. Can you identify these by looking at the cable or do you have to test it?

Am i right in assuming that i need pins 2, 3, and 5 to be straight through (ie 2 - 2, 3 - 3 and 5 - 5)? Is it just a case of testing with multimeter?

If i do have the correct cable but still experience communication problems, what are the easiest things to check (assuming megajolt is connected OK etc).

Cheers,
Darren.

[Edited on 23/3/07 by DarrenW]

yep,

all you need is 2-2,3-3 and 5-5

you can use hyperterminal, and short pins 2 and 3 at the other end of the cable, to check your com ports etc.

everything you type should be echoed on screen, if that doesnt work, the problems not with your megajolt

ray

Darren,

I don't know if you watch the Megajolt forum, but Brent Picasso is currently trying to fix some problems with serial-USB adaptors. He has issued a beta release that's supposed to fix it - but it requires a firmware download to match the configuration software. Not sure that I want to put a beta release onto my car yet...

David

[Edited on 22/3/07 by David Jenkins]

I had a look at MJLJ forum today and logged on. As a novice im not really sure what it all means beyond using the box i currently have. If you download a firmware upgrade how do you get it onto the MJLJ box itself?

Ive seen they have some new software that allows switching between 2 maps.

The version i have doesnt allow changes on the fly - i have to download the config first.



If i have the wrong lead, what would stop me just connecting 3 bits of wire between the respective plugs on MJLJ and laptop to get me away?


Had a look at hyprterminal on my PC but it seemed to be more related to telephone connections. I must be using wrong version.

you will have the rigth version of hyperterminal, have a look on the megaSQUIRT v2.2 assembly instructions

HERE

it gives the setup info for hyperterminal

Ray

That helps Ray, thanks.

So basically to check the cable is OK i plug it into the pC and then connect pins 2 and 3 together at the other end (i assume this is what you mean by jumper). Set up hyperterminal and then check that it sends the command back to the PC. If that works then connect to the MJLJ.

Im trying hyperterminal. Keep getting a warning that another device is using the selected telephony!

I wish i knew more about puters!

do you have a dial up modem??.

Ray

I have no idea. It is a new laptop from work and i connect via wireless. It has telephone cable plug so i presume it has.

sounds like the internal modem is using the com port,

try looking in the setup(press del as it starts up or seomthing normally gives you a message)and find the internal modem and disable it, reboot and try again

Ray

quote:

---

Originally posted by DarrenW
I had a look at MJLJ forum today and logged on. As a novice im not really sure what it all means beyond using the box i currently have. If you download a firmware upgrade how do you get it onto the MJLJ box itself?

---

Funny i was just talking to chrisw about the right serial port cable to use, he said as long as its nots marked TX-RX or CTS-RTS it should be ok.

Something about some of the 9 pins being crossed on the incorrect cable.

This is doing my head in now.

Checked the serial lead - i have continuity 2-2, 3-3 and 5-5.

Hyperterminal - just cant get it to work. It keeps saying another program is using the selected telephony.

Ive been into device manager - found internal modem and disabled it - didnt change anything in hyperterminal.

Ive also been into com port settings but dont really know what im looking at so havent changed anything.

Ive connected serial cable to MJLJ. Opened up MJLJTune. Keep getting error saying Com1 is already in use.

Ive also chacked Java install files aginst the install instructions and it looks right.


Does anyone know of anything else to try please?

What frustrates me the most is i keep reading suggestions like change the com port until you find one that works, or check to see if the com port you are using is used by another application etc - i have no idea how to do this. is there somewhere you can see the ports listed and what is using them. My laptop only has 1 serial port and this is the first time ive ever used it. Everything else ive connected was via USB. I thought this would have meant it wasnt yet assigned.

[Edited on 22/3/07 by DarrenW]

Sorry Darren I can't help on that one. Shame we didn't give it a try on my laptop today.
I am not up your way now for a month or we could have connected it up to my laptop.

Have you looked in Device Manager to ensure that COM1 is working OK. It may be worth uninstalling it and then scanning for hardware changes. Windows will then reinstall it and its drivers.

Which version of Megajolt tune are you using? the early tuning sotware was Java based and quiter difficult to get working.The newer versions are much better and more user friendly. Check to make sure there is no pda software or similar running on your laptop as this often uses the com port that megajolt requires.
Paul.

Ive tried mjljtune 5.0.3 and also the new one.

I dont have PDA software installed but do have some Nokia (N73) software on the PC.

What is bugging me is that i cant even get a simple loopback test to work in hyperterminal. Very strange. Im just going to reboot PC now after uninstalling Com1 driver.

I brought MJLJ, leads etc into work today.

Step 1 - connect serial lead to desktop. Tried hyperterminal loopback test - worked a treat on Com2. Jumper in and text appears on screen, jumper off and it doesnt.

I believe this proves the cable is fine but my laptop isnt.

Step 2 - powered up the MJLJ box using battery charger as power supply. Again using hyper terminal tried C and S - got nothing at all!!!!!!!!

Im starting to go insane with this. I also quickly tried to download V3 MJLJ tune into desktop but it wont talk to MJLJ box either.

Any ideas what i should try next.
My MJLJ is the Kimmins version with EDIS built in.

Cheers,
Darren.

Step 2

quote:

---

Originally posted by DarrenW
Step 2 - powered up the MJLJ box using battery charger as power supply. Again using hyper terminal tried C and S - got nothing at all!!!!!!!!

---

i did have Nokia communication loaded. Ive uninstalled all of that. Also uninstalled the USB adaptor and re-installed.
I then uninstalled all of the Java and MJLJ software and re-installed.

Opening up hyperterminal this time and i didnt get the same message ref other device using selected telephony, however with jumper between 2 and 3 i still cant get the cable to work on the laptop (it does however work on desktop).

Opened up MJLJ tune this time and it loaded up without the error message at the start. However it still says unable to open port Com1 - unknown serial port. Strange as im trying USB again. Ive been into device manager and found it uses Com8. Com8 isnt an option in MJLJtune so i reset it to Com2 (shown as unused) on both device manager and MJLJtune. Still get error message ref port com1.


What is strange now is that when i open MJLJtune with nothing connected i dont get the grey error screen that i had before with the more... option. Also when i press get config button the same box doesnt appear.

[Edited on 23/3/07 by DarrenW]

Is this good or not???

Connected 9v battery. Unknown life.

downloaded brays terminal, set up as per instructions on brents site. Managed to get a reply using C and S commands (random hex looking stuff).

Does this mean i have basic connectivity to the mjlj unit?

It worked with usb lead and adaptor via com2.

mjljtune however wont communicate (terminal prog shut down), could this be due to battery power or perhaps due to firmware issues?
Is upgrading firmware easy?

Sounds like your MJ has lived to tell the tale, that's good news anyway.

I just downloaded and installed MJLTune 3.1.2 and it supports up to COM10 in the configuration options, do you have an older version perhaps?

USB adapters can cause problems like this, but usualy only when the software using it is doing naughty things like direct hardware access (e.g. some old DOS programs). Windows programs will usualy work if they can see the "virtual" serial port that the USB drivers create.

Updating the firmware is very easy, but you have to get the comms working first (or use your desktop machine).

http://www.autosportlabs.net/index.php?title=V3.1.x_/_2.7.x_Installing_the_new_firmware_image


Ooops, please ignore me I just noticed your other post. Glad you managed to get it sorted!

[Edited on 23/3/07 by MikeRJ]