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ady8077 - 12/3/06 at 08:30 PM

Hi all

soldered up board, all seemed to go ok, volt tests ok, is it best to clean the board to remove the flux? and do i need to coat it in anything?

Also need a box, any recomendations?

And i assume the comms lead is a standard serial cable?

Thanks

Adrian


Mansfield - 12/3/06 at 08:43 PM

No help I'm afraid, but how much has it cost you? I have had a quote for a self assemble kit at £80.


paulf - 12/3/06 at 08:54 PM

Clean the board with some meths or similiar using an old toothbrush and then spray with a couple of coats of PCB lacquer.
For boxes I use the extruded ones sold by Maplins they are here http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?ModuleNo=33690&doy=12m3&QV=P
You do need to make some spacers to fit inside as the boards are imperial dimensions and all easily obtainable boxes are metric.
I cut the box down by about 6mm on the length also.
Paul.


wilkingj - 12/3/06 at 08:56 PM

As for the flux, it depends on what it is.
Some of the new flux's need to be washed off with water, you could test a small area of the board ie a non critical area, if you wash it with anything else!

Read whats on the solder reel label.

If the solder is more than a couple of years old, its probably OK, but this new crap needs to be dealt with, well the stuff I have does.


paulf - 12/3/06 at 08:57 PM

For the comms lead you need a serial cable connected straight through ,as used for mouse extensions etc.I made a few for myself of various lengths , you need to connect pins 2, 3 and 5 only .
Paul.


ady8077 - 12/3/06 at 09:19 PM

Cheers guys

The solder is quite old, it's not on a reel, no label

That box looks great, thanks Paul

Adrian


ady8077 - 12/3/06 at 09:29 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Mansfield
No help I'm afraid, but how much has it cost you? I have had a quote for a self assemble kit at £80.


Hi

Mines the old V 2 board, bought it months ago, I went halves with a mate and bought 2 kits from the states, it worked out about £100 all in, but then we got stung by the tax man

If you just order the board and chip from the states you shoul avoid import tax, the rest of the bits can be had from RS or farnell

Adrian


big_wasa - 12/3/06 at 09:37 PM

One of pauls up and running today


ady8077 - 13/3/06 at 07:57 PM

Hi

Made a com lead, but can't connect to megajolt, it says com1 unknown serial port

I downloaded the software and copied the 3 files to java, and tried the hyperterminal test, but that doesn't work either

device manage shows com1 and i've tried uninstalling it

Anyway of testing the serial port?

Thanks Adrian


britishtrident - 13/3/06 at 08:17 PM

quote:
Originally posted by ady8077
Hi

Made a com lead, but can't connect to megajolt, it says com1 unknown serial port

I downloaded the software and copied the 3 files to java, and tried the hyperterminal test, but that doesn't work either

device manage shows com1 and i've tried uninstalling it

Anyway of testing the serial port?

Thanks Adrian


Suspect either your coms port is already in use for mouse or touch pad or you are using a PC which uses non-standard port address (Compaq are notorious for this).


BKLOCO - 13/3/06 at 08:17 PM

take it one step at a time.
Try the loopback test with hyper terminal straight out of the comm port. (jumper pins 2 & 3)
If thats ok then pug in your cable and try loopback on that (jumper pins 2 & 3 again)When thats working plug in your module.

[Edited on 13-3-06 by BKLOCO]

[Edited on 13-3-06 by BKLOCO]


ady8077 - 13/3/06 at 08:43 PM

Hi

I've never used the serial ports before, i cant find any programs that use them

whats a loopback test? i've looked on hyperterminal and it doesn't mention it?

Adrian


paulf - 13/3/06 at 09:21 PM

Have a look on the megajolt web site and find the self installing package on there . There is a post by pioneer x with a link to his website with it on .I have used it a number of times and it works perfectly.
Test your serial port with hyperterminal , there is lots of info on the megajolt site about it.
You could also try the new windows interface software on the megajolt site , I havent used it yet but it looks good.
Paul.

quote:
Originally posted by britishtrident
quote:
Originally posted by ady8077
Hi

Made a com lead, but can't connect to megajolt, it says com1 unknown serial port

I downloaded the software and copied the 3 files to java, and tried the hyperterminal test, but that doesn't work either

device manage shows com1 and i've tried uninstalling it

Anyway of testing the serial port?

Thanks Adrian


Suspect either your coms port is already in use for mouse or touch pad or you are using a PC which uses non-standard port address (Compaq are notorious for this).


ady8077 - 13/3/06 at 11:47 PM

Working

I feel such an idiot, my computer case is marked wrong, the plug marked com1 is actually com2

Thanks for all your help

Adrian