Test and Measurement Forum

Hello,
I'm hoping somebody can offer some help.....
We have recently installed a new HP DC7900 SFF PC in one of our Labs. Now this PC doesn't come with a built in serial port so I purchased a usb to serial convertor which I've installed and it works fine. I've tested a serial modem using Hyperterminal and I can query the modem so this tells me the serial port is working fine. Now when we connect an instrument to the ADC-16 which in turn connects to the usb to serial convertor the Picolog software (v5.15.6) reports device status "ADC16 driver version 2.4 ADC16 unit not found" on startup. I have checked under "Converter Preferences" and the correct convertor and com port are set.
To prove the ADC-16 is functioning, I connected it to the old PC (Dell GX280 with onboard serial port) and it works fine so the problem seems to be with the usb to serial convertor although I read on another post on this forum that these convertors should be fine to use.
Does anybody have any suggestions as to what can be done to resolve this issue?

Thanks

Nick

Hi Nick what com port are you using with USB to serial converter?

Kind regards

ziko wrote:Hi Nick what com port are you using with USB to serial converter?

Kind regards

Hi,
I've tried it using Com1, 3 and 4. None of those ports work although I can talk to the serial modem on either of those ports via Hyperterminal.

Thanks for taking the time to reply

Hi but what com port does the adapter come under in device manger? Or are you saying you went into device manager and changed the com port number that it was originally assigned?

Kind regards

ziko wrote:Hi but what com port does the adapter come under in device manger? Or are you saying you went into device manager and changed the com port number that it was originally assigned?

Kind regards

Hi,
Yes, you're correct. I changed the com port via device manager. As I mentioned, for each com port change I tested a connection to a serial modem via Hyperterminal and I could make AT queries to the modem successfully using Com1, 3 and 4 (Com2 is in use by the OS)

Thanks

Nick

Hi Ok I would suggest the following, try downloading the latest version of Picolog recorder. Remove the version that you have installed then install the latest one.

I know that some USB to serial converters had some problems due to some kind of chipset that they used and we resolved that on one of our later releases. So if the USB to serial converter you used comes under that chipset it may resolve your problem.

Let me know how you get on.

Hi Ziko
Ok, I've uninstalled our version of Picolog and then installed firstly 5.20.7 and again I have the same problem with it not recognising the ADC-16. I then uninstalled 5.20.7 and installed 5.16.2 only to have the same problem with that version.
I guess this usb to serial convertor chipset is incompatible with your software or do you have any other suggestions?

I'm open to your suggestions.

Thanks for all your help so far!!

Kind Regards

Nick

Hi Nick,

I guess you can try another USB to serial converter the ones we sell we know work:

http://www.picotech.com/usb_data_acquisition.html

Kind regards

Hi Ziko,
Thanks for your help. I've just placed an order now for the cable - Order Ref ECOM007915
Hopefully, this should resolve our problem.

Thanks once again!

Nick

Hi Ziko,
Just to let you know the usb to serial convertor arrived today. I installed it earlier and now the PC can talk to the instrument as normal!! :D
Just FYI, I'm now using software version 5.20.7 and all is fine!

Thanks for all your help

Nick

Hi NickA,

Thank you for your feedback I'm happy to hear all is good :D.

Kind regards