Sirius RS232 Interface - Page 5

jcaesar625 · 11-15-2005, 07:01 AM

I got the RS232 interface hooked up last night, it works great. It wasn't working at first in RR. Went into the test software, and it couldn't find by scannig the com ports, until I added the /COM1 switch. Then went back into RR and it worked fine.

Only problem is I only have one Audio IN on my soundcard, therefore I guess I better hit the Shack tonight and get a splitter, so that I can run both XM and Sirius.

Kamakazie2 · 11-15-2005, 11:48 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by mitchjs

thanks kam!

the prototype is coded and working!!!

i need to work on the hard part!! the enclosure

interested in a prototype? (prob no enclosure)

its a usb powered & controlled, via virt comport

i got a simple command set

? = help
1,2,3,4 switches input
Q querries what is current input

Sweet! This this works great. I now have Sirius and XM going to my optical input..

jcaesar625 · 11-15-2005, 08:16 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by jcaesar625

Only problem is I only have one Audio IN on my soundcard, therefore I guess I better hit the Shack tonight and get a splitter, so that I can run both XM and Sirius.

Well, I got a Y cable to run both the XM and Sirius into the sound card, but it did not work. When the XM is plugged in, it muffles the sound on the Sirius to the point it is almost in-audible, but if I switch to XM in RR, it plays fine. The Sirius doesn't have the same effect on the XM, that the XM has on the Sirius.

Mitch, how do you have yours setup to allow multiple line-ins?

Jeff D. · 11-15-2005, 11:36 PM

Hi Mitch,
I'm having some trouble getting things going here.
I'm hooked up correctly and have your demo software and RS232 installed.
When I turn on your demo software nothing comes on in the software.
All the areas stay blank. When I try to turn on w/debug running I see some activity in the debug box. There are entries both to and from Sirius in debug.
I read above that someone used a /COM1 line somewhere but I'm not sure where to try this.
I activated the unit online tonight and can't really tell if it took or not.
I also just tried the comport1 test app.
And it failed the radio test.

Any ideas or trouble shooting thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks for your time,
Jeff D.

jcaesar625 · 11-16-2005, 06:16 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Jeff D.

There are entries both to and from Sirius in debug.
I read above that someone used a /COM1 line somewhere but I'm not sure where to try this.

Create a shortcut to the exe file, and inside of the quotes of the path add the /COMX for whatever com port yours is on. I had the same symptoms you were having, except I would think it would pass the com1 port test app, if that's what com port yours is on.

jcaesar625 · 11-16-2005, 06:51 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by mitchjs

4 in 1 out USB controled and powered toslink selector

Mitch, I am assuming this will solve my line-in problems. Does it pass the digital audio on to the sound card through the USB? or does it just have multiple toslink ins, and then one toslink out that then goes to the toslink in on the soundcard? I currently have the Soundblaster MP3+ USB as my soundcard, and it's toslink in only works for recording. Let me know, and I will probably buy one of these from you, I don't need an enclosure right now.

Jeff D. · 11-16-2005, 10:04 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by jcaesar625

Create a shortcut to the exe file, and inside of the quotes of the path add the /COMX for whatever com port yours is on. I had the same symptoms you were having, except I would think it would pass the com1 port test app, if that's what com port yours is on.

Being a extreme NOOB

I don't get where I should "create a shortcut to the exe file".
Which exe file are we talking about. Is it somewhere in Mitch's demo or in RR which I have running as my frontend. Not sure where your leading me.

I do really appreciate your help. 6 hours trying things last night didn't get me anywhere. It seems weird that in debug I see what appears to be communication between the ALP1 and Sirius, but don't see anything in the comport test or in the actual demo app.

Just a note on my setup, I have my computer (1.8G P4, 512m ram, Dell Optiplex GX260 small form factor) sitting on the bench here right now and it is working in all other areas...networked, wireless online, Roadrunner+skin, DVD, including writing this note.

I knew when I dove into this RS232 interface I would be in trouble if there was an issue. I have little background in the comport area of computers. I haven't been exposed to or had to use the serial connection on any of my past machines.
But hey at 46 I'm not too old to figure it out with some help from you guys.

Thanks and I'll keep you posted on how it's going.

BTW the ALP1 is new and was removed from it's sealed package by me today. I'm guessing that it's probably a setup issue not hardware. Mitch's board is well made and connected easily to the ALP1.

Thanks Again
Jeff

jcaesar625 · 11-16-2005, 11:40 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Jeff D.

Being a extreme NOOB

I don't get where I should "create a shortcut to the exe file".
Which exe file are we talking about. Is it somewhere in Mitch's demo or in RR which I have running as my frontend. Not sure where your leading me.

You create a windows shortcut to the demo prog, just like you would create any shortcut in windows. Right click and drag the file to the same folder, and choose "create shortcut". Then right-click on the short cut, go to properties, and the edit the target path by adding a space after .exe and then /COMX before the quotes, where X is your com port number that you have it plugged into.

Mine didn't work in RR (not even channel 184) until it was activated by Sirius.

Also check your com port settings, see what you have the com ports set to in the bios on your compter. It should be 3F8 IRQ 4, if you are trying to use com 1. Then go into your device manager in windows, and make sure COM1 is set to the same (by going to the Resources tab in the com port properties). If you need to change it, you need to uncheck "automatic configuration" on your device manager. Then change the "Basic Settings" drop down box to the one that says "3F8-3FF" and "IRQ 4". If something shows up in the conflics screen, then that is your problem. This is remedied by going back into bios, and changing to an availble com port, maybe com 2, which should be 2F8 IRQ 3. Then you go back into windows and fall the same steps as before.

Kamakazie2 · 11-16-2005, 12:14 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by jcaesar625

Mitch, I am assuming this will solve my line-in problems. Does it pass the digital audio on to the sound card through the USB? or does it just have multiple toslink ins, and then one toslink out that then goes to the toslink in on the soundcard? I currently have the Soundblaster MP3+ USB as my soundcard, and it's toslink in only works for recording. Let me know, and I will probably buy one of these from you, I don't need an enclosure right now.

I have a potential solution for you.. Jbors made a program that will simultaneousley record and playback any line input form windows. This will probably solve your optical input playback issue. Make sure you have the optical input set as the recording device in windows.

http://pymedia.org/downloads/livepla...player-1.0.zip

jcaesar625 · 11-16-2005, 01:05 PM

Thanks Kaz, I will have to try that out tonight.

Cyberphox · 11-16-2005, 09:32 PM

couple things are stopping me from making a purchase.

1. i want to add those k145 temp kits to my only serial port to use in roadrunner for temperature monitoring
2. mitch's website is down

edit: mitch's site is up now yay!

ooh..and I need to get my sirius running from Canada soon. hope i won't need a real us address.

mitchjs · 11-16-2005, 10:16 PM

alot to answer here..

jcaesar625 , my toslink switcher takes 4 toslink in, and gives you 1 out
you would connect that to the toslink in, now the creative labs MP3+ issues, i would not use that device at all. it has some spdif issues.. non the less if i rememer you should be able to monitor the spdif in, in the mixer... i use a app that i wrote that lets me listen to any devices input pins.

jeff if you see activity in the debug window, its prob working fine..
if the radio is really new it needs to be on for a few mins to get the channel data... i prob dont handle any of those conditions... because i dont and didnt ever have a radio that was virgin when i started this...
none the less.. id say run the app, and just wait a few mins... then click off, then click on

mitch

mitchjs · 11-16-2005, 10:30 PM

kam, that prog is not so good...
if anything the microsoft direct x demo
is mucho better (attached here)

i have my own little tray app, i might release
it does monitoring of any audio device, and LAME mp3 encoding

meanwhile i updated my demo app... i added copy to clipboard
in the debug area, helps developers, and me!

see me site

mitch

Jeff D. · 11-17-2005, 12:55 AM

To JCaeser:
Thank you for your ideas. I tried the /COM1 shortcut addon and I haven't seen any differences yet. I debug and see lines of numbers in pairs and occasionally a Sirius: Busy followed quickly by a string then sometimes it says: From Sirius: ACK
Everything in Device Manager looks like Com1 is configured correctlly. No conflicts show up and I checked in the bios and it is configured correctly also.

I truely believe this thing is on and trying to start. I have my ant. hanging out my dining room window right now and may need to position it better to receive a stronger signal. But I don't see any sign of the radio being on like ant. strength or channel, other than in debug it appears dead. But the activity in debug suggests it is trying to setup.

To Mitch:
I have left it on overnight and still nothing in the morning suggests it's any different.

Funny this is the first problem I have had with my carpc. Everything has been perfect up to now.....my wife

is now constantly at me telling me how I wasted my money

on this satellite stuff.
I need to get this going soon, or I may be posting from jail....lol.

Thanks again guys,
Jeff