Brainstem + DSATX help

Punky · 07-20-2008, 11:36 PM

I'm totally lost how to communicate with my brainstem and dsatx.
I have connected the brainstem to the serial port and the dsatx, and i have a red light and a yellow light, one of them is blinking.

From reading the manual, and related threads, i figure you have to use comfoolery and hyperterminal somehow.
So i downloaded comfoolery, and set to the follow:
9600 Baud, 8 Data bits, No parity, 1 Stop bit, and no flow control
TCP setting: 9090 and 9091
Comfoolery would show COM1 open, and TCP/IP port 9090, 9091 open
But it does not show data port 127.0.0.1

then i went into hyperterminal and entered my area code at the wizard,
then i create a new connection and gave it a random name
then i set the same setting as i did on comfoolery: 9600 Baud, 8 Data bits, No parity, 1 Stop bit, and no flow control
TCP setting: 9090 and 9091
then it tells me COM1 is being used by another program.

If i use hyperterminal alone without comfoolery, i can connect to com1 port, but i get a blank screen and i can't type anything nor see the lines that dsatx should spit out.

Please help me make this thing work!
thanks!

PS. also have a question for anyone who leaves the brainstem connected, does it drain your battery at all?

Punky · 07-21-2008, 04:17 PM

after digging around, i've progess further.
I've used comfoolery and set it to the same setting as above, the only difference is i connect hyperterminal using TCP at address 127.0.0.1 and port 9091 ,
now i get the client list on comfoolery to say 127.0.0.1, but i see nothing in hyperterminal, although it saids that it's connected.

So, is it my brainstem connection thats wrong , or is it because i don't have my ethernet enabled in bios?

_Dejan_ · 07-21-2008, 04:51 PM

I don't know why you need serial over ethernet?

Punky · 07-21-2008, 05:30 PM

I have no idea either, i really am stabbing in the dark for this one.

zootjeff · 07-22-2008, 09:29 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Punky

I'm totally lost how to communicate with my brainstem and dsatx.
I have connected the brainstem to the serial port and the dsatx, and i have a red light and a yellow light, one of them is blinking.

From reading the manual, and related threads, i figure you have to use comfoolery and hyperterminal somehow.
So i downloaded comfoolery, and set to the follow:
9600 Baud, 8 Data bits, No parity, 1 Stop bit, and no flow control
TCP setting: 9090 and 9091
Comfoolery would show COM1 open, and TCP/IP port 9090, 9091 open
But it does not show data port 127.0.0.1

then i went into hyperterminal and entered my area code at the wizard,
then i create a new connection and gave it a random name
then i set the same setting as i did on comfoolery: 9600 Baud, 8 Data bits, No parity, 1 Stop bit, and no flow control
TCP setting: 9090 and 9091
then it tells me COM1 is being used by another program.

If i use hyperterminal alone without comfoolery, i can connect to com1 port, but i get a blank screen and i can't type anything nor see the lines that dsatx should spit out.

Please help me make this thing work!
thanks!

PS. also have a question for anyone who leaves the brainstem connected, does it drain your battery at all?

OK what are you trying to do?

All you need is hyperterminal. There are some web apps that may use comfoolery, but it isn't required for hyperterminal.

I also use TeraTerm, you may have more luck with that.

Basically go into hyperterminal, choose your com port for 9600 8,1,n and you're good to go, type capitol F and capitol Letter O (oh) and see if you get feed outputs.

You need to have your DSATX not be in sleep, so putting it into dumbpsu mode, or keeping more than 11 -12 volts on Vin And ACC will provide the best results..

Punky · 07-23-2008, 12:02 AM

that's what ive been doing, with hyperterminal alone, but i dont see any text coming out. i think must have mess up the wire connect.

_Dejan_ · 07-23-2008, 12:58 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Punky

that's what ive been doing, with hyperterminal alone, but i dont see any text coming out. i think must have mess up the wire connect.

Maybe you are wrong connect your Brainstem(You are turn it for 180°)... Did you read manual? Did you try in hyperterminal write: "F" letter? You must write "F" and not "f"...

Few commands:
E: Enable Writing Parameters (Allows the below commands to work)
P: Enter Program Mode
D: Load Factory Defaults
O: Stop the printing of the serial diags (Feed Off)
F: Continue the printing of the serial diags (Feed On)
Z: Set the shutdown counter to 2 seconds (basically cause a shutdown)
@: Force a power button press, shutdown or startup.
G: (Advanced Feature) Get Parameter
S: (Advanced Feature) Set Parameter

Punky · 07-23-2008, 06:38 PM

Thanks everyone for your patience, but its still not working. I have no idea why.
Here are a series of pics, to help everyone understand my problem better

As you can see, its say its connected, but i can not type "F" or anything for that matter.

top to bottom wires Orange, Yellow, Black, White, on both ends. If i flip it one way, DSATX refuses to start, until i remove the connection and reset.
If i flip the other direction lights seems to be functional, but no output still.

One weird thing i notice, is that COM1 Port is always there regardless of what is connected, i removed all usb/serial connection, and COM1 is still there.
Is it my DSATX firmware that's not working or is it something that i'm doing is wrong? Please help! thank you thank you!

_Dejan_ · 07-24-2008, 12:45 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Punky

One weird thing i notice, is that COM1 Port is always there regardless of what is connected, i removed all usb/serial connection, and COM1 is still there.
Is it my DSATX firmware that's not working or is it something that i'm doing is wrong? Please help! thank you thank you!

This is because you have phisical serial port and not virtual like you connect USB->RS232 adapter... This is normaly...
1.) So you are try write "F" letter?
2.) Did you try turn connector for 180°? Or are you shure that you are connect it right way?
3.) This is hard to do by forum... Maybe can help you someone in your area...

Punky · 07-24-2008, 02:03 AM

1) Definitely tried to flip it 180 degree, but it keeps shutting down the psu right away.
2) Also tried typing the "F" as well, but it does not let me do anything.
It's not like DOS, where i type and i see the letter i'm typing, just a blinking cursor on the terminal window.
3) I'd love to know if anyone in calgary, AB that have a DSATX as well.

Punky · 07-25-2008, 09:39 PM

zootjeff, do you have any idea?

RipplingHurst · 07-26-2008, 02:14 AM

How you are connecting it to the COM port on your motherboard? Are you using a regular cable or one of those extensions to the COM port on the MB?

You might wwant to take a look at this post.

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/hard...ter-guide.html

Basically there are two versions of serial riser v1 and v2. The conector I got at Fry's was the wrong one, I had to use a USB to serial converter.

I went nuts until I discovered this issue. Unfortunately, the Brainstem refuses to wake up from sleep, so I'm just not using it anymore.

I copied the relevant bit here:

Quote:

BUT!!!!! Save your self some time, and listen closely, there are two styles of riser cables...and if you have the wrong one, you will pull your hair out like i did for 5 days.

So here we go.

There are 2 types, V1 (which we want) and V2(which we wish never existed)

V1 styles correspond to the pins on our motherboard correctly, and look like this:

V2 styles DO NOT match our motherboard, and look like this

So how do we make sure we get a V1, and not a V2.

Well, you can bring a voltage tester to the store like a nerd....like i did, or you can save from being laughed at by the owner by going to the bin of serial header cables, and simply looking for ones that are wired streight at the head, or crossed. We want the crossed ones.

NOT CROSSED (THROW THIS BACK)

Crossed (KEEP IT AND GO HOME)

Punky · 07-26-2008, 03:57 AM

Thanks for the reply, but i connect the brainstem's directly into the back of the motherboard's serial port, without any extension cable. Then i extend the 4 wire from the brainstem to the DSATX. Is that wrong?

_Dejan_ · 07-26-2008, 07:35 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Punky

Thanks for the reply, but i connect the brainstem's directly into the back of the motherboard's serial port, without any extension cable. Then i extend the 4 wire from the brainstem to the DSATX. Is that wrong?

No that isn't wrong, I have extended my 4wires but I use USB brainstem... Im hear that with RS232/Serial brainstem have few guys problem with connect it to DSATX....
Are you shure that you are right extend cables? Because If I my USB brainstem turn for 180° I didn't receive anythhing(it not keeps shutting down the psu) If I connect it right I receive normal data...

Punky · 07-26-2008, 01:31 PM

now that you say that, i'm starting to believe that my brainstem or DSTAX is messed up, because if i flip it 180 it'll turn off as well, and if i flip it the other way, it seems to work, except i don't see any data. How do i know if my DSATX has the latest firmware.