USB problem ?

[Bebdin]

Hello,

My very first FDT cards arrived today, and so I tried to make the cards work together.
I have two computers at home. An old one, only used for a few developpments, and a newer one, this one I use everyday. Both are running windows XP.

The cards don't work on the more recent computer. They are not detected by your software while they are on my second computer.
- I followed your tutorials to install the driver, plug the card, etc..
- I'm using the supply from USB, jumpers are checked and are in the right position
- I only have one output module. So, the last module jumper is set on this card
- when starting the software then plugging the cards, nothing happens.
- If I try to open a project, the following warning message appears : "Could not open com port 5 for this connection"
- I looked in the hardware list of windows and found the "Sim Board Interface USB (COM5)". There is no warning on this driver, it seems to run correctly
- Thinking it could be possible that another thread could use this virtual port, I closed every processus which are not mandatory => no change

If you have any idea...

Thanks,

Bertrand

[Bob Reed]

Try unpluging the cards, unistall the software. Hook the cards back up and then reinstall the software. Just an idea....

[Bebdin]

Try unpluging the cards, unistall the software. Hook the cards back up and then reinstall the software. Just an idea....

Hello Bob,

I'm sorry for my deficiencies in english.. but i can't understand when you say "hook the card back up".

I have always tried to remove the driver and reinstall the software, and it didn't work better. I know the cards are working, I made some tests on my other computer.. but this is very painful to work on this oldie.

Bertrand

[ralmav]

Hi Bertrand,

I also had and sometimes still have this problem.
It has something to do with the USB power.
For me the problem was nearly solved with a powered USB-Hub.
I run the software (version 1.0p) twice on two computers with two masters, one for the overhead with 3 cards (1 input ,1 out ,1 16D) and one for the MIP/Pedestal with momentary 3 and finally 5 cards (1 in,1 out ,3 16D).
Still some seldom errors like "could´t open com port..".Then it helps to close the software, unplug the USB cable directly in the PC or Hub, replug it and restart the simboard controller software.
Hope this helps

Ralf

[Bob Reed]

Sounds like you tried what my sugestion was. Try the other sugestion and see what happens.

[Chris]

Hi Bertrand,

Your new modern PC likely has a load of USB ports that share power between them, hence any single USB port is not a "true" port capable of delivering the correct power drive to a device.

In this case, your best bet is simply to use a powered USB 2.0 hub, and connect that to your PC. You then connect your master module to the hub, which can deliver the appropriate power to initialize and drive the chain.

Some older PC motherboards have proper USB ports (ie. not internal shared-power hubs, but true 1:1 USB ports), hence why your older PC can power them just fine. Some newer motherboards can't, for the above reason.

Let me know how you get on.

Regards

[Bebdin]

Hi Bertrand,
Let me know how you get on.

Hi Chris,

Actually, my usb hub works fine. But it didn't solve the problem.
Maybe I'm mistaking, but the problem really seems to be a software one.. When I'm plugging the card, the PC always detects it, with and without the hub.
FDT software seems not to be able to communicate, but the PC can see the master card. That's really strange...

Bertrand

[Bebdin]

Hello Ralph,

I'm sorry, before anything else, I should have introduced myself.

So I'm begining to work on a King Air home cockpit. I'll first work on the interface.. and in the same time I'm trying to buy a King Air wreck. I'm also a full flight simulator maintenance technician at FlightSafety International (Paris Center). I don't have a website yet, but I will soon...

So, I don't have any working USB hub, but I tried to use an external supply.. and once again it didn't work.

Bertrand