Any Tech 2 guru's out there?

[win_k]

Having a bit of trouble with my Tech 2, I can't get the hand held to communicate with TIS on a computer.

If I use the RS232 loop back connector off the com port on the PC, I can get a good com test using TIS, unplugging the loop back causes the com test to fail so I'm pretty confident I've got TIS configured with the correct COM port.

Using the RS232 loop back connector on the hand held, I can get a good com test on the Tech 2.  So to, unplugging the loop back causes the com test to fail.

The Tech 2 self test reports a good test on the RS232 port.

I've used a multi meter to check the RJ45 cable pin for pin.  Cable seems fine.  If I connect the cable between the Tech 2 and the PC, the Tech 2's com test will still report a good coms test, but run the test from TIS, and I get a E2482 Driver Test Failed.

I've pretty much left the PC's com port configuration alone.  I've tried a couple different baud rates, matching both TIS and the hardware to the same speeds.  I've left the parity, stop bit, data bits and flow control at default values, but have tried turning FIFO on and off as well as tried throttling the buffer rates.

Got to admit, I don't get it.  The Tech 2 can do a coms test off the PC's com port successfully, but TIS can't repeat from the opposite side of the system.

Anyone have an idea?

 

[Audax]

What cable are you using? Is it a proper Tech-2 serial adaptor or a homebrew cable? Note that the serial cable is a rollover cable and you can't use an ethernet cable!

Also is this a genuine Tech-2 or one of the Chinese knock offs? The Chinese ones seem to fail early and won't talk properly via the serial interface (amongst other problems).

[win_k]

It's a 8 wire flat ribbon cable with the flip/flop termination Pin 1 to Pin 8, Pin 2 to Pin7 etc etc.

Genuine or knock off?  No idea.  Was bought used from an ex GM tech who was going into the marine industry.  The SAAB software was E-Bay'd separately,  almost certainly a copy.

Think I might need to get an RJ45 gender changer so I can plug the loop back adapter to the far end of the cable.  I'd really like TIS to be able to successfully test the cable.  Those gender changes were easy to find 10 years ago, not nearly as easy these days!

[Audax]

It sounds like it's the right cable then, I guess your suggestion of a gender changer might work. Other than that make sure your serial port settings are correct, is this a "real" serial port or a USB serial port? Many USB serial ports don't work.

[win_k]

It's a "real" DB9 serial port -- I'd actually entertained the idea of trying a USB COM port adapter, good to know that would probably not be a fruitful effort.

One think I might try is to shorten the cable and re-terminate both ends.  The one I've got is the better part of 15' long and I really only need a fraction of that.

The length of the cable should not matter till at least 100' or so but what the heck, a couple RJ45 and 2 minutes with the striping/crimping tool won't hurt anything.

[Audax]

You could try the USB adaptor it wouldn't hurt anyway! Other than that it's usually dead easy to get a Tech-II talking to a computer. I've never had to do more than point it at the right serial port and plug the cables in. I have had cable problems before which comes from using such stuff in an environment with mechanics who tend to be less gentle with computer equipment than you'd hope, but other than that it's never been a huge problem.

I suppose I have had problems with pci serial cards and USB adaptors before too but it seems weird you can run all the tests but get no connectivity, I can't really advise any more than that.