Date
1 - 10 of 10
Mach2 Problem with RS232 Connections.
I got my Mach2 a couple of days ago! What a thing of beauty. However, I've encountered a problem. Although the ethernet connection works perfectly, the RS232 connections do not. With either of the CP5 RS232 ports or the USB->RS232 port I can connect to the mount, but it reports partially strange data such as going into "Lunar" tracking and changing my track/slew settings. It won't accept commands to park/unpark and throws "no response" COM errors in APCC. I've tried the supplied RS232 cable and several others that I have on different ports on my RocketPort RS232 board. I know the RocketPort board works because I've used a null modem to talk from one port to another using test software. That plus the fact that the USB connection works exactly the same way (connects but doesn't function) makes me think there's an internal problem in the CP5 with RS232. As I said, the ethernet connection works perfectly. I don't see anything in the CP5 manual about baud rates but my com ports are defaulted to 9600, 8 data bits, 1 stop bit, no parity.
-Stacey
-Stacey
Flow control is "none." I should add that I have a 1600 mount with a CP4 so I've been down this road before. The fact that neither of the RS232 ports on the CP5 works with multiple cables/PC ports AND the USB connection doesn't work with properly setup driver sounds like a CP5 issue.
-Stacey
-Stacey
Ray Gralak
Hi Stacey,
Have you tried connecting APCC to your 1600 with CP4 using the same computer and cable(s)?
-Ray
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Show quoted text
Have you tried connecting APCC to your 1600 with CP4 using the same computer and cable(s)?
-Ray
-----Original Message-----
From: main@ap-gto.groups.io [mailto:main@ap-gto.groups.io] On Behalf Of Stacey Mills
Sent: Saturday, August 28, 2021 7:55 AM
To: main@ap-gto.groups.io
Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Mach2 Problem with RS232 Connections.
Flow control is "none." I should add that I have a 1600 mount with a CP4 so I've been down this road before. The
fact that neither of the RS232 ports on the CP5 works with multiple cables/PC ports AND the USB connection
doesn't work with properly setup driver sounds like a CP5 issue.
-Stacey
No, CP4 is in another observatory. I would be a LITTLE easier to take the CP5 over to the other observatory and try it there. I assume this won't change any settings on that system???? I'd rather not disturb a working system and think this is a longshot, though since the USB driver port doesn't work either and that's an entirely different setup. Would there be any reason to redo the firmware on the CP5???
-Stacey
.
-Stacey
.
Ray Gralak
Stacey,
The reason I am asking is to test APCC's configuration. It's possible that both:
1) USB-serial port driver has an issue.
2) APCC is set up incorrectly.
If could try this test:
1) Start the test from a powered OFF state.
2) Turn the mount on.
3) Start APCC manually, but do not configure it to connect to the ASCOM driver.
4) Connect to the mount and let it run for 5-10 seconds, even if you see errors.
5) Close APCC.
Find the latest APCC log file and post it here. You can find APCC logs here:
C:\ProgramData\Astro-Physics\APCC\Logs
-Ray
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
The reason I am asking is to test APCC's configuration. It's possible that both:
1) USB-serial port driver has an issue.
2) APCC is set up incorrectly.
If could try this test:
1) Start the test from a powered OFF state.
2) Turn the mount on.
3) Start APCC manually, but do not configure it to connect to the ASCOM driver.
4) Connect to the mount and let it run for 5-10 seconds, even if you see errors.
5) Close APCC.
Find the latest APCC log file and post it here. You can find APCC logs here:
C:\ProgramData\Astro-Physics\APCC\Logs
-Ray
-----Original Message-----
From: main@ap-gto.groups.io [mailto:main@ap-gto.groups.io] On Behalf Of Stacey Mills
Sent: Saturday, August 28, 2021 8:34 AM
To: main@ap-gto.groups.io
Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Mach2 Problem with RS232 Connections.
No, CP4 is in another observatory. I would be a LITTLE easier to take the CP5 over to the other observatory and
try it there. I assume this won't change any settings on that system???? I'd rather not disturb a working system
and think this is a longshot, though since the USB driver port doesn't work either and that's an entirely different
setup. Would there be any reason to redo the firmware on the CP5???
-Stacey
.
Hi Ray, I've got the problem solved. I went back out into the HOT observatory and the USB->serial connection to the CP5 worked! I'm not sure what the issue was earlier. I again tested my RocketPort card with a null modem between two card ports and a couple of terminal programs (TeraTerm) and it seemed to work fine. However, I figured I'd pull out a separate USB->4 serial port adapter that I had and see if that would work, AND IT DID, on both CP5 RS232 ports. So the problem lies with my RocketPort card and not the CP5. I'm not sure why the terminal programs worked and the CP5 didn't but I won't pursue that at the moment. Since the serial ports are backups to the ethernet anyway, I'm happy using that setup and I'll yank the RocketPort card for now. So sorry to have caused an issue that was really on my end. Thanks!
-Stacey
-Stacey
Ray Gralak
Stacey,
That's great news! I am glad it was something you can correct without having to send in your CP5!
-Ray
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
That's great news! I am glad it was something you can correct without having to send in your CP5!
-Ray
-----Original Message-----
From: main@ap-gto.groups.io [mailto:main@ap-gto.groups.io] On Behalf Of Stacey Mills
Sent: Saturday, August 28, 2021 9:46 AM
To: main@ap-gto.groups.io
Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Mach2 Problem with RS232 Connections.
Hi Ray, I've got the problem solved. I went back out into the HOT observatory and the USB->serial connection to
the CP5 worked! I'm not sure what the issue was earlier. I again tested my RocketPort card with a null modem
between two card ports and a couple of terminal programs (TeraTerm) and it seemed to work fine. However, I
figured I'd pull out a separate USB->4 serial port adapter that I had and see if that would work, AND IT DID, on both
CP5 RS232 ports. So the problem lies with my RocketPort card and not the CP5. I'm not sure why the terminal
programs worked and the CP5 didn't but I won't pursue that at the moment. Since the serial ports are backups to
the ethernet anyway, I'm happy using that setup and I'll yank the RocketPort card for now. So sorry to have caused
an issue that was really on my end. Thanks!
-Stacey
I have seen RocketPort card problems in the past and they usually were traced to the card not being fully seated in the PC's card slot.
-Christopher Erickson
"My advice is always free and worth every penny!"
Observatory Engineer
Summit Kinetics
Waikoloa, Hawaii
On Sat, Aug 28, 2021 at 7:45 AM Ray Gralak <iogroups@...> wrote:
Stacey,
That's great news! I am glad it was something you can correct without having to send in your CP5!
-Ray
> -----Original Message-----
> From: main@ap-gto.groups.io [mailto:main@ap-gto.groups.io] On Behalf Of Stacey Mills
> Sent: Saturday, August 28, 2021 9:46 AM
> To: main@ap-gto.groups.io
> Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Mach2 Problem with RS232 Connections.
>
> Hi Ray, I've got the problem solved. I went back out into the HOT observatory and the USB->serial connection to
> the CP5 worked! I'm not sure what the issue was earlier. I again tested my RocketPort card with a null modem
> between two card ports and a couple of terminal programs (TeraTerm) and it seemed to work fine. However, I
> figured I'd pull out a separate USB->4 serial port adapter that I had and see if that would work, AND IT DID, on both
> CP5 RS232 ports. So the problem lies with my RocketPort card and not the CP5. I'm not sure why the terminal
> programs worked and the CP5 didn't but I won't pursue that at the moment. Since the serial ports are backups to
> the ethernet anyway, I'm happy using that setup and I'll yank the RocketPort card for now. So sorry to have caused
> an issue that was really on my end. Thanks!
>
> -Stacey
>
Even though I'm fine with things working as they do now, I love a mystery, so I swapped out the RocketPort card for a spare that I had....same result. Tried swapping the cables as well, and updating/repairing the drivers. I'm sure the boards were seated well. Strangely, they work in test/null modem mode. First time I've ever had an issue with these cards but this is the only PCIe one that I have used. Too hot to fool with it any more today. I'm satisfied it has something to do with Windows10, the drivers or the motherboard, but my alternate solution with the 4-port USB->serial works fine so that's enough for now. At least I know not to throw away the RocketPort cards!
-Stacey
-Stacey