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Scuba Forum / General / August 2004Dive Computer dowload problem
Got a strange situation and not sure what to make of it, so if anyone has any suggestions on how to make it work, I'm listening. My primary dive computer is a Uwatec Air-X (nitrox). This is air integrated and uses a small transmitter off my HP port to send tank data to the computer. My backup computer is the Uwatec Pro Nitrox which is non-integrated and gives me the same info as my primary except for tank data. I do not usually use this computer unless the primary goes out and I attach a SPG to the 1st stage. Both of these computers send data to a PC (desktop or laptop)via a MemoMouse interface device which can store up to 60+ hours of dive time. I usually store the dives on the MemoMouse and then download them to my desktop when I get home. Now the problem. I dove this weekend at Morehead City NC. Came home and downloaded my dive data onto my DESKTOP PC via the memomouse and serial port with no trouble. However, just to try it out, I tried downloading the same dive computer, same memo mouse, same serial cable to a Toshiba Pentium II laptop. When I tried this, I got an error message, "Communications error between dive computer and memomouse". So, then I tried my backup dive computer that had some older dives, and it downloaded perfectly. I then went back to the desktop PC and again the data moved just fine from the dive computer, through the memomouse, and into the PC, but when I tried it again on the laptop, I get the same message. My backup dive computer moves data just fine through both the desktop and the laptop. The serial port on the laptop seems fine, as I use it for another application, plus it did fine with my backup dive computer. Anyone got any ideas???? > Got a strange situation and not sure what to make of it, so if anyone > has any suggestions on how to make it work, I'm listening. [quoted text clipped - 33 lines] > > Anyone got any ideas???? somethings broke  SignatureIf you don't go there, you will never know what is there. I ain't looking for trouble,.....but you can find it here. >> The serial port on the laptop seems fine, as I use it for another >> application, plus it did fine with my backup dive computer. >> >> Anyone got any ideas???? >> > somethings broke Yup!!!! >Got a strange situation and not sure what to make of it, so if anyone >has any suggestions on how to make it work, I'm listening. [quoted text clipped - 33 lines] > >Anyone got any ideas???? Sometimes certain serial ports don't like the voltages being output by the low power, low voltage devices like these. Not much you can do unless the manufacturer of the dive computers has a solution. "> > Anyone got any ideas???? This is a known issue. Serial port voltage on laptops vary greatly. Most computer manufacturers are moving to USB. Was the laptop plugged into AC power? If so...unplug it and go with the batteries. This seems to work with about 80% of the laptops that I have seen using the Mem mouse. If that doesn't work....you might try the serial to USB adaptor by iogear (seems to work more often than other brands). Load the drivers and go for it. You may have to identify the port manually for it to work. Forest Aten > "> > [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > Forest Aten Good call Forest. If we ever meet, I owe you a beer (or whatever your favorite is). I unplugged the laptop from the AC charger and the download went like clockwork. I just thought it unusual that both computers would d/l to the desktop, and only one would d/l to the laptop. Plus the error message indicated the dive computer was not communicating with the memomouse. Thanks, Andy > > "> > > [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > Thanks, > Andy Great Andy!! I've seen my clients struggle with these serial port download issues for years. I think things will be going better with the USB versions. Forest >>>"> >>> [quoted text clipped - 40 lines] > > Forest You may very well be right....but by the time they get the USB working, it will be obsolete with firewire or something else. I have tried several types of USB to Serial adapters with no positive results. However, as I mentioned in one of my other messages, I downloaded the latest version of Data Trak which is supposed to address the issues of the USB to Serial adapters. Perhaps when time permits, I may do some experimenting along that line. Thanks again, Andy > Got a strange situation and not sure what to make of it, so if anyone > has any suggestions on how to make it work, I'm listening. [quoted text clipped - 33 lines] > > Anyone got any ideas???? I've seen this precise problem and it baffled me for several months. In my case, I narrowed the problem down to the condition of the electrical earth on the computer supply. I live in the Canary Islands where most devices are not earthed. I was forever getting the "Communications error between dive computer and memomouse" error. I used to have three Uwatecs until I got so frustrated I threw one of them against the wall. Now the other two work perfectly if both my desktop and laptop have a good earth supply. If I use a mains cable with no earth, I always see the "Communications error between dive computer and memomouse" error and this is highly reproducible. Were you using the internal battery on your laptop or a power cable connected to the mains when you experienced these problems? Carlos >>Got a strange situation and not sure what to make of it, so if anyone >>has any suggestions on how to make it work, I'm listening. [quoted text clipped - 49 lines] > > \ Carlos, I followed Forest's advice and disconnected the power supply from the laptop and just used the battery. After that, the download went great. One thing I have noted since reading your reply, I checked the plug on the laptop power supply and it is a two bladed, non-polarized, plug. In other words, I can put it in an AC socket either way. Its possible I was getting enough AC ripple through the laptop charger to disrupt the serial communications. I would have thought the battery would have suppressed most of that, but perhaps not. Thanks, Andy > Got a strange situation and not sure what to make of it, so if anyone > has any suggestions on how to make it work, I'm listening. [quoted text clipped - 33 lines] > > Anyone got any ideas???? I would reload the software - application software. Are you running the same operating software on each? >> Got a strange situation and not sure what to make of it, so if anyone >> has any suggestions on how to make it work, I'm listening. [quoted text clipped - 37 lines] > I would reload the software - application software. Are you running the > same operating software on each? Actually, I did a software upgrade on both computers. The desktop is running Windows ME, and the laptop is running Windows 98. However, A couple of other folks gave me some great suggestions which seemed to fix the problem. (AC power applied to laptop while trying to download). > Got a strange situation and not sure what to make of it, so if anyone > has any suggestions on how to make it work, I'm listening. [quoted text clipped - 33 lines] > > Anyone got any ideas???? Is your backup an Aladin AirX? I've gotten the same message over the years. Two problems were noted: Software loading on startup that ties up the serial port and poor connections. The serial port is used by some applications. After closing a keypad program the problem disappeared. After closing a presentation program with infrared gizmo the problem disappeared. (Some other program also caused the same problem.) I had the optional keypad on a Toshiba but don't recall if that caused the problem. The keypad and presentation software with a Dell or Gateway caused the failure. Next connections: The connection problem was solved by twisting the male ends back and forth in the female receptacle on the computer and pushing with a small amount of force, or, plugging the interface cable back and forth with slight sideways pressure. On the second or third try the problem was resolved. It seems to be an ongoing problem as corrosion is part of the equipment cycle. >>Got a strange situation and not sure what to make of it, so if anyone >>has any suggestions on how to make it work, I'm listening. [quoted text clipped - 44 lines] > don't recall if that caused the problem. The keypad and presentation > software with a Dell or Gateway caused the failure. I don't have much on this laptop. A net browser. A program to track the stability of my GPS frequency standard, and Juno. I just use this computer primarily for dive data (while on the road), backup for internet and email if needed, and tracking my frequency standard. I don't believe anything is running in the background. Anyhow...some other folks gave me some good suggestions which solved the problem. > Next connections: The connection problem was solved by twisting the male > ends back and forth in the female receptacle on the computer and pushing > with a small amount of force, or, plugging the interface cable back and > forth with slight sideways pressure. On the second or third try the problem > was resolved. It seems to be an ongoing problem as corrosion is part of the > equipment cycle. I thought about that too and tried twisting the leads going into the dive computer to make a better connection. The dive computer I had the problem with, I had used in the ocean just a few days before so I considered there may be some salt or something causing problems. But that was not the case and the problem has been solved. |
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