Communication problem

[Formix@pbtcomm.net]

Installed software succesfully and connected all wires. When starting shopbot software, PC does not connect to controller. Hit ENTER to re-connect, then it does connect. After a few seconds it disconnects. Hit R for re-connect sucessfully, but disconnects again after few seconds.
What to do?

[toml@starband.net]

Really need a lot more information before anyone can help you. What kind of computer, what speed, is serial port on the board or separate, which software and so on.

Serial ports have several settings. Speed, parity, number of bits, etc. If you are installing the software in DOS than you may have a problem with the BIOS of the computer setting something up in the serial port that does not agree with the program.

If you are trying to run the software under Windows that may be part of your problem. Switch to DOS and see what happens. Win2K and WinXP handle serial ports in a different way than do the eariler wersions. Windows XP does not truly have a DOS with it and may not run the Shopbot program. While the software may look to be running fine this might be part of the problem. The Shopbot software is about as robust and glitch free as any you are likely to find.

[dmdraper]

Michael,

Something else to check....

Make sure that no other software is trying to use the same serial port as the ShopBot, such as a Palm Pilot cradle, digital camera docking station, etc.

Dave D.