Cristian Conitzer wrote:Hi, seems that the problem is the USB to Serial adapter.
I have been trying with every port and every other combination to try to make it work on a new laptop with only usb ports and xp OS but failed.
I had to take a very old laptop with 150MHZ to be happy.
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif)
Has anyone succesful tested an USB to Serial adapter to make the externa control work? Will be pleased to know.
Another solution might be a PCMCIA card with serial com port
Cristian
I am currently testing external control through USB to Serial adaptors, and have been able to get it to work, but it has been lots of trial and error. What I have figured out is as follows:
I am using XP Pro, and a Prolific based USB to Serial adaptor. Initially I couldn't get it to work using the driver that was on the CD which was sold with the adaptor, I had to download a driver from Prolific's web site. I also tried another really cheap ($5) USB to Serial adaptor off Ebay, it didn't work at all.
I have also had the problem with what looks like a COM Port confilct, with XNote saying "Com port error". I had to manually assign the Prolific driver to the port I wanted to use (COM Port 3), ie not using plug and play, so that the driver was sitting on that port when the laptop booted up. However, when I did that, if I booted the PC with the USB to Serial adaptor plugged in, then started XNote with external control enabled, it immediately gave the "Com port error" message.
So to get the external control working the procedure I have figured out is as follows:
1. Boot the laptop WITHOUT the USB to Serial adaptor plugged in
2. Start XNote, but don't start the stopwatch
3. Plug in the USB to Serial adaptor
4. Wait a few seconds
5. Start the stopwatch
6. Stop the stopwatch, and reset it
7. Unplug the USB to Serial adaptor
8. wait a few seconds
9. Plug the USB to Serial adaptor back in
10. External control then works
Basically, this is a pretty tedious process, and I am still not 100% sure that it works the same every time, so I am hesitating to use XNote in the field.
I think this is something that XNote needs to look at, it maybe a "probem with the USB to Serial adaptor, but frankly it's uncommon to find laptops with serial ports on them these days. Maybe time to get XNote working via the USB Port? Or provide some definitave guidance on getting it to work with the Prolific based USB to Serial adaptor, which seems to be common the world over.
[quote="Cristian Conitzer"]Hi, seems that the problem is the USB to Serial adapter.
I have been trying with every port and every other combination to try to make it work on a new laptop with only usb ports and xp OS but failed.
I had to take a very old laptop with 150MHZ to be happy. :)
Has anyone succesful tested an USB to Serial adapter to make the externa control work? Will be pleased to know.
Another solution might be a PCMCIA card with serial com port
Cristian[/quote]
I am currently testing external control through USB to Serial adaptors, and have been able to get it to work, but it has been lots of trial and error. What I have figured out is as follows:
I am using XP Pro, and a Prolific based USB to Serial adaptor. Initially I couldn't get it to work using the driver that was on the CD which was sold with the adaptor, I had to download a driver from Prolific's web site. I also tried another really cheap ($5) USB to Serial adaptor off Ebay, it didn't work at all.
I have also had the problem with what looks like a COM Port confilct, with XNote saying "Com port error". I had to manually assign the Prolific driver to the port I wanted to use (COM Port 3), ie not using plug and play, so that the driver was sitting on that port when the laptop booted up. However, when I did that, if I booted the PC with the USB to Serial adaptor plugged in, then started XNote with external control enabled, it immediately gave the "Com port error" message.
So to get the external control working the procedure I have figured out is as follows:
1. Boot the laptop WITHOUT the USB to Serial adaptor plugged in
2. Start XNote, but don't start the stopwatch
3. Plug in the USB to Serial adaptor
4. Wait a few seconds
5. Start the stopwatch
6. Stop the stopwatch, and reset it
7. Unplug the USB to Serial adaptor
8. wait a few seconds
9. Plug the USB to Serial adaptor back in
10. External control then works
Basically, this is a pretty tedious process, and I am still not 100% sure that it works the same every time, so I am hesitating to use XNote in the field.
I think this is something that XNote needs to look at, it maybe a "probem with the USB to Serial adaptor, but frankly it's uncommon to find laptops with serial ports on them these days. Maybe time to get XNote working via the USB Port? Or provide some definitave guidance on getting it to work with the Prolific based USB to Serial adaptor, which seems to be common the world over.