Getting Started

[Zach]

Hey guys, I just bought a 2005 PRTAlpha last weekend and the electrican just finished wiring it up this morning.

I am trying to get it started up but am running into some problems. My serial connection appears to be OK since I run the "Automatically Search for ShopBot Port" and it comes back with "Connection to ShopBot Found" Port Number 4.

When I try to do anything a yellow message box pops up. See screen shot.

I click the "Retry Connection with this Port", another box pops up saying "Locating Tool...", and then the same yellow message box pops up again.

Can anybody help with this? If so I would really like to call and discuss.

Thanks for your help!


Zach

[andyb]

I'm assuming the control box is turned on. Have you tried to have it search other ports?

Andy B.

[Zach]

The control box is on and when I search more ports it always comes back to say "Connection to ShopBot Found!" on port number 4.

[ron_moorehead]

Did you update the firmware in the control box to match the software version you are running on the computer?

[andyb]

Also, did you run the Serial/USB driver setup before you connected the connector? This will cause a problem if you didn't.

Andy B.

[jimmya]

I am not sure about this, but, does he need to run Version 3.4.27PRT??

Jimmy

[Brady Watson]

I am not sure about this, but, does he need to run Version 3.4.27PRT??

Jimmy

No - that is only for 3G PRT Standard tools. The most current version is suitable for a PRT Alpha.

It is not necessary to install USB drivers for that board, via the SB3 install. It is only for tools after 2007 that don't have a USB to Serial adapter. You DO need to install IOGear USB to serial converter drivers, if that is the brand you are using. Which leads to the next possible issue...Is your USB to Serial converter working? Do you see "ATEN Serial Bridge" in the Windows device manager?

Be sure to install firmware via the UI command & follow the instructions.

Make sure your USB cable is no longer than 10-12 feet MAX. Otherwise you will have issues.

-B

[Zach]

Just got off the phone with Andy. Thanks Andy!

Still not working. I currently have a call and email out to ShopBot support.

My USB cable is the standard 6' length.

Brady -
Mind if I give you a call?


Zach

[ken_rychlik]

Did you push the reset button on the controller after you turned the big switch on? You should hear a clunk when this happens.

[Zach]

Yeah, when I hit the reset button it does make a clunk noise.

Frank from ShopBot called me back and thinks that the smaller control board, the one that is plugged in upright on the main control board, may be bad. I have it disconnected and will be mailing it to him on Monday.

Thanks for all of the resonses today.

I'll keep everyone posed on the results of the control board test.


Zach

[ken_rychlik]

On mine, I had issues with the serial to usb convertor not talking to the pc.

I bought a 35 dollar one from radio shack and never had any more troubles hooking up.

Good luck with it.

[Zach]

So I figured that I would buy a new Serial to USB converter and chord (6') to be sure that wasn't the problem before I sent the card to ShopBot for testing.

Interestingly enough I installed a driver for it called Gigaware USB to serial (see first screen shot) and tried to connect to the control box. It didn't work but it did give me a different message in the yellow window that pops up (see second screen shot).

Do I need to have the "ATEN Serial Bridge" driver instead of the Gigaware? Does anyone know if anyone else has had problems with their cards?

[Zach]

A few more things...

I just found out how to do the jumped speed check. My old USB to serial chord and converter has a transmission efficiency of 73.7 and the new one has 73.8 transmission efficiency. So it is looking more and more like the small board like Frank had said.

While looking at the smaller board I noticed that mine has the center chip missing (see attached pic). If any of you guys have a PRTAlpha can you check to see if your board has three chips. This seems a little fishy that mine only has two.

[Chuck Keysor]

Zack, I just got done looking in my PRTalpha control box. My unit was built in 2004 as a PRT, and upgraded to an alpha about a year later. Anyway, my PCB looks like yours, and the middle chip is not on my PCB either. And my machine's electronics seem to work just fine. So your issue is probably not anything to do with the empty socket. Chuck