It has been almost a year since I have upgraded the player software on my RIOCAR. I am currently running version 2.00-beta11...I just tried to upgrade the software so I could run Emplode. However, my comp is not reconizing the serial connection even being there. I have never had the problem in the past so I dont know what is going on. Any help on this would be geatly appreciated!

You might want to check the "Empeg FAQ" at the top of this page, but one thing to look for is that another program might be "borrowing" the COM port. That can often be a Palm PDA program or anything else that can use a serial connection..

I have been reading through the FAQ(lots of good info) but I still haven’t found a solution to this problem. I am not currently running any other devises through my comp via serial (only USB), so I don’t think it would be borrowing the serial port. Any other thoughts ? Thanks again!

I'm sure you checked this, but my PALM device connects via USB cable, but it is in fact a serial connection (must be a USB to Serial adapter built in).

Also, make sure you are using the serial cable that came with the RioCar because it is diferant that ones you'd buy in the store...

I'm sure someone will pop in here with better advice!

I removed all my USB apps. uninstalled empeg and reinstalled car consumer software..emplode PC software for Windows. And still nothing is happening....Ahh thsi is driving me nuts

Ensure that hardware flow control is set to OFF or NONE in the software you are using. If all else fails, switch to Linux and use kermit.

Cheers

what are the possible complications that would be interfering with the serial connections....If it is just the hardware flow control. Where should I go to access this?

I have done a search for the hardware flow control, but i couldn't find much. I would much rather use Emplode rather than switch to linux, so....any more help on this?

Follow these instructions and tell us where it breaks down. The NULL modem cable is the most important part. Just because both ends fit doesn't mean it'll work.

Matthew

If it is just the hardware flow control. Where should I go to access this?

It's in either the Windows Control Panel or it's in the Windows Device Manager. I don't remember which. But that's not important because the upgrade program sets all of those parameters itself before trying to connect. Setting the flow control is only important for using Hyperterminal, not for the upgrader program.

I think it is more likely to be something wrong with the cable or with the PC's serial port. For instance, bad cable, wrong kind of cable, serial port disabled in the BIOS, that sort of thing.

First, let's diagnose what's going on at the serial port level. Click here and see if you can even see anything on the serial port at all.

Make sure to unplug the power from the player and plug it in after the software is running.

If you end up getting 2.0 final installed, afterwards make sure to check for this problem, it's the worst of the known bugs from 2.0 Beta 11. Since you were running that version for a long time, I wouldn't be surprised if you had that problem and now needed to clean out the config file.

Whoa, Grasshopper! Pebble's yours, bud.

One pebble down. How many more do I need to be a Master?

Matthew

I followed the instructions exactly for the Hyper terminal, still with no progress I was unable to type anthying in, saw no messages, after rebooting the RiOCAR. However the cable i am using is just a standard female-female 9 pin (not the one that came with the riocar), how do I tell if it is a Null modem cable or not? Thank you so much for all the help!

"It crosses pins 2 and 3" . Serial ports send on one pin, and receive on another. To have two serial ports talk to each other, you have to connect the send pin to the receive pin for each device.

Matthew

is just a standard female-female 9 pin (not the one that came with the riocar),

And there's your problem. You need the one that came with the rio car. If you don't have it any more, then you need to go to Rat Shack and buy one. It must be a NULL MODEM cable.

If you want to know how to tell a null modem cable, the pinout specs are:

Pin 5 to Pin 5.
Pin 2 to pin 3.
Pin 3 to pin 2.

Those are the only three wires used by the car player. Note the first pin is the same, the last two are "crossed".


ALTERNATIVELY...

If you happen to have the docking sled, your straight-through cable might work with the sled. Its serial port is "crossed" already.

Easiest solution would be to find that original serial cable or buy a new one and make sure it's a NULL modem serial cable.