Freescan Connection Issues
Discussion
I just got my freescan cable yesterday and have not been able to get it to connect. I get the message about locating start header. Here's the details:
1) Dell "legacy-free" Laptop
2) Using USB to Serial cable (seems like a good one)
3) Tried COM1,2,4 using 9600 baud and 8,1,N.
4) Tried both the fore and aft ALDL ports
3) When I disconnect the ALDL cable the status message stops scrolling. This makes me think some data is getting though.
Any thoughts?
Luke.
>>> Edited by karmavore on Sunday 14th November 04:38
1) Dell "legacy-free" Laptop
2) Using USB to Serial cable (seems like a good one)
3) Tried COM1,2,4 using 9600 baud and 8,1,N.
4) Tried both the fore and aft ALDL ports
3) When I disconnect the ALDL cable the status message stops scrolling. This makes me think some data is getting though.
Any thoughts?
Luke.
>>> Edited by karmavore on Sunday 14th November 04:38
Setting the baud rate makes no difference as it's an odd rate (not 1200,2400,9600 etc) so freescan takes over the port and sets it for you.
Do you have teh engine running ? I could never connect to my GT3 until it was actually running, not even with the ignition on.
And you have clicked the "interactive" button on Freescan ?
Adrian
Sport 350
Do you have teh engine running ? I could never connect to my GT3 until it was actually running, not even with the ignition on.
And you have clicked the "interactive" button on Freescan ?
Adrian
Sport 350
Lucus,
As you have discovered modern laptops with no RS232 ports on them require a USB-RS232 adapter in order to run Freescan.
As it says in the Freescan manual we have not developed or tested any USB-RS232 adaptors yet. This is going to become a bigger and bigger issue as the old laptops fade away. This is an area that Kato and I want to work urgently so that we can provide a complete solution for everyone. However, neither of us have laptops with USB ports plus I don’t have my car here at the moment.
I have done some research on this already. On the international US turboesprit list I have read about a few people who have got Freescan to work with a USB-RS232 adaptor. I contacted some of them but no one has provided me with very detailed instructions.
One of the issues I have discovered is that although a number of manufacturers offer USB to RS232 adapters - what works on one computer may not work on another.
Some people have commented that the Belkin F5U103 USB to RS232 adapter works. While others have tested it, and it would not work for them.
Others have had this one work for them.
www.usb-port.com/mt609-2.html
The AKM USB to RS232 adapter is being designed around the FDTI FT232BM chip. The only 'gotcha' - it will be all surface mount component, so the 'kit assembly' will not be something the average guy can put together Here is the link:
www.akmcables.com/usb.htm
Perhaps would like to develop something foolproof ?
As you have discovered modern laptops with no RS232 ports on them require a USB-RS232 adapter in order to run Freescan.
As it says in the Freescan manual we have not developed or tested any USB-RS232 adaptors yet. This is going to become a bigger and bigger issue as the old laptops fade away. This is an area that Kato and I want to work urgently so that we can provide a complete solution for everyone. However, neither of us have laptops with USB ports plus I don’t have my car here at the moment.
I have done some research on this already. On the international US turboesprit list I have read about a few people who have got Freescan to work with a USB-RS232 adaptor. I contacted some of them but no one has provided me with very detailed instructions.
One of the issues I have discovered is that although a number of manufacturers offer USB to RS232 adapters - what works on one computer may not work on another.
Some people have commented that the Belkin F5U103 USB to RS232 adapter works. While others have tested it, and it would not work for them.
Others have had this one work for them.
www.usb-port.com/mt609-2.html
The AKM USB to RS232 adapter is being designed around the FDTI FT232BM chip. The only 'gotcha' - it will be all surface mount component, so the 'kit assembly' will not be something the average guy can put together Here is the link:
www.akmcables.com/usb.htm
Perhaps would like to develop something foolproof ?
I had the same problem with a cable I got from Andy Whittaker. No matter what I tried, I could not get it to work until I finally noticed two crossed wires in the cable.
Looking at back of connector:
Bxxxx
xxxOP
B- black
O- orange
P- purple
x- not connected
Hope that helps
Jan
91SE Canada
Looking at back of connector:
Bxxxx
xxxOP
B- black
O- orange
P- purple
x- not connected
Hope that helps
Jan
91SE Canada
Still no luck.... 
Can you tell from these shots if the cable is wired properly?
http://karmavore.net/jane/DSCF1836.JPG
http://karmavore.net/jane/DSCF1837.JPG
http://karmavore.net/jane/DSCF1839.JPG
Thanks for the support fellas!
Luke.
Can you tell from these shots if the cable is wired properly?
http://karmavore.net/jane/DSCF1836.JPG
http://karmavore.net/jane/DSCF1837.JPG
http://karmavore.net/jane/DSCF1839.JPG
Thanks for the support fellas!
Luke.
adrianmugridge said:
Setting the baud rate makes no difference as it's an odd rate (not 1200,2400,9600 etc) so freescan takes over the port and sets it for you.
Which is probably why it fails..
Many (most?) USB-to-serial converters do not support 'non standard' baudrates and will only do the 'standard' list.
Same issue with some OBD-II laptop readers which do not buffer. Some of these offload the OBD handling (and it's 10400 'odd' baudrate) onto a microcontroller which forwards the data on for instance 38400bps to/from the host. (eg. read on www.obd-2.com/ )
Bye, Arno.
adrianmugridge said:
It's 8192 baud.
Yup.. Not one of the standard ones like 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600, 19k2, 38k4, 57k6, 115k2
Most USB serial adapters won't be able to do this speed. Some of the more expensive ones will, but it's always hard to determine which ones beforehand. (find a type that works and they bring out a new revision which doesn't
) Been there.. Done that..
Bye, Arno.
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