[Acoustics] Laptop communication errors with ADCP

Fri Aug 18 10:25:16 CDT 2006

Is Active Sync the culprit?

I had a similar problem yesterday with a brand new Dell D620, trying to 
communicate with a Satlink via the serial port. Satlink Communicator was 
telling me that my Com1 port was not available, even though no other 
programs were open. I tried dropping Satlink Communicator onto the 
Start/Programs/Startup menu so that the Satlink Communicator program would 
start up before other stuff that might be grabbing and holding on to my 
COM1 port during startup, but still no go. I tried connecting to the 
Sontek ADV the same way, but had the same problem.

The computer folks, both via phone and later back in the office couldn't 
figure out what might be wrong after running through all the usual 
suspects. 

I found the fix by right-clicking on the greyed-out Active Sync icon in 
the system tray,  opening Connection Settings, and changing  from COM1 to 
COM3 the dropdown below "Allow serial cable or IR connection at this COM 
port".  Everything works fine now. 

It seems that Active Sync must be grabbing and holding on to whichever COM 
port is assigned to it. This may be a totally different issue than what 
others are experiencing, but it was enough to cost me most of a day in the 
field. 

Cheers,  -Tim (who is headed off for two weeks vaca on Cape Cod as we 
speak!)
  **********************************
Timothy R. Driskell
USGS MA/RI Water Science Center
U.S.Geological Survey
10 Bearfoot Road
Northborough, MA 01532
office   508.490.5031
mobile 774.262.5380 
***************************************

John M Shelton <jmshelto at usgs.gov> 
Sent by: acoustics-bounces at simon.er.usgs.gov
08/18/2006 10:28 AM

To
Kevin J Grimsley <kjgrims at usgs.gov>
cc
acoustics-bounces at simon.er.usgs.gov, Troy H Brossett <brossett at usgs.gov>, 
Marsha L Gipson <mgipson at usgs.gov>, acoustics at simon.er.usgs.gov, GS-W-AR 
Computer Support <GS-W-AR_Computer_Support at usgs.gov>
Subject
Re: [Acoustics] Laptop communication errors with ADCP

Communication problems with Dell 600/800 series machines started popping 
up about a year ago.  There have been a few different solutions to the 
problems, but there doesn't seem to be one catch-all solution that works 
every time.   

The following changes have solved communication issues in many cases: 
1.  The FIFO buffer for COM 1 should be checked on. 
2.  The default IRQ setting for COM 1 should be 4 (barring conflicts with 
other devices). 
3.  Change the power management setting from "Portable/Laptop" to "Always 
On" and increase the hard drive and monitor shut down times. 
4.  Delete the COM port and reboot. 

(Note: Administrative access will be required to make the above changes.) 

Hope this helps, 
John 
***********************************************
John M. Shelton
Hydrologist
U.S. Geological Survey
Florida Integrated Science Center
12703 Research Parkway
Orlando, FL 32826
C 407-448-3546
P 407-803-5543
F 407-803-5501
*********************************************** 

Kevin J Grimsley <kjgrims at usgs.gov> 
Sent by: acoustics-bounces at simon.er.usgs.gov 
08/18/2006 08:13 AM 

To
Marsha L Gipson <mgipson at usgs.gov> 
cc
acoustics-bounces at simon.er.usgs.gov, Troy H Brossett <brossett at usgs.gov>, 
acoustics at simon.er.usgs.gov, GS-W-AR Computer Support 
<GS-W-AR_Computer_Support at usgs.gov> 
Subject
Re: [Acoustics] Laptop communication errors with ADCP

We've had extensive serial communication problems with the Dell 610s. We 
have problems communicating with DCPs and ADCPs through the native serial 
port, but low baud rate devices (GPS used with the ADCP) seem to work 
fine. The only workaround we've found is to use other serial adapters (usb 
to serial, CF to serial) and abandon the native port except to connect to 
the GPS. Even this does not work all the time leading me to believe that 
computer manufacturers have fundamentally changed the way they're handling 
serial communications no matter what adapter you might use. 

IMO, we really need to push our vendors to upgrade their communications 
protocol. DB-9 serial is just outdated at this point and it's becoming 
near impossible to find devices that consistently work with it. 

Kevin Grimsley
Hydrologist
USGS Louisiana Water Science Center 

Marsha L Gipson <mgipson at usgs.gov> 
Sent by: acoustics-bounces at simon.er.usgs.gov 
08/17/2006 04:15 PM 

To
acoustics at simon.er.usgs.gov 
cc
Troy H Brossett <brossett at usgs.gov>, GS-W-AR Computer Support 
<GS-W-AR_Computer_Support at usgs.gov> 
Subject
[Acoustics] Laptop communication errors with ADCP

Recently we purchased new Toughbook CF-18 and Dell D610 laptops. 
When trying to establish communication with an RDI Rio Grande 1200 ADCP 
through radio modems, communication is never established. 
When the command log box appears unreadable characters are seen and a 
pop-up error message appears that says "The program cannot initialize the 
ADCP". 
Communication can still be established with old laptops. 
Has anyone else experienced this problem with their new laptops? How was 
the problem resolved? 

************************************************************
Marsha Gipson, Hydrologic Technician
U.S. Geological Survey
Arkansas Water Science Center
401 Hardin Road 
Little Rock, AR 72211
Phone: 501-228-3642, Fax: 501-228-3601
Email: mgipson at usgs.gov
Website: http://ar.water.usgs.gov
************************************************************
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