Author Topic: Pixelnet Dongle "com port not available"  (Read 3757 times)

Offline lightingboy82

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Pixelnet Dongle "com port not available"
« on: August 18, 2012, »
I cant get anything out of my pixelnet dongle.  I have installed the FTDI Drivers, Windows shows it on com 4. I go to color finder and select com 4, usb dongle, and when i move a slider, it says "com port not available. please select a valid port"

WinXP SP3
USB dongle with pixelnet firmware
red light on the dongle, no green
windows knows its there.

i have tried changing com ports- same outcome.
traces on the dongle are good

help, i am about to toss the computer into the pond!

Offline rrowan

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Re: Pixelnet Dongle "com port not available"
« Reply #1 on: August 18, 2012, »
Do you have the recent version of Color Finder?
There was a bug in saving the selected com port

Rick R.

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Light Animation Hobby - Having fun and Learning at the same time. (21st member of DLA)
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Warning SOME assembly required

Offline lightingboy82

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Re: Pixelnet Dongle "com port not available"
« Reply #2 on: August 18, 2012, »
I downloaded the color finder today. I get the same issue when I try to use the smart string utility and in vixen. Everything seems to be configured as it should be

Offline tbone321

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Re: Pixelnet Dongle "com port not available"
« Reply #3 on: August 18, 2012, »
Have you used this dongle before?
If at first you don't succeed,
your not cut out for sky diving

Offline lightingboy82

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Re: Pixelnet Dongle "com port not available"
« Reply #4 on: August 18, 2012, »
No, I tried a second as well, changing the com ports and still the same issue

Offline rm357

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Pixelnet Dongle "com port not available"
« Reply #5 on: August 18, 2012, »
Have you flashed the pic with the pixelnet software.

Dongle pics come blank.
Robert
Warner Robins, Georgia, USA

Offline lightingboy82

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Re: Pixelnet Dongle "com port not available"
« Reply #6 on: August 18, 2012, »
Yes everything is flashed with the correct firmware, triple checked

Offline TexasStingray

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Re: Pixelnet Dongle "com port not available"
« Reply #7 on: August 18, 2012, »
Do you hear the windows ding sound when you plug it in, does the com port go away when you unplug it.
Scott Wanner
TX

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Offline lightingboy82

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Re: Pixelnet Dongle "com port not available"
« Reply #8 on: August 18, 2012, »
Yes and yes

 I can't wait for the ether dongle coop, then I think my problems will go away.  Test firmware for the ssc v2 would help too, that is all I am trying to do at this point- make sure the ssc and nodes are good
« Last Edit: August 18, 2012, by lightingboy82 »

Offline rm357

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Pixelnet Dongle "com port not available"
« Reply #9 on: August 19, 2012, »
Can you post pictures of the board?
Robert
Warner Robins, Georgia, USA

Offline rm357

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Pixelnet Dongle "com port not available"
« Reply #10 on: August 19, 2012, »
Also, make sure the USB cable is pushed in as far as it will go.  On my first dongle, the first time I hooked it up I pushed the usb connector in until it felt snug, but that was only far enough for the power pins to engage. Later I gave it another shove and felt it click into place.

There should only be about 1/8 inch of metal visible on the USB cable.
Robert
Warner Robins, Georgia, USA

Offline TexasStingray

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Re: Pixelnet Dongle "com port not available"
« Reply #11 on: August 19, 2012, »
Where are you located, maybe there is someone local that is willing assist you. Also make sure that you are only using one software at a time as they will cannot share the samw port at the same time. If you are willing to pay shipping I am sure there is someone who will take a look at it for you as well.
Scott Wanner
TX

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Offline lightingboy82

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Re: Pixelnet Dongle "com port not available"
« Reply #12 on: August 19, 2012, »
I think the problem is somewhere in windows, I am going to try and find another PC to try it on. We changed to Mac a few years ago and I was using my old laptop for this. I am very confident that the solder and physical assembly of the dongle is good, but it may come to sending it off. I'm in the Cleveland Ohio area.

Offline mykroft

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Re: Pixelnet Dongle "com port not available"
« Reply #13 on: August 19, 2012, »
If you are getting a com port address when plugging it in, windows is seeing the usb module on the dongle.....

Also in device mgr > properties for the com port > advanced - I have had to make sure Serial Enumerator is checked......

and dont go below com3, some motherboards even tho you dont have the connectors (maybe on the mb itself for adding them/pin header) have com1/com2 reserved in the bios

Myk
« Last Edit: August 19, 2012, by mykroft »

Offline lightingboy82

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Re: Pixelnet Dongle "com port not available"
« Reply #14 on: August 19, 2012, »
My dongles are set at com 11 and 28. Windows does see them when they are plugged in and if I use the Dom port assignment program Rick made, they show up. Serial emulater is selected and other options are not. Baud rate is 11500 and everything matches the screen shots in the wiki. This one has me stumped!