Forrest

Mike: Just baught two USB to RS232 cables from USB Gear (model # USBG-232-MM). I plan to hook them up as: computer1(VB)-->USB--> RS232 <--Null--> RS232 <--USB<-- Computer2(LV711) and make a null modem between the two USB to RS232 Cables. A Little messy but it should work. Thanks for your help, and i will down load the snippits for TCP/IP if my solution does not work. Thanks Forrest

Question.. what VB commands could be used in this situation. Thanks Forrest

Thanks for your suggestions: How easy it to implement RS232 using Visual Basic on computer(1). I would not use much handshaking... Just dump to the labview computer with a special charactor for the start of cycle counts. Such as $00000020, $00000021,$00000022 ...etc. Either pad with leading Zeros or not.. Possible at max 115K baud. Computers are within 6 feet of each other. Thanks Forrest

Greetings: I have an interesting interfacing problem brewing. Bad news: I initially was taking a cycle count thru the serial port from computer(1) using IBM Basic A (compiled) thru a serial port at 9600 baud. Then i was picking that cycle count with another computer(2) running Labview. The program on computer (1) is finally getting a little obsolite (no ISA ports for cards(3 ea) , cards obsolite (no PCI cards, cannot run Dos 6.2 anymore on new computers, Computer (1) software is not suported anymore. I think i have finally beat the dog to death! Good news: There was an upgrade for the software on computer(1) to run on Win XP it is using Visual Basic for control and USB to run an external Box. The third party person is willing to change his program to send cycle counts to either USB and or another form of comunication such as the serial port,(maybe to TCP/IP). Serial port would put a speed limits of the serial port. Also serial ports are going away with new computers. TCP/IP thru VB ??. Maybe even a digital (ttl) lines?. l am wondering which would be the better option into Labview 7.1.1 ?? Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks Forrest

(just Back from Vacation) Thanks I'll wire it up... By the way things will be better with Windows 3000 and Labview ver. 100.0 Thanks Forrest

Greetings: I just have the numbers coming in from the RS232. The software in the motor just uses Integer 32 , so the number in the motor rolls over. Example: 2,147,483,648 + 1 = -2,147,483,647 ; ( next count )= -2,127,483,646 ; (next count)=-2,127,483,645 ... etc. Now i want a variable (extended mode) 2,147,483,648 + 1 = 2,147,483,649 ; ( next count )= 2,127,483,650 ; (next count)=2,127,483,651 ... etc. (ie. to increase al the time with out a sign roll over) Thanks Forrest

Greetings: I have a Smart motor by animatics that has an internal encoder that rolls over on i32 integers. the encoder is 2000 counts / rev and when you are running at 3600 RPM that will roll over in about 5 hours. (i will be running almost continousely) I am taking continous readings thru the RS232 port at 38400 baud of the counts. I need to convert the counts to a continous up positive going reading, unless the motor reverses, than a down going reading. Can i convert the readings into a Extended precision variable ?? Thanks Forrest

Greetings: Labview version 7.1.1 I am trying to print a report using 4 XY graphs on front panel. The four graphs have to fit on one sheet of 8.5 x 11 paper from printer. I am having a problem of aligning the front panel graphs . _________ | [1] [2] | | | | [3] [4] | -------------- The Vi sequence is: New Report .vi Set report margines.vi (.25 inches x 4) Set report orintation.vi ( portrate) Append Control Image to Report.vi (reference of panel waveform #1) Append Control Image to Report.vi (reference of panel waveform #2) Append Control Image to Report.vi (reference of panel waveform #3) Append Control Image to Report.vi (reference of panel waveform #4) Then and/or Print report.vi (default printer) , save report to file.vi ( file name) Dispose report.vi The printer output is sensitive to the location and size of the front panel xy graphs. Is there a way to locate and size the printer output independent of the front panel size and position.?? Thanks Forrest

: Greetings , I replaced all the vi's that i was communicating with the NI 4350 with the "NI435x download vi's from National instruments" and i think that has fixed the crashes using the USB bus. Thanks for you guys listening to my Frustration. Forrest

Thanks: I will check this out... Also i am trying to get a hardware USB checker like the USB explorer www.ellisys.com. Maybe i can rent one somewhere. Thanks for your help... I'll keep you informed Forrest

Greetings: I am getting frustrated with a USB problem with an NI 4350 that is connected either to a desktop, or a laptop running Win XP sp2 , or Win 2000. Using Labview 7.1.1 The problem is that the communication will hang up and i have to unplug the usb connector when this happens to reistablish the connection to the labview program, or have to reboot. The program can run a day,hour, or a week before this happens. Debugging such randomness is very frustrating. I have used a powerd Hub ( still crashes), Changed to another NI4350 (still crashes) , Shut off the USB reduce power check on windows (still crashes). The errors that i get in Labview are either -10800 or -10400. I'm almost ready to put a watchdog timer in labview which will activate a relay and break the USB cable so that windos will reenumerate the device. !!!??? I do not know if i have a windows (ugh) problem or a NI4350 problem, or the USB enumeration problem. I am using the NI4350 to send out 8 bits of Digital out and 24 bit voltage analog in (sequentially over and over again). I have read that there might be a problem with over voltage on the Analog in on the NI4350, low power fram a USB power source and noise in the system. An example program has been sent to NI and they repeated it with their NI4350. They Blame windows (ugh). I do not have an USB hardware trouble shooter such as the Explorer200 or Explorer 110 ( www.usbtracker.com ) that i can pinpoint the problem. I am beginning to think that the USB is not a reliable data acquisition buss for long term.?? Any Help from the community?? Thanks, Forrest