So I've got a new laptop to replace my old one, only thing is it has no serial port for the Wolf. I got a USB to serial adapter that is not going to work. So now I'm about to get a PCMCIA to serial adapter and I think that should fix it. Anyone had experience w/ any of this?

here's link of adapter I'm looking at http://www.chumbo.com/info.aspx?id=185347&ptr=fg

Mike

 

Hi I use a socket pcmcia from www.socket.com and it works with my toshiba.
Regards
Michael Smith

 

mmmmm i use a serial to usb...it works fine. I tuned about 5 different ecus. just be sure that the comm port is correct on the device manager....

G

 

yeah, my computer genius friend looked at it and said something about the comm ports would not work. the wolf only goes up to comm 4 and my laptop wanted comm 5 or something. I'll make him look at it once more, then I might have to use the pcmcia adapter

 

comm ports are the same between laptop and wolf software. bits per second is same. there are some other settings in device manager, but I dont think messing w/ them will help. the wolf software manual does not help much. I think I'll have better luck w/ the pcmcia adapter instead...

 

First of all what brand type of computer are you using and what brand of USB adapter . I will see if I can help from there. I have had a few problems setting these up and have seen what causes problems.

Regards
Michael Smith

 

compaq presario v2000 and a belkin usb to pda adapter. supposed to work for any serial device though. loaded driver and messed w/ the device manager settings and it wont work. I already ordered the pcmcia adapter, should see how that works in about 2 days...

 

Belkin!!! Doh, I've run 3 different laptops in the last 2 years (IBM T series). None shipped with serial interface, so I got a Belkin USB serial adapter. All 3 have had issues with the blue screen of death from using it. It doesn't happen that often, but enough to be a pain. Their driver listing is a couple of years out of date. I've also had quiet a few connection issues with it (the wolf just won't see it).

There's a specific start up/connection order (which I can't remember now, but figure it out in a few min's with my car handy) to get it to work 70% of the time.

 

Hey Trickfc, I agree with getbent69 POS adapter (well actually the drivers) I swap all sorts of cards into my laptop and I also have a belkin usb adapter thats just hopless. It works with my mobile so thats all I keep it for. Even with other adapters you can have problems. This is how I get them to work every time. First install your adapter and reboot. Install your drivers and reboot.
Open the device manager and then the comms control that installed with your adatpter. Make sure that in both the device manager and the comms control are set on the same port. It can be any port from 1 to 16 and as you have noticed the wolf software only works from port 1 - 4. This is where problems occur. You may need to set the USB adatper port to 4 and then reboot. You then need to set the comm , speed and communication settings (38400 8n1). Open your control program you now need to set it to port 4. reboot. We are now ready to use you laptop to tune your Wolf. Start the laptop again and then run the Wolf communication program. Once started plug in your ecu with the power off. Power up the ECU and it should say do you want to go online with the ECU...and your set!!!

Michael Smith

 

wow, thanks for all the info, I'll give that a shot later. hopefully the pcmcia will be a little more user friendly when I get it.

 

some final notes on serial port adapters...

the adapter from chumbo.com (made by startech.com)did not work w/ my laptop. it might work for some laptops but not mine.

here is letter from startech's tech support:
Thank you for your inquiry! We are sorry to hear about your technical difficulty.I believe that your program is incompatible with our card for the following reason , serial ports created by PCI based cards are virtual serial ports. This means they can only be accessed through the operating system. If your software requires a specific IRQ and Address for the port (true COM port), it is unlikely to work. And many specialized and older programs have been written to access only true COM ports. A suggestion is that you return the card to your reseller ,and contact the following company Quatech www.quatech.com and ask them for a 16 bit serial PCMCIA card ,which will allow you to address COM 1 or which ever you require.

so anyways, I bought the quatech adapter and it worked the first time. very easy to assign the com ports.

hopefully this info will help someone to not buy 3 different adapters like me...

 

Hi trickfc can you place a list of good/bad adapters in a new thread so we can add to them. Maybe we could get a sticky if the tread is good enough after feedback.

Michael Smith

 

I really dont know enough about the technical side of the ports to make a decent write up. I think theres also a lot of variablilty depending on the age/make of computer you have. Quatech.com has some info about the different types of pcmcia ports on laptops (3v or 5v)

All I can say is:
Belkin USB to serial adapter did not work (may or may not work for you)
Startech.com pci adapter did not work (may or may not work for you)
Quatech.com pcmicia adapter worked 1st time (should work for anyone)

Mike