USB -> RS-232 adaptors (cont'd)
Part 1: Installing the driver
First run the driver installer from the CD that came with your USB->Serial adaptor. Reboot the computer if prompted to do so.
Next, plug in the adaptor to your USB port.
You should get the "New Hardware Wizard" dialog.
Select "No, not at this time" and click "Next >"
Select "Install the software automatically" and click "Next >"
When the installation has completed, click "Finish"
USB -> RS-232 adaptors (cont'd)
Part 2: Finding out the manufacturer and model number
Image 1. Right Click on "My Computer" (Just "Computer" in Win7) and select "Manage"
Image 2. See Computer Management Window
Image 3. Click "Device Manager"
Image 4. Click on the "+" sign to the left of "Ports (COM & LPT)"
Image 4. Double Click the USB->Serial adaptor. It's named "Prolific USB-to-Serial Comm Port (COM4)" in my example, yours may have a different name and port number. In this case, you can see that the manufacturer is "Prolific". Write down this name.
Image 5. See the Properties dialog
Image 8. Click on the "Details" Tab at the top of the dialog, and then click on the drop down and select "Hardware IDs" Write down this model number string.
From all this, we have discovered that the manufacturer is "Prolific", and the model number is 2303. The model number is sometimes a little difficult to determine, but in this case, Pid is the "part number" and Rev is the firmware version.
Google the manufacturer name to find their website, and search for the updated drivers.
Download the driver for the specific model number of the adaptor you have and install it as described in Part 1.
USB -> RS-232 adaptors (cont'd)
Part 3: Finding out and changing the com port
Image 1. Right Click on "My Computer" and select "Manage"
Image 2. See Computer Management Window
Image 3. Click "Device Manager"
Image 4. Click on the "+" sign to the left of "Ports (COM & LPT)"
Image 4. Double Click the USB->Serial adaptor. It's named "Prolific USB-to-Serial Comm Port (COM4)" in my example, yours may have a different name and port number.
In this case, the com port is COM4, as seen in the name listed in image 4. If the number is anywhere from COM1 to COM8, you are fine. Write down that number and set the COM port in the Proteus editor to that same value.
Keep in mind that the COM port chosen by the driver MAY CHANGE depending on what USB port you connect it to or if other devices get connected. You can check the number anytime by following the steps above.
If the COM port is NOT 1-8, then follow the steps below.
Image 5. See the Properties dialog.
Image 6. Click the "Port Settings" tab at the top of the dialog, and then click "Advanced..."
Image 7. See the Advanced Settings dialog. Click the "COM port number" dropdown and select a number between 1 and 8. It is recommended that you don't select COM 1 or 2, as these are usually hardwired to ports on your motherboard, even if they do not have an external connector on your computer.
If the driver has selected a COM port number above 8 and you do not see the "COM port number" drop down, you have a device that may not work with the proteus. Make sure you have the latest driver. If you do, then you have an incompatible USB->Serial adaptor. Hopefully you can return it for a different one. :icon_rolleyes:
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USB -> RS-232 adaptors (cont'd)
Part 4: SCREENSHOTS/IMAGES
4 Attachment(s)
USB -> RS-232 adaptors (cont'd)
Part 5: The rest of the screenshots...
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Re: USB -> Serial adaptors
Hi Andy,
Another thing you can do while you are in the Advanced Settings is drag the slider on the Transmit Buffer to the SLOW end. (See attached jpg)
The "Change Data Transfer Rate" menu option in the Proteus Session Editor adjusts the rate at which the Session Editor program sends blocks of data to Windows operating system. From there the drivers take over. If all blocks were sent out of the USB port at the pace sent by the Session Editor all would work well. Unfortunately, a lot of USB2Serial drivers will queue up individual blocks of data until their buffer is full (or some latency time expires) then sends them all at once. This makes for efficient use of the timing frames used by USB protocol but wreaks havoc on the Proteus. Putting the slider in the SLOW position reduces the buffer size so USB2Serial has to send smaller packets.
Best regards,
TheRock
Re: USB -> Serial adaptors
Thanks for the tip, Todd! :icon_pray:
I might suggest though, that this only be done if you are having issues, as I have never needed to lower the speed on any PC or adaptor that I've installed so far with the Proteus. I'm sure I've just been lucky with the drivers so ymmv.
:headbang:
Re: USB -> Serial adaptors
Can I use a USB to mini 2.5 with the Proteus and Proteus Editor? The only "serial" port on my laptop is 9 pin female for a computer screen connection.
Or...do I use a DB9 male to 2.5 mini?
Confused, thanks in advance.
Kat
Re: USB -> Serial adaptors
For the Proteus, you will need the black cable from MindPlace that has a 9-pin RS-232 Female connector on one end and a 3.5mm male "TRS" (headphone) connector on the other. (The Thoughtstream uses a grey cable from MindPlace and the 2 are not interchangeable)
There was no such cable that is USB to 3.5mm for the Proteus, but now there is! It is available from MindPlace here.
If the 9-pin end of the Black Proteus RS-232 to 3.5mm cable will connect to your PC, then you are golden, and you don't need a USB to RS-232 adapter.
If the connector on your PC were a 9-pin MALE then that would be an RS-232 connector. The female that you are looking at is probably a 15-pin if it's female and RGB for a PC monitor.
Most likely you need a USB to Serial (RS-232) adapter, and the DB9 female to 3.5mm TRS cable from Mindplace, which likely came with your Proteus.
Hopefully all that makes sense. Let me know if it doesn't! :)
-Andy.