COM Troubleshooting for the 2E/2EW
Contents
1. BrainMaster Serial Port Installation Configuration and Operation Troubleshooting Information Some users experience difficulty connecting and operating their BrainMaster the first time This difficulty may be due to problems in using the serial port for communication with the BrainMaster module This section provides information and guidance for users have difficulty at this stage 1 Introduction Before you use this section to troubleshoot a possible problem it is a good idea to first try all the options In other words try all the possible places to plug the BrainMaster in and try both COM port selections for each plug position Following the procedures in the user s manual first be sure you have tried all the following e Plug the BrainMaster into each possible serial port socket and e With the BrainMaster plugged into each socket try the software with each COM port selected COM1 COM2 COM3 and COM4 By ensuring that you try the preceding combinations first you will avoid spending unnecessary time debugging a problem that does not really exist Due to the variety of computers and the way they are configured it is not possible to have a simple step by step method for troubleshooting communication problems However this material is organized logically into sections The user may need to learn something about how their computer is put together how to use DOS commands or other basic details of PC operation The Brai2. to find which one is which or you can use the detailed test procedure at the end of this section 3 4 Selecting the COM port It is necessary to tell the BrainMaster software which COM port your BrainMaster is connected to This is done using the Source menu On this pulldown menu there are three items Use COM1 Use COM2 Use COM3 and Use COM4 If you know which COM port you are using simply use your mouse to pull down this menu and click on the menu item to select the COM port The software will then permanently remember this COM port and use it every time you start up the program 3 5 Making sure no other software is using the COM port If the software says Error opening com1 or Error opening com2 then the BrainMaster program is unable to connect to the Windows software that controls the COM port This does not mean that there is anything wrong with your BrainMaster It is something that has to be worked out in DOS or Windows or in the configuration of your PC Make sure you do not have any other software using the COM port One program that can take over the COM port is Winmodem If your computer has Winmodem then you must shut it off before the BrainMaster software can access the COM port Refer to your user s manual or consult your PC provider or an expert in order to determine how to turn off Winmodem 531 021 Version 2 0 5 8 02 T 3 Close any MS D
3. modem See below to disable or remove the modem 2 Com1 and Com2 are being used by the mouse and modem You ll have to either disable or remove the modem First try disabling it Right Click on MY COMPUTER on desktop scroll down to 531 021 Version 2 0 5 8 02 T 6 properties and click it then click on Device Manager This is one of the most valuable screens in Windows for you to know Scroll down to Modems and click on the small box with the sign This brings up the type of modem in your computer You can either remove it or disable it Ifa Winmodem click on the small box Disable in this profile Then to use it on line go to this same screen and click again to remove the check mark If it isn t a Winmodem you can either do the above or you can actually remove it Try to disable it first and see if the BMr module works If so you can just enable and disable for each operation biofeedback or online If the modem is removed it has to be re installed To re install it you ll probably have to remove the case the modem card from the motherboard and you ll need the original instructions to set up the shorting pins on the modem card You are advised to take it to a tech unless you are familiar with the guts of a computer To actually uninstall it From the same modem properties screen click on the box REMOVE Then click on yes This removes the modem RESTART the computer Now try to connect the BMr module to th
4. on START click on SETTINGS Click on Control Panel double click on Modems When that screen comes up click on Diagnostics That will show you the status of all installed Com Ports and IRQs Either COM1 COM2 COM3 or COM4 MUST be free for the BMr module Note which COM port the modem is using Com1 amp Com3 use IRQ4 and Com2 amp Com4 use IRQ3 You cannot use the same IRQ as the modem or the mouse You may be able to use COM2 if the modem is installed on COM3 and the mouse is on COM1 or COM1 if mouse is on 2 and modem on 4 The possibilities 1 Either Com1 or Com isn t listed but the mouse and modem are Yov ll have to install the missing one into Windows This is done as follows 1 Click on START bottom left Click on Settings and Click on Control Panel 2 Double Click on ADD HARDWARE 3 Click on NEXT 4 When Yes No white circles come up click on No I want to select the hardware from a list and click NEXT 5 When list comes up scroll down and click on Ports COM amp LPT then click NEXT 6 Click on Standard Port Types and click on NEXT 7 Make a note of which COM port it s adding and the IRQ 03 or 04 Click on NEXT Restart your computer 8 Try BMr program using the new COM port to see if it works 9 If it doesn t the either the modem or the mouse is trying to use the same IRQ as the BMr module and you ll have to disable the modem or switch the mouse and modem and then disable the
5. OS windows that may be running software that is using the COM port 3 6 The BrainMaster is able to open the COM port In order for the BrainMaster to be able to open the COM port it must be configured within Windows as an available port You use the following Windows controls to check this My Computer Control Panel System Hardware Profile Serial Port You should see the desired COM port listed and showing an I O Port number and an Interrupt number The Control Panel should also show that the port is available or operating normally You may also need to look at the DOS setup screen CMOS to ensure that the port is configured and operating with the correct I O port and interrupt If the BrainMaster software is unable to open the COM port then you will see a message of the type Error opening COM on the training screen after you try to start data acquisition This manual cannot provide you with details about how to ensure that your computer is configured correctly because every computer is different You may need to consult with your computer provider or with someone who knows about these details 3 7 Turn on module make sure batteries are charged If the software says Module is not responding then the BrainMaster software is able to open the COM port but there is not response from the module One of the following is probably the case e The batteries are not charged e The module is
6. ata Link Start Comm Software for COM1 lt Enter gt or zterm com2 9600 Start Comm Software for COM2 lt Enter gt Turn on module Buffalo 3 2 int Bit User Fast BrainMaster prompt sent to PC Friendly Aid to Logical Operation lt Enter gt gt You have sent an lt Enter gt prompt to or the BrainMaster and it has lots of commands sent to responded screen lt F6 gt Good exit com may still be Exit Comm software test is finished active or Good exit com2 may still be active This procedure is used to determine if the BrainMaster is able to communicate with the PC and if the PC can communicate with the BrainMaster You must be able to see the Buffalo prompt at some point and also get the BrainMaster to respond to the lt Enter gt key If you are unable to get this to happen your system is not working correctly for some reason 531 021 Version 2 0 5 8 02 T 5 5 SETTING SERIAL PORTS ON WINDOWS 95 98 AND UP There are several problems possible There are many possible Com Ports COM1 COM2 COM3 and COM4 and on up available but the BMr unit can only use COM1 COM2 COM3 or COM4 In Windows these must be configured in the Windows setup You can check these using the Windows Control Panel software There are the also interrupts IRQs used with these com ports and there are only two of these 3 and 4 Follow the instructions below 6 CHECKING ON COM PORT IRQ AND MODEM SETTINGS Click
7. dure at the end of this section Depending on how your PC is configured other devices may be using either or both of the COM ports If other devices use both of them then you will not be able to use the BrainMaster The devices that might be using a COM port include eA Serial not Bus Mouse e An internal modem In rare circumstances we have encountered PC s in which there is both a serial mouse and an internal modem so that both COM ports are taken up It is not possible to use a BrainMaster with a PC set up in this way One solution is to replace the Serial Mouse with a Bus mouse thus freeing up a serial port this will usually be COM1 Another possibility is to remove the internal modem and replace it with an external modem Then the BrainMaster can use the serial port when the modem is not using it This can be done either by changing the cable connection to use either the modem or the BrainMaster or by using an AB box which allows you to select either the BrainMaster or the modem Many PC s are provided with two serial ports In this case you can use either one Follow the instructions later in this section in order to select one of the COM ports and use it to communicate with your BrainMaster 3 2 Using the serial cable The BrainMaster connects to the PC using a serial cable A cable is provided with your BrainMaster The standard cable is the 380 002 cable which provides the following connections 25 p
8. e Com port that the modem used It should connect If the modem is a Plug and Play you have a chance of using both the modem online and the biofeedback module at once The modem has to be forced to use one of the upper IRQs In many computers this can be done by having the mouse and the BMr module connected and switched on using both com ports and IRQs 3 amp 4 RESTART the computer If the Plug and Play doesn t find the modem click START click Settings click Control Panel and click on ADD Hardware Then let the computer try to find the modem If it doesn t when you get to the screen that has two choices click on No I want to select the hardware from a list Then scroll down to modem and click it The program should find it and will install it on a free upper IRQ If not you can buy a 56K Winmodem or other type of plug and play card modem install it as Plug and Play according to those directions or have a technician do it making sure that he she knows that you are also using either Com or Com2 for a device that is the same as an external modem Or you can live with removing and re installing This is the worst case scenario and is unlikely 1995 2002 BrainMaster Technologies Inc All Rights Reserved 531 021 Version 2 0 5 8 02 T 7
9. in male connector to plug into the BrainMaster 25 pin female socket 9 pin female connector to plug into the PC 9 pin male socket It is possible that your PC has a 25 pin male connector instead of the 9 pin male connector If this is the case contact BrainMaster who can provide you with a 380 001 cable that will connect to your PC Or you can purchase a standard IBM Modem cable and us it Again recall that the BrainMaster appears as a standard external modem to your PC 531 021 Version 2 0 5 8 02 T 2 If your PC has a 25 pin female connector this is the parallel printer port and cannot be used with the BrainMaster You must find either a 9 pin male or a 25 pin male connector in order to connect to the BrainMaster You may wish to note that the following products also use the serial connector If you are using or have used them with your PC then the BrainMaster will connect in the same way e WaveRider Wave Access e BioComp Thought Technologies e CapScan Note that the following products use the parallel connector If you are using or have used them with your PC then the BrainMaster will connect in a different way e NRS 2D Lexicor e NRS 4D Lexicor 3 3 Connecting to the COM port Plug the serial cable into your BrainMaster and connect the other end to your PC There may be more than one serial connector on your PC If you do not know which one is which you can either use trial and error
10. nMaster uses the serial port in a conventional manner and appears to the PC as if it is an external modem It may help to tell your supplier that you need to install and external modem to ensure that a spare serial port is provided 2 Outline of Troubleshooting Principles In order for the BrainMaster to operate the following must be satisfied A spare serial port is available The BrainMaster is connected to the PC using a working serial cable The BrainMaster is connected to the correct serial port The Software is used to select the correct COM port No other software is using the COM port The BrainMaster software is able to open the COM port The module is turned on and the batteries are charged The GO button or the Record Start menu item is activated OOk Oy U a D 531 021 Version 2 0 5 8 02 T 1 If any of the above conditions are not met then you will not be able to operate the BrainMaster The following sections are designed to help you determine the source of any problems you may have and to remedy them 3 Troubleshooting Procedure 3 1 Identifying the COM port You must have a spare serial port available on your PC Nearly every PC has an available serial port which must be COM1 COM2 COM3 or COM4 If you are not sure which port you have available you may contact the provider of your system If you cannot obtain this information there is a way to test your PC using the proce
11. plugged into the wrong COM port e You have selected the wrong COM port in the software Make sure that the module is connected to the proper serial port Make sure that the cable is good If you are in doubt either acquire a replacement cable or contact us for a replacement for testing 531 021 Version 2 0 5 8 02 T 4 3 8 Start the BrainMaster software Once your BrainMaster is connected and your Windows system is properly configured you can operate the BrainMaster software Follow the procedure in the user s manual and attempt to start data acquisition by using the Go button or the Record Start menu selection If this does not result in a waveform that marches across the screen then you need to find the source of the problem 4 Detailed procedure for testing the COM port The BrainMaster is supplied with special software that can be used to test the ability of the system to communicate with the BrainMaster module without running the BrainMaster software This is a low level test that allows you to see the communication between the PC and the BrainMaster It can be used if you are in doubt as to which COM port to use or if you need to verify that your BrainMaster and cable are operating correctly Start an MS DOS prompt window using the menu found under the Start menu or using an icon on the main Windows screen In the MS DOS window use the following procedure zterm com 9600 PC to Host D
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