Transfer to BirDog

[acker1]

BD ver 2.01. Had this for 4 years and it's been great but now I'm having problems transferring data to the BD from my puter (laptop, 98SE w/serial port). I checked for continuity on the cord following the 'pinout' and it checks out OK. Seems like it's either the serial port or the BD connection. I ordered a 'USB serial adapter' from your site to use with my other laptop (XPse, no serial port). I'm hoping that will work but in my device manager (on the XP) it says that COM Port 2 'cannot find enough resources to use'. It's the only port that shows there besides the printer port. Is this something I should try and fix before I receive the cord? Or will the install disc make it all happen?
Thanks
DICK

[jpasint]

Dick, sounds like an IRQ conflict of some sort. Try taking out your sound card and/or network card and/or any other ISA/PCI cards you have. See if that clears up the problem. You can go from there to get it all working again.

Joe

[acker1]

jpasint-
Thanks for the reply. That sounds like a plan BUT--I have no idea how to take them out on my laptops. Physically or using the puter. :>)
DICK

[jpasint]

Originally Posted by acker1

jpasint-
Thanks for the reply. That sounds like a plan BUT--I have no idea how to take them out on my laptops. Physically or using the puter. :>)
DICK

Oooops, did not know it is a laptop. Can you get into the BIOS part of the laptop on boot up? Usually you have to hit the Del key or something to get in there. What kind of laptop is it?
If you can go in there and disable sound card, network, modem, parallel port or anything else like that. Obviously keep the serial port enabled though. Also take out any PCMCIA cards if you have any. The goal is to free uo any IRQ that may be conflicting with the serial port which usually uses 3 or 4.

Take care.

Joe

[acker1]

I have never been in the BIOS. Don't even know what is in there. I think you can mess things up from there???? Laptop is Sony Vaio PCG K-27 (the one with XP & no serial port). The one with the serial port is Sony Vaio PCG-F540 (98SE). On the F540 I did have a PCMCIA card in for internet and I did try to transfer with it out but no luck.
I'll try getting into the BIOS later today and look around.
Thanks
DICK

[ToeRag]

I too have problems getting a new SAT list into my Birdog. I have tried MANY computers rrunning either Windows 2000 or Windows XP -- tried both DB9 serial com ports and USB with adapters -- the DB9 is the only one that has worked (sometimes) on one computer it always shows 'Program Mode' on the LCD - but doesn't seem to ever connect. it always returns an error 'ACK not recieved' or something to that effect. This is the ONLY device I've had that has these communication issues. I use the same comm port to connect to FTA recievers to update BINs and channel lists but this Birdog is just VERY problematic. I have got it to work, from time to time but never seem to see the differnce between one try and the next from when it works and not. IRQ is default with NO conlicts standard port defaults -- etc... what else can it be? I'm running 2.5 of the firmware, does the charge state make a difference?

[acker1]

Sort of an update--I tried again on still another puter and still couldn't upload to the BD. I'm thinking now that the Cat-5 port on the BD might be bad. I'm going to have that checked out. Still have the port problem tho.
DICK

[jpasint]

Originally Posted by ToeRag

I too have problems getting a new SAT list into my Birdog. I have tried MANY computers rrunning either Windows 2000 or Windows XP -- tried both DB9 serial com ports and USB with adapters -- the DB9 is the only one that has worked (sometimes) on one computer it always shows 'Program Mode' on the LCD - but doesn't seem to ever connect. it always returns an error 'ACK not recieved' or something to that effect. This is the ONLY device I've had that has these communication issues. I use the same comm port to connect to FTA recievers to update BINs and channel lists but this Birdog is just VERY problematic. I have got it to work, from time to time but never seem to see the differnce between one try and the next from when it works and not. IRQ is default with NO conlicts standard port defaults -- etc... what else can it be? I'm running 2.5 of the firmware, does the charge state make a difference?

Guys, the only other thing I can suggest is killing any processes or services you have running on your PCs when you try this. Antivirus and antispyware programs can sometimes interfere as well as some XP services if you have that OS. The fax service is one I can think of. Also, try booting up in safe mode.

Take care.

Joe

[acker1]

Problem solved!!! I found a place that services the BD, sent it in and got it back in one week. Even tho my programming cord checked out for continuity it would not transfer. New cord fixed it. I also got a new battery as I knew my old one was starting to fail. They did a bench test on the meter also. Total-- $80 + $10 S&H. I was expecting to pay a lot more. They were good to deal with. If you have a BD that might need service sometime you might want to save the following info:

Pacesetter Electronics, Inc
3851 Washington Avenue
St. Louis, Mo. 63108-3406
1-800-963-6363 (Toll free)
1-314-531-6363
Fax: +314-531-9061

Thanks to all for your help
DICK

[jpasint]

Originally Posted by acker1

Problem solved!!! I found a place that services the BD, sent it in and got it back in one week. Even tho my programming cord checked out for continuity it would not transfer. New cord fixed it. I also got a new battery as I knew my old one was starting to fail. They did a bench test on the meter also. Total-- $80 + $10 S&H. I was expecting to pay a lot more. They were good to deal with. If you have a BD that might need service sometime you might want to save the following info:

Pacesetter Electronics, Inc
3851 Washington Avenue
St. Louis, Mo. 63108-3406
1-800-963-6363 (Toll free)
1-314-531-6363
Fax: +314-531-9061

Thanks to all for your help
DICK

Glad to hear it.

Take care.

Joe