Hardware Update via Serial Port : ISCAN VP30

[JoshuaLeDauphin]

Hi


Im trying to update my dvdo iscan vp 30 from v1.06 to v1.14 by using an old computer and a serial cable just like it's required.


I also followed every instruction provided in DVDO website and have used Tera Term 2.3, configured it COM1 - CR+LF @ baud rate 57600 (both on VP and Tera Term), workflow hardware and clicked binary too.


The Bytes Transfered gets stuck @ 1025 and isnt moving from that value. Looks like something went wrong.


I am using a P5PE-VM motherboard by asus. It has a serial port.
I also configured the port through the windows Hardware Manager and made sure the settings were the same as Tera Term Pro. Also double checked in Bios that IRQ4 3F8-3FF was enabled and "ready to use".

I contacted the DVDO support, but didnt got any reply for now..

Did someone encountered this problem too ?

[JoshuaLeDauphin]

Hi again,

I have made various tests on my VP30 and VP50 and have no results so far :

-Tried with the bootloader command (hold menu button while truning on the unit) and i couldnt launch the firmware sequence. (by pressing "h" key)
-I then thought it was my keyboard so I tried a new keyboard with a PS/2 adapter : no results.
-Tried to launch the sequence with the digital windows keyboard: no results.
-Tried to configure the KEYBOARD.CNF file to make sure "h" letter on my keyboard would work on Tera Term : no result.
-Tried another ISCAN unit => VP 50. The transfer has failed when 1025 bytes got transfered too and I wasnt able to press "h" on Tera Term when I was forcing bootloader.
-Tried on another computer with a different motherboard and Win7: Same problems again.

Only one solution = the DB9 cable I have is not the right one.

I contacted Ken Nguyen from DVDO and he told me that I needed a straight-through DB9 cable, not a crossover one..

However there is communication between the VPs and Tera Term since the bootloader menu appears when I either turn the Update mode ON or when I force it to appear by pressing MENU button while turning on the unit. Tera Term always have a response from the VP and ask me to proceed .. but i can't go further!

Could my cable partially work for these simple communication function but not when it's supposed to send the update???

[JoshuaLeDauphin]

Sorry for the Triple Post but poeple might find this interesting :

I tried another computer and to this day, i'm 100% sure that my cable is not accurate to do the update because I simply ( my girlfriend in fact ^^) disassemble it.
In my cable there are only 3 pin connexions made from db9 male to db9 female,
Yes you heard it, 3 wires only.
The VPxx Serial port is a DCE. This means that the VPxx acts as a modem and thanks to a documentation I found on the web, I was able to figure out that the VPxx serial input uses the following RS 232 signals (pins) in order to cummunicate with devices like terminals and/or computers for automation and updates :

- RX
- TX
- RTS
- CTS
- GND

This means that five pins needs to be soldered to make a complete connexion of the VPxx serial port (DCE) and my computer (DTE). My cable only have 3 pins connected bewteen the two ends! It might also explain why Tera Term couldnt send the right input to the DVDO to launche the update sequence through the Bootloader.
What I need now is a full diagram of the original serial cable that DVDO provides with the VPxx series in order to build this cable (can't find my original one).
I found some infos here and there but if someone could confirm a working diagram for a DB9 (M) > DB9 (F) (DTE - DCE STRAIGHT THROUGH CABLE)

Or if someone PLEASE provide me a diagram of the serial cable that he/her used on the VP to complete the updates? Any info about that is welcomed !!!

[Nelson37]

"Straight-thru" cable always meant "all pins wired" to me. Generally better-quality cables are this way, been a VERY long time since I needed one. Try Newegg.

[JoshuaLeDauphin]

"Straight-thru" cable always meant "all pins wired" to me. Generally better-quality cables are this way, been a VERY long time since I needed one. Try Newegg.

Yes, It's old and really not used by everyone !

Well the best option would be to connect all 9 pins for sure. That way your cable is able to do pretty much everything (as a straight-thru of course). Some cables called "Straight-thru" arent always 9 pin connected. Some are 4 other 5 etc .. basically you just need to know what your hardware needs (aka what pins it uses) to communicate with a terminal or a computer or whatever...

I think the VP needs RX TX CTS RTS and GND (according to the document above) My cable was only covering RX TX and GND.

Will solder that cable and post results soon.

[JoshuaLeDauphin]

I finally build the cable and linked RX/TX/CTS/RTS and GND together.
The operation is a 100 % success!

I'm kind of proud right now because even the DVDO support couldnt bring me a correct answer.. It felt like I was talking japanese to them when I mentionned specific pins of a db9.. anyway it worked.

So if anyone is having a freeze during the VPxx update, it might be his cable!
All he got to do is to solder the following pins:



works like a charm !







I hope this can help someone.. somewhere