Lotus Elan Central

by **Bobc** » Thu 16.11.2006, 19:57

Geoff,

I don't have a serial port, but I do have a USB/Serial converter. Cost £25 so I am assuming that it will be ok?

Bob

by **GeoffSmith** » Thu 16.11.2006, 20:08

Bob,

First thing I would do is download ElanScan and make sure it works with it. So long as it does, you'll have to be prepared to take the risk of building the converter for it not to work! There is a lot of useful information on Alan's website and links to a variety of interfaces. I could provide you with a kit of parts for mine, but you will need to be s**t hot at soldering as the tracks on the printed circuit coard are pretty fine - I use a 0.6mm soldering iron tip and solder. Let me know if you need anything (ALDL plugs) off me and best of luck.

Geoff

by **Bobc** » Fri 17.11.2006, 09:57

Geoff,

I will do the download and check that Elanscan works with the USB converter connected. Hope that is what you mean?

I think I will then just wait for an ALDL interface to become available, as building my own (to those high standards) would not be easy.

Thanks,

Bob

by **GeoffSmith** » Fri 17.11.2006, 20:52

I'm kitted up for a few more serial interfaces and I hope to get them knocked out this weekend. The only firm request I'm aware of is Mr/Mrs dapinky so if anyone else wants a serial interface for £15 + P&P please let me know asap.

Thanks.

Geoff

by **Bobc** » Sat 18.11.2006, 13:15

if anyone else wants a serial interface for £15 + P&P please let me know asap.

Me please!!!

by **GeoffSmith** » Sat 18.11.2006, 22:56

I've put together 6 interfaces for good measure. All I need to do is add the ALDL plug and lead, so in future I can turn any new requests around in a relatively short space of time.

If PJ, dapinky, BobC and KMCKMC can PM me confirmation and their names and addresses, I will get them sent out on Monday.

Geoff

by **dermotbell** » Mon 20.11.2006, 00:01

Geoff

I will take a serial cable off your hands for the Queens ransome of £15 (+p+p).

Cheers

by **GeoffSmith** » Mon 20.11.2006, 00:18

What colour combo then Dermot? PM me your address and I'll get one on its way.

by **ESM** » Mon 20.11.2006, 08:58

Bobc wrote:Geoff,

I don't have a serial port, but I do have a USB/Serial converter. Cost £25 so I am assuming that it will be ok?

Bob

There are many USB - serial converters out there. They don't all work very well with ElanScan (and ALDL programs in general) because USB is designed to carry large amounts of data quickly - ALDL sends small amounts of data slowly by modern standards. Basically because USB uses high speed transmission it uses a large buffer. In practice this means data is saved up until there is a big enough packet to make it worth sending it to the PC. This can hold up the transmission of data considerably when data rates are low and the buffer fills slowly.

The many USB-serial converters out there are based on a small number of chips. The most common, when I last looked, were products of prolific and FTDI. FTDI have a nice feature in the device driver for their product. It sends all the data in the buffer after a time limit from the last transmission has expired. If you set it to 1ms then it works pretty well with ALDL. Last time I looked the prolific driver didn't offer this feature and so it wouldn't work.

So if you buy/have a USB-serial device with an FTDI chip in it you should be ok.

by **Bobc** » Mon 20.11.2006, 12:15

ESM,

Thanks for that, I will check out the converter as soon as the ALDL cable arrives.

Bob

by **GeoffSmith** » Wed 22.11.2006, 00:29

ElanScan Interfaces:

List moved to page 5.

by **John_W** » Wed 22.11.2006, 09:28

Geoff,
I see that you're also listing those who will wait for/encourage you to develop a USB version.

Please add my name in that category (on the basis that my old ElanScan gas-powered laptop isn't going to last forever).

Good man.

John :smt023

by **dapinky** » Wed 22.11.2006, 13:54

If you use an IBM they should go on forever ;-)

by **GeoffSmith** » Wed 22.11.2006, 13:59

dapinky wrote:If you use an IBM they should go on forever

And if you don't or it doesn't, you should buy a second hand IBM for £200.

by **Bobc** » Wed 22.11.2006, 14:36

Geoff,

A serial version will be ok for me.

Thanks,

Bob

by **John_W** » Wed 22.11.2006, 20:35

geoffsmith wrote:
dapinky wrote:If you use an IBM they should go on forever

And if you don't or it doesn't, you should buy a second hand IBM for £200.

Not to get into :offtopic:

too far, but after my office ThinkPad fried not one but two hard drives losing me a lot of time and data, IBM are not on my shopping list.

John :evil:

by **GeoffSmith** » Wed 22.11.2006, 21:42

We've got dozens at work and they seem to be the most reliable by far!

by **GeoffSmith** » Wed 22.11.2006, 23:53

The last three serials of the second batch will go to kmckmc, gasser and Doc Fixxiz.

BobC, I have tried out my cheap USB to RS232 converter and, although I believe I am getting the car to respond, the interface isn't transfering anything back to the pc. I will check it out with a 'scope at the weekend to see where the problem is and let you know. If you still want a serial interface or have a problem then let me know and I'll talk nicely to MrsDapinky or knock another one up for you.

Geoff

by **GeoffSmith** » Thu 23.11.2006, 14:03

Doc Fizzix and kmckmc : sent out this morning.

Geoff

by **Bobc** » Fri 24.11.2006, 12:50

Geoff,

A serial will do for me at the moment as I have another (older) laptop if the converter I have fails.

Thanks again,

Bob

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