Zyx software connection trouble.

[pug907]

Afternoon all.

As the title suggests, I'm having serious trouble connecting my ZYX to all software progs apart from johnnz's software. This seems to be the only one without the firmware button, the very reason I need to connect.
Am I being thick here? ( be gentle please). I have the com port set to 2 (1 is being used), I can select com 2 in the software, but it just won't connect!! The blue light in the USB dongle flashes twice every time the connect lights in the software sequence, so I must have a connection going through to the dongle. I changed com port to 6 and got no blue light!!

I've read a gazillion posts and their fixes don't seem to work, i.e com port, sequence of connecting things etc. etc.
I have the rx connected and powered up, tried with the tx on and off. The unit has been set up using the programmer, so it is flyable, but would prefer the "non tipping over" firmware v2.5.
Any help would be appreciated. Cheers,
Andy

[Rich_H]

Hi,
I doubt very much if you can use COM2, normally that's reserverd as a system port through BIOS. I would think the USB dongle is on either 6 or 8 normally but it should tell you the port that has been reserved as the dongle drivers load. ou may have already tried this but try a USB port that you haven't previously tried - possibly on the rear of the tower.

You can also reinstall the driver software (with the dongle disconnected) then reconnect to see if the dongle is found and the port allocated.

failing all that grab a laptop or another PC to rule out any kind of connectivity issues before delving any deeper.

Let me know how you get on and i'll have another think.

Rich

[pug907]

Hi rich, thanks, I'll try that. I'll try the laptop route too. I'll let you know.
It seems odd that it connects to one of John nz's profs, but not the other. Still, I'll get there with help.
Cheers, Andy.

[pug907]

Hi,
I doubt very much if you can use COM2, normally that's reserverd as a system port through BIOS. I would think the USB dongle is on either 6 or 8 normally but it should tell you the port that has been reserved as the dongle drivers load. ou may have already tried this but try a USB port that you haven't previously tried - possibly on the rear of the tower.

You can also reinstall the driver software (with the dongle disconnected) then reconnect to see if the dongle is found and the port allocated.

failing all that grab a laptop or another PC to rule out any kind of connectivity issues before delving any deeper.

Let me know how you get on and i'll have another think.

Rich

Hi again Rich,
Tried all the suggestions, with no luck. Tried 2 different laptops, no difference.
The software I downloaded from fbl.net was fblv121.setup, this one would "look" for a connection if the pull down box was set to com3, but not even attempt to search if com 6 was chosen.

The other software, ZYX2.5EN got the blue light flashing once, but that was all it did, no connection made!! No com port choice on this one.

As I said in previous post, the software with no firmware update button connected no problem, so I'm guessing the dongle works!! A lot of posts are saying it MUST be on ports 1-4, not sure why, are you? I can only get com ports 6-10, without "renaming/ reassigning" in the device manager!
I'm at a complete loss, I just hope you or some one else has a brainstorm on my behalf.

Cheers for the help so far,
Andy

[Flying_Amp]

I downloaded john Nz's Software from RC groups, works everytime without issue (Win XP, service pack 3) You should just have to connect up the usb adapter, start the software, and use Com 3 on both my PC running the above, and Lap top running Win 7

[pug907]

I'm running vista, maybe that's the problem?? It's not on com 3 and won't go there either, I can only get con 6-10. I tried leaving it to connect on com 3 for 15 minutes, no luck and no blue flashlight on dongle either.
Cheers, Andy.

[Mikej]

Pug,

The only working on port 1 - 4 problem is a restriction on the original Tarot software - it is not the case with John_NZ's software. John he has re-written the underlying comms part of the software - there was a previous version on which youcoul dsee it try each Com port in turn.

You can easily see which Com port the dongle is plugged in to. Try this - unplug the USB dongle, go into Control Panel > Device Manager > Ports now plug in the dongle and you will see the new entry appear with it's port number - this is the port number that you select in the FBL software.

Some things to check ...
You must load the correct drivers, I helped one guy that was using Vista but the driver hadn't loaded and Vista was trying to use the wrong driver - but since you have had it working previously this should be OK.
You must plug in the USB dongle BEFORE starting the FBL software
Make sure that you have the cable in the dongle the right way up - the little silver tabs on the 4-way connector (that goes into the dongle) should be facing the same direction as the blue LED.

Personally I have had excellent results with John_NZ's software but found the Tarot software very un-reliable. If you are still struggling tomorrow I'm happy to talk it through on the 'phone - I've got 5 of these on different helis and find them excellent and find John's software very easy to use - it can be confusing until you understand what is happening though.

Cheers,
Mike.

[Rich_H]

Hi Andy,

I'm running win7.

Iv'e done some research for you:

read this thread;
PC Software for Setup/Programming the CX-3X1000, 3GYS, TG-1, ZYX etc. - RC Groups

i downloaded the drivers and the software and tested with my Tarot USB dongle and it picked it up as COM6
i know that mine is slightly different cos i'm on a copterX FBL controller so my firmware is hacked to be able to use the tarot USB but that shouldn't be relevant to your issue.

Rich

[Mikej]

Oh and also - I have upgraded the Firmware on one of these using John's software, it's very simple, but with a couple of "gotchas" ..
You need to save the .bin file (the new firmware) onto you PC, plug the dongle into PC and the other end in to the FBL unit, fire up FBL software, then turn on the Tarot with the "set" button pressed (you will get a red flashing light), hit the "upgrade" button, select the .bin file and it will start from there - it downloads about 240 blocks of data and then shows a "Upgrade successful" message. I then just unplgged everything and powered up again and job done

[pug907]

Oh and also - I have upgraded the Firmware on one of these using John's software, it's very simple, but with a couple of "gotchas" ..
You need to save the .bin file (the new firmware) onto you PC, plug the dongle into PC and the other end in to the FBL unit, fire up FBL software, then turn on the Tarot with the "set" button pressed (you will get a red flashing light), hit the "upgrade" button, select the .bin file and it will start from there - it downloads about 240 blocks of data and then shows a "Upgrade successful" message. I then just unplgged everything and powered up again and job done

Hi mike, I'll try this way when I get in today. Have downloaded bin file and put it on desktop.I can find the bin file, using open button, but think I've tried to update with little success, I thought perhaps because it wasn't connected. It may well have been on tarot software. I've tried so many different ways, I've confused myself ( not hard). Pm me your number and I'll give you a ring later if I don't go flying early today (5pm). Thanks for your help,
Andy

[muscleflex]

If you get stuck still - post back here. I have upgraded my firmware on my ZYX twice!
First time I had trouble with and thought I bricked it...
And second time.. I thought I bricked it again so did the firmware flash again (which didn't help but the flash went smoothly. haha. But all it needed was a reset settings.)

Oh - MikeJ is your man - if he's the same person on rcgroups. That person has helped me loads on the ZYX!

[danch]

What does the firmware update bring compared to the shipped firmware?

Just in the process of setting my ZYX up on my Gaui X2

Ta

Dan

[muscleflex]

to my knowledge - the new firmware does nothing. it's mostly safety features but nothing regarding the actual flying parameters. I did it anyway coz I'm like that. (I think I was just bored and wanted something to do)

[Mikej]

What does the firmware update bring compared to the shipped firmware?

Just in the process of setting my ZYX up on my Gaui X2

Ta

Dan

Nothing major so far as I am aware - Tarot said that it solved an "nitialisation" bug from memory

[pug907]

Hi Andy,

I'm running win7.

Iv'e done some research for you:

read this thread;
PC Software for Setup/Programming the CX-3X1000, 3GYS, TG-1, ZYX etc. - RC Groups

i downloaded the drivers and the software and tested with my Tarot USB dongle and it picked it up as COM6
i know that mine is slightly different cos i'm on a copterX FBL controller so my firmware is hacked to be able to use the tarot USB but that shouldn't be relevant to your issue.

Rich

Hi Rich, I had seen that site and info, but nothing seemed to work.
I have spent hours trawling through posts, looking for a solution before starting this thread, which was my last resort. I guess I should have come here first, but don't like to hassle people if I can help it!
Today, I've tried ALL of those progs to see if at least one would work, but oh no .
Mikej has kindly given me his number, so that he can talk me through it over the phone, so with some luck, I'll be testing it out tonight ooooeeeerrrr maiden flight.
It wouldn't be so bad, but I'm still only at the hovering stage. Once a week flying just isn't helping my progress at all, the weather isn't helping either, too wet and/or too windy .
Anyway, thanks for your input thus far and I'll keep you posted,
Andy