I know there have been tons of posts on this subject, and I think I've read through most of them, but I still can't get this to work.

I have a PowerBook (Firewire) running Mac OS 9.0.4 and Virtual PC 4 with Win 98 SE. I have an Entrega (now Xircom) USB to 9 pin Serial cable.

I've installed the Entrega drivers for Mac OS and Win 98 (under VPC). And (when I couldn't get it to work) I've installed the new Xircom drivers for it for Mac and Win 98.

In the VPC settings for Windows 98, I've checked Enable USB and USB Serial Converter. Also in those VPC settings , my Com1 and Com2 are set to none (the only things I can choose under Mac serial port are Infrared Port and Internal Modem).

In Win 98, I've tried the Entrega as Com1 and Com3. I've tried all sorts of different baud rates. And there are no conflicts.

When I try to upload from my RC5000, RC5000Setup says connecting and then it hangs out indefinitely. Also, whenever Windows 98 tickles the Entrega port (like having it scan for and detect modems, which cruises through all the com ports), it gets to the Entrega port and hangs out forever.

I know I've read some posts where people having gotten this to work. What gives?

Andrea, I talked with my IS guy at my office, he read your email, it has to be your USB Converter, has the converter ever worked ?

He also said it could be a conflict between the Virtual PC and the converter....Our sales folks have problems with some files in Virtual PC

JIM

Jim,

I'm not sure if the converter has ever worked. I'll try it on a PC running Win 98, and then we'll know if it's the converter or the converter + VPC.

Thanks.

Hi Andrea,

The only USB to Serial converter I have ever heard of that works is made by Belkin. If you do manage to get the Entrega to work please post it(and how). Here is how I have my PowerBook setup.

My setup:

PowerBook G3 (333MHz) "Bronze"
Mac OS 9.1 (worked fine with 9.04 also)
Newer BookEndz
Entrega 7 Port USB Hub
Keyspan Twin Serial Adapter
Palm MacPac adapter (old kind: DIN 8 to DB-9)
Pronto cable
ProntoEdit (1.0.5)
Virtual PC 4.0
Windows 98SE

(1) Install Keyspan twin serial extension (version I have is 1.8)

(2) Attach Keyspan twin serial adapter to USB Hub; attach old MacPac Palm adapter (DIN-8 to DB-9) to the Keyspan twin serial adapter (either port); attach the Pronto's cable to the MacPac adapter.

(3) Launch VPC (I am using 4.0 with Win 98se). Choose "Windows Settings" from the Edit menu. Make sure USB is set to "Enabled," but don't select any devices. If there are devices listed don't check them. Select COM 2 Port and click the radio button next to "Mac Serial Port." Under the pop-up menu directly below, you should select "P#USA28X024". Also check "Non-modem device."

(4) Open the Control Panel folder in Windows 98. Double-click the "System" icon. Select the "Device Manager" tab at the top of the window. Click on the + sign next to the "Ports (COM & LPT)" item to expand the list. Select (click on once) whichever port you selected in step 3 and click "Properties."Click on the "Port Settings" tab at the top of the window. In the "Bits per second pop-up menu, select 2400 (this is not a typo 2400 bps). Click OK, then OK again.

(5) Launch ProntoEdit (I am using version 1.05). Choose "Upload from Pronto" from the File menu in ProntoEdit to verify your connection. You may have to do this a few times to get it to work; mine usually works on the second or third try.

The files are very small so the 2400bps setting is still fast for download/uploads.

Hope this helps.

seeya
dxtr

Hi Andrea,
My set-up is pretty much like dxtr's except PB 400, OS 9.04, Keyspan Twin w/1.7, Mac serial to DB9 pigtail, Pronto edit 2.0. (BTW, several companies now make a Mac serial to USB adapters besides Belkin and Keyspan).
To elaborate on what dxtr said, there's three places you have to check for compatible com settings (Keyspan mac-side, VPC mac-side when 98 is running, and 98 PC-side). I never loaded any Keyspan software in 98 - don't know why you'd need anything since the device is on the mac-side. My U/Ls and D/Ls to Pronto work the first time (assuming my ccf is 'legal' :-0 ) Everything works for me.
I do a couple of things that help.
1. Because I have an Epson printer (which is incompatible with VPC - they tell you that) I built a separate extensions set for VPC (eliminating all the external I/O devices that I don't need - scanners, CD-RW, etc.) Yeah it's a pain to reboot, but it works and seems to help simplify the com stuff.
2. I reboot the Pronto before I download anything. It seems to help. (When I do "learning IR" through the Pronto, I can do about 10-12 learns before the Pronto stops learning. Then I reboot the Pronto and continue for another 10-12.
FWIW, I have a GPS on the other port of the keyspan and it works fine also.
If I can help, let me know. HNick

The problem seems to be with Virtual PC 4.0. I took my Entrega (now known as Xircom) USB to 9 pin Serial cable and tried it with a PC running Win 98 SE. It didn't work right away, but I eventually got it work.

I installed the Xircom drivers and setup the USB converter for COM3. RC5000Setup couldn't connect to the remote, but at least it came back and told me that and didn't hang out forever, forcing me to end task it. So that "bug" (hanging out forever) must be a VPC thing. And not being able to deal with emulated COM ports must be an RC5000Setup thing.

But on the Xircom driver I noticed under the Port Assignments, I could setup virtual ports. So I setup a virtual COM1->COM3 port for RC5000Setup.exe and ProntoEmulator.exe. So when either of those apps opens COM1, it really gets COM3 (which is my USB adapter). That worked (on the PC). And I could then upload my CCF from my remote to RC5000Setup.

I tried the same thing (virtual ports) on Win 98 SE on Virtual PC, and I still got the hang out forever problem. So either Virtual PC 4.0 does not like talking to COM ports or it does not like the Xircom/Entrega adapter and drivers.

I would hate to drop another $60 on another adapter (either Belkin or KeySpan) and find out that the problem is with Virtual PC 4.0. Most of the posts I've read are for various adapters plugged into a USB hub or some other cable. I want a cable that plugs into the USB port on the back of my PowerBook and into the Pronto 9 pin serial cable. Has anybody had any success with a cable like that and Virtual PC 4.0?

Hi Andrea,

Have you tried this? In the Settings Panel of VPC under USB check Enable USB but do not check any devices. At the same time do not install any Win drivers for the adapter. Page 64 of the VPC users manual says to check the device you wish to use but for me that always results in Windows asking for a USB driver which does not exist for the KeySpan Twin Serial Adapter. Done this way it uses the Mac side only. Does not appear to make a difference which Port but I use COM2. If you do get another cable do not get the KeySpan PDA Adapter, it is known not to work with the Pronto.

seeya
dxtr

Just got my mac setup to communicate with pronto. Took 30 minutes total!!!!Here is my setup

imac se500
Keyspan twin serial adapter (driver 1.8)
macpac serial adapter from palm III
VPC 4.0/98

Thirty minutes included installing vpc and setting it up. In VPC settings set COMM 1 or Comm 2 for non modem device, mac serial port:printer port USB. DO NOT select the weird alphenumeric code for the adapter that starts p#usa2......

IMPORTANT USB Stuff
That;'s all I did. One thing that always helps usb devices is plug them directly into the mac not a hub. Also, I don't think you want to set up your device as a usb device in windows. Just let VPC do it's magic of sharing so that it takes the COMM port signal from windows and directs it to WHATEVER your mac tells it is the serial port. The software of the adapters lie to the mac telling it that it has a printer port which is does not. The software then re-routes the info out the USB port to the adapter.

In general 9.1 seems more stable. I have yet to have any USB device got night-night and have to be hot swapped. In 9.0.4 that was common.

Did have a few upload download failures but from what I have read that is common on the windows machines too. Tips that I have read is keep pronto awake during uploads. If you get a bad download the next one may work just fine. Mine have.

Will

The problem with not installing the USB drivers for the adapter in Win 98 is that VPC does not let me select it for either COM port. I can only select Internal Modem or Infrared. Once the USB drivers were installed in Windows, I could then checkbox the converter in the USB settings in VPC. (But it still does not show up as an option for the COM ports in VPC.)

Hummmm, I do not have any drivers installed on the Windows side and am able to "see" the KeySpan software fine. I can also see the Palm USB software but the adapter does not work. Unlike Will I have had ZERO problems with my Entrega Hub. By selecting the Printer Port option you are adding yet another level of emulation to the equation and I tried to stay away from that. I will try installing the Xircom drivers and let you know if VPC can "see" them in my setup. Although without the hardware it may not be a good test. I am guessing you have the PortGear Mac OS Drivers Version 2.02, if not let me know which one you do have.

seeya
dxtr

No luck "seeing" the Xircom drivers. As I said, it may be a bad test without the hardware.

seeya
dxtr