Volkslogger - No Log Download Success "data -transfer ready!"

[WaltWX[_2_]]

I've used my Volkslogger (VL) for years. Lately, I've been unable to transfer or download IGC log files to my PC. I'm using various PC's (Desktop; notebooks, etc) to no avail.

With SeeYou Connection Wizzard and Streppla, using a USB Converter (usbconveters.com - model Ut-882)and custom cables, the LCD windows on the VL only shows "data-transfer ready!" with no further interaction to DL log files. I've used all this equipment in the past and it worked perfectly. Started having this problem in March 2013 when I thought it was solved by updating the FTDI device driver for the converter. Apparently, that probably wasn't the root cause of my problem.

Today, I made up new cables... and that didn't solve the problem either.

Has anyone out there seen this failure mode on the VL?

Walt Rogers, WX

[Darryl Ramm]

On Tuesday, May 14, 2013 4:24:26 PM UTC-7, WaltWX wrote:
> I've used my Volkslogger (VL) for years. Lately, I've been unable to transfer or download IGC log files to my PC. I'm using various PC's (Desktop; notebooks, etc) to no avail.
>
>
>
> With SeeYou Connection Wizzard and Streppla, using a USB Converter (usbconveters.com - model Ut-882)and custom cables, the LCD windows on the VL only shows "data-transfer ready!" with no further interaction to DL log files.. I've used all this equipment in the past and it worked perfectly. Started having this problem in March 2013 when I thought it was solved by updating the FTDI device driver for the converter. Apparently, that probably wasn't the root cause of my problem.
>
>
>
> Today, I made up new cables... and that didn't solve the problem either.
>
>
>
> Has anyone out there seen this failure mode on the VL?
>
>
>
> Walt Rogers, WX

I would suspect the converter first. FTDI based converters do not have a good reputation for reliability and have suffered from driver problems in the past. I would never recommend them. You can try uninstalling and reinstalling the drivers again, or just give up and get a better converter. Here is a likely much better converter (I use them on PCs and Macs for lots of uses). http://www.amazon.com/Tripp-Lite-USA-19HS-Hi-Speed-supports/dp/B0000VYJRY


Whether that fixes your problem or not who knows, but I'd never waste time with an FTDI chipset based converter.


Darryl

[Mike the Strike]

Borrow a Volkslogger to Oudie cable - I find this method to be very reliable.

Mike

[Paul Remde]

Hi,

I must respectfully disagree with you Darryl. I've been using and selling
the FTDI Chip USB to Serial Converter for several months now because it
works great with every soaring flight recorder I've tried it with.
http://www.cumulus-soaring.com/ftdichip.htm

The one I sold previously didn't work well with Windows 7. I'm using a
64-bit machine.

Best Regards,

Paul Remde
Cumulus Soaring, Inc.
_______________________________________

"Darryl Ramm" wrote in message
...

On Tuesday, May 14, 2013 4:24:26 PM UTC-7, WaltWX wrote:
> I've used my Volkslogger (VL) for years. Lately, I've been unable to
> transfer or download IGC log files to my PC. I'm using various PC's
> (Desktop; notebooks, etc) to no avail.
>
>
>
> With SeeYou Connection Wizzard and Streppla, using a USB Converter
> (usbconveters.com - model Ut-882)and custom cables, the LCD windows on the
> VL only shows "data-transfer ready!" with no further interaction to DL log
> files. I've used all this equipment in the past and it worked perfectly.
> Started having this problem in March 2013 when I thought it was solved by
> updating the FTDI device driver for the converter. Apparently, that
> probably wasn't the root cause of my problem.
>
>
>
> Today, I made up new cables... and that didn't solve the problem either.
>
>
>
> Has anyone out there seen this failure mode on the VL?
>
>
>
> Walt Rogers, WX

I would suspect the converter first. FTDI based converters do not have a
good reputation for reliability and have suffered from driver problems in
the past. I would never recommend them. You can try uninstalling and
reinstalling the drivers again, or just give up and get a better converter.
Here is a likely much better converter (I use them on PCs and Macs for lots
of uses).
http://www.amazon.com/Tripp-Lite-USA-19HS-Hi-Speed-supports/dp/B0000VYJRY


Whether that fixes your problem or not who knows, but I'd never waste time
with an FTDI chipset based converter.


Darryl

[[email protected]]

I started having this issue intermittently and then almost always running SeeYou Connection Wizzard and Streppla on an HP4700. It worked fine for years and then started having issues with no obvious major changes in the system.

I have switched to an Oudie same as suggested by Mike the Strike and find it works without issues so far.

John

[Dave Nadler]

On Tuesday, May 14, 2013 7:32:21 PM UTC-4, Darryl Ramm wrote:
> FTDI based converters do not have a good reputation for reliability and have suffered from driver problems in the past. I would never recommend them.. You can try uninstalling and reinstalling the drivers again, or just give up and get a better converter. Here is a likely much better converter (I use them on PCs and Macs for lots of uses). http://www.amazon.com/Tripp-Lite-USA-19HS-Hi-Speed-supports/dp/B0000VYJRY
>
> Whether that fixes your problem or not who knows, but I'd never waste time with an FTDI chipset based converter.
>

I've suffered in past with FTDI issues, but current FTDI products and drivers seem MUCH better... YMMV ! There are a lot of dysfunctional USB-serial converters out there.

Please let us know when you find the source of your problem,
Best Regards, Dave

[Darryl Ramm]

On Tuesday, May 14, 2013 6:25:17 PM UTC-7, Dave Nadler wrote:
> On Tuesday, May 14, 2013 7:32:21 PM UTC-4, Darryl Ramm wrote:
>
> > FTDI based converters do not have a good reputation for reliability and have suffered from driver problems in the past. I would never recommend them. You can try uninstalling and reinstalling the drivers again, or just give up and get a better converter. Here is a likely much better converter (I use them on PCs and Macs for lots of uses). http://www.amazon.com/Tripp-Lite-USA-19HS-Hi-Speed-supports/dp/B0000VYJRY
>
> >
>
> > Whether that fixes your problem or not who knows, but I'd never waste time with an FTDI chipset based converter.
>
> >
>
>
>
> I've suffered in past with FTDI issues, but current FTDI products and drivers seem MUCH better... YMMV ! There are a lot of dysfunctional USB-serial converters out there.
>
>
>
> Please let us know when you find the source of your problem,
>
> Best Regards, Dave

Its often a driver issue. FTDI's past drivers have really been garbage with awful support, and it seems to have taken them years to maybe finally address this. Congratulations if it works now, one little OS change and who knows how long it will take them to fix problems. I just would not touch them with a barge pole. The Trip-Lite converter I referenced has a nice TI chipset. Its much better regarded all round. Its a bit of a darling in the Linux hacker community where folks who have reversed engineered the adapter and worked out how to reprogram it. FTDI is the same company responsible for the USB adapter chip in the Cambridge 302. And that's not exactly been problem-free. They went out marketing this to lots of companies as an easy to implement USB to serial adapter for embedded use that they would deal with driver support, then really did a lousy job of fixing bugs and keeping drivers current.

Darryl

[Paul Remde]

Hi Darryl,

I previously sold the Trip-lite converter, but it didn't work for me with
Windows 7-64 bit. They didn't have a driver for that system. I have been
using the FTDI Chip cable ever since with very good results.

Paul Remde
Cumulus Soaring, Inc.

"Darryl Ramm" wrote in message
...

On Tuesday, May 14, 2013 6:25:17 PM UTC-7, Dave Nadler wrote:
> On Tuesday, May 14, 2013 7:32:21 PM UTC-4, Darryl Ramm wrote:
>
> > FTDI based converters do not have a good reputation for reliability and
> > have suffered from driver problems in the past. I would never recommend
> > them. You can try uninstalling and reinstalling the drivers again, or
> > just give up and get a better converter. Here is a likely much better
> > converter (I use them on PCs and Macs for lots of uses).
> > http://www.amazon.com/Tripp-Lite-USA-19HS-Hi-Speed-supports/dp/B0000VYJRY
>
> >
>
> > Whether that fixes your problem or not who knows, but I'd never waste
> > time with an FTDI chipset based converter.
>
> >
>
>
>
> I've suffered in past with FTDI issues, but current FTDI products and
> drivers seem MUCH better... YMMV ! There are a lot of dysfunctional
> USB-serial converters out there.
>
>
>
> Please let us know when you find the source of your problem,
>
> Best Regards, Dave

Its often a driver issue. FTDI's past drivers have really been garbage with
awful support, and it seems to have taken them years to maybe finally
address this. Congratulations if it works now, one little OS change and who
knows how long it will take them to fix problems. I just would not touch
them with a barge pole. The Trip-Lite converter I referenced has a nice TI
chipset. Its much better regarded all round. Its a bit of a darling in the
Linux hacker community where folks who have reversed engineered the adapter
and worked out how to reprogram it. FTDI is the same company responsible for
the USB adapter chip in the Cambridge 302. And that's not exactly been
problem-free. They went out marketing this to lots of companies as an easy
to implement USB to serial adapter for embedded use that they would deal
with driver support, then really did a lousy job of fixing bugs and keeping
drivers current.

Darryl

[Darryl Ramm]

On Tuesday, May 14, 2013 7:54:44 PM UTC-7, Darryl Ramm wrote:
> On Tuesday, May 14, 2013 6:25:17 PM UTC-7, Dave Nadler wrote:
>
> > On Tuesday, May 14, 2013 7:32:21 PM UTC-4, Darryl Ramm wrote:
>
> >
>
> > > FTDI based converters do not have a good reputation for reliability and have suffered from driver problems in the past. I would never recommend them. You can try uninstalling and reinstalling the drivers again, or just give up and get a better converter. Here is a likely much better converter (I use them on PCs and Macs for lots of uses). http://www.amazon.com/Tripp-Lite-USA-19HS-Hi-Speed-supports/dp/B0000VYJRY
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > Whether that fixes your problem or not who knows, but I'd never waste time with an FTDI chipset based converter.
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > I've suffered in past with FTDI issues, but current FTDI products and drivers seem MUCH better... YMMV ! There are a lot of dysfunctional USB-serial converters out there.
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > Please let us know when you find the source of your problem,
>
> >
>
> > Best Regards, Dave
>
>
>
> Its often a driver issue. FTDI's past drivers have really been garbage with awful support, and it seems to have taken them years to maybe finally address this. Congratulations if it works now, one little OS change and who knows how long it will take them to fix problems. I just would not touch them with a barge pole. The Trip-Lite converter I referenced has a nice TI chipset. Its much better regarded all round. Its a bit of a darling in the Linux hacker community where folks who have reversed engineered the adapter and worked out how to reprogram it. FTDI is the same company responsible for the USB adapter chip in the Cambridge 302. And that's not exactly been problem-free. They went out marketing this to lots of companies as an easy to implement USB to serial adapter for embedded use that they would deal with driver support, then really did a lousy job of fixing bugs and keeping drivers current.
>
>
>
> Darryl

Tripp Lite have an April 2013 driver bundle for Windows 7 and 8 (both 32 and 64 bit), you might want to try that. They also generally have the widest platform/OS support, including those implemented for Linux by third party hackers.


Darryl

[Dan Daly[_2_]]

I had this happen to my Volkslogger about 7 years ago; it was then 11 years old. I had it cal'd and had the internal battery replaced a year before. All indications were correct, except I couldn't get the flight to download. I sent it to a dealer in the US, who couldn't help, and I ended up having it shipped from the dealer to the factory (I tried everything I could think of - new converter (known to work with another pilot); new laptop known to work with another VL).

If I recall correctly, there was a component on the motherboard that had given up... This was on day 7 of a trip to Minden, with a 444 km flight - then my longest - on it. The first 6 days worked perfectly, same computer, same usb-to-serial adapter, same laptop...

You might try the battery (will need to electronically reseal at a dealer in US) first. Hope it's that... but this sounds very familiar, in a bad sorta way.

The only time it's ever failed me...

Dan
2D

[2KA]

I had a similar issue that ended up being resolved by a factory repair . I would suggest you try your VL against someone else's "known good" download setup. If it fails you may need a repair.

Lynn

[Wojciech Scigala]

Użytkownik Paul Remde napisał:

> I must respectfully disagree with you Darryl. I've been using and
> selling the FTDI Chip USB to Serial Converter for several months now
> because it works great with every soaring flight recorder I've tried it
> with.
> http://www.cumulus-soaring.com/ftdichip.htm
I use FTDI converters too with success. In fact there are two main
USB-serial chipsets available: FTDI and Prolific. Prolific does the good
work too, provided that.. you have a real one. Market (at least
European) is literally flooded with cheap counterfeits from China, which
make a lot of transmission errors.

Anyway both chipsets are ok with current drivers and proper settings.

--
Wojtuś

[WaltWX[_2_]]

Dan Daley, Lynn...

Thanks for your reply reference a failure internally of the VL serial chip that required factory repair. I suspect that may be the problem, but still need to rule out a hardware problem in my USB converter. Next, I'll dig up an old Win XP PC box that has a real serial port and try SeeYou connection wizard.

One interesting note... I can hear syncrhonized clicking noises with the usb converter lights coming from the VL logger while the SeeYou connectional wizard software is querrying the VL data logger. Something in the VL makes a little noise during a serial transfer.

Noticed that this discussion migrated to evaluating USB serial converters. I've found that the ones with the FTDI chip set works real well including keeping their device drivers updated.

Walt Rogers WX

[WaltWX[_2_]]

FINAL CONCLUSION... SERIAL CHIP DEFECTIVE ON VL

I think the serial chip is defective. Tested unsuccessfully downloading using SeeYou Connection Wizard with another old PC using a regular serial port.. Now, I don't even get the he "DATA-TRANSFER READY" message on the VL even with the USB converter on various PCs and notebooks. Apparently the 115200 bps speed for data transfers no longer works reliably.

My VL still works ok at 4800 bps driving my SN10B (Just tested again this afternoon in my glider).

Based on Murphy's Law... my VL will probably fail on the first day of the Region 9 contest at Moriarity (1.5 weeks away). Symptoms seems to be pointing in this direction with a 15 year old unit. I'm going to buy a Nano and wire it up before I leave...

Walt Rogers, WX

[Dave Nadler]

On Tuesday, May 21, 2013 9:32:28 PM UTC-4, WaltWX wrote:
> I'm going to buy a Nano and wire it up before I leave...

Hey Walt - Get a PowerFLARM if you haven't already done so !
Logger works great, SN10 can declare task into PowerFLARM.
Hope that helps,
See ya, Dave

PS: 2.38 is now released:
http://www.nadler.com/sn10/SN10_Resource_Index.html

[WaltWX[_2_]]

Hi Dave,

I've already got PowerFlarm. It drives LK8000 on the Vertica V2 which can also declare tasks on the PF. I've been using igc files from the PF for the last half dozen flights and they validate fine on OLC. Want to keep full logger redundancy each driving their own flight software. Needed to replace the VL with another logger that has validation for all flights. PF doesn't isn't good for National or World records.

BTW, ten pilots out of 14 flew PF at our local Central California Soaring Contest and v3.0 worked just fine. PCAS seems more sensitive. FLARM sensitivity worked great in and around gaggles.

Walt Rogers WX

[WaltWX[_2_]]

Dave,

Can the SN10B declare tasks to an attached (wired RS-232 interface) Nano data logger?

Walt Rogers WX

[Paul Remde]

Hi Walt,

The SN10 can send task declarations to Volksloggers and FLARMs, but not to
Nano's or anything else.

Best Regards,

Paul Remde
Cumulus Soaring, Inc.
_____________________________

"WaltWX" wrote in message
...

Dave,

Can the SN10B declare tasks to an attached (wired RS-232 interface) Nano
data logger?

Walt Rogers WX

[WaltWX[_2_]]

On Tuesday, May 21, 2013 6:32:28 PM UTC-7, WaltWX wrote:


POST FINAL CONCLUSION...MY VL WORKS FINE NOW!

Long after the original post, I re-visited my VL download problem by using a different but identical USB Converter (XS-882 from USConverters.com). Low and behold, my download to a PC from the VL worked perfectly! So, my VL is OK... I'm the idiot for not checking all the components/cables that could have caused the problem. Moral to the story is... Check all possible connectivity problems before blaming hardware on your logger. It's hard to test these USB Converters since so few devices use serial connections. But, you can do a loop back test with the right type of connectors: http://www.usconverters.com/downloads/rs232_link_troubleshooter.pdf I wasn't able to do this because those connectors were not available to me.

BTW, USConverters.com, is a great company to work with. After returning my XS-882 with a letter asking them to test it and replace if faulty.. they simply mailed me a new one free of charge! Now, I have a VL, set of cables and a USB Converter for sale in case anyone out there wants to buy my setup.

Walt Rogers WX

[[email protected]]

On Tuesday, May 14, 2013 7:24:26 PM UTC-4, WaltWX wrote:
> I've used my Volkslogger (VL) for years. Lately, I've been unable to transfer or download IGC log files to my PC. I'm using various PC's (Desktop; notebooks, etc) to no avail. With SeeYou Connection Wizzard and Streppla, using a USB Converter (usbconveters.com - model Ut-882)and custom cables, the LCD windows on the VL only shows "data-transfer ready!" with no further interaction to DL log files. I've used all this equipment in the past and it worked perfectly. Started having this problem in March 2013 when I thought it was solved by updating the FTDI device driver for the converter. Apparently, that probably wasn't the root cause of my problem. Today, I made up new cables... and that didn't solve the problem either. Has anyone out there seen this failure mode on the VL? Walt Rogers, WX

I have had the same problem and solved it by switching to my spare cable - I have an older model with the 9-pin serial and the terminals are rather complex and fragile.