Updating KLN 94 - Parallels Mac OS X

I ran into similar issues with PC based laptops. The update program simply
doesn't like certain (if not most) USB-Comm port adapter/computer
combinations. Honeywell claimed that you had to use certain USB-Comm port
adapters, and I tried the one they recommended with no improvement.

The best solution I found was to use an older laptop with a standard comm
port which has been working flawlessly through many update cycles. I'm
using the latest version of the GPS Database Loader.

"Andrew Andersen" wrote in message
...
For those interested, here's an update on this issue:

Updating the Honeywell KLN 94 GPS from a MacBook Pro is now working
with both Parallels 4 and VMWare Fusion with Windows XP using a
Keyspan USA-19HS USB-serial adapter.

IOGear USB and Prolific adapters have been tried without success.
(It is POSSIBLE to establish a connection at 9600 using a Prolific
adapter and a serial client utility to map the Windows serial port to
an OS X pipe, but that does not seem able to pass the control code
needed to increase the baud rate. At 9600 the update will take around
2 hours.)

The key to the solution is the updated Windows XP drivers from
Keyspan, version 3.7S. These are obtainable from the Keyspan website.

The credit should go to Tom B. from KWDR, who first solved the mystery
with VMWare Fusion. After he alerted me, I also succeeded with
Parallels 4.

In case this might be useful to anyone, this was my experience:

1. Installed the Keyspan USA-19HS v3.7S drivers on Windows XP SP3 VM
under Parallels v4.0. This is the same driver file as used in Windows
2000. I did not install the OS X drivers, although Tom did in his
tests. I used the Honeywell Bendix King GPS Database Loader version
1.7. If you have tried this before with earlier versions of the
drivers, you will have noticed that the "internal loop back test" in
Keyspan serial assistant, which had previously frequently failed, now
works.

2. Connected to KLN 94 and on first attempt, received error "Ready for
next diskette or data loader not ready" on KLN 94 after existing
database erased. Configuration was: COM 5 (auto assigned), default
Windows initial serial port settings, Com Port Adjustment 0. All
other settings default. My second attempt produced the same error.
For the third attempt, I experimented with values 5 and 10 for Com
Port Adjustment in the GPS Database Loader, but noted that these
precluded the successful switch from 9600 to 115200 baud, so reverted
to a value of 0. At this point, I changed the Mac's OS X System
Preferences for Energy Saver, Power Adapter, to "better performance"
and manually altered the display and computer sleep parameters to
sensible values (20 minutes and 1 hour 20 respectively). Using Device
Manager in Win XP VM, the COM 5 port defaults were set to 9600, 8
bits, 1 stop bit, odd parity and no flow control. Set Parallels to
always connect the Keyspan USA-19HS device to the VM. My purpose here
was to try and eliminate factors that might prevent receipt by GPS
Database Loader of the KLN 94's message that the database erase has
been completed and the transfer can commence.

3. I then started the Keyspan Serial Assistant and restarted the KLN
94 and Honeywell BK GPS Database Loader program.

4. Whilst running GPS Database Loader, I used Keyspan Serial Assistant
monitor to view comms between Mac and KLN 94. Observed nothing
untoward there, but noted longish pauses between changing focus
windows and moving between tabs in Serial Assistant. Nevertheless,
the update completed successfully, although there was no indication on
the GPS Database Loader program window of % status until completion.
The KLN 94 display incremented progress as expected.

5. Set "transmit completion timing advance" to "Faster" in Keyspan
Serial Assistant and then exited that program.

6. Restarted KLN 94 and GPS Database Loader program. Ran the latter
again, but this time without Keyspan Serial Assistant, without any
problems other than, as previously noted, progress indicator on the
GPS Database Loader did not move until the update completed at 100%.
The data transfer appeared to progress more quickly than usual, but I
did not keep timings.

I'm happy enough with the result to continue updating the KLN 94 from
the Mac now. I hope this is some help to other KLN 94 owners in this
situation.

Regards

Andrew/.

tecsightATbigpondDOTnetDOTau




On Tue, 12 Feb 2008 08:02:43 -0500, John Smith wrote:

In article ,
Michelle wrote:

John Smith wrote:
In article ,
Michelle wrote:

never got it to work with the same setup. The problem was Parallels
USB
driver translation. They keep claiming it has been fixed.

You can turn it on manually in Parallels.
I was listening to either a Security Now podcast that they mentioned
how
to do it, but I cannot remember which episode it was. Look for the
podcasts that discuss virtualization.

grc.com/securitynow.htm
Oooh another security now listener!

Yep, since the beginning.
I consider it a free graduate level course in personal computer
operation.

Mike wrote:
I ran into similar issues with PC based laptops. The update program
simply doesn't like certain (if not most) USB-Comm port adapter/computer
combinations. Honeywell claimed that you had to use certain USB-Comm
port adapters, and I tried the one they recommended with no improvement.

The best solution I found was to use an older laptop with a standard
comm port which has been working flawlessly through many update cycles.
I'm using the latest version of the GPS Database Loader.

"Andrew Andersen" wrote in message
...
For those interested, here's an update on this issue:

Updating the Honeywell KLN 94 GPS from a MacBook Pro is now working
with both Parallels 4 and VMWare Fusion with Windows XP using a
Keyspan USA-19HS USB-serial adapter.

IOGear USB and Prolific adapters have been tried without success.
(It is POSSIBLE to establish a connection at 9600 using a Prolific
adapter and a serial client utility to map the Windows serial port to
an OS X pipe, but that does not seem able to pass the control code
needed to increase the baud rate. At 9600 the update will take around
2 hours.)

The key to the solution is the updated Windows XP drivers from
Keyspan, version 3.7S. These are obtainable from the Keyspan website.

The credit should go to Tom B. from KWDR, who first solved the mystery
with VMWare Fusion. After he alerted me, I also succeeded with
Parallels 4.

In case this might be useful to anyone, this was my experience:

1. Installed the Keyspan USA-19HS v3.7S drivers on Windows XP SP3 VM
under Parallels v4.0. This is the same driver file as used in Windows
2000. I did not install the OS X drivers, although Tom did in his
tests. I used the Honeywell Bendix King GPS Database Loader version
1.7. If you have tried this before with earlier versions of the
drivers, you will have noticed that the "internal loop back test" in
Keyspan serial assistant, which had previously frequently failed, now
works.

2. Connected to KLN 94 and on first attempt, received error "Ready for
next diskette or data loader not ready" on KLN 94 after existing
database erased. Configuration was: COM 5 (auto assigned), default
Windows initial serial port settings, Com Port Adjustment 0. All
other settings default. My second attempt produced the same error.
For the third attempt, I experimented with values 5 and 10 for Com
Port Adjustment in the GPS Database Loader, but noted that these
precluded the successful switch from 9600 to 115200 baud, so reverted
to a value of 0. At this point, I changed the Mac's OS X System
Preferences for Energy Saver, Power Adapter, to "better performance"
and manually altered the display and computer sleep parameters to
sensible values (20 minutes and 1 hour 20 respectively). Using Device
Manager in Win XP VM, the COM 5 port defaults were set to 9600, 8
bits, 1 stop bit, odd parity and no flow control. Set Parallels to
always connect the Keyspan USA-19HS device to the VM. My purpose here
was to try and eliminate factors that might prevent receipt by GPS
Database Loader of the KLN 94's message that the database erase has
been completed and the transfer can commence.

3. I then started the Keyspan Serial Assistant and restarted the KLN
94 and Honeywell BK GPS Database Loader program.

4. Whilst running GPS Database Loader, I used Keyspan Serial Assistant
monitor to view comms between Mac and KLN 94. Observed nothing
untoward there, but noted longish pauses between changing focus
windows and moving between tabs in Serial Assistant. Nevertheless,
the update completed successfully, although there was no indication on
the GPS Database Loader program window of % status until completion.
The KLN 94 display incremented progress as expected.

5. Set "transmit completion timing advance" to "Faster" in Keyspan
Serial Assistant and then exited that program.

6. Restarted KLN 94 and GPS Database Loader program. Ran the latter
again, but this time without Keyspan Serial Assistant, without any
problems other than, as previously noted, progress indicator on the
GPS Database Loader did not move until the update completed at 100%.
The data transfer appeared to progress more quickly than usual, but I
did not keep timings.

I'm happy enough with the result to continue updating the KLN 94 from
the Mac now. I hope this is some help to other KLN 94 owners in this
situation.

Regards

Andrew/.

tecsightATbigpondDOTnetDOTau




On Tue, 12 Feb 2008 08:02:43 -0500, John Smith wrote:

In article ,
Michelle wrote:

John Smith wrote:
In article ,
Michelle wrote:

never got it to work with the same setup. The problem was
Parallels USB
driver translation. They keep claiming it has been fixed.

You can turn it on manually in Parallels.
I was listening to either a Security Now podcast that they
mentioned how
to do it, but I cannot remember which episode it was. Look for the
podcasts that discuss virtualization.

grc.com/securitynow.htm
Oooh another security now listener!

Yep, since the beginning.
I consider it a free graduate level course in personal computer
operation.


I used the adapter Honeywell suggested on a KLN 89/B and didn't have any
problems. You must follow the button pushing sequence as prompted from
the Dataloader.

--

Regards, Ross
C-172F 180HP
KSWI

"Ross" wrote in message
...

I used the adapter Honeywell suggested on a KLN 89/B and didn't have any
problems. You must follow the button pushing sequence as prompted from the
Dataloader.

I did also and got only intermittent operation. Sometimes it would fail
right in the middle of the database upload (arggggg), but typically it just
wouldn't work at all. I had tried 2 other adapters with similar results. I
googled around and found some other people never got the recommended adapter
to work either, but for some it seems to work fine. I suspect the laptop
itself has something to do with it. At any rate with an older laptop with
an RS-232 port it works like a charm every time. The old laptop I have has
a dead battery and it's not much good for anything else. I just leave it in
the hangar most of the time.