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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: AmigaMance on October 01, 2007, 03:53:13 PM

Title: I need to check if my PCMCIA network card is working! - Wow....
Post by: AmigaMance on October 01, 2007, 03:53:13 PM
Hello.
 I have a PCMCIA card which is supported by the cnet.device and i have used it in the past to access the internet via a ADSL modem/router. After 2 days of surfing something went wrong. Either the card went bad or the modem.. (I'm using a dialup connection right now)
 What i NEED now, is to check if the PCMCIA is working or not, so i'll know what i will have to buy: A new card or a modem??

 I have no other computer and generally no other hardware to connect the card to, so i hope there is way to do this with software. I simply can't afford a new ADSL modem/router just to test the card.
  Thank you.
Title: Re: I need to check if my PCMCIA network card is working!
Post by: motorollin on October 01, 2007, 04:01:12 PM
Use the ping command to ping your modem's IP address. If you get a response then your network card is working. If you don't, then your network card is either not working or not configured properly (or your network cable is broken).

--
moto
Title: Re: I need to check if my PCMCIA network card is working!
Post by: AmigaMance on October 01, 2007, 04:21:00 PM
@motorollin
 
 Pinging my _MODEM'S_ IP? Are you sure that this will show if the card is damaged?
 I mean, what if the modem is damaged instead? I will still get no ping response, right?
Title: Re: I need to check if my PCMCIA network card is working!
Post by: motorollin on October 01, 2007, 04:29:08 PM
Good point, though it depends on what you think is wrong with the modem. is there anything else on your network you can ping?

--
moto
Title: Re: I need to check if my PCMCIA network card is working!
Post by: alexh on October 01, 2007, 04:31:46 PM
I dont think there is anything you can do in this situation.

If the driver for the ethernet card is installed correctly, the TCP/IP stack is installed and configured correctly, but you cannot connect to anything, you will not be able to tell if it is your ethernet card, cable or the modem/router.

The easiest solution would be to take your equipment to a mates house and use his computer to test it. Preferably a mate with a laptop with PCMCIA ports.

I would guess it's more likely USER ERROR than hardware failure.

Do PCMCIA ethernet cards show up on the Early Startup Menu? Or SCOUT?

Reinstall CNET, TCP/IP stack, web-browser etc. Use a different ethernet cable, power on / off the modem/router.

Rather than try to access external webpages, try the internal configuration webpage of the modem/router?
Title: Re: I need to check if my PCMCIA network card is working!
Post by: rockape on October 01, 2007, 05:14:44 PM
Hi,

I use

"card_info"   prob on Aminet, but I cant seem to find it.

Please PM me If you want "card_info" I can E-Mail it to you.

Also for Wireless Cards

http://aminet.net/search?query=wifisignal

and

For Modems

http://aminet.net/comm/misc/ModemTest.readme


Kind Regards, Michael

aka rockape
Title: Re: I need to check if my PCMCIA network card is working!
Post by: AmigaMance on October 01, 2007, 07:05:18 PM
@motorollin
Quote
Is there anything else on your network you can ping?

 No. As i said, i have no other devices that i could connect to the card.
 Isn't there a "Card's IP" or something?


@alexh
Quote
I would guess it's more likely USER ERROR than hardware failure.

 I doubt it. It just stopped working after 2 days without changing anything..

Quote
Do PCMCIA ethernet cards show up on the Early Startup Menu? Or SCOUT?

 I didn't tried scout when it was working, but iirc ethernet cards doesn't show up in the startup menu.


@rockape
 Thanks for point it out. I do have card_info in my C directory. It is version 0.2 .
 I will try it asap. (Got to pull my ADSL gear out of the closet)

PS: I checked the ethernet cable with a multimeter and i found it ok.
Title: Re: I need to check if my PCMCIA network card is working!
Post by: Zac67 on October 01, 2007, 08:06:33 PM
Have you tried another cable?
Are there any link LEDs that light up? Or fail to?
Title: Re: I need to check if my PCMCIA network card is working!
Post by: motorollin on October 01, 2007, 08:47:36 PM
Quote
AmigaMance wrote:
@motorollin
Quote
Is there anything else on your network you can ping?

 No. As i said, i have no other devices that i could connect to the card.
 Isn't there a "Card's IP" or something?

I'm not sure but I think ifconfig is included with most Amiga TCP/IP stacks, so this would show your current IP configuration. However, this would probably not be very useful since you are most likely using a static IP for your Amiga, due to the lack of DHCP support.

You may not have anything else you can put your PCMCIA network card in to, but another option would be to connect a crossover cable between your Amiga and any other computer. Then give them both IP addresses in the same IP range (e.g. 192.168.0.10 and 192.168.0.20) and then do ping tests between them. This way you will know if your PCMCIA network card is working.

Quote
AmigaMance wrote:
Quote
I would guess it's more likely USER ERROR than hardware failure.

 I doubt it. It just stopped working after 2 days without changing anything..

Agreed, if nothing has changed then something is probably broken :-(

--
moto
Title: Re: I need to check if my PCMCIA network card is working!
Post by: rockape on October 01, 2007, 09:40:40 PM
Hi,

Thanks to DoctorQ I've found that card_info prog.

Its part of

See http://piru.dyndns.org/~p/sw
Short:    PCMCIA Network Card driver. V1.8
Author:   sintonen@iki.fi (Harry "Piru" Sintonen)
Uploader: sintonen@iki.fi (Harry "Piru" Sintonen)
Type:     hard/drivr
Requires: OS 2.04+, A600/A1200, compatible PCMCIA ethernet card
Version:  1.8
Replaces: hard/drivr/cnetdevice.lha

This is an PCMCIA (aka PC Card) ethernet card SANA2 driver for Amiga 600 and Amiga 1200 computers. Most NE2000 compatible cards are supported (I hope). Full source code in assembler is included.

New for V1.8

   - Minor bugfix: deviceinit leaked memory if it failed.

   - Added KingMax EN10-T2T and Kingston KNE-PC2T to compatibilitylist. Thanks to GDR!

   - Added NetGear FA410TX to compatibility list. Thanks to Spokki.

   - Added Eusso UPE4010-TC 10M and ActionTEC FASTnet PE200AC
     (BNC+UTP 10M) to compatibility list. Added Asmax LM5LT-10N to incompatible cards list. Thanks to Mandi^ATO.

   - Added Billionton LNT-10TB to compatibility list.

Thanks to
     Valwit.

   - Added note about CardPatch software.

   (for more information see src/cnetdevice.asm version history)

Kind Regards, Michael

aka rockape
Title: Re: I need to check if my PCMCIA network card is working!
Post by: AmigaMance on October 02, 2007, 05:03:37 PM
I did some tests:

 Card_info recognize the card!

 ModemTest produces the output:
Quote
Card is 0 bytes long, 0 ns, type 0, other 0
PCMCIA
Fast-Ethernet
Isn't a modem afaik
desc of modem interface
desc of data modem

I'd appreciate it if you could now email these 2 files:
pcmcia.attr
pcmcia.desc


 MOSNet (That was the TCP/IP i was using to get online) reports "online" but there in no sign of an internet connection and this is NATURAL AS:
 Both the ethernet leds of the card and modem are OFF!
I remember that when the system used to work, both leds were going ON when i was connecting the card with the modem.
 Like i said previously, i have checked the cable with a multimeter and seems ok.

 What do you guys make out of all this? :-?
Should i assume that the modem is damaged with a 99.99% probability or not?
Title: Re: I need to check if my PCMCIA network card is working!
Post by: RW222 on October 02, 2007, 05:19:56 PM
Bear in mind that some cards will refuse to initialise without an ethernet conection present. Therefore if the connectors got a little glitchy for any reason (oxidisation, strain against the plugs) then it might not "see" the link. If you're doing something like turning the amiga on, then turning the modem on... that could confuse things. Turn the modem on first, then turn the amiga on. Also double check your modem hasn't got an uplink/lan switch for the ethernet port that you've knocked. One setting will be a "crossover" for connecting direct to a router or hub, the other is straight through for connecting direct to a PC or in this case the Amiga.

RW222
Title: Re: I need to check if my PCMCIA network card is working!
Post by: rkauer on October 02, 2007, 05:30:08 PM
Seems like the Lan card have a broked dongle...
Title: Re: I need to check if my PCMCIA network card is working!
Post by: RW222 on October 02, 2007, 06:21:24 PM
Wait a second, this isn't that old PCMCIA reset problem is it...

""The A1200 (and A600?) PCMCIA-port has a bug which causes some PCMCIA-cards
(especially ethernet-cards) not to work after hardreset until you remove
the card and insert it again while power is on.

It seems as if the A1200 is not generating any reset-signal for the PCMCIA-
port. The problem is easily solved by soldering a 10uF capacitor between
CC_RESET and and Vcc. The CC_RESET is active high. The cathode (-) of the
capacitor should be at CC_RESET.
""
Title: Re: I need to check if my PCMCIA network card is working!
Post by: AmigaMance on October 02, 2007, 06:29:59 PM
@ RW222
Quote
Bear in mind that some cards will refuse to initialise without an ethernet conection present. Therefore if the connectors got a little glitchy for any reason (oxidisation, strain against the plugs) then it might not "see" the link.

 Well, i cleaned-up all the connectors and, in any case, 2 days are just not long enough for the development of oxidation/glitch..

Quote
If you're doing something like turning the amiga on, then turning the modem on... that could confuse things.

 I have tried all possible combinations.

Quote
Wait a second, this isn't that old PCMCIA reset problem is it...

 Oh, come on! Would this kind of problem allows card_info to recognize the card, or MOSNet to report "online"??...
 I'm running a reset patch anyway.


@ rkauer
Quote
Seems like the Lan card have a broked dongle...

 Which side? The ethernet or the PCMCIA connector?
I think i have a spare network card somewhere. I can test this one too and see.
Title: Re: I need to check if my PCMCIA network card is working!
Post by: AmigaMance on October 02, 2007, 07:21:27 PM
Ok, i have just tried the spare network card. Different card, same symptoms.
Things are exactly as i describe them in previous post. Here is the card_info's output, btw:
Quote
Getting PCMCIA card info...

..NETGEAR.FA410TX.Fast Ethernet.

Appears to be a Network card

CCR Offset address (16 bit) = $000400, Config ID = $20

Interface Type 1, uses: WAIT

Getting I/O memory now - remove card if system freezes!

Saving data to t:card_info.bin

card_info done.


 I think this is a normal output, isn't it? :-?

What do you think now, guys?
Title: Re: I need to check if my PCMCIA network card is working!
Post by: rkauer on October 03, 2007, 03:30:03 AM
 I had a card showed in the cardinfo, but not working at all (at least no on my Miggy), but work ok on my laptop.

 If the card worked once the Amiga, and showed at early startup (or in cardinfo), the logic is ok. But in the other side it could be broken somewhere: RJ45 dongle/adapter, bad cable, bad ADSL modem...

 The inexpensive way to fix it is buying another cable (or crimping another one), then buying another modem.

 Just put the suspect devices in other machine (one at a time) will show where the problem is.


[edit]
 BTW: the second card is listed as compatible in cnet.device list?
[/edit]
 Silly me. The card IS in cnet.device list. But with a little "glitch" in the behavior.

 A good point is install the new version of cnet.device (1.9) from aminet (http://aminet.net/driver/net/cnetdevice.lha).
Title: Re: I need to check if my PCMCIA network card is working!
Post by: AmigaMance on October 03, 2007, 01:33:14 PM
Quote
I had a card showed in the cardinfo, but not working at all (at least no on my Miggy), but work ok on my laptop.

If the card worked once the Amiga, and showed at early startup (or in cardinfo), the logic is ok.

 Yes, it worked once and card_info seems to be ok with it, (assuming that its output that i pasted above is normal) but i don't see any cards in my early startup menu! :-(
 I mean, in the boot options it does say:
"Enabled   Priority 3   ADOS   carddisk-0"
BUT, this is exactly the same indication i get when... there are no cards inserted in the PCMCIA port..
 Should i have read something different when a card is plugged in?? Perhaps it's because the reset patch is not executed yet? (since it's in the s-s)
Title: Re: I need to check if my PCMCIA network card is working!
Post by: rkauer on October 03, 2007, 07:58:51 PM
Quote

AmigaMance wrote:
--zip--
 Should i have read something different when a card is plugged in?? Perhaps it's because the reset patch is not executed yet? (since it's in the s-s)


 Could be. But the best way to avoid software problems is downloading the latest cnet.device available (from the link above).
Title: Re: I need to check if my PCMCIA network card is working!
Post by: AmigaMance on October 03, 2007, 09:10:44 PM
@rkauer
 I have installed it already.


@all
 I would like to get some feedback from A1200/ethernet card users: Do you see a different entry from this, in the early startup menu with the card plugged in?:
"Enabled Priority 3 ADOS carddisk-0"

 There must be plenty of people here with this configuration, It shouldn't be too hard. I just want to define if it's the modem/cable or not.
Title: Re: I need to check if my PCMCIA network card is working!
Post by: AmigaMance on October 04, 2007, 03:31:46 PM
Quote
@all
I would like to get some feedback from A1200/ethernet card users: Do you see a different entry from this, in the early startup menu with the card plugged in?:
"Enabled Priority 3 ADOS carddisk-0"

There must be plenty of people here with this configuration, It shouldn't be too hard. I just want to define if it's the modem/cable or not.


 Not even one!?  :-/
I believe that what i'm asking is dead simple and it won't take more than 3 minutes...
Title: NICE!....
Post by: AmigaMance on October 04, 2007, 07:34:38 PM
 Wow, {bleep}ing unbelievable!

 What really pisses me off is that plenty of users with an Amiga1200+PCMCIA network card, read my post and yet they chose to sh*t on me! Ok then! It's your right to choose so!
 And it's not like i asked something big or that i am a flooder/leecher. I always try to help others if i can!

@All with the above mentioned configuration:
 Thanks for nothing. I'm sure that there will be times in the future where i will be able to return the favor...

@The rest
 Sorry about my frustration but i think it's justified.
Title: Re: NICE!....
Post by: Flashlab on October 04, 2007, 07:47:56 PM
Sorry to say this but I think you're totally out of line.

I understand your frustation but pissing people off won't get you anywhere.
Title: Re: I need to check if my PCMCIA network card is working!
Post by: pVC on October 04, 2007, 08:20:00 PM
I have wireless nic on PCMCIA. Says exactly the same in early startup menu.
Title: Re: I need to check if my PCMCIA network card is working!
Post by: AmigaMance on October 04, 2007, 08:46:52 PM
@pVC
 Thanks man