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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Software Issues and Discussion => Topic started by: apsteinmetz on May 13, 2016, 04:17:23 AM

Title: Amiga Explorer Error reading from COM port
Post by: apsteinmetz on May 13, 2016, 04:17:23 AM
This error message is on the windows side.

I carefully matched the com port specs on the Amiga and Windows side.
I am using a new Startech.com "1 port FTDI USB to RS232 null modem adapter."
The weird thing is, I successfully bootstrapped the Amiga side by transferring AExplorer to the Amiga over the serial cable and am running it successfully.  So I know my settings are correct.  Is it possible the cable works in one direction and not the other?  There was handshaking during the bootstrapping, I assume.

So, I'm running AExplorer on the windows side but Windows explorer throws the "error reading from com port" messasge and doesn't see the Amiga.

Can anyone help?  Thanks.

-- Art
Title: Re: Amiga Explorer Error reading from COM port
Post by: krashan on May 16, 2016, 10:11:43 AM
Chceck if the cable is "7 wire". While there are also 3- and 5-wire nullmodem cables, AmigaExplorer uses hardware control flow, so it needs 7 wires.
Title: Re: Amiga Explorer Error reading from COM port
Post by: apsteinmetz on May 16, 2016, 11:14:33 PM
Thanks.  The chip used from FTDI supports all 9 lines into USB but I guess I need to check the DB15->db9 adapter.
Title: Re: Amiga Explorer Error reading from COM port
Post by: apsteinmetz on June 17, 2016, 07:22:59 PM
Closing the loop on this thread.  AmigaExplorer spontaneously started working.  Don't know why.  I checked my pins and they were correct but I didn't do anything.  FWIW, I get the "Error reading from COM port" message now when there is a disk read error on the Amiga side (as there often is with ancient disks).

AmigaExplorer is pretty cool, especially the way it bootstraps itself from the Windows side.  I jacked up the BAUD rate to 57900 on my Amiga 2000/'030 2.04 without a problem.

These were the connectors I used:
USB to DB9 Serial
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008634VJY
and
DB9 to DB25
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000087RYP