Troubleshooting Cloanto's Amiga Explorer

[Fester]

Hi there,

Has anyone been able to connect a PC to an Amiga 2000 using Cloanto's Amiga Explorer?

I have a recent PC with Windows XP on which I installed the latest version of Amiga Explorer. It's version 6.0.1.0.

I installed the Amiga-side software from floppy as instructed on Cloanto's web site, and set the recommended Amiga serial configurations (Amiga side).

I connected the recommended Belkin universal null-model cable to COM1 on PC and Serial port on Amiga. Actually, I needed two cables for a total of 12 feet. There's a 25 pin connector attaching both 6 foot cables together.

Every attempt to connect fails. I have AF 2006 and AF 2005 so I tried AExplorer on two different PCs with same results.  I did this to eliminate the possibility that COM1 wasn't working properly on one of the PCs.

I am left with either a bad serial port on the Amiga or a bad cable connection. Perhaps the way I extended the cables with a Belkin 25 pin connector in the middle is not the way to go?

Did you have similar problems? How did you fix'em? Any ideas?

Thanks
Fester

[amesie2]

Fester,

The only thing I can think is that when you adapted your cables together the wires that are suppose to be crossed got reverted back to just a regular 25 pin cable.

I would try if you can to just hook one null modem cable up and try that then go from there if you need a longer cable I think you can buy them in longer lengths or just get a null modem adapter for a longer standard 25 pin cable.

The other thing could be your 25 pin adapter might already be a null modem adapter causing another problem.

Just my two cents.

[Fester]

Thanks for the suggestions amesie2,

I removed the 25 pin connector and used straight metal pins cut out of paper clips. :-)

This got me a bit further. Now it just gives me a new error: "Error reading from COM1".

I reviewed the software settings and reduced Amiga's palette to 4 colors.

Next, (when I have more time) I'll try connecting the two computers using only one six foot cable.

I also have a spare A2000 I could try, to rule out the possibility of a bad serial port. The voltage on pin 9 is reading 1.6 as opposed to the +12 volts listed in the manual. This might be signigicant...

Fester

[_ThEcRoW]

Definitely, the 25 pin converter is causing the trouble. Also, the clip extender didn't work because there wasn't isolated from noise, etc..
Try the cable with both the pc and the Amiga on the same room if possible.

[Fester]

_ThEcRoW wrote:
Definitely, the 25 pin converter is causing the trouble. Also, the clip extender didn't work because there wasn't isolated from noise, etc..
Try the cable with both the pc and the Amiga on the same room if possible.

I'll have plenty of time to do this today since I'm snowed in. It's our first snow day here. I tried to get to work, but my little Ford Escort wasn't able to plow through. We've got almost a foot on my street. I was able to start the snowblower just fine. At least, that works! :-)

Here's a picture I took of the yard over two hours ago: Snow Day in Egderton

Fester

[Fester]

BINGO!

Got it! It works and it works very well!

Once I moved my Amiga closer to my PC and wired the two with only one null-modem cable, Cloanto's Amiga Explorer fired up instantly at the click of the icon.

I'm transferring files right now.

I'll try getting a longer cable to see if I can move my Amiga back to its original place.

Fester

[Louis Dias]

Yeah, 2 null model cables is a serial cable with the wrong gender at one end.

What you could do is combine a null cable and a serial to extend the null cable if that's something you still need to do to keep the PC's in 2 different rooms.

[Fester]

lou_dias wrote:
Yeah, 2 null model cables is a serial cable with the wrong gender at one end.

What you could do is combine a null cable and a serial to extend the null cable if that's something you still need to do to keep the PC's in 2 different rooms.

Hi lou_dias,

I purchased a serial cable like you suggested and connected it to the null cable. The extension works perfectly this way. I was able to return my Amiga at the other end of the office. I'm happy.

I'm left with one extra null modem cable. That's ok since I have an extra Amiga. :-)

Fester