I prototyped the circuit, the Mate is transmitting its data to the radio.
But, What is happening is the Mates radio is flashing receive, not transmit, seams to be backwards.
The manual says the mate transmits it data from RDX, and receives on TXD. and that is how you have the wiring layed out. I have checked and rechecked my wiring.
Could Outback have switch the pins internally on the Mate plug.
any Ideas ? [ Parent ]
The way I understood it and how we gather it is thusly:
Mate tosses the data on the serial port approximately every 60 seconds. I only am interested in gathering the data not sending commands.
You power the Mate side of the port with DTR if i recall right. I will check before i hit submit.
OK, checked my notes probably copied from the same PDF you have:
The Mate requires that the DTR (pin 4) be driven high(set) and that RTS (pin 7) be driven low (cleared), in order to power the port.
The Mate transmits data on the RX (pin 2) line,and listens for commands on the TX (pin 3) line.
Probably the same thing you read.
No real communication [on mine] just power the port read the data. At least with my system. No reason you couldn't just hardwire those pins high and low that I can see. We did it in software, however. I had lots of RossW and DonC help as well as others who I forget now.
Be sure its a straight through cable, too. Got caught trying to use a null modem cable by accident myself.
Just tossing it on the pile.
Tom
"Education consists mainly of what we have unlearned."--Mark Twain[ Parent ]
As a guess, Yes. Yet I checked what I wrote several times, should be right.
Just what is flashing receive? I take it nothing is coming through to the PC? Does the PC need to send commands to get Mate going? From TomW post, nope.
I would try reversing the wires (2, 3) and see if it works. First. Please verify Pin 7 on Mate is negative voltage, what value? Actually all voltage readings would be good.
Have fun, Scott. [ Parent ]
checked pin 7 it is a negative 4.75 volts, I will get the other pin voltages tomorrow I also have an Easy BoB breakout box that I will stick in line to help see whats going on. don't have much light in the shop right now still wiring it up, holding a flash light is just not cutting it.
The radio modems have a transmit and receive light, the receive light is the one flashing now when the Mate is sending data to it. I have not hooked up the other modem to the PC yet. [ Parent ]
Thanks for your help, couldn't of done it out you.
It is working, hooked the other radio to the PC monitored the serial line with serialmon, I now have data to the PC from the Mate using radio modems.
What I think is a little strange, is that the transmitter hooked to the Mate has the receiving light flashing and the radio hooked to the PC has the transmit light flashing, I would think it would be the other way around.
Again thanks!!!
Zapmk[ Parent ]
You are welcome!
The wires names are throwing you off.
A straight cable connects DTE to DCE, called a modem cable. Pin 2 connects to 2 and 3 to 3. Each end pin 2 has the same name yet, one trans other receives! Can be very confusing.
The Mate's modem is receiving from the Mate as the PC's modem is transmitting to the PC!! Simple:-)
I assumed you tested out the PC end but had to ask... should have worked. Glad it did. Good to keep in practice doing serial work, been too long.
