Registered: Sep 2001
Location: Oakland, CA
Posts: 3

Serial port synching problems

I like my Visor Deluxe, but a couple of things are driving me crazy. I can sync easily at home using Windows ME and a USB cradle. Unfortunately, my Windows NT 4.0 operating system doesn't allow USB ports, so I'm trying my serial ports. I have a PS/2 mouse so have a free serial port to plug my serial docking cradle into. When I tried to install the Palm Desktop, the installation program said that it did not automatically recognize a com port, but both Com 1 and Com 2 were available. I've tried both Com 1 and Com 2, both in the installation process and when using the red and blue tray icon to get into the setup box.

With Com 1, sometimes I at least get the hot sync dialog box on my desktop machine. Other times I don't. Either way, after a while, I get an error message on the Visor saying it could not establish a connection. With Com 2, I get nothing.
I've read the Comports file under Helpnote in my Palm directory, but while it recognizes that Com ports are difficult, it didn't give me specific solutions. I've fooled around with the IRQ and I/O port addresses to no avail as well, but am not approaching it very scientifically.

Does anyone else use serial ports to sync who can help me out? I'd love to be able to use this great little machine for the purposes for which I bought it - to carry my work schedule and contacts with me!!!
Thanks, everyone.

Grant

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Connecticut USA
Posts: 2682

Check to make sure that the COM ports are correctly setup and configured under NT. Then, make sure the Serial settings in HotSync Manager are properly configured as well.

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Registered: Sep 2001
Location: Oakland, CA
Posts: 3

Still working on it

MarkEagle-

Thank you very much for your post. My problem is that I can't seem to figure out how to get the correct settings for the com ports. I went to winmsd and got the following settings under resources:

IRQ 1: 18042 port
IRQ 3: serial
IRQ 4: serial

Seems that this means that coms 3 or 4 might work, but when I try to set them up under control panel/ports, Hot Sync manager doesn't seem to recognize them.
The one time that I got the hot sync manager to pop up on the screen, I'd selected com 1. Although it popped up, the manager did not sync with the Visor.

Grant

Registered: Feb 2000
Location: SW Virginia
Posts: 290

Re: Still working on it

quote:

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Originally posted by gld23
IRQ 1: 18042 port
IRQ 3: serial
IRQ 4: serial

Seems that this means that coms 3 or 4 might work[...]

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Registered: Sep 2001
Location: Oakland, CA
Posts: 3

The latest on my serial port synching problems!

I might be making progress, but I'm not sure! Now sometimes when I push the sync button on my Visor Deluxe, I actually do get the pop-up window on my PC, a major step up. So I guess COM 1 is working because that's what it says under setup and there's at least some communication going on. The Visor says, "Connecting with the desktop" and the PC window says, "Connecting with handheld," but eventually the Visor gives me an error message saying that "The connection between your handheld computer and the desktop could not be established. Please check your setup and try again." The Visor doesn't beep when I push the sync button, unlike at home with my PC.

I'm using the slowest speed, 9600 baud, because I read somewhere on one of the Visor sites that it might work, but I've also tried "as fast as possible" and when I do that, I don't even get the pop-up window on my PC.

I'd appreciate any advice. Thanks.

Grant

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Connecticut USA
Posts: 2682

Check out this FAQ from Handspring's site. It details the steps involved to setup a serial sync under Windows NT.

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God bless America, my home sweet home...