ATEN UC232 USB to RS232 cable - does it work with a Picaxe proto board??

Hi,

Had an old AXE022 proto board with a 28X in it. My Windoze 7 PC no longer has an RS232 port, so my son gave me his USB to RS232 cable. The Picaxe software seems to recognise the cable on COM14, COM15 and COM16 but checking the Firmware version fails as it cannot detect the hardware.

Can I save myself more than $20 Australian buying this AXE047 USB cable by persisting with this ATEN cable? The software for the ATEN seems to be a driver only and not a program as I do not seem to be able to configure it in any way. By the way, just pressed a 28X2 chip in after removing the old 28X.

Thanks.

If you connect pin 2 to pin 3 at the RS232 end and type characters in a terminal program, do you see them echoed back?

Does the ATEN cable you have support the Break command? That is essential for use with the PICAXE system for program download.
Have you installed the USB specific chip drivers for the ATEN cable ?

See these threads:
http://www.picaxeforum.co.uk/showthread.php?13863-ATEN-usb-serial-adapter-and-OS-X-10-6-Macaxepad
http://www.picaxeforum.co.uk/showthread.php?18915-quot-PROGRAMMER-NOT-RESPONDING-on-COM5-quot-problem

From the second thread seems the ATEN UC-232A based cable may be capable of working.
Many folks do have success with non AXE-027 cables but many also run into difficulties.

That said, the Rev Ed/PICAXE recommendation is to use the purpose designed AXE027.

The only way to really know is to buy it and then try it. It should work OK. Worst, case it that is won't work and you will be out the cost of the cable.

However a purchase of an AXE027 assures a compatible cable.

The ATEN UC-232 USB to serial lead uses the same chip as the Prolific PL2303 converter. There is a difference though: the two suppliers use different VID and PID IDs (Vendor and Product IDs). So the ATEN lead is physically able to do the job of the Prolific version. Due to the differences between the two products' VIDs and PIDs, the Prolific driver will not recognise the ATEN version. It will be a matter of determining whether the driver for the UC-232 (as supplied by ATEN) is able to pass a {break} signal.

I have not tried to use my UC-232 for programming a PICAXE: I bought it specifically to connect a PICAXE to my LG 'smart' TV. A discussion on my experiences with the ATEN version of the Prolific chip, read this thread.

http://letsmakerobots.com/node/19013

I think possibly the only chip that can be programmed for the PicAxe is an actual FTDI ?

It should be possible to program a PICAXE with any USB-to-Serial cable or module which has the right polarity and carries the break signal.

Some cables and modules may have the wrong polarity but FTDI chips can have their polarities inverted by updating the on-chip firmware as hitswave links to. Others may need external hardware to do the inversion. All USB-to-9-way RS232 cables will have the correct polarity.

PL2303 devices should work if the polarity output is correct, so a PL2303 device with 9-way should be okay for PICAXE use. If it has not got a Prolific VID/PID it may require an OEM driver which might not support break signalling but it may be possible to hack a Prolific .INF file to use a standard prolific driver. Some versions of Prolific drivers can however be problematic so it can be necessary to choose the correct one. The ones we have for download often solve problems for people who have installed other versions which do not work.

The problem for inglewoodpete was the hardware (TV) was looking for a specific VID/PID which most Prolific cables don't have and it wasn't possible to hack the TV to expect a typical Prolific cable.

PICAXE use doesn't dictate any particular serial cable - other than correct polarity, break signal capability and a driver which supports break signalling - so any cable with those should be usable.

We recommend the AXE027 cable because of its proven reliability and our software can identify whether an AXE027 has been installed, connected and on which port for user convenience.

hitsware said:

http://letsmakerobots.com/node/19013

I think possibly the only chip that can be programmed for the PicAxe is an actual FTDI ?

Click to expand...

I have successfully used Prolific PL2303, Silabs CP2102, & WCH-CH340 as well as FTDI. The problems I have seen appear to have been related to outdated/incorrect drivers or to counterfeit chips. FTDI, Prolific and Silabs chips have all been counterfeited at some point. Counterfeits may or may not work for Picaxe programming.

> PICAXE use doesn't dictate any particular serial cable -
> other than correct polarity, break signal capability
> and a driver which supports break signalling - so any
> cable with those should be usable.

Will this one do ? ( I see no referance to ' break signal ' )
https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11736
The reason I like the usb adaptor idea is to be able to power
my projects from the PC .....

edit: http://picaxe.hobbizine.com/usb.html

Goeytex said:

I have successfully used Prolific PL2303, Silabs CP2102, & WCH-CH340 as well as FTDI. The problems I have seen appear to have been related to outdated/incorrect drivers or to counterfeit chips. FTDI, Prolific and Silabs chips have all been counterfeited at some point. Counterfeits may or may not work for Picaxe programming.

Click to expand...

I have only been able to find the programming app ( to switch Tx, Rx polarity ) from FTDI .
Any links ? I'd really like to use these since they're so inexpensive : http://www.pololu.com/product/1308
I'm using Linux so so far ( knock on wood ) no driver problems .....

With the non FTDI USB to TTL adapters, the signal must be inverted using an external device. I use a either a pair of npn transistors or a 74HCT14 Hex inverter.

I use this Sparkfun FTDI board to program my PICAXEs, having configured it with the FTDI utility to invert the data lines: https://www.sparkfun.com/products/718

It's available from various UK suppliers as well as from Sparkfun. If you break the onboard track that links Vcc to 3.3 V you can then use a jumper on your breadboard to select 3.3 V or 5 V operation, and it can supply enough current at either voltage to power the chip and potentially a small project as well.