I dont noe if anyone can help me but...im using hyper terminal for my utec..and i am u using the com5 port and im trin to flash it wit the new updates so that i can get the stage to map...but its not letting it flash on the com5 port..it jus has 1 through 4...and when i try to oopen the utec wit the com3 port it dosent work...wut do i do?

 

Do you have more than one serial port on your computer?

--Josh

 

well i have 2 usb ports that i use...but on hyperterminal it only lets me use either com3 or com5...but com 3 dosent work for some strange reason

 

Do you have A serial port on your computer, not usb ports?

 

He probably doesn't have a serial port.

I have the same problem...most laptops made in the last couple of YEARS do not come with serial connections...it's an antiquated communications protocol that I'm disappointed was chosen for a state-of-the-art engine management system designed to interface primarily with laptops.

I'm stuck with Com port 5 as well and can't flash update the unit.

 

Actually USB is also a Serial connection (USB means universal serial bus).. and the protocol is the standard for all communications even USB, I2C, etc.. You need a USB to serial DB9 adapter which isn't really his problem. The problem is he probably isn't sure which is the correct port, or he is having a compatibility problem with his serial adapter. ALL Engine management systems use serial transfer, some have USB Ports but use the Max-232 chipset (a serial emulator).. It may be antiquated, but it is the most universal method of data transfer and therefore the wisest choice for a product that can be tuned using anything from a PDA to a mainframe...

Unfortunately its not a really straightforward "Troubleshooting" answer since it requires reconfiguring the serial port settings and not just trying a different port.

I really can't walk someone through this because there's too many variables.. However most new computers have Infra-Red port (Serial port), Bluetooth (at least one emulated serial port), a modem (another serial port) which takes up ports 1-4 usually.. So when you add another serial USB adapter, it ends up on com 5.. Its really not the fault of the hardware or the UTEC, but it does take a little knowhow to reconfigure the ports to accomodate software designed to utilize Com1-4..

You should either call the manufacturer of your USB to Serial adapter, or your Laptop manufacturers tech support, or talk to a local techie to come by and help you get it set up the way you want.

As long as hyperterminal works fine with the USB port and your UTEC, then at least you know the important part works. You just have to change the port numbers around a bit, and its not as simple as just trying a different port number.