Hi, I set up my Megajolt Lite Jr back in 2009, using laptop with supplied software on a CD & serial cable ports and all was good. Now 16 yrs later
it still runs fine, but I want to connect a new laptop to the megajolt box.
I've been on the autosportlabs website and downloaded the 3.2.1 version of the software onto laptop and got a USB 2.0 to Serial Cable (FTDI
Chipset) and plugged it in but the laptop and megajolt box are not speaking to each other... any ideas?
Do you still have anything with a real serial port to test it with?
Good idea, but nope, but I'll check on my Mums laptop which is quite old, if it has a serial port, I'll report back in a day or two.
Serial emulators were always a problem, even way back when the Megajolt was new.
Device manager windows.. look for com port .. look for com port number .. set com port on megajolt settings.. maybe?
Emerald says to connect the USB to serial adapter first, then once that is recognised connect the ECU. Have you tried connecting separately?
Never had a problem even with the cheapest of cheap USB converters, usually if you do it's a driver problem. Check it's getting a COM port in the device manager tree before connecting the ECU in, then bring the ECU into the equation. I can't remember if MJ needs some of the additional lines the serial provides, I seem to remember having to cut a line in my old serial cable at one point.
I used to keep a tatty ancient laptop with an old version of Windows especially for use with Megajolt - it had a real serial port! It was good enough
for the job, as long as there wasn't full sun on the screen, else you had no chance of reading the numbers.
The big advantage was that I never worried about it getting knocked or scratched as it was effectively worthless. It often rattled around in the
passenger footwell while I logged the system performance.
Have you got a genuine FTDI interface, or a clone?
The genuine FTDI drivers started to brick clone interfaces in 2014, and newer drivers cause the interface to purposely output "NON GENUINE DEVICE
FOUND!" in a loop over the serial connection, this can be seen if connected to another computer running a terminal.
https://www.theregister.com/2016/01/31/ftdi_accused_of_bricking_counterfeits_again/
Here's some instructions to correct and downgrade the drivers to a pre bricking version, I don't know if the linked files are still
available though.
https://rlogiacco.wordpress.com/2016/03/04/win-10-ftdigate-solved/
Dave
Thanks for the advice guys, I got my Mums old laptop which does not have a serial port, but tried the USB/serial cable and it then asks to install some software which I have an a CD provided with the cable but the CD drive does not seem to work as i think it's a DVD drive? So it's even more confusing and frustrating! arrggghh. I'm off back to work in lagos for 4 week, so will continue my efforts once I get back...... thinking I might buy an old laptop with serial port and CD drive off gumtree and try that.
quote:
Originally posted by Slater
Thanks for the advice guys, I got my Mums old laptop which does not have a serial port, but tried the USB/serial cable and it then asks to install some software which I have an a CD provided with the cable but the CD drive does not seem to work as i think it's a DVD drive? So it's even more confusing and frustrating! arrggghh. I'm off back to work in lagos for 4 week, so will continue my efforts once I get back...... thinking I might buy an old laptop with serial port and CD drive off gumtree and try that.
update, looks like the cable I bought (Sabrent USB to Serial) does not have a driver for windows 11, so I have mailed sabrent customer support, failing that I will order another cable that works with Windows 11.