Micromass platform LC.. anyone ever set one up?

[Phillhere]

background to this is..
we have been gradually rebuilding / fixing up an old Platform LC.
think we are nearly there, except have got snagged with "AI cannot identify target transputer" error from masslynx pc.
transputer (MPU) registers ok 0 0 on the internal readouts, but will not communicate with PC (TDAT)

if anyone has any ideas on how to fault find this error please let me know..

anything at all would be helpful.
thanks

[mhr311]

1] Are the TDAT drivers loaded?
2] Have you tested the TDAT with a loopback connector?
3] Do you have a correct PC to Instrument cable?
4] Can you connect via EngCon, which will allow direct connection without Masslynx.
5] What version Masslynx?

[Phillhere]

hi.. thanks for the reply...

will try and answer the questions...

tdat drivers?.... i (maybe wrongly) assumed that the SCN 264 update would have done this..
if not, thats probably the issue... and so the next question is where are they located?... as in on any of the install disks or are they located somewhere else?

TDAT appears ok, will try the loopback, but is newly installed and certifed as working by the supplier
TDAT cable checks out, in terms of the pinouts i have found ( in an old fisher analytics technical note.)
no engcon doesnt connect.. still gives the failed to identify target transputer error
and its masslynx 3.4

thanks
Phill

[mhr311]

You should have a TDAT.sys file in Win\sys32\drivers. The Fisher tech note has a confused pinout for a correct cable. It should be pin 1 to 1, 2 to 2,right through to pin 15, with no pin 11 or 14. It appears that author misread the DB15 connector. Is this a Platform, Platform LC or LCZ?

[Phillhere]

platform LC...

will revisit the pinouts for the tdat cable as i suspect we followed the designation in the fisher technical note..

[Phillhere]

No luck. Cable definately correct now. But still cant identify
Target transputer. Give up! Unless anyone has some way of determining
If its the transputer card in the ms i guess we have hit a brick wall.

[Phillhere]

success of sorts....

appears we still had issues with the cable...
has been remade. soldering straight through .
i.e pin 1 to pin 1 etc.
not connected pins 11 and 14.

we now have moved on from failed to identify target transputer,
running engcon does not bring up this error..
however engcon just sits there at black screen, reboot, boot etc just sit there at black screen.

if we exit this and go to masslynx the control panel for the instrument doesnt show the LC, its not connected as yet, but it was specified in the setup..
verify serial comms gives us the following...
vaid response -7

is this a sympton of not being connected to the LC (1100) or something else?

all help really appreciated...
thanks

[mhr311]

1] If transputer (tp)code reads 0,0 this indicates the tp has booted correctly.
2] Have you run the TDAT loopback test? (the loopback pinout from the Fisher page is correct). This will indicate the ISA TDAT is functioning correctly. Use test files from Util dir from your installation CD (V3.5)
3] HP 1100 doesn't run off serial port-it requires a HPIB card with correct drivers installed, prior to loading Masslynx.
4] Under engcon, boot to file Platlcm.tp-this will indicate if the tp is recognized under engcon

[Phillhere]

ok.. got a bit / lot further... for about the 5th time, we rewired the tdat cable.. is now straight through pin 1 to 1, 2 to 2 etc
11 and 14 not connected.... do any need to be connected to the shield?

looking at the questions asked....

transputer code is 0, 0
havent built the loopback connector yet, but as soon as we get a chance....
hp1100... does it need to be on a very low firmware? it is connected by GPIB/ HPIB and set up correctly as far as we know...

in engcon... booting to file platlcm.tp doesnt return a failed to identify any more, but does just giive a black screen..

there are a couple of new error messages.....

if we test serial comms we get boot file version window with VAID -7 error... cant find anything about this anywhere
when trying to connect through masslynx we get ...masslynx detected an error on either instrument electronics or communications hardware.

if anyone has further ideas, please let us know...

and thanks for the leads so far.

[PaulB]

Check it is HPIB, although aparently identical, a GPIB card does not work.

[Phillhere]

Hp83241 card in pc, cabled to detector of the 1100 stack.
The detector address is right in the io setup.
Is this fault to do with the comms for the lc?
If so may try to reload masslynx with no lc
Option...

A serious thank you to all who have replied.
Phill

[mhr311]

Your install CD will have a directory labeled /SICL containing required files for HP1100 (at least on MLv3.5) Run the setup program and follow instructions for the HPLC. There will be a program named something like 'WinNt config' or some such which will allow connection to the 1100 (Note the 1100 has to be connected). As for the Platform, run PCtest (from the /UTIL dir on install CD)for loopback test and look for any reported errors in the host TDAT card.