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ESU LokProgrammer software in slow-motion.
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Offline Gert-Jan  
#1 Posted : 05 March 2007 13:20:15(UTC)
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Gert-Jan


Joined: 29/04/2005(UTC)
Posts: 777
Location: Netherlands
i am experiencing a very, very slow behaviour of the ESU lokprogrammer software.

When i do the virtual cab and e.g. switch on LIGHT or Function...it just waits a few secs and then it activates.

As i have both a new PC (with COM1 controller) and using Vista, I am not sure if this is about the ESU software on Vista or just the behaviour of my COM1 port.

But does anybody have experience with LokProgrammer software and Vista? Perhaps recogniseable problems?

(I am using newest version 2.6.2; tried 2.6.1. also for the same)
Mosty era III DB.
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Offline DamonKelly  
#2 Posted : 05 March 2007 13:28:19(UTC)
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DamonKelly

Australia   
Joined: 26/03/2006(UTC)
Posts: 1,421
Location: Brisbane, QLD
Gert-Jan,

Was it always slow like that?
I have V2.6.2, and the response in the virtual cab is rather slow (1-2 seconds sounds about right).

Perhaps it is Vista. When Microsoft make major changes like XP -> Vista, unexpected problems can appear (i.e. seemingly simple programs suddenly go haywire).

Cheers,
Damon
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Offline Gert-Jan  
#3 Posted : 05 March 2007 13:40:53(UTC)
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Gert-Jan


Joined: 29/04/2005(UTC)
Posts: 777
Location: Netherlands
Quote:
[size=1" face="Verdana" id="quote]quote:Originally posted by DamonKelly
<br />Gert-Jan,

Was it always slow like that?
I have V2.6.2, and the response in the virtual cab is rather slow (1-2 seconds sounds about right).


With my previous PC running XP it behaved more or less 'real time'
It might have been a bit slower than the real thing but now I am talking about a few seconds...which is actually quite LONG [|)]


But Damon, if you experience this too and if you are running XP...my conclusion is that the modern COM controllers are the reason.
My previous PC was from the end of last century...COM IO controller chips must have changed by yhe years. biggrin
Mosty era III DB.
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Offline DamonKelly  
#4 Posted : 05 March 2007 14:10:04(UTC)
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DamonKelly

Australia   
Joined: 26/03/2006(UTC)
Posts: 1,421
Location: Brisbane, QLD
OK, 2 seconds is perhaps slower than I get...

I suspect it is some combination of the exact chipset on your motherboard, the Vista driver and the way LokProgrammer accesses the port. The LP SW seems to be a bit long in the tooth -- the icons remind me of the old "Turbo Pascal for Windows", which was a fine programming package -- in 1992.

Serial ports and drivers etc... are tricky things from a programming point-of-view. At first glance it seems easy, but actually getting them to perform requires all sorts of compromises and tricks.

The LP SW has a few "quirks" -- one blindingly obvious one that it refuses to startup in true fullscreen mode, as requested in the shortcut. It always opens in some weird 7/8ths of fullscreen.

I can only suggest searching for:
1. MB drivers from your MB manufacturer -- this may improve serial port latency and performance (but maybe not...)
2. the very latest Vista updates (see above...)

I'd go for "1", first.

My LokProgrammer came with a USB-to-Serial adapter, which I haven't tried yet, since I had a spare serial port (who still uses RS-232? -- ESU, apparently...)
If yours came with that cable, try that and see if response improves -- it wouldn't surprise me if Vista performs better with a USB-to-Serial adapter than native serial.
But of course, it may not...

Personally, I blame Bill Gates...
For everything...

biggrinbiggrin
Cheers,
Damon
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Offline Gert-Jan  
#5 Posted : 05 March 2007 14:14:05(UTC)
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Gert-Jan


Joined: 29/04/2005(UTC)
Posts: 777
Location: Netherlands
Quote:
[size=1" face="Verdana" id="quote]quote:Originally posted by DamonKelly
I suspect it is some combination of the exact chipset on your motherboard, the Vista driver and the way LokProgrammer accesses the port.

I can only suggest searching for:
1. MB drivers from your MB manufacturer -- this may improve serial port latency and performance (but maybe not...)
2. the very latest Vista updates (see above...)

My LokProgrammer came with a USB-to-Serial adapter, which I haven't tried yet, since I had a spare serial port (who still uses RS-232? -- ESU, apparently...)


I think I might look up the original box on the attic for the USB-serial cable/device. I know there was on with my (newest) Lokprogrammer version.

See what happens, but I liked using the RS232 port as it is there anyway and USB ports are frequently used Cool

But whatever happens...it does seem to work (mañana)
Mosty era III DB.
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Offline DamonKelly  
#6 Posted : 05 March 2007 14:43:11(UTC)
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DamonKelly

Australia   
Joined: 26/03/2006(UTC)
Posts: 1,421
Location: Brisbane, QLD
Quote:
[size=1" face="Verdana" id="quote]quote:See what happens, but I liked using the RS232 port as it is there anyway and USB ports are frequently used Cool


Get yourself one of these...USB port
Cheers,
Damon
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Offline Gert-Jan  
#7 Posted : 05 March 2007 15:39:39(UTC)
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Gert-Jan


Joined: 29/04/2005(UTC)
Posts: 777
Location: Netherlands
Quote:
[size=1" face="Verdana" id="quote]quote:Originally posted by DamonKelly
Get yourself one of these...USB port

This would fit perfectly with Zora's English Railway childeren layout biggrin

Dr. Who

UserPostedImage
Mosty era III DB.
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Offline dntower85  
#8 Posted : 05 March 2007 15:47:44(UTC)
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dntower85

United States   
Joined: 08/01/2006(UTC)
Posts: 2,218
Location: Shady Shores, TX - USA
Quote:
[size=1" face="Verdana" id="quote]quote:Originally posted by Gert-Jan
<br />
As i have both a new PC (with COM1 controller) and using Vista, I am not sure if this is about the ESU software on Vista or just the behaviour of my COM1 port.


Vista[xx(]
biggrin
DT
Now powered by ECoS II unit#2, RocRail
era - some time in the future when the space time continuum is disrupted and ICE 3 Trains run on the same rails as the Adler and BR18's.
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Offline plavnostruev  
#9 Posted : 05 March 2007 22:27:20(UTC)
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plavnostruev

United States   
Joined: 18/11/2004(UTC)
Posts: 756
Location: New Jersey, USA
Sorry for offtopic, couldn't help it.

UserPostedImage

Mike
www.euromodeltrains.com
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Offline stephenbb  
#10 Posted : 06 March 2007 00:06:56(UTC)
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stephenbb


Joined: 22/11/2004(UTC)
Posts: 1,836
Location: Trumbull, CT
Check with ESU however, Vista does cause problems with non-native software. The ESU software .6 may not even work.
Stephen(USA)
ETE,NMRA,MEA
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Offline dntower85  
#11 Posted : 06 March 2007 00:26:09(UTC)
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dntower85

United States   
Joined: 08/01/2006(UTC)
Posts: 2,218
Location: Shady Shores, TX - USA
I would suspect that vista is watching the com port thinking it is attached to a modem or something. we will be testing some software soon on vista that communicates through a serial port to an older data device. When the test begins in a week or so I'll see if there is a delay in the data transfer.
DT
Now powered by ECoS II unit#2, RocRail
era - some time in the future when the space time continuum is disrupted and ICE 3 Trains run on the same rails as the Adler and BR18's.
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Offline Hemmerich  
#12 Posted : 07 March 2007 00:37:07(UTC)
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Hemmerich


Joined: 15/04/2003(UTC)
Posts: 2,734
Location: ,
IMHO the lokprogrammer SW is not accountable for slow speed in test mode. At least I can not see any remarkable speed difference between V.2.6.2 and previous versions. I mainly use the programmer connected to the com port on my notebook, which is (still) running win2k - btw quite reliable.
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Offline hxmiesa  
#13 Posted : 07 March 2007 10:51:21(UTC)
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hxmiesa

Spain   
Joined: 15/12/2005(UTC)
Posts: 3,520
Location: Spain
Quote:
[size=1" face="Verdana" id="quote]quote:Originally posted by plavnostruev
<br />Sorry for offtopic, couldn't help it.

Isn´t the brick for the monitor, when the screen turns blue? ;-)
Best regards
Henrik Hoexbroe ("The Dane In Spain")
http://hoexbroe.tripod.com
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Offline Gert-Jan  
#14 Posted : 07 March 2007 13:57:32(UTC)
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Gert-Jan


Joined: 29/04/2005(UTC)
Posts: 777
Location: Netherlands
Quote:
[size=1" face="Verdana" id="quote]quote:Originally posted by hxmiesa
<br />
Quote:
[size=1" face="Verdana" id="quote]quote:Originally posted by plavnostruev
<br />Sorry for offtopic, couldn't help it.

Isn´t the brick for the monitor, when the screen turns blue? ;-)


Another brick in the (fire)wall...

I agree with the 'fact' it is not the Programmer software here.
It has served me loyal on my old PC...except for some minor 'project funtion assignment saving issue's [}:)]

It is the combination of new OS and new hardware causing delays...

I still need to do the ultimate test, trying USB programmer connection [:I]
Mosty era III DB.
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Offline DamonKelly  
#15 Posted : 08 March 2007 13:39:01(UTC)
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DamonKelly

Australia   
Joined: 26/03/2006(UTC)
Posts: 1,421
Location: Brisbane, QLD
Darrin's comment about Vista snooping on the serial port may be worth persuing. I know very little about Vista, so take everything I say with a very large grain of salt...

Check in the serial port properties if there is a setting to say it isn't connected to a modem, or a mouse, or something like that...

I dunno, worth a try...

Cheers,
Damon
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Offline Gert-Jan  
#16 Posted : 08 March 2007 23:25:51(UTC)
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Gert-Jan


Joined: 29/04/2005(UTC)
Posts: 777
Location: Netherlands
Today I have tested my USB to Serial RS232 converter that came with the LokProgrammer.

It actually is an OEM product of Digitus (www.digitus.info) and the manufacturer does not provide Vista drivers.

But Vista-Bill did some good, it searched the net automatically and installed a certified (other manufacturer) generic driver.

But to come to the conclusion Cool it behaves the same on this USB emulated com port.

For Vista sake...I just live with a a little less performance biggrin

I might fiddle somewhat with these settings, but it is all quite rudimentary

UserPostedImage
Mosty era III DB.
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