Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

I have a older desktop (tower) PC that connects to my DTxpress I to 
serially control my drum brain set at PC-2 connection.  Everything 
works good with this setup.  The problem is I want to connect my 
laptop in the same configuration, but my drum brain always gives me 
an error: ERROR HOST IS OFFLINE.  I'm fairly knowlegeable about PCs, 
so after playing with BIOS, DRIVERS, SETTINGS, it still won't see my 
laptop.  So after giving up I hooked my desktop back up, turned on my 
desktop, turned on the DTXpress right after, and it worked without 
error before the PC even got through the BIOS boot.  Does this tell 
me that it is a voltage or line level that the brain is triggering 
off of?  The serial port in my laptop does work, (I have pinged), and 
the ports should be universal (pinouts) with one another, correct?  
Thanks.  Shuman

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "shuman_jr" <jimshuman@m...> wrote:
> 
> 
> I have a older desktop (tower) PC that connects to my DTxpress I to 
> serially control my drum brain set at PC-2 connection.  Everything 
> works good with this setup.  The problem is I want to connect my 
> laptop in the same configuration, but my drum brain always gives me 
> an error: ERROR HOST IS OFFLINE.  I'm fairly knowlegeable about 
PCs, 
> so after playing with BIOS, DRIVERS, SETTINGS, it still won't see 
my 
> laptop.  So after giving up I hooked my desktop back up, turned on 
my 
> desktop, turned on the DTXpress right after, and it worked without 
> error before the PC even got through the BIOS boot.  Does this tell 
> me that it is a voltage or line level that the brain is triggering 
> off of?  The serial port in my laptop does work, (I have pinged), 
and 
> the ports should be universal (pinouts) with one another, correct?  
> Thanks.  Shuman


Hi There!!!

Have you set the same baudrate at the serial port as on the module?

//Magnus

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "shuman_jr" <jimshuman@m...> wrote:
> 
> 
> I have a older desktop (tower) PC that connects to my DTxpress I 
to 
> serially control my drum brain set at PC-2 connection.  Everything 
> works good with this setup.  The problem is I want to connect my 
> laptop in the same configuration, but my drum brain always gives 
me 
> an error: ERROR HOST IS OFFLINE.  I'm fairly knowlegeable about 
PCs, 
> so after playing with BIOS, DRIVERS, SETTINGS, it still won't see 
my 
> laptop.  So after giving up I hooked my desktop back up, turned on 
my 
> desktop, turned on the DTXpress right after, and it worked without 
> error before the PC even got through the BIOS boot.  Does this 
tell 
> me that it is a voltage or line level that the brain is triggering 
> off of?  The serial port in my laptop does work, (I have pinged), 
and 
> the ports should be universal (pinouts) with one another, 
correct?  
> Thanks.  Shuman



Hi there: I was wondering if you had worked out any solution to this 
problem on your own ? 

I too have an older desktop that works fine as a host computer, had 
an older Toshiba laptop that worked too until the serial port died 
(won't work at all on any applications). I now have a newer Sony 
laptop (exact OS- xp pro, same serial drivers as the desktop, same 
settings for port etc.) which gives the same error ( Error Host is 
Offline ) I did notice that the system bios seems to be fine with 
the unit as it will sit in a ready state during this portion of the 
boot sequence. It seems to be only during the OS portion of the boot 
sequence (ie: after the first Win XP window has been displayed), 
that the error message comes up. I tried creating another harware 
profile on the laptop with everything except the serial port 
disabled but no luck, hope you might help ?

You do have to concern yourself if power (sometimes/usually Pin9) is 
being utilized somehow.  Laptops will only output about 3.3V from 
this pin, whereas Desktops will typically put out 5V (sometimes 
higher) and with more umph (current capability to power devices).  
It's possible that the internal circuitry is "keying" off it to 
acert the function.  

I've actually manufactured my own cables with a wall-mount 
transformer plug to give me a hearty 5V to power the circuitry 
within the device to be communicated with.

Good luck.

Bill

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "bparker0701" <bparker0701@y...> 
wrote:
> 
> You do have to concern yourself if power (sometimes/usually Pin9) 
is 
> being utilized somehow.  Laptops will only output about 3.3V from 
> this pin, whereas Desktops will typically put out 5V (sometimes 
> higher) and with more umph (current capability to power devices).  
> It's possible that the internal circuitry is "keying" off it to 
> acert the function.  
> 
> I've actually manufactured my own cables with a wall-mount 
> transformer plug to give me a hearty 5V to power the circuitry 
> within the device to be communicated with.
> 
> Good luck.
> 
> Bill
     Bill,
I think your probably right in this voltage thing.  A PC (tower) puts 
out 5V, 12V, -12V, plus possibly others.  What gets me is after 
fighting bios, drivers, windows and such on the laptop, as soon as I 
gave up and plugged my tower back in I turned the brain on about a 
second after turning on the tower --no error message.  The DTX brain 
is happy keying off a voltage (or something).  Is a block diagram or 
schematic available on the DTX brain?  I would like to rig this up 
somehow without causing DTX brain damage if you know what I mean.
     Shuman