BSOD / Win 7 / USB<-->RS232 interfaces / VKCL

[VK4ADC]

The JMFD 2013 topic has partially dissolved into the Blue Screen Of Death syndrome as created by the SER2PL.SYS driver file when running the VKCL logging software and OmniRig..

It is probably better to create this new topic so others can post their two cents worth about their experiences here in lieu..

[VK4ADC]

From the other topic, so far....

Did anybody else using a USB/serial adapter get a BSOD while using VKCL ? Did it relate to Win7 ??

I have put a write-up of my activity, plus some of the photos I took, on my web site at http://www.vk4adc.com/web/index.php/fie ... 6-2013jmfd
Doug VK4ADC in Brisbane, QG62mj
http://www.vk4adc.com

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Re: John Moyle Field Day 2013
by VK3BQ » Mon Mar 18, 2013 1:04 pm

doug, their was a discussion recently on (facebook VK ham page) about vkcl and a windows 7 BSOD,

the user had received a generic windows software update and since then, vmcl was useable, though it seemed to be related to omnirig, so, maybe try to download the most recent serial to usb driver from the chipset manufacturer, is it a SL or a prolific chipset? and a real or fake prolific?

the user also seemed to fix his issues by reducing the baud rate for the radio to the laptop (he was using a yaseu ft2000 on a dell laptop, and reduced it to 9600bps).

i used win7 (most recent updates, with vkcl 3.7) on a mac inside a virtual machine on the weekend with no issues myself.. but 9100 has built in usb ports (silicon labs chipset) so I cant help much more..

PS, great write up and pics as per usual..
Andrew Scott - VK3BQ
Mount Waverley, Vic. QF22NC.
VK Logger Site Sponsor.
http://www.wispythreads.com.au/

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Posts: 148
Joined: Wed Sep 02, 2009 9:13 pm
Location: Mt Waverley, Vic.
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Re: John Moyle Field Day 2013
by VK4ADC » Mon Mar 18, 2013 1:43 pm

Andrew

I have two different brand & style of adapters and they both use the PL2303 chipset. I tried looking for an updated driver last week but without any real success, though the Win7 driver from MS was pretty recent - dated 2013 I think. I did a full reload of the operating system from the Asus' hidden partition mid-week and then only loaded a few programs including VKCL and OmniRig so it couldn't have been a left-over from anything previously used on the notebook. I have to admit that I was hopeful that it would be stable.

I am using the CIV set to 9600 baud already so I doubt that it is that - although it makes me wonder if OmniRig is grabbing the serial data quickly/often enough such that there is something like a buffer overflow that the SER2PL.SYS driver/s aren't handling well. Will I get the same issue under Win2K or WinXP ??? Maybe I will have to load up a HDD and find out. Alternatively an alternate chipset in the USB/serial adapter ?

I will have to see if I can find that BSOD topic on Facebook.

Thanks for the comments about the write-up on my web site. For a change nothing went too wrong - unless you count 'that coax connector' and the BSODs.
Doug VK4ADC in Brisbane, QG62mj
http://www.vk4adc.com

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Posts: 279
Joined: Sun Dec 30, 2007 7:47 am
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Re: John Moyle Field Day 2013
by VK5MTM » Mon Mar 18, 2013 1:50 pm

VK3BQ wrote:
on (facebook VK ham page)


Where is this? I can't seem to find this page/group.

VK3BQ wrote:
PS, great write up and pics as per usual..


Where? I'd like to see this.

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Posts: 135
Joined: Sat Mar 31, 2007 7:26 pm
Location: Adelaide, South Australia
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Re: John Moyle Field Day 2013
by VK2GOM » Mon Mar 18, 2013 2:45 pm

http://www.vk4adc.com/web/index.php/fie ... 6-2013jmfd

73 - Rob VK2GOM / GW0MOH

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by VK3BQ » Mon Mar 18, 2013 3:22 pm

real vs fake prolific chipsets (and a new driver that broke fake chips) has caused a lot of issues recently, but this above may not be related

from this page http://www.prolific.com.tw/US/supportDo ... =85&Page=0 (you may have to login)

http://www.prolific.com.tw/admin/Techno ... fileID=232

this is the windows driver (and chipset checker) software

File Name Release Date Version File Size
PL2303_Prolific_DriverInstaller_v1.8.0.zip 2013/02/26 1.8.0 3954.38KB

Windows Driver Installer Setup Program
(For PL2303 HXA, XA, HXD, EA, RA, SA, TA, TB versions)
Installer version & Build date: 1.8.0 (2013-2-26)
Windows XP (32 & 64-bit) WDM WHQL Driver: v2.1.44.226 (2/5/2013)
- Windows XP Certified WHQL Driver
- Compatible with Windows 2000SP4 & Server2003
Windows Vista/7/8 (32 & 64-bit) WDF WHQL Driver: v3.4.48.272 (2/5/2013)
- Windows Vista, 7, 8 Certified WHQL Driver
- Compatible with Windows Server2008/Server2008R2/Server2012
- Driver also available via Windows Update (Vista, 7, . Refer to User Manual.

Installer Language Support: English (default), Chinese (Traditional and Simplified), Japanese
For Prolific USB VID_067B&PID_2303 and PID_2304 Only
Includes User Manual & CheckChipVersion Tool

NOTE:

Windows 8 is NOT supported in PL-2303HXA and PL-2303X (End-of-Life) chip versions.
Run PL2303 CheckChipVersion tool program in Windows XP/Vista/7 to check chip version.
Windows 98 and Windows ME driver support are discontinued and no longer provided.
Prolific recommends to buy PL-2303HXD (HX Rev D) or PL2303TA chip.
Andrew Scott - VK3BQ
Mount Waverley, Vic. QF22NC.
VK Logger Site Sponsor.
http://www.wispythreads.com.au/

[VK2XAX]

The BSOD with prolific chipsets under win7 is well known. If you google about you will find many people with the same problem.
The solution for most is to switch to a better chip set aka the FTDI chipset. Since I swapped all my leads to FTDI my BSODs and crashes have gone away.

I had crashes in OmniRig HRD and a few others before I changed.

Cheers

Tim