USB to Serial stops responding after using NI-MAX

[LeSaint]

I'm currently trying to use a optical detector that use a USB Serial adapter(FTDI). The device is seen by windows and NI-MAX as working, but I don't get any answer from the instrument. Even using the manufacturer software that doesn't use any NI ressources.

If I install the driver and the software on a clean computer, it is working. When I install NI-VISA it is still working as long I don't try to communicate with it. After I try to communicate with it using NI-MAX, it doesn't work anymore. Rebooting the computer doesn't help. I have to uninstall NI-VISA to get the manufacturer's software works again with the instrument.

Any idea?

Thank you

[nyc_(is_out_of_here)]

Try with a different instrument that has a serial port.Or try communicating to the instrument on a PC with a real COM port.

[LeSaint]

So I tried a different serial instrument and it works fine.

Also, the manufactured is not really able to help me since it's woking at their place.

All drivers are up to date, all the serial port settings are right.

Any idea?

[nyc_(is_out_of_here)]

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@LeSaint wrote:

Even using the manufacturer software that doesn't use any NI ressources.

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This is the key.

It doesn't work even using their software.

Remove the NI software.

Install just the manufacturer's software.

If you are unable to use their software then it is their problem.

This is what you  should have done in the first place - verify that their instrument works and that your USB-serial cable works with this instrument by using their software.

[LeSaint]

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@nyc_(is_out_of_here) wrote:

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@LeSaint wrote:

Even using the manufacturer software that doesn't use any NI ressources.

---

This is the key.

It doesn't work even using their software.

Remove the NI software.

Install just the manufacturer's software.

If you are unable to use their software then it is their problem.

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@LeSaint wrote:

If I install the driver and the software on a clean computer, it is working. When I install NI-VISA it is still working as long I don't try to communicate with it. After I try to communicate with it using NI-MAX, the manufacturer software doesn't work anymore

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[nyc_(is_out_of_here)]

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@LeSaint wrote:

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@nyc_(is_out_of_here) wrote:

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@LeSaint wrote:

Even using the manufacturer software that doesn't use any NI ressources.

---

This is the key.

It doesn't work even using their software.

Remove the NI software.

Install just the manufacturer's software.

If you are unable to use their software then it is their problem.

---

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@LeSaint wrote:

If I install the driver and the software on a clean computer, it is working. When I install NI-VISA it is still working as long I don't try to communicate with it. After I try to communicate with it using NI-MAX, the manufacturer software doesn't work anymore

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If you are able to talk to another instrument with that same cable and using NI-VISA, then it is not a NI problem.

If they won't help to get their instrument to work with NI software, then you have a decision to make.

In addition, you could try TeraTerm program to see if you are able to communicate with the instrument.

[LeSaint]

That's the point. I'm using the same cable but I'm not able to communicate using VISA.

Maybe you didn't understand correctly because english is not my first language. So to make it short:

In this order:

1-Install driver and manufacturer software: Working

2-Install VISA: Working

3-Using VISA: Not Working

4-Close VISA and using manufacturer software again: Not Working

5-Reboot computer and using software: Not Working

6-Unplug cable and plug again, using software: Working again.

I did this on 2 computers here. Same thing.

In manufacturer plant: always working, even using VISA.

[nyc_(is_out_of_here)]

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@LeSaint wrote:

That's the point. I'm using the same cable but I'm not able to communicate using VISA.

Maybe you didn't understand correctly because english is not my first language. So to make it short:

In this order:

1-Install driver and manufacturer software: Working

2-Install VISA: Working

3-Using VISA: Not Working

4-Close VISA and using manufacturer software again: Not Working

5-Reboot computer and using software: Not Working

6-Unplug cable and plug again, using software: Working again.

I did this on 2 computers here. Same thing.

In manufacturer plant: always working, even using VISA.

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I understand that you are having a problem with NI-VISA with *this* instrument.

Since you are able to communicate with another instrument, then NI-VISA is working fine.

This is *not* a NI-VISA problem.

You need to get the manufacturer's cooperation.

Since they are unwilling to help you to get their instrument to work with NI-VISA, then I am not sure what any of us can do.

[LeSaint]

I understand that VISA is not the problem and that it is working fine. However, it must be doing something somewhere to make the communication behave that way. I mean, it's working before using it but not after. So VISA is surely not the problem, but the solution might still be within VISA.

[Dennis_Knutson]

Let's take one step back. Exactly what happens when you try to communicate with MAX? Please provide some details as saying 'doesn't work' is insufficient. What command? What error code/message?