PCI Serial Card

[Clayton]

Hi,

I have purchased a STLab NetMOS 2-Port Serial PCI Card Moschip 9835 PCI bus
32 bit card to run a cashdraw kickswitch which does not work, it works ok
connected to the serial port on the motherboard COM1, I am using the EFT-POS
machine on COM1 for point of sale.

Sometimes when I unplug the unit for the kickswitch which has 2 RJ11 cables
into it from the serial port and plug it in again the cashdraw opens and
sometimes it doesn't.

So really, whats the difference between a motherboard serial port and a PCI
serial port

 

[Clayton]

The software settings for the cashdraw is set to COM2 which was on the old
computer which had 2 serial ports on the motherboard, in device manager on
the new system with the 2 port serial card added shows COM1, COM3 and COM4,
I have changed the software settings to all these without success, when I do
a no sale in the software to open the cashdraw it flash screens and the draw
does not open, unplugging the serial device and plugging it back in
sometimes opens the cashdraw.
Not sure weather the serial card has enough voltage for it to work, I have 3
of these cards on 3 systems with cashdraws and they are all not working.

 

[philo]

Hi,

I have purchased a STLab NetMOS 2-Port Serial PCI Card Moschip 9835 PCI bus
32 bit card to run a cashdraw kickswitch which does not work, it works ok
connected to the serial port on the motherboard COM1, I am using the EFT-POS
machine on COM1 for point of sale.

Sometimes when I unplug the unit for the kickswitch which has 2 RJ11 cables
into it from the serial port and plug it in again the cashdraw opens and
sometimes it doesn't.

So really, whats the difference between a motherboard serial port and a PCI
serial port

Check the setting for the cash drawer...it may be set to com1 by default.
Set it to whichever com port the pci port is set to. (check in the control
panel)

 

[Clayton]

The software see's all the com ports installed on the computer and in theory
needs to be changed to whatever port the cashdraw is on (I've changed them
all) Tech support for the software suggested it was a driver issue, I've
install the drivers from the CD and also downloaded them from
http://www.sunsway.com.hk/products/pci2s.html

Yes I had to add a serial card because the mobo only has one serial port.
The motherboard is a ASUS P5VDC-MX and looking in the manual does not show
any headers on the motherboard for additional serial connection

 

[philo]

The software settings for the cashdraw is set to COM2 which was on the old
computer which had 2 serial ports on the motherboard, in device manager on
the new system with the 2 port serial card added shows COM1, COM3 and COM4,
I have changed the software settings to all these without success, when I do
a no sale in the software to open the cashdraw it flash screens and the draw
does not open, unplugging the serial device and plugging it back in
sometimes opens the cashdraw.
Not sure weather the serial card has enough voltage for it to work, I have 3
of these cards on 3 systems with cashdraws and they are all not working.

Maybe the cash drawer can only work on com2...
is there a jumper on the PCI card to change the settings there?

Also...I assume you added the card because your machine has no 2nd serial
port.
Ckeck the bios to see if there is perhaps a 2nd port listed...if so...
open the machine or look in the maual to see if maybe there already is a 2nd
serial port on the motherboard...
but simply no serial port wiring.
If the mobo does have headers for a 2nd serial port...
it would be easy enough to add one

 

[Clayton]

been looking around the net and someone mentioned that the PCI cards are
16650 UART and the onboard serials are 16550 UART. But these mobo's are
16650 UART like these cards are

Food for thought

 

[Beverly Howard [Ms-MVP/MobileDev]]

Check the port settings in device manager... the cash drawer is normally
toggled by software manipulating the hardware flow control lines, so the
cable is a factor as well... i.e. simple 3 conductor cables won't work.

I would recommend approaching it from the standpoint of setting the card
to com2 which is a "standard" com port, then check the settings and
assure that the irq is 3 (can't remember the port address)

Once there, with no comm app open, run hyperterminal and confirm that it
can open the port (no conflicts)

Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]

 

[Beverly Howard [Ms-MVP/MobileDev]]

16550 vs 16650 <<

This relates to the data buffers in the port... for high speed serial
connections.

the cash drawer is stone age tech by comparison... i.e. on/off ...no
data communication

Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]

 

[Clayton]

Thanks Bev, I'll try what you suggested tomorrow

This relates to the data buffers in the port... for high speed serial
connections.

the cash drawer is stone age tech by comparison... i.e. on/off ...no data
communication

Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]

 

[Beverly Howard [Ms-MVP/MobileDev]]

I'll try what you suggested tomorrow <<

come on.... who needs sleep? ;-)

Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]

 

[Clayton]

I'm heading over to the site today, so fingers crossed

come on.... who needs sleep? ;-)

Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]

 

[Clayton]

ok, doesn't matter what I tried to do nothing would work, I tried to change
the IRQ but was greyed out and is set to 5

I'm heading over to the site today, so fingers crossed

I'll try what you suggested tomorrow <<

come on.... who needs sleep? ;-)

Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]

 

[Leythos]

Hi,

I have purchased a STLab NetMOS 2-Port Serial PCI Card Moschip 9835 PCI
bus 32 bit card to run a cashdraw kickswitch which does not work, it
works ok connected to the serial port on the motherboard COM1, I am
using the EFT-POS machine on COM1 for point of sale.

Sometimes when I unplug the unit for the kickswitch which has 2 RJ11
cables into it from the serial port and plug it in again the cashdraw
opens and sometimes it doesn't.

So really, whats the difference between a motherboard serial port and a
PCI serial port

Most serial port cards are junk, and I mean most. We do a lot of hardware
work for medical groups and the only COM port cards that have never given
me problems are the Comtrol uPCI Rocket Port cards - they have from 2 to
8 serial ports and I've used them in everything from cheap PC's to Quad
CPU Servers without a problem.

--
Leythos
Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum.
Calling an illegal alien an "undocumented worker" is like calling
a drug dealer an "unlicensed pharmacist"
(e-mail address removed) (remove 999 for proper email address)

 

[Beverly Howard [Ms-MVP/MobileDev]]

I tried to change the IRQ but was greyed out and is set to 5 <<

That indicates that either the hardware or drivers are controlling and
restricting this...

If there is software that shipped with the unit, take a look and see if
there is any configuration utility, search the vendor site and call the
card tech if possible.

It's a long shot, but, pull the card (with manual if possible) and look
for jumper or dip switch settings to see if that might be a solution.
(find a magnifier ;-)

Barring that, my suggestion would be to get a replacement for the card
or perhaps trying a usb->serial dongle. Many of the usb serial dongles
I have worked with allow port configuration.

Sorry you are up against a wall on this.
Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]

 

[Clayton]

Thanks guys for your help, I've sent the serial port card and kickswitch to
the suppliers of the software to test out on their systems

 

[Guest]

Maybe the cash drawer can only work on com2...
is there a jumper on the PCI card to change the settings there?

Also...I assume you added the card because your machine has no 2nd serial
port.
Ckeck the bios to see if there is perhaps a 2nd port listed...if so...
open the machine or look in the maual to see if maybe there already is a 2nd
serial port on the motherboard...
but simply no serial port wiring.
If the mobo does have headers for a 2nd serial port...
it would be easy enough to add one


Can you ,please, explain how to add com2 port in win xp? motherboard contains 2 ports and they were working in win 98.

 

[Bob I]

:

Since you say they WERE working in Windows 98, that impliess you changed
the operating system. The usual cause for things to not work after that
procedure is the person who changed the operating system did not install
the required drivers for the new operating system. You will need to get
Windows XP drivers for the motherboard from the motherboard vendors web
site.