problem with new x10 receiver and remote

[mikehende]

I purchased a new x10 Firecracker Receiver [Model MR26A] and a new x10 Remote [Model UR81a] and I can't get it to work. The X10 Receiver that I was using for the past years was the one that had the connector for a "mouse" and worked with the X10 Mouse Remote, since this is a new receiver and remote, can anyone tell me if this will work at all? I followed all of the installation instructions to the letterand the only difference I can see between the 2 receivers and remotes in question is that the Mouse Remote receiver will show up as a "Serial Mouse" in the Device Manager and I have to disable it. Since this new regular receiver does not have the "mouse" connector, then it doesn't show up in the Device manager.
Can anyone shed some light on this please or does Girder only work with the Mouse Remote and Receiver?

[Mark F]

Here is a thread (http://www.promixis.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=8916) that talks about getting the MR26a to work with the serial plugin. Unfortunately, the device file was not uploaded. If you get this working, would you please upload the device file so others can use it?

[mikehende]

I'll do whatever I can to help. I read the entire thread you referred me to, seems like my problem is somewhat different from "Stevep's", I pm-ed him asking for help. The reason why I say that my situation is different is because I am not getting any error messages but I simply can't get the remote to learn an event. I did the "ini" file and port Identifier and everything else from the Tutorial I had created here for all Girder users about 2 years ago and got no error messages at any time.
I wrote to Stevep to ask how about the exact steps he followed to get his to work so I guess I will have to wait until and if he replies unles anyone else can come up with something.

[mikehende]

Here is the Tutorial I had created a while back showing step by step how to install the "mouse remote" for use with Girder, if you notice, THE only difference between that receiver and the one I have now is the Serial Mouse and Device Manager issue. Any ideas anyone?

http://www.promixis.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=6423&highlight=

[Mark F]

In the other thread, Ingo mentioned the port parameters that are needed for this device. (9600,8n1) Are these what you are using? These are different from the Mouse Remote.

[mikehende]

I don't understand, are you saying that the "Baud Rate" should be 9600? If so, what's the 8n1 about?

[Mark F]

Sorry Mike. I didn't mean to confuse you. :(

Yes, the baud rate should be 9600. The 8n1 means:
Word size = 8
Stop bits = 1
Parity = none

Those 4 things have to be specified for every serial device. Over the years, the inductry has developed a short-hand. Since you are such a wizard on the MouseRemote, I incorrectly assumed you would recognize this short-hand. Again, sorry.

You can set these parameters on the settings page for this device.

[mikehende]

I am definitely NOT a "wizard" of the mouse remote Mark, truth be told, I barely understand any of the Technical stuff that goes on here, I just made a step by step tutorial for pc dummies like myself to be able to understand and easily follow and see what happens when something out of the ordinary comes along?

Back to the trouble at hand, thanks for explaing the "8n1" for me, did that and the remote still cannot learn an event. Here's what what happens, I bring up the Serial Device box, the default settings are 1200, 7n1 and "no port", I then change the settings to 9600, 8n1 and "com 1", then click "apply" and a small box comes up that says "mouse remote" so I hit "ok" and the box dissapears then I click "ok" to close the Serial Device box and another prompt comes up that says "Device cannot be used-already in use" so I click ok and then close the Serial Device box, when I try to get the remote to learn an event, nothing happens but if I assign a key on the keyboard, this works.

One thing I noticed is that everytime I bring up the Serial Device box, the settings are always on the default so I don't think that when I close the box after changing the settings that it stores the settings, is there a way to make sure the settings are stored after I change them and/or does anyone recognize where the problem might be?

[Mark F]

Like I said, I made an assumption. There is a saying that goes with that ... ;)

Something more basic is causing problems. Do you maybe have the software that came with the receiver running? That would explain the "Cannot use ..." message. This is the first problem that needs to be solved.

Once the "Cannot use ..." message is gone, I'd like to start from scratch and get this right. Instead of using the MouseRemote device file as a starting point, would you remove the MouseRemote device, stop Girder, start Girder and import the .ini file inside the attached .zip file?

[mikehende]

Hey Mark, I did not get any software with the receiver and mp3 remote. I tried your instructions but I cannot import the ini file from the Serial plugin into the the zip file I downloaded from your link for some unknown reason, I tried to copy and paste the ini file into the zip folder and it doesn't allow this, the "paste" option is shaded out, I tried to drag and drop the ini file into the zip folder and it wouldn't go, any ideas how else I can place the ini file into the zip folder please? Thanks.

[Mark F]

Once again, I'm not being clear. Sorry.

If you still have a Serial plugin device set up to use COM1, change the com port to "no port" on that device so it will give up the com port. You could use the remove button on the device selection dialog if you would rather do that.

Stop Girder. Start Girder.

Download the .zip file. Unzip it. Take the .ini file that just came OUT of the .zip file and import that. Set the port to COM1. Click OK.

[mikehende]

confused with something here Mark, you want me to download the zip file here that contains only an ini file, then I take that ini file and place it into "which" folder?

[Mark F]

You can use any folder.

You are basically doing the same thing as you did in the configuration thread you wrote for the X10 MouseRemote. We are on step #6:
6]Open it,copy and place the X10MouseRemote "ini" file outside of the folder.

Instead of the X10MouseRemote "ini" file, we are going to pull out the MR26a "ini" file.

Then, for step #10:
10]Locate the "x10MouseRemote.ini" file,highlight it and click "open".

We will instead locate the "MR26a.ini" file, highlight it and click "open".

Does this make more sense?

[mikehende]

Did that already, now in the Serial Device box, all the settings show for MR26a but the Port ID shows "no port" so I change this to "com 1" and then hit "Apply" but a small box named Serial pops up with the words MR26a in it and a yellow icon, I click ok in tha box and it dissapears, I then try to click ok to close the Serial Device box and the same prompt "Device already in use" comes up. Help?

[Mark F]

Something else is using COM1. Either another device being controlled by the serial plugin is set to COM1 or a different piece of software is actively trying to use the port. This is why I asked about the software that came with the MR26a receiver. :(

I don't think this is the case; but, is the Windows device manager detecting this as a serial mouse?

[mikehende]

No, the Device Manager was the first thing I checked when I started this setup to see if I had to disable the serial mouse but all it shows under the "Mice and other pointing devices" in the Device Manager is the "PS2 compatible mouse". Like I said I did not receive any software with this particular receiver and remote so that's not it. I only have 1 Serial Port on this pc so I can't see why it should already be in use, what else could possibly be using this port so I can check please?

[Mark F]

I wish I had an easy answer to this question but I don't. :(

I think we can get closer by answering these Qs:

What other programs are running on the machine when you start Girder?
What is listed in the task manager?
What plugins are enabled in Girder?

[mikehende]

I just finished trying the actual mouse remote and receiver [JR21a] from my other pc and same problem so that means it is nothing to to do with the MR26a receiver and mp3 remote.

1] The other programs that are running are
a] MacAfee Antivirus
b] D-Link wireless Internet connection
c] My EMU 0404 soundcard's DSP software

2] Same as above

3] Plugins enabled are:
a] Advacned mouse event
b] Generic Serial support
c] Generic x10 plugin
d] Hidepopup
e] keyboard
f] lua volume library
g] Sendmessage
h] winlua ex

Appreciate all of your efforts Mark, thanks. I am now going to try the MR26a setup in my laptop to see what happens.

[Rob H]

I'd try disabling the Generic X10 plugin

[mikehende]

did so, same problem.

[mikehende]

Just tried the MR26a on my laptop and same problem.

[Ron]

The X10 drivers don't play nice, make sure you don't have x10nets.exe (or similar) running, it WILL grab the comport before any of our stuff can.

[mikehende]

I see this x10nets module [I don't see an exe] in
C:\Program Files\Common Files\X10\Common

How can I know if it's running?

[Ron]

Use the taskmanager. (right click the taskbar and find it in that menu).

[mikehende]

found it and ended that x10nets.exe process , didn't make a difference unfortunately.

[Ron]

You had the firefly and genx10 plugin disabled?

[mikehende]

Snapstream firefly and Generic x10 are both disabled.

[Ron]

I am out of thing to suggest,... Mark?

[mikehende]

I think I had this same problem the first time I tried Girder but it's been a long time so I can't remember for sure so I will go read through every post I've ever made in Girder to see if I can come across somehting, will report back here, appreciate your efforts guys, I have been at this all day long so I hope to resove this soon, I hope.

p.s. How can I view all posts I've ever made in Girder?

[Ron]

You did try and disable all plugins except the one you are trying to use? Hopefully you'll get this soon.

[mikehende]

Did so, still the same Ron, tell me how I can get to view all the posts I've ever made in Girder please?

[Ron]

http://www.promixis.com/phpBB2/search.php?search_author=mikehende

[mikehende]

I knew it, I was correct that I had this same problem in the past, here is the thread

http://www.promixis.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=6416&highlight=

and here is the answer that solved the problem at that time:

"Got it working finally guys,JS Main gave me a lot of help too plus a few links to some articles in which you guys had done in the past concerning this same topic,I read those articles and then realised that the missing link was the "winluaex" plugin,I installed it and that took care of everything,thanks a million fellas,this ended a couple "weeks" of frustration,all the best,Mike."

Problem here is I don't think this is the answer this time around as I had the winluaex plugin from the beginning, so I've now run out of answers, anyone?

[mikehende]

I've just written to JS Main for help fellas, let's see if he can come up with something, if I connect with him first that is, got a headache, will give this a rest now and will get back to you when anything develops.

[mikehende]

I have just about had it with X10, just called them up to purchase just the mouse remote receiver and believe it or not, those bastards told me that I have to buy a whole new kit when I have a 100% working mouse remote, I then asked them if I can switch my new MR26a Receiver and mp3 remote just for the mouse receiver and they said no, beleive this?
Does anyone know of any other remote that has a built-in mouse?