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[a.j.]

I have recently bought an arcadiaincar Tech11 code reader that plugs into my laptop (usb) . The frustrating thing is i can't get it to work.
Does anyone else have any experience of this code reader?.

[rickyboy]

I'm guessing because it's usb, they rarely work.  Better to get a serial cable.  If your laptop has no serial port there ain't a lot of options open for you I'm afraid.  

You could fool around with the comm settings and make sure the cable is using comm port 1 or 2 and adjust the baud rates but to be honest I doubt you'll get it working.  

Other option is to get a branded usb to serial cable but talking from experience this never helped me, I ended up getting hold of an ancient laptop with a serial port.

[Jimbob]

I have a serial version, works either via serial port, or using a usb adaptor.

IF it creates a 'virtual' serial port (check in device manager)
ensure this is set to COM1, else you are unlikely to have any success.

Take it its the hungarian type software you are trying to use? (opel.exe)

[a.j.]

Thanks , thats cheered me up no end.
I have tried playing with baud rates etc. to no avail,but it is set to virtual com port 2 , i will try setting it to port 1.
Yes it is the opel.exe software.

[Jimbob]

default port settings of 9600, 8, n, 1, n should be fine

[Jimbob]

other thing, is what sort of spec is the laptop, these things can be quite resource hungry and work best with a reasonabley specced processor

[a.j.]

have now tried it on com1 with your advised port settings,still got the same problems.
Laptop is twin processor (centrino) with 1 gig of memory,so i think it should be ok.
I am now waiting for reply from tech support at suppliers,but this seems to take ages.I am beginning to think it might be a faulty unit.

[Jimbob]

Maybe, they are not the most reliable things out there, very handy when they do work though, helped me out many times on various cars

[a.j.]

Thanks for the help , it is much appreciated , i will chase the tech support people and post back with their comments when i get them

[rickyboy]

I take it you don't have a serial port?  

[a.j.]

sorry for delay in answering , no , only usb ports.
still no reply from tech support either.

[rickyboy]

Doubt you'll get any valuable help from tech support.  They'll keep taking you through the com settings which you already know about.  

I think you need to get a serial cable and try it on someone elses laptop.  Most Dell laptops have serial ports so if you know a pal with one that would be my first port of call.  Make sure you are running xp or 2000 as I doubt very much you'll ever get this working on Vista.

I tried different brands of usb cables, all baud rates etc, I think it just depends if your laptop likes them or not.  Your going to end up on a roundabout with the usb route.

[a.j.]

yes i think you're probably right,the tech11 reader i've got has a sealed usb cable on it, so if i don't get satisfaction from supplier soon , i think it's time to send it back and buy one with serial connections.

[stuart30]

What would be the minimum spec laptop recommended to run these readers.

[rickyboy]

You don't need a high spec laptop if you run it off the serial port - only usb uses the resources up.  I'm using an ancient dell laptop with 233mhz processor with 128mb ram with windows 2000 on it to run my lpg software.