problems in connecting VECTOR (Unable to detect baud rate)

Hi,

I have a hard time to connect the vector. It seems the problem is about baud rate. When I hit on connect, I see this message "Auto connection failed. Unable to detect baud rate." and then "Unable to connect instrument"

I had this problem before with the same vector. But after a little palying with the setting it worked. Now it does not work. Reading the manual, I first checked the serial port. I used another instrument on the port (Vectrino) and it works. I know the cable also works as I used it 2 weeks ago. When I go to terminal and send break, I receive weird letters. Based on what it is said in the manual, it shows that we have some baud rate problems. But, I have been trying many baud rates and it just does not work. I am curious what setting 2 weeks ago that it worked! I also played with unplugging the power supply and hitting on "stop data collection" to make changes to baud rate effective. But, still no chance. 

Does anybody know what the problem is? Thanks.

-Abbas

I just want to add one thing. The vector is not sensitive to power in this case. In other words, I see the same weird letters for 19200, 19200 (baud rate) when power is on and when power is off. 

Abbas -- if you seach for "connection" on the forum you will see a lot of older threads.  Maybe one of them could be relevant for your case.  You could also try wiggling the cable at the point where it is attached to the underwater connector  Maybe the cable has been damaged in some way. 

- Atle Lohrmann

Hi,

After we understand that our Vectriono+ have a problem we decided to use Vector which we bought many years ago

The ADV just have a cable that connect to PC (without any Power Cable). Other students who worked with this ADV used a PC that is really old and run with Windows 98. This PC have a board that the ADV can connect into it. They also use "NDV" which I found that Nortek didn't update it anymore.

My question is that can I connect this ADV to the Parallel Port that every PC have?! And can I Update the Firmware and also use the Vector Software to collect data without any problems? Actually this Old PC work fine but the PC and program are really old and slow.

I have a bad experience with Vectrino+ and so I'm afraid to do these!

Thank you,

Mohammad

Hi Mohammad,

  The NDV predates my time at Nortek, but I know a little about it. As you said, Nortek no longer supports the NDV hardware and software, it is based on the first generation of velocimeters introduced in the early 1990s. Note also the Vector is our field velocimeter and looks quite different than the NDV, having a larger head and being a field instrument. It uses RS-232 for communication and can be connected to any modern computer with the appropriate USB-to-serial adapter. I'm pretty certain based on your description you do not have a Nortek Vector.

  The NDV uses a board to interface with the computer that relied on an old hardware protocol called ISA. This doesn't appear on computers any more, having been replaced by PCI hardware. The connector is the same or similar to a parallel port, but the NDV has a special data collection board (what the other student's were using to communicate with the NDV) that is needed to control and collect data.

   If you have computer hardware that will support the data collection hardware for this system we can send you a copy of the software. However, you won't be able to connect it to the parallel port.  That's about all we'll be able to provide though. Sorry.

P.J.

Hi P.J.,

Thank you so much for your quick response. Actually I start to read Vector manual and all the time I said to myself there are differences between my ADV and Vector. But one of my friend told me this is a Vector (I know what to do with him!)

Just one question. Can I use the board and the NDV software with Windows XP (Do you have any drivers)?  and also is there any manual or any useful things for NDV device?

Thanks,

Mohammad

I'm really not sure on what to do with the NDV. I've used it once before, but that was maybe 7 or 8 years ago. If it's anything at all like the older systems I've used, then you are pretty much restricted to Windows 98 since it runs over to of DOS, which is where most of the NDV software winds up running. Like I said, we have't supported this hardware since about 2005 so I'm really not sure what will work and what won't.

P.J.