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You could try using NQC (or MacNQC) and see if it works any better. I
know in the long run you want to get Robolab working, but testing MacNQC
would at least separate a Robolab-only problem from more general problems
(serial port problems, cables, etc).
Do you any RCX's with firmware already installed (perhaps from another
computer)? If so, the easiest NQC test would be to download MacNQC, run
it, and try opening the test panel. If you get an error here, e-mail me
the error message and I can try to diagnose it further.
To debug things further, you could download MPW Shell (from Apple) and use
the command line version of NQC for MPW, which supports a verbose
debugging mode. f MacNQC is failing, then NQC for MPW could shed some
light on why it is failing. Of course if MacNQC works ok, then NQC for
MPW will also.
NQC stuff is available at:
www.enteract.com/~dbaum/nqc/
You can contact me at: dbaum@entarct.com
If we get to the point that NQC (or MacNQC) works, but Robolab still
doesn't, then I can probably work directly with the Robolab authors to
isolate the differences.
Dave Baum
In article <Pine.LNX.4.10.9911201027110.13718-100000@dogfish.cs.umn.edu>,
"Paul E. Rybski" <rybski@cs.umn.edu> wrote:
> Hello,
> I'm teaching an RCX-based programming class using the Robolab
> software to a group of 19 4th,5th and 6th graders. I've been trying to
> get the Robolab software installed and running on the Powermac 5500/225s
> and 6400/200s owned by the school. Every time I try to run Robolab and
> download firmware or even just test the communication between the
> transmitter and the brick, I get an error saying that the macintosh could
> not communicate to the RCX and the graphical error display shows a red X
> over the transmitter, the cable and the RCX. However, I do see the little
> green LED inside of the transmitter turning on. I have tried both the
> modem and the printer port but have had no success. I have tried plugging
> the IR transmitter into the serial port before powering up the machine.
> What's particularly infuriating is that on my G3 at home and various other
> macintoshes where I work, I have no problems with any of the LEGO
> hardware or software.
> The school's systems administration staff are running an
> access-restriction program called Mac Control from BDW software. The
> systems staff assures me that that Mac Control will not affect access to
> the serial ports, but I have no way of verifying this short of contacting
> the company (which I am currently trying to do). The other possible cause
> of the problem may be that the serial ports on these macintoshes are not
> functioning properly. Does anyone have any experience with these
> particular macintosh models and the availablility (or lack thereof) of
> signals on the DTR and CTS lines?
> I don't know what version of the MacOS they're running (I'll have
> to check that the next time I'm there), but I see from
> <http://www.ceeo.tufts.edu/troubleshoot/> that I may have problems with
> the L2 Cache Reset. I'm using the black macintosh serial cable that came
> with the RCX. I've also tried using a three-piece cable consisting of a
> macintosh serial cable (hardware handshaking--what I use on my modem), a
> DB9-DB25 adaptor and the RCX PC cable. This hybrid cable has been
> successfully tested on my G3 at least.
>
> Any advice, words of wisdom or troubleshooting suggestions would
> be greatly appreciated.
>
> Thanks!
>
> ---
> Paul E. Rybski --- http://www.cs.umn.edu/~rybski
--
reply to: dbaum at enteract dot com
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