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chris
USA
6 Posts |
 Posted - 03/03/2012 : 03:00:25
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I have a GQ GMC-300 with firmware version 2.11 on a windows 7 64 bit computer. I'm having trouble getting the SoftGeigerCounterGMC300.exe software to read the data on the Geiger counter.
I have installed the Prolific USB-to Serial Comm Port driver successfully.
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And I connect to the Geiger counter on comm port 3, but the software doesn't read any data off the counter. Also, if I set to a different port I don't get any error messages. (port connect error) but I don't get any readings either.
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Total flatline. I've tried this with 'remote control' on and off.
I've watched this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCD09SDXbjs and is seems simple enough, but I must be doing something wrong.
One last image, the panel on the left is the settings I get from the Prolific USB-to Serial Comm Port driver details in the device manager and the panel on the right is the comm port setting from the Geiger counter.
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Also, I can't seem to find a link to a manual and nothing came with the Geiger counter in the box.
Any advice would be helpful.
Thanks
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Edited by - chris on 03/03/2012 04:04:09
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| Reply #1
ZLM
1261 Posts |
Posted - 03/03/2012 : 13:12:00
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Looks nothing wrong.
The software you are using may be a old version for GMC-300 Re2.10 or earlier.
The SoftGeigerCounterGMC300 version should be Re1.20 or later.
Download the latest SoftGeigerCounterGMC300.exe software again.
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| Reply #2
chris
USA
6 Posts |
Posted - 03/03/2012 : 20:59:03
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Thanks for your reply.
I downloaded the software from here...
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still no results |
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| Reply #3
chris
USA
6 Posts |
Posted - 03/04/2012 : 23:32:44
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I glad to hear that you don't think I have anything wrong. why doesn't it work?
this is the version of the software I am using:
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still no results |
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| Reply #4
chris
USA
6 Posts |
Posted - 03/05/2012 : 17:01:52
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Still can't get the data viewer or the virtual Geiger counter to work. I am using soft geiger counter v 1.2 and the fireware version of on the geiger counter is 2.11.
It will not connect. I've tried removing every other thing from my USB hub and nothing seems to make any difference.
I even shut down the firewall/ anti-virus and that didn't help either.
what should I do?
I downloaded the software and drivers and reinstalled them both |
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| Reply #5
ZLM
1261 Posts |
Posted - 03/05/2012 : 21:09:35
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It should work.
Something must be wrong. But I do not see it here.
Can you try on another computer?
I see that you did not select Remote Control in the soft geiger counter.
Try to select that one. |
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| Reply #6
Henk
Netherlands
6 Posts |
Posted - 03/06/2012 : 16:29:03
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quote:
Originally posted by chris
Still can't get the data viewer or the virtual Geiger counter to work. I am using soft geiger counter v 1.2 and the fireware version of on the geiger counter is 2.11.
It will not connect.
I had the same problem also with my GMC-300Re2.11
Download a terminal program like Termite and configurate the right com port and baudrate for your GMC device. http://www.compuphase.com/software_termite.htm
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If connected and you see the screen as above then the GMC-300 has no Heartbeat and you have to turn it on with the command <HEARTBEAT1>>
Sometimes you have to give the command more then one time till you see the Heartbeat like in the picture below. Every €[0x] are x counts per seccond given by the GMC-300.
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If you see the Heartbeate running in the terminal then close Termite and start SoftGeigerCounterGMC300.exe. Set the right comport and press the on/off button on the virtual GMC-300 screen.
after a few second you see the virtual GMC-300 counting and after a minute it should be synchronized.
In my case i see the swiffel function is working but the GMC-300 is not reacting to any pressed buttons on the virtual GMC-300.
I also found some of the commands given in the terminal are not working at all or give a deformed output like <GETSERIAL>> returning "[00][03][00]Ü[02]üU" instead of "[00][03][00][DC][02][FC][55]"
After reading all the troubles with the new batch GMC-300 Re2.11 devices my opinion is that they have a damaged firmware or the firmware is changed compared to earlier version of the geiger counter.
Question for GQ-Electronics: Is it possible to flash new firmware in the GMC-300 if it would be available? |
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| Reply #7
ZLM
1261 Posts |
Posted - 03/06/2012 : 17:05:16
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Try to use latest software. It should work with the latest GMC-300 unit.
The current Re2.11 firmware is the latest one. And it is changed on some serial commands compared to earlier version. Like Re2.0x
I think your Termite software may be missed some data from GMC-300. If you use a serial port sniffer, you should find the problem.
The Re.211 is the latest firmware, no new version right now. The firmware only can be upgrated if you send the unit back to GQ Electronics. |
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| Reply #8
Henk
Netherlands
6 Posts |
Posted - 03/06/2012 : 19:39:20
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quote:
Originally posted by ZLM
Try to use latest software. It should work with the latest GMC-300 unit.
The current Re2.11 firmware is the latest one. And it is changed on some serial commands compared to earlier version. Like Re2.0x
I think your Termite software may be missed some data from GMC-300. If you use a serial port sniffer, you should find the problem.
The Re.211 is the latest firmware, no new version right now. The firmware only can be upgrated if you send the unit back to GQ Electronics.
I used the latest software downloaded from the site.
I did snif the serial data and the serial port is working fine but something was strange about the commands send by SoftGeigerCounterGMC300.exe
The structure of the commands is complete different then named in the GQ-RFC1201 GMC Communication Protocol. Re. 1.00.
After start en connect SoftGeigerCounterGMC300.exe it sends a heartbeat command as <Heartbeat .> insteat of <HEARTBEAT1>>
Also the keycommands are formatted that way as <key.>
See parts of the snifferlog:
Port opened by process "Termite.exe" (PID: 1908)
3C 47 45 54 56 45 52 3E 3E 0A <GETVER>>.
Port closed
Port opened by process "SoftGeigerCounterGMC300.exe" (PID: 2480)
3C 48 65 61 72 74 62 65 61 74 20 01 3E <Heartbeat .>
Port closed
Port opened by process "SoftGeigerCounterGMC300.exe" (PID: 1500)
3C 48 65 61 72 74 62 65 61 74 20 01 3E 3C 4B 45 <Heartbeat .><KE
59 02 3E 3C 4B 45 59 01 3E 3C 4B 45 59 00 3E 3C Y.><KEY.><KEY.><
4B 45 59 03 3E KEY.>
Port closed
Port opened by process "GQGMCDataViewer.exe" (PID: 3896)
3C 48 45 41 52 54 42 45 41 54 30 3E 3E <HEARTBEAT0>>
Port closed
Port opened by process "GQGMCDataViewer.exe" (PID: 3896)
3C 53 50 49 52 00 00 00 4F FF 3E 3E <SPIR...Oÿ>>
Port closed
Is it possible that the latest version on the download site for the GMC-300 AND 280 are wrong? |
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| Reply #9
ZLM
1261 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2012 : 22:45:11
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You should use GQ-RFC1201 standard. And it is the offical commands set.
The command set used in SoftGeigerCounterGMC300.exe is the old unofficial command set. Those commands may not be supported very soon in new firmware.
The current GMC-300 firmware Re2.11 accepts both old and new commands set.
SoftGeigerCounterGMC300.exe will be updated to new command set very soon. |
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| Reply #10
Henk
Netherlands
6 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2012 : 02:23:47
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quote:
Originally posted by ZLM
You should use GQ-RFC1201 standard. And it is the offical commands set.
I do and that works fine as you can see in the part "Port opened by process "Termite.exe" (PID: 1908)" where the command was given by myself.
quote:
The command set used in SoftGeigerCounterGMC300.exe is the old unofficial command set. Those commands may not be supported very soon in new firmware.
This is the problem why SoftGeigerCounterGMC300.exe V1.2 is not working with the latest GMC-300 Re2.11 devices. SoftGeigerCounterGMC300.exe V1.2 is sending old command style while the new Re2.11 devices ONLY accept new command style as describt in the GQ-RFC1201 standard
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The current GMC-300 firmware Re2.11 accepts both old and new commands set.
You are wrong here. The GMC-300 firmware Re2.11 accepts only the new commands set. At least for the heartbeat and key commands.
quote:
SoftGeigerCounterGMC300.exe will be updated to new command set very soon.
I hope so. Now it's very disappointing and annoying to own a device that you can't use because it will not co-operate with the software.
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| Reply #11
ZLM
1261 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2012 : 23:03:14
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Tested with my GMC-300 Re2.11 and it works. I think something else maybe involved. Because only this one case reported.
Anyway, download the Re1.30 version now. All commands updated.
It added command testing menu. |
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| Reply #12
Henk
Netherlands
6 Posts |
Posted - 03/09/2012 : 04:49:24
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quote:
Originally posted by ZLM
Anyway, download the Re1.30 version now. All commands updated.
It added command testing menu.
Thank you. Version 1.3 is working fine now.
I read several problems with high Com port number in this forum.
I also had this problems that i could not get a port higher then COM4 to work.
I have a Toshiba Satellite laptop that created COM 4, 5, 24 and 25, depending on witch USB connection i use and with the Prolific USB2Serial driver version 2.0.13.130 supplied by GQ on the downloadsite.
After removing this driver and installing the latest driver from Prolific version 2.1.27.185 the laptop showed COM 3, 4, 5 and 8 for the USB2Serial driver. Now COM 3,4 and 5 co-operate with the GMC-300.
The latest USB drivers can be downloaded here for several operating systems.
www.prolific.com.tw/eng/downloads.asp?id=31 |
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| Reply #13
ZLM
1261 Posts |
Posted - 03/09/2012 : 09:56:32
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| Thank you for your update. |
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Topic |
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SoftGeigerCounterGMC300 is flatlined
