Minder Comms Error

[tavsec]

When I hook up my laptop to my 5200CU/2 unit, the C-Bus interface works fine in terms of allowing me access to the C-Bus network to program the C-Bus units, yet in the Minder software, it shows the message in the tool bar "No Communications" I've followed through all the steps in the manual under Getting Started, Establishing communications, No communication, but I still get the same message

Any ideas??

[Forumadmin]

Ok well easy to fix this one as well just answer the previous post first.


Cheers

[bluey]

Hi guys,
i'm a new member and fairly inexperienced with regards to c-bus and minder.

I have a problem where i get a "lost comms..." message on my only keypad. I have only experienced this message when operating a shade cloth i have at the back of my house. The shade cloth is raised and lowered daily and is only operated manually via the keypad or 4 gang key input unit. The only scenario related to it in Minder is a time out for both up and down commands. It doesn't happen every time the shade cloth is operated, it's more common in the morning when the shade cloth is raised. :confused:

Any ideas as to what might be causing this message?
Thanks for any help,
Craig.

[Forumadmin]

Howdi Bluey,
First check the socketed ROM on the keypad.(just remove the cover to expose it) If its not version 1.9 or better then you need to get onto CIS and order a replacement one up.

It will fix the lost comms issue and persistant beeping associated with earlier versions.

Is your minder software 3.02 or 4.04?

Cheers

[bluey]

Thanks Forumadmin,
i have removed the cover to check the socketed ROM version and i'm guessing that it is Version 1.6. It's the only chip that i can see a version number on and has MCM LCD v1.6 on it. I hope that's right. How would i go about getting replacement ROM? Will they send it to me without question, as i'm not an authorised installer? I also wonder what the cost is? If it means getting rid of the beeping, it would be worth it.

To answer your second question, i'm running minder version 4.0.4.

Thanks again,
Bluey.

[Forumadmin]

PM me your mailing details and I'll organise it for you.

Cheers

[bluey]

I appreciate the help Forumadmin.
Many thanks,
Bluey

[Forumadmin]

No problem.

[rhamer]

For the record, I had the same problem.

I found out about the keypad firmware problem from MCM themselves, although they claim the the firmware update was a workaround to fix a firmware problem in Minder.

Eitherway v1.9 works and CIS sent it to me no charge, and I'm just a home user as well.

They also offered for me to send them the whole keypad and they would replace it and send it back if I was not confident in doing it myself.

Regards

Rohan

[bluey]

Thankyou Rohan and Forumadmin for the support and advice.
I'll give it a go when the bits arrive.

Yours in anticipation of no beeping, :D
Bluey.

[bluey]

Hi again, have received the ROM chip and installed as per you instructions. After Minder power up i've checked the controller and the only LED still lit is the power LED. The problem is that the LCD keypad is beeping continuously about once/5 sec. and when i try to do a forced controller reload it fails. I am able to upload the current project, but at this stage would appreciate any help before moving forward.

Cheers,
Bluey.

[Forumadmin]

Oh the joys of fiddling..

Check your PM

EDIT: I believe we have another happy camper..

[rhamer]

You've lost me :confused:

What was the result Ross?

Regards

Rohan

[Forumadmin]

What was the result Ross?

After some teething problems I believe bluey is back in action with a silent but working keypad.

I guess when he logs in he can update us with the latest, but I hear all is well.

Cheers

[bluey]

One day after ROM chip replacement and still no uninvited "beep" :) All appears to be working as it should. I will update if there are futher issues.

I guess now that i have that sorted(early days but i hope!) I can continue moving forward in my aims to understand C-Bus and Minder better.

Huge thanks again to Forumadmin for your support to one greatful novice.

P.S. to Forumadmin: I went back to the LCD keypad after our conversation and did manage to access the setup menu. I believe the problem may have been finger trouble :o

Ciao,
Bluey.

[Forumadmin]

Glad it is sorted out.

If you need any further help just ask.

Cheers for now.

[cearl]

Does anyone know where the v1.9 firmware is available from now? CIS say they don't have any and are now prevented from distributing them anyway. I have two keypads with v1.6.

[rhamer]

MCM Electronics they make the keyboard.

I'm not to sure on their policy either, I think Charlie Crackle has delt with them on this very issue recently.

Try chanting his name 3 times and see if he appears (this has worked in the past :) )

Cheers

Rohan

[charlie crackle]

Some body call ??

With out going into all the details I can supply them to you at cost.

$60.00 + G.S.T and freight $14.00 +G.S.T

The eprom/processor is a write once device so you are buying a new chip programmed with the new code.


I am currently paying them to modify the code in their ICON range of alarm panels so info can be obtained from the serial port. I intend to then write PAC code to intergrate into cbus.

Charles

[Forumadmin]

Hi Charles,
Can you keep us posted on PAC integration progress?

cheers

[charlie crackle]

Some one sent me a private message on the cbus forum re keypad firmware.
this was send 1 hrs before they moved the servers and it seems to have been lost. Can you please send again.

Charles

[coppo1]

The core issue of this "losing comms", to my briefing, is that the original
design by smarts was too optimistic with its keypad /controller polling rate.

Standard keypad polling rate for minder = 9seconds.

The revision in the v1.9 EEPROM was polling rate = 29 seconds.

Once the polling rate was upped to 29 seconds it sorted the beeping
keypads.

I may have mentioned this before, if so, sorry, however....

Beeping keypads is also caused by the keypad losing its address,
typically when it gets reset to address 00.

During testing i have seen the address reset when the 12vdc battery has been drained
completey and the minder is sitting on approx 10.5 volts or less.

When it hits that approx volts, serious things happen like:
- keypad drops its address
- security PIR's connected to minder chattering,
(rapid switching between open /closed state in like 10 times per second).

If the controller loses power completely, the keypad retains its address.

So ... make sure you have some good code written for boost charging your battery...


.......DO not rely on just the auto trickle charge.

An working example of battery charging with appropriate messages to the
keypad is listed on this forum.

http://www.integratorsforum.com/showthread.php?t=911
-
-
-

[charlie crackle]

The latest thinkboxx software V4.0.6 and 4.1.0 removed support for the old keypad firmware. As a result there is a huge improvement is keypad speed.
I have 5 keypads and they were very slow with version 4.0.5 and Minder software.
I was very very Happy when I loaded 4.0.6 and the speed is now very usable.

(see release notes)

Charles