jessica Posted October 1, 2015 Posted October 1, 2015 Does anyone know where you can get serial cables for 2nd generation activboards? We replaced our computers over the summer and they keep dropping the connection to the boards. We have tried Activ extenders and the recomended usb extender kit but both drop connections during lessons. We have managed to solve this by using the serial connectors rather than usb, but we dont have enough serial cables for the amount of boards we are having problems with. From looking at the Promethean website they are part number CB-5303027S31.
GaRobbie Posted October 1, 2015 Posted October 1, 2015 Hi Jessica, I’m not sure where you can find the serial cables for the older AC2 boards though I may be able to help with the connection issues when connected via USB. If I am understanding correctly it is dropping periodically throughout the day / during use. If so, have you looked into the USB power management setting on the computer? (Go here : Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Power Options\Edit Plan Settings and then select change “Advanced power settings” > go down to USB settings and disable “Selective Suspend” ) Do you still have dropping issues after disabling this setting?
jessica Posted October 1, 2015 Author Posted October 1, 2015 i will take a look at the settings when i'm back at work in the morning, thanks
Zourous Posted October 1, 2015 Posted October 1, 2015 We are using usb cables on our boards for the interaction to our laptops, but were told to keep the serial cables in (with the connected power supplies) as the power from the usb wasn't enough to power it all, so yes to my knowledge you do need serial cables and also the power supplies.
Sylv3r Posted October 1, 2015 Posted October 1, 2015 What version of ACTIV Driver are you using - theres a post on here that the latest versions appear to be dropping the connection to the boards. I'll see if I can find it.
Sylv3r Posted October 1, 2015 Posted October 1, 2015 http://www.edugeek.net/forums/windows/159361-activdriver-v5-9-x64-required.html
jessica Posted October 2, 2015 Author Posted October 2, 2015 The power supplies are already plugged in as well as the USB. We are using driver 5.7 as 5.9 and 5.11 wouldn't work with our serial boards.
jessica Posted October 2, 2015 Author Posted October 2, 2015 Do you know how to set this setting via group policy? (Go here : Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Power Options\Edit Plan Settings and then select change “Advanced power settings” > go down to USB settings and disable “Selective Suspend” )
GaRobbie Posted October 2, 2015 Posted October 2, 2015 Hi Jessica, there is not a way to change this setting via group policy. I found a couple of other forums where users have tried using an altered registry key though from what I read it had mixed results. Also, in regard to the driver. If you are connecting via Serial, you are correct in using the V5.7 though if you are looking to connect using USB I would personally recommend using V5.11
jessica Posted October 3, 2015 Author Posted October 3, 2015 Thanks, the setting was rolled out yesterday so fingers crossed boards work monday morning. We have 5.11 on a couple of the USB boards as we upgraded while troubleshooting, but this didn't help with the problem.
jessica Posted October 5, 2015 Author Posted October 5, 2015 Sadly the registry change hasn't worked. Checked a few boards this morning and they aren't connecting to the PCs when they first boot up.
chazzy2501 Posted October 5, 2015 Posted October 5, 2015 I find that the usb to serial adaptors, although work, have an inherent latency which makes the old serial boards feel laggy. I always fit a native serial port to my workstations (or get a PC with one on it) I also use the 5.7.22 software as it seems the best. something like this: Startech 1 Port 16550 Serial PCI Card - Ebuyer if your using laptops then try not to use the usb3.0 ports as I find they don't like slow old devices like a usb serial adaptor.
jessica Posted October 5, 2015 Author Posted October 5, 2015 We have a number of PCs using keyspan serial adapters and haven't had any complaints that they are lagging. They seem to work alot better than the USB boards.
win Posted October 5, 2015 Posted October 5, 2015 I have a few boards that are connected via USB, and the power goes into the serial connection - which is not connected to the PC. This works as well as the proper power cable.
jessica Posted October 5, 2015 Author Posted October 5, 2015 Just had a reply from promethean: You can purchase a serial cable from our online store at ActivBoard Older Version – Promethean Need it Now UK
Alis_Klar Posted December 10, 2015 Posted December 10, 2015 sorry to hijack, since refreshing our clients to Win 7 64bit have had some boards which refuse to work or will spike. Solved some by using serial connection, ferrite cores, 32bit windows or a combination of the three. Also had builders in who re-sited some boards neccessitating USB extensions and since then even more issues. Have 2 boards which still spike and 1 which refuse to be detected using serial connection and USB adapter. Can't afford new boards or touchscreens as projectors only 1 year old. Also am using USB extensions on many boards with work ok 80% of the time USB Superbooster Extender Is it worth trying to source 2nd hand ActivBoards (so i can hook them on the existing wallhooks) or get new Promethean board or are the Hitachi/genee board (or anything to get us through looming OFSTED in Janurary) Can you get the circuit board replaced if that is the issue?
phillyrovers Posted December 14, 2015 Posted December 14, 2015 Hi Alis_Klar, Again, this one is all dependant upon the serial number of the boards and what the best advise would be. It will be worth triple checking that every connection is pushed home fully in particular the power connectors. Shorter cable runs are preferred in that it reduces the risk of any kind of interference from getting into cables potentially causing issues. The USB - Serial adaptor is another beast in itself, and you would need to ensure that you have the correct drivers installed for the adaptor, then tell ActivManager to connect to the COM port that the serial converter has been assigned (its the same as using a direct serial connection in that sense.). Circuit boards ,may be available, but you would need to contact Promethean support with your serial numbers to confirm. Thanks
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