Volkslogger - No Log Download Success "data -transfer ready!"

I had this happen to my Volkslogger about 7 years ago; it was then 11 years old. I had it cal'd and had the internal battery replaced a year before. All indications were correct, except I couldn't get the flight to download. I sent it to a dealer in the US, who couldn't help, and I ended up having it shipped from the dealer to the factory (I tried everything I could think of - new converter (known to work with another pilot); new laptop known to work with another VL).

If I recall correctly, there was a component on the motherboard that had given up... This was on day 7 of a trip to Minden, with a 444 km flight - then my longest - on it. The first 6 days worked perfectly, same computer, same usb-to-serial adapter, same laptop...

You might try the battery (will need to electronically reseal at a dealer in US) first. Hope it's that... but this sounds very familiar, in a bad sorta way.

The only time it's ever failed me...

Dan
2D

I had a similar issue that ended up being resolved by a factory repair . I would suggest you try your VL against someone else's "known good" download setup. If it fails you may need a repair.

Lynn

Dan Daley, Lynn...

Thanks for your reply reference a failure internally of the VL serial chip that required factory repair. I suspect that may be the problem, but still need to rule out a hardware problem in my USB converter. Next, I'll dig up an old Win XP PC box that has a real serial port and try SeeYou connection wizard.

One interesting note... I can hear syncrhonized clicking noises with the usb converter lights coming from the VL logger while the SeeYou connectional wizard software is querrying the VL data logger. Something in the VL makes a little noise during a serial transfer.

Noticed that this discussion migrated to evaluating USB serial converters. I've found that the ones with the FTDI chip set works real well including keeping their device drivers updated.

Walt Rogers WX

FINAL CONCLUSION... SERIAL CHIP DEFECTIVE ON VL

I think the serial chip is defective. Tested unsuccessfully downloading using SeeYou Connection Wizard with another old PC using a regular serial port.. Now, I don't even get the he "DATA-TRANSFER READY" message on the VL even with the USB converter on various PCs and notebooks. Apparently the 115200 bps speed for data transfers no longer works reliably.

My VL still works ok at 4800 bps driving my SN10B (Just tested again this afternoon in my glider).

Based on Murphy's Law... my VL will probably fail on the first day of the Region 9 contest at Moriarity (1.5 weeks away). Symptoms seems to be pointing in this direction with a 15 year old unit. I'm going to buy a Nano and wire it up before I leave...

Walt Rogers, WX

On Tuesday, May 21, 2013 9:32:28 PM UTC-4, WaltWX wrote:
I'm going to buy a Nano and wire it up before I leave...

Hey Walt - Get a PowerFLARM if you haven't already done so !
Logger works great, SN10 can declare task into PowerFLARM.
Hope that helps,
See ya, Dave

PS: 2.38 is now released:
http://www.nadler.com/sn10/SN10_Resource_Index.html

Hi Dave,

I've already got PowerFlarm. It drives LK8000 on the Vertica V2 which can also declare tasks on the PF. I've been using igc files from the PF for the last half dozen flights and they validate fine on OLC. Want to keep full logger redundancy each driving their own flight software. Needed to replace the VL with another logger that has validation for all flights. PF doesn't isn't good for National or World records.

BTW, ten pilots out of 14 flew PF at our local Central California Soaring Contest and v3.0 worked just fine. PCAS seems more sensitive. FLARM sensitivity worked great in and around gaggles.

Walt Rogers WX

Dave,

Can the SN10B declare tasks to an attached (wired RS-232 interface) Nano data logger?

Walt Rogers WX

On Tuesday, May 21, 2013 6:32:28 PM UTC-7, WaltWX wrote:


POST FINAL CONCLUSION...MY VL WORKS FINE NOW!

Long after the original post, I re-visited my VL download problem by using a different but identical USB Converter (XS-882 from USConverters.com). Low and behold, my download to a PC from the VL worked perfectly! So, my VL is OK... I'm the idiot for not checking all the components/cables that could have caused the problem. Moral to the story is... Check all possible connectivity problems before blaming hardware on your logger. It's hard to test these USB Converters since so few devices use serial connections. But, you can do a loop back test with the right type of connectors: http://www.usconverters.com/download...bleshooter.pdf I wasn't able to do this because those connectors were not available to me.

BTW, USConverters.com, is a great company to work with. After returning my XS-882 with a letter asking them to test it and replace if faulty.. they simply mailed me a new one free of charge! Now, I have a VL, set of cables and a USB Converter for sale in case anyone out there wants to buy my setup.

Walt Rogers WX

On Tuesday, May 14, 2013 7:24:26 PM UTC-4, WaltWX wrote:
I've used my Volkslogger (VL) for years. Lately, I've been unable to transfer or download IGC log files to my PC. I'm using various PC's (Desktop; notebooks, etc) to no avail. With SeeYou Connection Wizzard and Streppla, using a USB Converter (usbconveters.com - model Ut-882)and custom cables, the LCD windows on the VL only shows "data-transfer ready!" with no further interaction to DL log files. I've used all this equipment in the past and it worked perfectly. Started having this problem in March 2013 when I thought it was solved by updating the FTDI device driver for the converter. Apparently, that probably wasn't the root cause of my problem. Today, I made up new cables... and that didn't solve the problem either. Has anyone out there seen this failure mode on the VL? Walt Rogers, WX

I have had the same problem and solved it by switching to my spare cable - I have an older model with the 9-pin serial and the terminals are rather complex and fragile.