Prop-SX with VSA - Beginner alert! I need help...

[HauntedWolf]

Hi all,

I've finally gotten a chance to play around with this and I must be missing something.  I want to use my Prop-SX to control two 3-axis skulls (4 servos each) and 3 mouth only skulls (1 servo each).  I have downloaded the 8 Servo, 8 WMA files and loaded them into SX-Key and programmed the Prop-SX with it.  I have then created a small VSA file that only has the servo on Pin 0 doing anything.

I conneected a servo to pin 0, turned on the Prop-SX to position 1 and try to run the VSA program and the servo doesn't move at all.  I have played with the VSA event properties to no avail...it seems that when Jon W gave his presentation at the RMG in June that just messing with the event properties would cause the servo to move in real time...I can't get anything to move.

What am I missing?  Is there a step-by-step guide on how to hook up the Prop-SX and use VSA anywhere?  I've searched the forums and I can't seem to find what I need.  If I understand right, I have to download a program (like the demo mentioned above) to the SX so that it can allow VAS to send commands to it.  Once the SX has that, then VSA should be able to run things in real time, right?

Please let me know what I have overlooked...I'm sure that it is something silly.

Thanks in advance!

Robert

[gmacted]

I am using the prop-sx with VSA to control a 3-axis skull also.  I am using the 8 servo with 8 digital output program and it worked flawlessly for me.  Did you install a 50 MHZ oscillator?  Do you have a common ground between the prop-sx power supply and the servo power supply.  These are the two things that come to my mind first.

[HauntedWolf]

I have a 12VDC power supply plugged into the SX.  I just plugged the 3PIN on the servo onto the SX...shouldn't that use the ground on the SX?  Do you use SX-Key or something else to download the program onto the SX?  Is there an easy way to tell if that has been done correctly?

I'll try the oscillator...didn't think of that.

Thanks!

[JonnyMac]

Before *trying* anything else, please look over the docs -- they show how to connect the SX-Key/SX-Blitz for programming.

-- http://www.efx-tek.com/downloads/prop-sx_docs.pdf

[HauntedWolf]

I have looked everything over...I have a cable plugged into my USB going to the Blitz which is plugged into the SX.  Everything looks right.  While in SZ-Key, I press "Program" and it seems to be downloading correctly.  When I press "Run" I get an error stating "SX Blitz does not support this function".

One other point of interest, I removed the servo from P0 and the center pin came out part way with it.  However, tried again on P1 with the same results.

I also tried the 50 MHz resonator...no difference.  I'm sure I'm overlooking something obvious...but I am missing it.  ;)

[HauntedWolf]

In VSA, on the Event Properties screen, the Capture and Show buttons are always disabled...seems like this is wrong too...

[HauntedWolf]

I just successfully downloaded and ran the strobe (with the Prop-1 trainer installed on P8-P15) example in the SX documentation.  So downloading seems to be working and things are connected properly...still not sure why the Servo8_Digital8.SXB file is not working for me.

[gmacted]

I am also using the Blitz and had no issues programming the Prop-SX.  Jon is correct in saying that the documentation is very useful for this.

In order to use the Prop-SX with VSA you need a "null modem cable" or a USB-to-serial adapter.  This will connect from the PC to the Prop-SX.  Did you set the baud rate to 38400 in VSA for the Com Port you are connect to?

You said that you are connecting the servo to the Prop-SX header.  I'm not sure that the Prop-SX on-board power supply will provided enough current to operate your servo properly.  According to the Prop-SX documentation, the on-board 5V regulator is only capable of providing 500 mA (0.5A) of current.  This regulator must also supply current for the on-board logic, so the current available for external circuits is less than that.  I am using Hitec HS645MS servos which require 500 mA of current at idle.  I don't know what servos you are using, but you should probably look at the current requirements.  In any case, you will need an external supply to power the 11 servos in your project.

[JonnyMac]

Okay, now I understand what's going on. The Blitz cannot generate a clock so you can't use Run from the program menu with it.  What you will have to do is install a resonator of the to run the board -- make sure this matches the setting of the FREQ directive.  The serial port from VSA plugs into the DB-9 on the Prop-SX.

[HauntedWolf]

Okay, now I understand what's going on. The Blitz cannot generate a clock so you can't use Run from the program menu with it.  What you will have to do is install a resonator of the to run the board -- make sure this matches the setting of the FREQ directive.  The serial port from VSA plugs into the DB-9 on the Prop-SX.

I currently have the 50MHz installed.  I also have the Serial to USB adapter plugged into one of my USB ports.  Still nothing.

gmacted mentioned needing to use an external power supply to drive the servos...where does that plug into the SX?  I'm sorry if these seem basic, but I am totally missing something here...

[gmacted]

Robert,

     Jon has a very nice diagram of how to attach an external power supply in this thread http://www.efx-tek.com/php/smf/index.php?topic=516.0 (reply #2).

     Are you sure that VSA is using the Com Port that the Serial to USB adapter is plugged into and that the baud rate is correct?

Greg

[HauntedWolf]

Robert,

     Jon has a very nice diagram of how to attach an external power supply in this thread http://www.efx-tek.com/php/smf/index.php?topic=516.0 (reply #2).

     Are you sure that VSA is using the Com Port that the Serial to USB adapter is plugged into and that the baud rate is correct?

Greg

Greg, thanks for the link...Did you make a connector like this?

I'll have to check the baud settings when I get home tonight...I didn't change anything, so I don't know what it is set to.

[JonnyMac]

If you're just running a few servos and they're not under huge load, you can run them right from the Prop-SX.  There is no external power supply connection for servo power, you have to build up a circuit.

Also, if you're using the Parallax USB to Serial adapter did you install the drivers for it?

[HauntedWolf]

If you're just running a few servos and they're not under huge load, you can run them right from the Prop-SX.  There is no external power supply connection for servo power, you have to build up a circuit.

Also, if you're using the Parallax USB to Serial adapter did you install the drivers for it?

Yes, I have installed the drivers...I did that shortly after the RMG in June.

[gmacted]

Robert,

     Jon has a very nice diagram of how to attach an external power supply in this thread http://www.efx-tek.com/php/smf/index.php?topic=516.0 (reply #2).

     Are you sure that VSA is using the Com Port that the Serial to USB adapter is plugged into and that the baud rate is correct?

Greg

Greg, thanks for the link...Did you make a connector like this?

I'll have to check the baud settings when I get home tonight...I didn't change anything, so I don't know what it is set to.

Robert,

     I did not make a connector like this.  I have a single external supply that has +12V and +5V outputs.  I use the +12V to power the Prop-SX and the +5V to power the servos.  In my case the GNDs are already common so I did not need to make this external connector.  The only signals I need from the Prop-SX are the white connections (labeled W) from P0 - P7.

     The default baud rate for VSA is 9600.  The Prop-SX will definitely not communicate with VSA at this setting (unless you changed the baud rate in your program).  In VSA go to Tools --> Settings (F3) --> Port Settings and change your baud rate to 38400 for your com port.