Silverlining 3.6

Curly · Post by **Curly** » Wed Oct 05, 2005 7:09 pm

Hi all,

Does anyone know how to or where I can find out how to troubleshoot Silverlining 3.6? I have found nothing anywhere in manuals or documentation . It doesn't seem to dependably connect my PB420E to my PC serial port( its done it once or twice) I'm thinking I should try to get the serial port to USB adapter to help these two find each other. Maybe that will help ? I'm using XP SP2 and tried all serial ports available to select from within the software . Get a cannot connect type error.

It would be nice to see some kind of tutorial or instructions on how to use this software too. Any comments or info is appreciated.

Thanks

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Wed Oct 05, 2005 9:57 pm

It doesn't seem to dependably connect my PB420E to my PC serial port( its done it once or twice)

Curly, this is just a guess... since you said it has connected once or twice ok for you, it sounds like it might be the connection not seated well enough sometimes. You aren't unplugging the serial plug in between uses, are you? I'd leave that plugged into the computer (which you probably are.) Make sure it's firmly in place.

When you plug the little phone jack into the back of the 420E, make sure it's turned right to fit and make sure it "clicks" into place securely.

Last, and easy to forget at times, especially at first...be sure to plug in the power cord from the machine to an electrical outlet. The 420E has to have juice or you can't get a connection or do a download.

If you've been checking all those things each time, I apologize for going over them again here. lol !

cvansant · Post by **cvansant** » Wed Oct 05, 2005 11:35 pm

I am using XP SP2 with the 420E also. No problem connecting. And I have to move the machine between rooms and re-connect everytime I want to download.

RG is right. You most likely have a bad connection between the machine and the computer. Check for the click at the phone jack connection and a well seated cable at the computer end. Does the software try to auto negotiate the connection. i.e. The window opens and the flashlght "searches" for a live port. It will probably connect at 9600. (Jeez, I had forgotten how slow the old connections were.) If it doesn't, try going through device manager to see if the port has a problem.

Clif

WAFlowers · Post by **WAFlowers** » Thu Oct 06, 2005 8:40 am

XP Pro SP2 here, no problems. Ditto what was said above about the connections.

wkwchau · Post by **wkwchau** » Thu Oct 06, 2005 11:08 am

I am using the software with my WinXP SP1. I don't have problem to download the data from my PB420s, except I normally have to try to make the connection several times before it gets connect. I believe it is due to my poor skill of making my own cable. You may want to check out your cable first.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Thu Oct 06, 2005 12:50 pm

Speaking of cable reminds me...I've meant to thank loonlvr for this neat trick:

"Since the cable was to short to reach my comp, I used a long phone cable i had that had phone jacks on each end and bought a connecter from radio shack and extended it to my 420e so i don't have to move it"

Woooooo...I scrounged around and found I already had a long telephone line cord (50 ft) with plugs on both ends AND also just happened to have a "modular inline coupler" - both bought ages ago and never used. They're in use now!

Soooo handy to just flop the line out through the house from bedroom to computer and roll it back up when done. Never will have to disturb my good little 420E from its happy nesting place on the nightstand simply to get a download.

THANK YOU, loonlvr, for the suggestion you happened to mention in passing in the topic below!!

Aug 27, 2005 subject: PB420E IFL1

Curly · Post by **Curly** » Thu Oct 06, 2005 12:50 pm

Thank you all for your kindness. It's great to see folks helping each other out like this. I've been on CPAP for two years now, gone thru several sleep studies and not really gotten much help. All I get from Dr.s are vague answers and shoulder shrugs. After reading through the posts here, I decided to go out on my own and get PB420E APAP and the software so I could see for myself what is going on.

You've given me some ideas on things I need to check. I'll check these out and post results . Funny though, because I've tried it on both of my PC's and it acts the same way . The searching flashlight sometimes comes on , but usually says no connection . A lot of times, no flashlight , no message, nothing.

It seem everyone can connect OK so, I have to assume its operator error and I'll just have to continue to tinker with it until i get it.

wkwchau- it seems my problem is similar to yours . What did you mean by having to make your own cable ?

Has anyone had to use a serial port to USB adapter ? and if so, did it work ?

Thanks again to all.

cvansant · Post by **cvansant** » Thu Oct 06, 2005 5:23 pm

Curly,

Both computers are configured the same, right?
Silverling software installed on both computers with default parameters?
Both have their own serial ports? Not swapping a card around?
Device manager shows the serial ports working ok?
Are multiple devices hooked up to the serial ports? Conflicts can (do) come up when several devices are competing for ports.
You are using the cable that came with the APAP? Making cables is easy, but easy to mess up too. I've made hundreds and still don't trust them until proven operational.
Does the searching flashlight come up on one computer and not the other?

Clif

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Thu Oct 06, 2005 10:37 pm

Hi Curly
I'm using a serial to USB connector with no problems.

If it's not a computer configuration problem, you might want to try another serial cable, just to be make sure its not a cable problem.

O.

Curly · Post by **Curly** » Fri Oct 07, 2005 7:20 am

Clif,

Answered all your questions there and have checked to make sure that all connections are properly seated, tight and inspected to make sure no bent pins anywhere.... all looks good

Will probably head on down to Frys electronic store and see about a new cable as suggested by ozij or even try the USB adapter. I have tools and experience making CAT 5 cables, So I guess I could do this, but can't imagine I got a bad cable right out of the box ???

Sorry folks didn't mean to convert this to an IT forum....

cvansant wrote:Curly,

Both computers are configured the same, right?
Yes
Silverling software installed on both computers with default parameters? Yes
Both have their own serial ports? Not swapping a card around?
correct on both counts
Device manager shows the serial ports working ok?
Yes
Are multiple devices hooked up to the serial ports? Conflicts can (do) come up when several devices are competing for ports.
Nothing else is hooked up to serial ports
You are using the cable that came with the APAP? Yes Making cables is easy, but easy to mess up too. I've made hundreds and still don't trust them until proven operational.
Does the searching flashlight come up on one computer and not the other?
Exactly , but the one the flashlight comes up on has only connected twice.

APAP

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Oct 07, 2005 11:16 am

Do I understand correctly? The flashlight searches on one computer but does not connect. The other computer doesn't even try to negotiate for a connection? If so, it sounds like two different problems. OS configuration problems and/or bad installs of the Silverlining software. My guess is that a new cable is not going to solve your problem. Keep me posted on what you find.

Clif

WillSucceed · Post by **WillSucceed** » Fri Oct 07, 2005 11:28 am

When I first tried to connect to my 420E the flashlight would search, but would never connect. I never did solve the dilemma through experimenting with settings, etc.

I had been planning to do a wipe of my hard drive and reset of my notebook back to factory spec. I used the CD that came with the notebook to do this and, magically, after loading in Silverlining 3.6, my first attempt to connect to the 420E worked and, has worked ever since.

I guess that the software running my serial port was glitching and the wipe/re-install forgave all past sins.

wkwchau · Post by **wkwchau** » Fri Oct 07, 2005 11:49 am

You've given me some ideas on things I need to check. I'll check these out and post results . Funny though, because I've tried it on both of my PC's and it acts the same way . The searching flashlight sometimes comes on , but usually says no connection . A lot of times, no flashlight , no message, nothing.

It happened to me several times that there were no flashlight and no message. In those cases, I had to reboot the computer before making the connection. It seems that the computer was at the stage that the software did not communicate with the Windows OS properly. Do you always leave your computer on?

wkwchau- it seems my problem is similar to yours . What did you mean by having to make your own cable ?

I modified the connector of one of my old serial cable to make it connect to my CPAP machine.

If you tried two PCs and have the same problem. Unless both machines running the same software that has conflict with the serial port, I suspect that it is either your cable or the APAP machine has a problem.

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Fri Oct 07, 2005 12:36 pm

Just thought of something -
I still have an old, serial port based Palm. When Hotsynch is on - the connection for the cpap isn't found.

O.

Curly · Post by **Curly** » Fri Oct 07, 2005 2:10 pm

I think I may have solved the problem (fingers crossed). Although I may have just clumsily stumbled my way thru this. I noticed that my PC device manager showed COM1 under communications port. Yet when I went into the advance settings after unsuccessfully trying to connnect with the PB420, it would show COM3 was in use, but I don't have anything using COM ports except for the APAP . I uninstalled the Communications port, restarted and defaulted it to COM3 in the device manager advance setting before trying to connect again and it worked... I got connected ! I restarted the PC several times and seems it easily connects now . I guess the PB420E likes to use COM 3, but with only COM 1 installed it could not connect ? Anyways I've got a bunch of data to sift thru now . Thanks for all your input , you guys are great !

One suggestion I have for those who have PB 420E and need to lug it from one room to another where your PC is :

Get a short 8" or 12" phone cord , and plug that into the back of the APAP and just leave it there. Then get an in line coupler to connect this short cord and the cord that comes with the APAP. This way the wear and tear is on the coupler and the small cord minimizing risk of damaging the jack in the APAP from plugging it in and out. Tried and tested.

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): 420E, APAP