"powerseed via ElectronicsKB.com" u43512@uwe writes:

Hi Sam...really appreciate your time and input!

Sam Goldwasser wrote:

First things to do would be to confirm

(1) that the serial port adapter has installed properly.

I don't have access to another PC w/ a serial port and am not a programmer
with familiarity with terminal mode (what can you expect from a clueless mac
user . I am pretty confident tho that this is a tablet problem as you may
concur after reading my following responses.

(2) that the tablet is actually outputting something on the serial port.

Serial port switches set to mfr's defaults re handshake, etc. I am also non
compos mentis when it comes to troubleshooting electronics but it did give it
a shot. I have a cheapo R. Shack digital auto-ranging digital multimeter
(that produces wandering phantom readings when not connected to a live
circuit). I tried to document output from the DB9 female on the serial
adapter with the board powered up. Nada when I put the black lead on P5
signal ground and the pos on P2 (during this test I was moving the puck and
pressing buttons as well). When I tested P5 and P2 it would momentarily show
0 volts as I was moving and clicking then it begin its up and down wandering
again???

This sounds like it's doing something.

(3) that the cable has pins 2 and 3 swapped, or not swapped as required.

I'm not using a serial cable...DB25 female plug to male DB25/female DB9
adapter to DB9/USB adapter to USB cable to PC

When connected correctly, there should probably be a negative voltage
on both pins 2 and 3 with respect to pin 5. If incorrect, then
there will be a voltage on only one of those pins.

See above...and my responses to Frank Zabkar in this thread.

I'd go with checking the power supply/requirements as mentioned in
the other reply. Indeed, if it specifies 12 VAC, it probably won't work
correctly on 12 VDC (but won't be damaged either).

The fact that you're getting no change in the LEDs also suggests that
it's not a communications problem. Probably not getting through self
test due to the power issue.

--- sam | Sci.Electronics.Repair FAQ: http://www.repairfaq.org/
Repair | Main Table of Contents: http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/
+Lasers | Sam's Laser FAQ: http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/lasersam.htm
| Mirror Sites: http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/F_mirror.html

Important: Anything sent to the email address in the message header above is
ignored unless my full name AND either lasers or electronics is included in the
subject line. Or, you can contact me via the Feedback Form in the FAQs.