DOWNLOADING PowerTap Data to PC

cycleboy99 said:

I recently got a powertap and found only a 9 pin serial port connection. My laptop (Inspiron 1100) with XP Pro doesn't have a serial port. I got a converter for 9-pin to USB, and though my computer recognizes the USB - > COM conversion, when I try to download the software can't connect with the powertap computer.

Does anyone have any ideas or had similar problems?

Power Tap will be able to advise you on which USB to serial converter you need to use.

ric

ric_stern/RST said:

Power Tap will be able to advise you on which USB to serial converter you need to use.

ric

Keyspan Serial to USB adapter will work. Also, you may need to change the port settings on your computer.

cycleboy99 said:

I recently got a powertap and found only a 9 pin serial port connection. My laptop (Inspiron 1100) with XP Pro doesn't have a serial port. I got a converter for 9-pin to USB, and though my computer recognizes the USB - > COM conversion, when I try to download the software can't connect with the powertap computer.

Does anyone have any ideas or had similar problems?

I did call, and they were right. for some reason the cheap serial/usb converters at Radioshack don't do it, but a decent (eg $3 more!) unit works just fine. I'm rinning XP on an IBM...

good luck,
Fabio

IDENTICAL PROBLEM......I am working on a fix, how about you? I know you have to go to control panel, hardware, then device manager, and look under the "ports" section, where there probably is a yellow question mark. This is what needs to be changed for it to recognize your adapter. Question is, how? Keep in touch, I'll find the solution.....frustrating, isn't it...state of the art equipment, with old computer technology???????????

cycleboy99 said:

I recently got a powertap and found only a 9 pin serial port connection. My laptop (Inspiron 1100) with XP Pro doesn't have a serial port. I got a converter for 9-pin to USB, and though my computer recognizes the USB - > COM conversion, when I try to download the software can't connect with the powertap computer.

Does anyone have any ideas or had similar problems?

toothdk said:

IDENTICAL PROBLEM......I am working on a fix, how about you? I know you have to go to control panel, hardware, then device manager, and look under the "ports" section, where there probably is a yellow question mark. This is what needs to be changed for it to recognize your adapter. Question is, how? Keep in touch, I'll find the solution.....frustrating, isn't it...state of the art equipment, with old computer technology???????????

I have a similar problem. I've tried downloading via link1.04, powerlink lite, and cycling peaks software, and none works. I'm using the recommended Keyspan usb serial adapter.

The customer service people at PT say they rushed this product out this spring and are fed up with the crappy software which an outside firm wrote for them. And they admit there are a number of people in this situation, who can't download any data.

I'm glad they've seen the problem, but what do we do in the meantime? I can't see any data except what's on the bike while I'm riding.

Anyone have any success using unusual techniques?

DParker

DParker said:

I have a similar problem. I've tried downloading via link1.04, powerlink lite, and cycling peaks software, and none works. I'm using the recommended Keyspan usb serial adapter.

The customer service people at PT say they rushed this product out this spring and are fed up with the crappy software which an outside firm wrote for them. And they admit there are a number of people in this situation, who can't download any data.

I'm glad they've seen the problem, but what do we do in the meantime? I can't see any data except what's on the bike while I'm riding.

Anyone have any success using unusual techniques?

DParker

I assume they where talking about their new software, not the older Link 1.04 which has been around for a while. If you've tried all three packages and *none* of them work, I would first just try uninstalling and reinstalling the Keyspan software. If that doesn't work try a different USB to serial adaptor. I think most folks eventually find one that works for them. There is a list of some adaptors that others have found to work with their Powertaps here:

midweekclub.capowerFAQ.htmOpen ↗

Rick Moll
[email hidden]
rick.mollprojects.comrick.mollprojects.comOpen ↗

Cycleboy.........have you solved the problem.

I worked it out, and can offer some fixes, if you still need them...reply back and I'll help..............

toothdk said:

IDENTICAL PROBLEM......I am working on a fix, how about you? I know you have to go to control panel, hardware, then device manager, and look under the "ports" section, where there probably is a yellow question mark. This is what needs to be changed for it to recognize your adapter. Question is, how? Keep in touch, I'll find the solution.....frustrating, isn't it...state of the art equipment, with old computer technology???????????

Dparker....what is the problem you're having......does your computer not recognize your port, or does it not d/l. I've figured things out, and can help if you need.............jj

DParker said:

I have a similar problem. I've tried downloading via link1.04, powerlink lite, and cycling peaks software, and none works. I'm using the recommended Keyspan usb serial adapter.

The customer service people at PT say they rushed this product out this spring and are fed up with the crappy software which an outside firm wrote for them. And they admit there are a number of people in this situation, who can't download any data.

I'm glad they've seen the problem, but what do we do in the meantime? I can't see any data except what's on the bike while I'm riding.

Anyone have any success using unusual techniques?

DParker

jj - thanks for the offer. I can see the port - Com4 - which shows the Keyspan adapter. It shows up in the device directory within Windows and in the Cycle Peak software as well. But no data seems to be moving from the Powertap through the adapter.
DParker

toothdk said:

Dparker....what is the problem you're having......does your computer not recognize your port, or does it not d/l. I've figured things out, and can help if you need.............jj

I'm not at my home computer now, but........once you see it is com4, then you need to open the powerlink program, and up on the toolbar, I can't remember which menu it's under, right beside "File," pull down the menu that says "setup" and go there and there is a place to set your com port to com 4. Then, restart your computer, put your pt computer in its cradle, hit the button so it says "host" and then click download.....it should say download successful, and you are there.

let me know.

jj

DParker said:

jj - thanks for the offer. I can see the port - Com4 - which shows the Keyspan adapter. It shows up in the device directory within Windows and in the Cycle Peak software as well. But no data seems to be moving from the Powertap through the adapter.
DParker

JJ, tried your suggestion but still can't get it to show. I have successfully downloaded on another non-networked computer that has a 9 pin serial port, but I can't get it to work on my laptop using the USB converter. Everything says the Keyspan converter is on Com4 and the software knows it's on Com4 but nonetheless no data comes through.
FYI, I'm using the PT SL - it's a new model and perhaps that's contributing to the problem.
Any other thoughts?
DParker

toothdk said:

I'm not at my home computer now, but........once you see it is com4, then you need to open the powerlink program, and up on the toolbar, I can't remember which menu it's under, right beside "File," pull down the menu that says "setup" and go there and there is a place to set your com port to com 4. Then, restart your computer, put your pt computer in its cradle, hit the button so it says "host" and then click download.....it should say download successful, and you are there.

let me know.

jj

I too have pt sl, but let me chat with them tomorrow, we'll get it fixed!

later,
j

DParker said:

JJ, tried your suggestion but still can't get it to show. I have successfully downloaded on another non-networked computer that has a 9 pin serial port, but I can't get it to work on my laptop using the USB converter. Everything says the Keyspan converter is on Com4 and the software knows it's on Com4 but nonetheless no data comes through.
FYI, I'm using the PT SL - it's a new model and perhaps that's contributing to the problem.
Any other thoughts?
DParker

Great, let me know what you find out. FYI I have spent quite a bit of time with the CycleOps customer service people, but eventually got to a point where they ran out of ideas. Apparently even their product manager and their software developer couldn't suggest anything - pretty disappointing.
Good luck! I'll wait to hear from you.
DParker

toothdk said:

I too have pt sl, but let me chat with them tomorrow, we'll get it fixed!

later,
j

you've got to be kidding....they couldn't help???????

I will figure it out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If I cannot, I will have my coach figure it out....he's a powertap nut, and he will get it going, period.

For now, keep cranking it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DParker said:

Great, let me know what you find out. FYI I have spent quite a bit of time with the CycleOps customer service people, but eventually got to a point where they ran out of ideas. Apparently even their product manager and their software developer couldn't suggest anything - pretty disappointing.
Good luck! I'll wait to hear from you.
DParker

Well, if it helps, here are my details:
Laptop is a Dell Inspiron 2650, 3 years old, running XP Pro with SP2. I have two USB ports only.
I have the Keyspan USB Serial Adapter 19HS, recommended by CycleOps.
The Keyspan software, both PowerTap programs that came with the PT SL, and Cycling Peaks software can see the Keyspan device "idle" at Com4.
But when I try to download, I get a message saying no data has been found.
FYI, I know the PT/cradle works, because I can download to another home computer with a serial port.
Hope that helps... and thanks for try to make this work for me!
DParker

toothdk said:

you've got to be kidding....they couldn't help???????

I will figure it out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If I cannot, I will have my coach figure it out....he's a powertap nut, and he will get it going, period.

For now, keep cranking it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DP,

Try using "ptapdl.exe" directly.

First, open a command prompt window by going to Start\Programs\Accessories. Then change to the folder that contains ptapdl; I think it's C:\Program Files\PowerTap\com . So in command prompt type:

cd c:\program files\powertap\com

The prompt should show your location. Then test to see if ptapdl is there by typing:

ptapdl -v

If it is, it'll give you the version #, "6.11" or whatever.

If that works, you can try downloading. Push the cpu into the cradle so that "HOST" appears, then type:

ptapdl -dtm -com 4

This will download (including date/time data) to the same folder (PT\com), but you can move it later. You will know it's downloading if it says continually: Status "NRECS" in subsystem "PTAP".

If you look at ptapdl.txt in the "doc" folder it explains how to use ptapdl and it's options. It shows the syntax to use in order to save to another folder directly.

Good luck, Jimmy

DP,

I might add that I've never seen the com port listed as "idle". You may want to make sure the USB is plugged into the right port. When you use an adapter, it matters which USB port you use; that's my experience, anyway. You should use the same port on which you installed the serial/usb adapter.

I hope you get it fixed. Ciao

jws said:

DP,

I might add that I've never seen the com port listed as "idle". You may want to make sure the USB is plugged into the right port. When you use an adapter, it matters which USB port you use; that's my experience, anyway. You should use the same port on which you installed the serial/usb adapter.

I hope you get it fixed. Ciao

I'm using the 4 port version of the Keyspan (USA49W), but from what I've seen in the manuals the software works the same. Anyway if I fire up the Keyspan Serial Adapter Assistant, and go to the Adapter Status tab, it will initially say something about No Keyspan Adapters Found. If I then plug the adapter into my USB port, it will show my list of com ports with them all being "Idle". If I fire up a program that grabs one of the com ports (like if I start the download process) the port's status will change to "Busy".

That's a good point about making sure you use the same USB port that you installed the adapter at. There is a option (at the bottom of the Port Mapping tab) to put the adapter in "Geographic" port mapping mode, but I've never got it to work.

DParker,

Have you tried running the adapter diagnostics, it's under the Properties tab?

When you try to download does the port's status (on the Adapter Status tab) change from Idle to Busy?

You might try uninstalling and reinstalling the Keyspan software.

Rick Moll
http://rick.mollprojects.com/

Halleluah!
I should have known it would be a simple fix - I was on the wrong USB connector. Of all things. I never realized the connector you set up is the only one that works in the future, but I do now. I'll tell CycleOps about this as well, perhaps others are facing the same issue.
Thanks to all of you, so much!
Now I need to figure out how to get the CycleOps HR strap to consistently read my HR - I sure wish I could use the new Polar flexible strap, but there's a difference in coding between the two. Any of you have similar problems with the CycleOps HR strap?
In any case, thanks very much for all the help.
DParker

rickmoll said:

I'm using the 4 port version of the Keyspan (USA49W), but from what I've seen in the manuals the software works the same. Anyway if I fire up the Keyspan Serial Adapter Assistant, and go to the Adapter Status tab, it will initially say something about No Keyspan Adapters Found. If I then plug the adapter into my USB port, it will show my list of com ports with them all being "Idle". If I fire up a program that grabs one of the com ports (like if I start the download process) the port's status will change to "Busy".

That's a good point about making sure you use the same USB port that you installed the adapter at. There is a option (at the bottom of the Port Mapping tab) to put the adapter in "Geographic" port mapping mode, but I've never got it to work.

DParker,

Have you tried running the adapter diagnostics, it's under the Properties tab?

When you try to download does the port's status (on the Adapter Status tab) change from Idle to Busy?

You might try uninstalling and reinstalling the Keyspan software.

Rick Moll
http://rick.mollprojects.com/