Re: Dead RCX..
 

The small program thing actually makes sense though. The COM tower will just shutdown if it isn't kept alive (I thought that the mere act of sending data to it would do that, but maybe not.), so after the first 5 seconds of transfer, it gets turned off. If it's a small program, it gets sent in that time. Otherwise, it gets interrupted and the RCX erases what it did have, because there's no point in keeping the incomplete program.

Re: Dead RCX..
 

I just talked to greencactus3 on AIM.
It seems also to me that there is a problem not being switched to Serial Tower.
He did clear out the RCX of all programs using the Reformat thing.
If it takes little programs there can't be a problem with the USB to Serial converter or not being on the right COM port

I do not have the software in front of me could someone tell him how to switch to Serial using RIS 1.5??

Re: Dead RCX..
 

The serial tower stays on for 3 seconds after the last transmit, during which it can recieve messages. It is woken up when you send data. There is a hack to make it stay on when the RTS pin is on.

In RIS 2, it's in the options screen, or when you install the software. If it isn't there and the help file won't tell you, it might not support USB (Though the drivers for the COM/USB thing should set up a virtual COM port).

Try using CommTest from my site. (http://endeavour.zapto.org/astro73/programs/) The current version has some bugs, I'll tell you in it's fixed.

Send anything out the COM ports (try each one) and look for the green light.

Re: Dead RCX..
 

Isn't RIS 1.5 always set to use the serial? It doesn't support USB as far as I know.

Re: Dead RCX..
 

hey mike i have the same problem....i too have emailed LEGO and they havent replied ,,,just wondering if you have had any luck recently