Unknown device id (0)

[paulcd2000]

I know there's another thread for this, but since no one has been checking that, and I have new info, I'm posting here. Every time we try to load code, we get "Unknown Device Id (0)", and it also says "Invalid CTS Handshake".
We have already tried:
4 computers (not all windows)
3 USB-serial Cables
2 DB-9 Male-Female Serial Cable
2 RC's (07 and 08)
and more...

We've tried several different versions of code, including default code.
Does anybody have any ideas?

[RyanN]

Email IFI.

[d235j]

It's possible that your USB-Serial cables are causing problems. If possible, try connecting directly to a serial port.

[CardcaptorRLH85]

I hope that when they change the interface next, that they consider using USB for the program connection. I've seen Serial-to-USB cables die for no reason whatsoever. Also I can't seem to easily find a new laptop with a serial port.

[Alan Anderson]

Originally Posted by CardcaptorRLH85

...I can't seem to easily find a new laptop with a serial port.

The answer to that problem is to find an old laptop. They're not expensive. In fact, I've bought two of them this year, for a grand total of $205. The "fast" one is used as the programming computer; the "slow" one (running Windows 98, yet) is dedicated to the dashboard at the moment.

[paulcd2000]

Alright, so i have news. The good news is that we can load code onto the robot using the newest usb-serial cable. The bad news is that this was also the case with the first and second cable at the beginnings of their lives, and then they failed for no apparent reason. So while buying a new USB-serial cable seems to solve the problem temporarily, we can't just just buy a new usb-serial cable every couple weeks, especially if it fails at the competition. Is the only solution using an older laptop?

[j_johnso]

As a note, if anyone is looking for a new laptop with a serial port, the Dell Latitude's do include a serial port. I would not suggest buying one of these specifically for programming, as it is overkill, but it is a good multipurpose laptop for the price. (The low end ones start at about $550.)

[paulcd2000]

THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN SOLVED!!! To any teams who get this same problem: here is the solution: The USB connectors on these cables have very thin metal pins, and they are pushed into the insulation so they lose contact. Fixing the problem is just a matter of gently squeezing the flat side of the connector to increase the pressure on the pins once inserted.

More importantly, inserting them gently on the USB end and making sure that
the cable doesn't hang down (but runs across a flat surface near the laptop)
will prevent this from happening again.