FlexControl Is Not Detected

shawje

I searched the Community, but didn't find my problem covered previously.  My FlexControl is not detected and does not show in Device Manager.  It was working until my computer took a lightning ground hit and got the MB replaced.  All equipment is working except the FlexControl.  It lights up when plugged in, but nothing changes in Device Manager.  Just updated to 1.4.11.60 and still the same issue.  Was using 1.4.3.x previously.  I had it assigned to Port 45 before the ground hit and all was well.  Device Manager now shows only Flex Radio on virtual ports 5, 7, 15, and 17.  SmartSDR CAT shows the same four ports.  I have unplugged and re-plugged the FlexControl, and rebooted my computer, to no avail.  Any assistance is much appreciated.

Larry _ NY8T

Do you see the flex control when you go to devices and printers? If so try changing the port to another higher port number.

shawje

No, it does not show up in the Device Manager, same for Devices and Printers.  Thanx for the suggestion.  Before the ground strike, it came up as a low Comm Port and I changed it then to Port 45, but it won't show up now.

Walt

Maybe the Flex control was also damaged in the strike - if it blew up the motherboard, it could of damaged the chip set in the flexcontrol.   Any way of trying all this out on another computer first?

good luck

shawje

I just plugged it into my desktop computer, and it didn't recognize it in the Device Manager.  Way too much of an undertaking to move Flex and SmartSDR to desktop.  Maybe it did **** the chip.  The three lights come on, but that is it.  Haven't opened the FlexControl, maybe someone has and troubleshot it previously and has required pin voltages I can check.  Thanx for the reply.

George KF2T

Check for hidden devices in device manager. The knob sometimes hides there. Delete possible multiple entries and start again. You may need to assign the port manually in the advanced settings, then restart. Good luck!

Stu Phillips - K6TU

If the three LEDs come on then the processor inside the FlexControl is still working.  It is possible that there is some damage to the chip however.

The three LEDs go off when the host operating system (Windows) finds the device on the USB bus and connects to it.  For that to happen, the FlexControl must have been installed.

Follow George's suggestion and see if there are any devices with ??? in the Device Manager.  

If not, then I'm afraid the most likely cause is the USB port on the FlexControl is kaput.

Stu K6TU

shawje

No question marks, exclamation points, or a FlexControl hidden anywhere in Device Manager.  The three LEDs come on and stay on until I unplug the FlexControl.  Is it possible its driver is corrupt?  Is there any way to reload it?

DV

I used a port around 45 and the knob still would not work.  Dudley at Flex support recommended trying a port above 100.  I used 110 and it worked.

shawje

I had no issues with using Port 45.  I just can't get Win 7 Pro to recognize it.

Dan -- KC4GO

Hidden but used serial ports. --- This info received from Dave wo2x 

Here's the steps needed to check.

 

The trick was to open the Command Prompt as administrator and start the Device Manager from the same command prompt.

1. Right-click “Command Prompt” in Accessories and choose “Run as Administrator”

2. Enter “set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1″ – without the quotes obviously

3. Enter “start devmgmt.msc”

4. In the box that opens, select “Show hidden devices” in the ‘view’ menu.

Now if you expand the section on COM ports, all the COM ports that have ever
been created will be displayed, the non present ones being in grey. You can
uninstall away anything that you don’t want (right click, select uninstall).

http://www.fettesps.com/how-to-remove-com-ports-which-are-in-use/

shawje

Thanx, Dan.  Deleted the four or five non-present ones including Port 45 that the FlexControl used.  Restarted Win but it still will not recognized the FC.  I'll give Flex a call in the a.m.  Thanx again for your assistance.

Tim - W4TME

I have changed this post to a problem topic and converted this topic to a support HelpDesk ticket (http://helpdesk.flexradio.com) for expedited issue resolution.  If anyone else is experiencing an issue similar to this one, please submit a HelpDesk support ticket for issue resolution.