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Any by the way, it's Belkin, not Bilkin, and that's a real ignorant explanation from such a wise seer... could you please back your claim up with factual proof, as it is contrary to reality?
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Regardless of whether it is using a serial cable coupled with a DB9, or a USB-Serial interface from Belkin or Radio Shack or anywhere else, the RTS/CTS signals are clearly still the traffic manager for the communications load... it is anything but random. Furthermore, the datastream is still serialized as it was written in code, and since it is not processed using a random generator algorithm (would make absolutely no sense) it is still a bitstream processed in order based on the FIFO (first in, first out) buffers that are used to hold the data.
&nbsp\\;
Roger

 

&nbsp\\;
Thanks for that, IndyRider. In response to your followup post to me, doesn't look like I need to as you&nbsp\\;either proved it out yourself or mis-spoke. IF IN FACT YOUR ABOVE STATEMENT IS ACCURATE THEN YOU HAVE PROVEN THAT IT HAS WORKED, AT LEAST ONCE. If it works once, it will work all the time if properly configured... there is&nbsp\\;no mystery with computers... garbage in, garbage out... they&nbsp\\;are only a tool and are only as good as the level of proficiency of the user.
&nbsp\\;
Thank you for your additional input... have a nice Independence Day.
&nbsp\\;
Roger&nbsp\\;

 

Boy Roger talk about personal attacks.............&nbsp\\;
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Not going to play this game with you Roger....you go right ahead and do it your way...that's more than fine with me, sorry to ruffle your tail feathers.

 

I don't have a laptop &amp\\; my PC has Vistaa while back I wanted to adjust the bias table so I borrowed my nephews laptop with XP it had the USB porteverything went fine.
Yesterday I wanted to adjust the timing, my nephew was out of town so I borrowed a friends laptop with XP but had no USB port so I bought an adapter from Radio Shack, now I get the bootloader problem.&nbsp\\;Judging from experience I think&nbsp\\;the problem is the adapter. Thanks again Doc

 

I don't have a SERT so I don't know either.. I do know that using a serial port adapter is sometimes troublesome. Two different adapters will yield two different results. I have used a few different adapters, with the best one being made for Trane (yes, the HVAC company... it's part of the Comm 4 adapter for Rover).

For some reason, the serial adapters like to assign high COM port #'s.. like 8. Some devices that were designed for serial use work better on the original COM 1 through COM 4. Usually, these ports are used by modems and mice. IIRC, COM 1 and 3 share the same IRQ, and COM 2 and 4 share the same IRQ.

For what it is worth, I have an AS in Computer Engineering, and an A+ in Hardware and Software.... not that it matters....

Best thing to do is to buy a used laptop with a serial port to do your SERT work.

 

This is what I baised my statement on because Roger is right I don't know about these things so I rely on people like the guy that told me this:&nbsp\\; I know this guy got an 'A' in school....lol

&nbsp\\;\\\\\\;Interesting trip through serial port communications.&nbsp\\;\\\\\\;I had some fun communication adventures loading the map into the ECM and found out some things about the SERT software.&nbsp\\;\\\\\\; As I worked to get the map loaded it became obvious that the software was designed specifically for a good old fashioned serial port, as I had issues when trying to use a USB-to-serial adapter.&nbsp\\;\\\\\\; I believe this is due to the adapter using software rather than hardware for some functions.&nbsp\\;\\\\\\;The RS232 serial port found on older laptops and desktops primarily uses IC's and hardware to operate.&nbsp\\;\\\\\\; This minimizes the load on the PC processor and assures very close timing for the data signals.&nbsp\\;\\\\\\; The USB-to-serial adapter uses only one IC to translate data from the computer into RS232 signals.&nbsp\\;\\\\\\; The function of several hardware IC's are "emulated"(simulated) by software that requires the PC processor to handle.&nbsp\\;\\\\\\; These functions are in the drivers that must be loaded for the adapter to be recognized by the PC.&nbsp\\;\\\\\\; The big problem with using software to replace the serial port hardware is that the timing of the data signals is not as precise.&nbsp\\;\\\\\\;RS232 serial ports have some signals to act as "traffic control" to keep the computer from (1) sending data when the receiver is not ready and(2) make the computer send data immediately upon demand by the receiver. When the old hardware is used this happens very quickly and smoothly, but a lot of USB-to-serial adapters show delayed reactions to this "handshaking".&nbsp\\;\\\\\\; I tested three different types of USB-to-serial adapters and found significant delays in the handshaking.&nbsp\\;\\\\\\; Referring back to some old texts, the delays were exceeding the specification for RS232 communications. I expect that for most equipment these delays are no problem, but when programming the ECM it becomes very important.&nbsp\\;\\\\\\;I expect that the guys who wrote the upload program for the SERT are using the serial port handshaking to ensure that the data reaches the ECM in a precisely timed order.&nbsp\\;\\\\\\; When a USB-to-serial adapter is used that exhibits poor handshaking timing the program kicks out the bootloader error. This prevents the SERT from trying to load a map when it knows something is wrong with the interface.&nbsp\\;\\\\\\; Incorrectly loading a map to the ECM could be disastrous, so I'm happy that the programmers went the extra mile to be sure the upload doesn't occur unless everything is working right.&nbsp\\;\\\\\\;For myself, I had to use a desktop computer with a hardware serial port to load the map successfully.&nbsp\\;\\\\\\; &nbsp\\;\\\\\\;

 

Wow. After 35 years in network and systems analysis, I didn't know I would need a network analyzer to capture and troubleshoot serial data links to tune a Harley. Not making fun by any means, but getting into serial port handshake and EIA lead state is starting to ruin my retirement. You guys are having to go beyond the norm to do a good tune. Have a great 4th.