"I
need to use C-Meter with two 02Rs and I have only one COM port available...what
do I do?"
It's likely
that you have a mouse plugged into the other COM port. There are two
ways to deal with this.
The first
solution is to replace the serial mouse with PS/2 mouse. Nearly all
newer motherboards have PS/2-type bus mouse connectors available, and
you can often find PS/2-type bus mice, which were typically much costlier
than serial mice, in the bargain bins of larger PC stores and electronics
shops.
The second
solution is to use a USB mouse. Installation of a USB mouse requires
an operating system with USB support (Win98 or newer), and a motherboard
with USB support (most newer motherboards have two USB ports onboard).
USB mice are typically more expensive than comparable serial mice, but
prices are falling as USB devices become more popular. A USB mouse may
be your only choice if bus mice have disappeared from the shelves of
your local PC shops.
Installation
of a bus mouse or USB mouse will likely require reconfiguration of the
motherboard's BIOS settings to permit detection of the mouse, and will
also require reinstallation of mouse drivers for the new mouse configuration.
"Mouse
control disappears when I launch C-Meter. What's the problem?"
C-Meter 02R
Visualizer use COM Port 2 by default for connection with the 02R. You
likely have your mouse connected to this port, either in hardware or
in Windows.
The first
thing to check is your motherboard connections. Compare the connections
you're using against the COM port assignments listed in your motherboard's
manual. If you have your mouse connected to the second COM port, you
should swap the connections of your 02R connector and your mouse. Be
sure to power down your PC before swapping connections, though. Windows
should auto-detect the changed COM port usage and set your mouse up
properly when you reboot your PC. You may find better overall compatibility
with other software when your mouse is connected to COM 1. Some Windows
apps expect to find the mouse connected to this port and won't run correctly
when another port is used.
The alternative
to changing hardware connections is to change software connections in
C-Meter 02R. If you've already had to monkey with your COM port assignments
to get a modem working correctly, then changing hardware connections
could cause more problems than it solves. C-Meter COM port defaults
can be changed from the Options menu. Select Communicaton|Settings
and modify the COM port, exit C-Meter and restart Windows to insure
that the changed COM assignment "takes".
"Why
won't C-Meter connect to the 02R after I use my modem?"
Likely because
the 02R and your modem are sharing a COM port. Restarting Windows will
solve the problem...at least until you use your modem again.
If you're
on the Internet a lot while using your 02R, you should probably insure
that the modem and C-Meter don't share a COM port. If necessary, have
your mouse share a port with the modem. See other FAQs in this category
for details.
"I
simply can't get C-Meter to connect to the 02R. Is there a diagnostic
procedure for this?"
Yes there
is. Here are the steps to follow to isolate and eliminate the source
of the problem.
First, check
to make sure that you truly have a faulty connection. If the lower left
area of the screen doesn't specifically say that is disconnected, then
the mixer is connected. Check the settings on the 02R to insure
that the 02R is properly synchronized to C-Meter. Next, select
the Automix page. You should see the time code display in the
upper left-hand corner. The Communication|Speed area
should be greyed out and X1 will usually be the selected
default, which cannot be changed when this area is greyed. If this area
does in fact look OK, then you have a proper connection with your 02R,
and the problem likely lies with incorrect setting of the 02R's defaults.
Second, swap
the connection cable with your spare 02R connection cable to insure
that the cable isn't the problem. (You do have a spare serial
connection cable for your 02R, don't you? You don't? Shame
on you!)
Third, check
the connection settings in C-Meter. From the Options
menu, select Communication|Settings and insure that
the COM port setting selected here corresponds with the COM port used
by the hardware cable.
Fourth, scan
the FAQs for other connection problems to insure that none of them address
your problem.
Fifth, if
the COM port is already open, you'll need to determine what hardware
device or software is using that port. Once you isolate the offending
device or program, you'll need to either uninstall that program or remove
that device while using C-Meter. (You may need to set up a multiple-boot
configuration on your PC to accommodate this; regrettably we can't provide
you with complete instructions for doing this at this time.)
Sixth, if
you receive an Invalid Port Number or COM Port
Not Available message, you'll need to change the COM port used
by Visualizer. Consult the manual or online help for assistance.
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