Gerstel MPS2 Agilent 6890/5973 Windows 7 Configuration

[marshallp]

Thanks for taking time to check out this thread.

I recently purchased a Gerstel MPS2 from a reseller and tasked myself to install and get it operational myself but it's proving to be more challenging than I thought it would be.

Annoyingly the MPS was not shipped with PC/GC comm cables or installation software. However, I do have my own Gerstel firmware CDs from a previous place of work. So far I've got to the point of trying to make the PAL Loader program to communicate with the MPS, but all I get is 'Cannot connect to target loader'. I'd like to get past this hurdle before I talk about my ready signals comm cable. I've tried all the COM port options on the PAL Loader Setup page.

I'm sure in my previous place of work this PAL Loader (1.1.1) communicated okay between an MPS2 and a Windows 2000 PC via RS232. I know we upgraded to Windows 11 and the MPS2 RS232 now goes to a Moxa NPort which does RS232 to ethernet conversion and it works. I don't know why we needed to take that approach on the upgrade to Masshunter rather than straight to a serial port on the PC, maybe someone is able to answer that.

Here is my PC config at the moment:
- OS: Windows 7
- Serial port: ASIX AX99100 PCIe to High Speed Serial Port
- PAL Loader 1.1.1
- Gerstel MPS2

I've tried both serial and null RS232 cables but get the same response. Can anyone confirm what type it should be? There isn't a crazy pinout is there?

Can anyone let me know if they know a working configuration for a Windows 7, PAL Loader 1.1.1 (or other) for a Gerstel MPS2 (maybe CTC PAL would be equivalent too).

Thanks!

[marshallp]

Just an update on no progress.

Tried a Windows XP 32-bit OS and got no further.

Tried a straight and crossover serial cable once more and got no further.

Can anyone confirm the pinout of the PAL RS9B-3000 cable?

Thanks!