Guest i need a hero Posted January 16, 2019 recently acquired a used COPAM 2500, trying to start this bad boy up has been frustrating. everything works so far but when I go to cut I get this error : "Can not open the output device. Error intializing." installed drivers, downloaded signblazer, using windows 10, my ports match. However I am using a serial cord with a usb adapter. does that matter? much praises and thanks for any help. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MZ SKEETER 4,709 Posted January 16, 2019 Just any ol' serial to USB will not work on a vinyl cutter. The only one that always works is a Tripp-lite Keyspan Adapter. And check out the user manual in UScutter.com support, if you have not already. Find the best price. example only https://www.ebay.com/itm/TRIPP-LITE-USA-19HS-Keyspan-High-Speed-USB-to-Serial-Adapter-Free-ship/273641976846?hash=item3fb655340e:g:ekYAAOSwdHpcMaHO:rk:9:pf:0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest i need a hero Posted January 16, 2019 Thank you very much! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest i need a hero Posted January 16, 2019 sorry, me again! will any old serial cable work? Or do you have recommendations for that as well? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MZ SKEETER 4,709 Posted January 16, 2019 serial cable should work. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bikemike 711 Posted January 16, 2019 Does the copam need a straight or nul modem serial cable? Will make a difference. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MZ SKEETER 4,709 Posted January 16, 2019 Very old thread Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest i need a hero Posted January 17, 2019 2 hours ago, bikemike said: Does the copam need a straight or nul modem serial cable? Will make a difference. ^^ not sure I know what this means thank you both for your help! will retry these steps tomorrow when my brain has recovered. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MZ SKEETER 4,709 Posted January 17, 2019 Look it up, They are 2 different wired cables. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest i need a hero Posted January 24, 2019 Me again. So I learned this thing needs a straight serial cable. Also I got the adapter you recommended. However, I'm dumb. The adapter side is male and the port on my copam is male as well... is that normal? Do you recommend an adapter for that as well? I cannot find any keyspan usb adapters that are female. It seems like this adapter works better than the last cord I was using, but I still get the same error. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dakotagrafx 7,297 Posted January 24, 2019 the keyspan plugs into your computer - the serial cable for the copam plugs into that and runs to the adapter - that is where the gender change occurs as the cables are generally female on both ends 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest i need a hero Posted January 28, 2019 Ok so Under my Port is says my drivers are configured as Null, I assume that's wrong. How do I configure as Straight? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bikemike 711 Posted January 28, 2019 Post a pic of your screen where it tells you that. Your computer should have no idea what cable is hooked up to it. (to a point, as in usb or serial) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest i need a hero Posted January 29, 2019 Ok actually I think I was confused this is what I saw. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest i need a hero Posted January 29, 2019 I think I'm messing up trying to install the the FTDI drivers. I follow all the steps and download the CDM exe. However, I don't have "USB Serial Adapter" under universal serial bus controllers like they do. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dakotagrafx 7,297 Posted January 29, 2019 the keyspan doesn't use the flaky ftdi chipset - they have a different one and looks to me like you have that installed without an issue - now for the proper cable - I don't know if the copam used a straight or null model cable but they are not interchangeable. also as I recall the copam had it's special serial cable and not a generic one. hopefully someone that has used one since I sold min over 9 years ago is around to answer Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
haumana 1,220 Posted January 29, 2019 COMPORT: 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
darcshadow 1,626 Posted January 29, 2019 From your screen shot, it appears your computer has a comm port, have you looked on the back of your computer for a 9-pin sub D connector? If you have one, there is no need to use the usb adapter, you can plug directly into the computer through the comm port. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest i need a hero Posted January 29, 2019 Ok, I'm determined to get this dang thing working. Dakotagrafx- Thank you, that is helpful info. So your saying I don't even need any of that ftdi drivers because keyspan already has some, could it be possible those drivers are causing an issue and I should uninstall them? Also, I'm pretty sure it uses a straight serial cable. I'm not sure what you mean by special cable but it sounds like this adapter I bought is working for other people. This is the one I'm using- https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000VYJRY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Haumana- Yes I'm not sure what your getting at. I'm set up the virtual comport to be 2 because it started as 5 and flexisign only goes up to 4. I would have chose port 3 (as in the example in the install pdf) but it said in use. Not sure how to tell what its being used by or how to change what ever is using it, or if it even matters. darcshadow- I do not have a 9-pin connector and I believe that port is reffering to my DVI-video port that I have a vga adapter plugged into for my monitor. If somehow that would be useful I could switch my monitor to hdmi port. THanks Everyone! Lets do this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dakotagrafx 7,297 Posted January 29, 2019 The keyspan is the correct adapter (and came with it's own drivers) but the serial cable from the adapter to your computer is the one I refer to = I can't remember if it was a null modem serial cable like the mh uses or if the copam needs a straight cable - one is not compatible with the other Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dakotagrafx 7,297 Posted January 29, 2019 just read an old post in the copam sections and found this as the guy had the same problem as youCopam CP series uses a straight serial cable, and not a Null-modem cable as other cutters Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest i need a hero Posted January 29, 2019 Yes, and I'm using the cable that came with the Keyspan. Shouldn't that be the right one? If not how do I even find a straight serial Usb to Keyspan cable? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dakotagrafx 7,297 Posted January 29, 2019 the keyspan is the usb to serial and the best one we have found - it is the cable from the keyspan to the plotter that has to be a straight cable and not a null modem cable - heck I didn't even know the keyspan came with ANY serial cables Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dakotagrafx 7,297 Posted January 29, 2019 if you are referring to the one that amazon recommends that is the wrong cable as it is a null modem cable Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dakotagrafx 7,297 Posted January 29, 2019 I believe this one is the straight thru female to female like you need https://www.amazon.com/DTECH-Serial-Female-Straight-Through/dp/B07B4V9FJC/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1548782280&sr=8-4&keywords=startech.com+6+ft+straight+through+serial+cable+-+db9+f%2Ff Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites