Dacta Control Lab Software

[LH4PI]

Update   I find finally the real problem with the serial transmission using  my old Omnibook 600 C running win 3 .11 and Dacta control lab .

It was the ground pin nr 5 in the 9 pin serial port that have mechanically been pushed into the base of the connector and therfore not keep the ekectrical ground path 

I was able to push it out again and fixate pin 5 with superglue ,so now the OB 600C works without the dockingstation ( that was providing the ground path using its extension connector to its 9 pin serial connector )

So all good now !

[LH4PI]

Hi Toastie et all

I found recently  old link with description using the interface A  and use it together with DOSbox-X .  I now have installed version 2024.03.01 . I  want to test if I can get the orignal dos version of Lego  controlab  with interface B  using Dosbox-x  running on  win 11 Pro  and using a  a USB to RS232  dongle  to work .

Anybody  that have tested that before ?

Best  /Lars

[Toastie]

Hi Lars,

58 minutes ago, LH4PI said:

Anybody  that have tested that before ?

not that I know of, but that does not mean anything. I bet DosBox-X will work with interface B, as is does very nicely simulate the serial port at 9600 baud.

With old link, you are referring to this one, right? (https://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?/forums/topic/192941-lego-interface-a-97509771-–-lego-technic-control-1-tc1-referenceideas-thread/)

Are you planning on writing DOS based software for interface B?

All the best,
Thorsten

Edited March 18, 2024 by Toastie

[LH4PI]

Yes , that is the link , fantastic work !

[LH4PI]

Thorsten , I already run the original  control lab  for interface B  in Dos , it works perfectly  on my old OB 600C  so why not try win 11 and DOSbox-X  using DOS 5.0 ?!

[Toastie]

Hi Lars,

I am asking, because I have no clue what kind of software is available for interface B (other than the Windows application found on the web).

So when the original Dacta application is DOS based (please forgive me my ignorance!), it will run with DoxBox-X + USB2Serial adapter almost for sure.

Best,
Thorsten

[LH4PI]

Hi Thorsten

It is no problem to run the  dos  Dacta  LEGO  control lab program ver 1.3   itself using DOSbox-X 

The present  problem  are related to set up the communication  to the Interface B . I have tried to get DOSbox-x  working   using ATEN  usb to serial adapter at com1 .

That serial adapter  works with Windows 7 and windows 11  using windows  bricklab.exe application for the interface B  .

The strange thing  when I run the serial emulation  (using  directserial realport: com1) I only get  communication  working for a short time (at least it indicate that it sense the right port and speed  I believe)  , a few seconds and then the dos program  loose the communication   (Can't find the control box message  is displayed )

I have to play around how to  config and set up  virtual serial1  port  using the DOSbox-x configuration  Tool. It may be that dos program is sensitive for  how it  share the port  with windows in the background and now have incorrect  handshaking that is not what it expect or something  in that direction . I have to investigate  using  a terminal  and usb oscilloscope  or/and play around with the settings I belive

 

Best/Lars

[Toastie]

4 hours ago, LH4PI said:

a few seconds and then the dos program  loose the communication   (Can't find the control box message  is displayed

Hi Lars,

it is all pure speculation because I don't have the hard nor the software ...

Just to get this into the clear:

1. You have the usb2serial adapter plugged in, when DOSBox-X is not running (i.e., you are in the Windows desktop; DOSBox-X it does not recognize the adapter when you plug it into a USB port after it was started);
2. You changed the COM port for that adapter to COM1 in device manager;
3. Then you start-up DOSBox-X with the config file (there are three: 1) dosbox-x.reference.full.conf, 2) dosbox-x.reference.conf, 3) dosbox-x.conf; only the last one is read by DOSBox-X upon start-up - it took me a while to figure that out ^^), where you changed the serial entry to "serial = directserial realport:COM1";
4. Then you run "bricklab.exe", which is the DOS version to control interface B;
5. In "bricklab.exe", the COM port is set to COM1.

Is that correct?

Best,
Thorsten

Edited March 18, 2024 by Toastie

[LH4PI]

Almost correct 

Point 4 differs

Bricklab.exe  is a windows test  program for interfacec B and it works in windows 11 but no use for me.

Ctrlab exe is the original Dacta full funktion DOS program with labview like interface that I can run i DOSbox-X but not yet errorfree communication . I have started to use a sniff terminal program , let see if that help 

[Toastie]

5 minutes ago, LH4PI said:

Bricklab.exe  is a windows test  program for interfacec B and it works in windows 11 but no use for me.

Ah. OK no, that won't work. Does bricklab.exe run under Win 3.11? The latter can be installed in DOSBox-X as well. OK, Win 3.11 was a DOS application anyway

Best,
Thorsten

[LH4PI]

Bricklab.exe actually have been made  by  Swedish programmer  , I have talked to him  but  it is clear that it  is not running win 3.11 but  win 95 and up !.  you find the program here http://www.blockcad.net/dacta/, the interface B 

 

The  sniffer program  I have found that actually support win 11 64 bit is https://www.electronic.us/products/serial-port-monitor/

 

Best Regards Lars 

[LH4PI]

Test of uploading a picture from my Google drive 

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kpDcydF3zalG7CGQnTBvIEHQe4pUOlR-/view?usp=drive_link

Edited March 19, 2024 by LH4PI

[LH4PI]

Hi All 

Anybody that have info or link about a good free rs-232 monitor/analyzer that can " sniff'/ listen to the traffic  between a  wIN 7/10/11 64 bit computer  and a RS 232 device  and save that to file ?

 

Best Regards 

Lars 

[Toastie]

6 hours ago, LH4PI said:

free rs-232 monitor/analyzer that can " sniff'/ listen to the traffic

Hi Lars,

in a German microcontroller forum they said this one does it: https://freeserialanalyzer.com/

For my needs, HTerm was sufficient, so I do not know how this software performs.

Best,
Thorsten

[LH4PI]

Thanks  Thorsten 

I also use Hterm !

I testet the software , but  it is free only for two first  week  and not as good for the same price as my suggestion  in my opinum .

I  have bought a faulty interface B  from USA and hope to be able  to fix it , I let You know .

 

Best Lars 

[LH4PI]

I find a solution , I bought a  vintage Toshiba Tecra  M5   that have  a standard 89 pin serial port (as well as SD, PCCARD, USB, CD/DVD, Video ou and a 80 GB  SATA  harddrive and 2G RAM)   ,  I successfully  install Lubuntu  18.04 LTS and  Dosbox  for linux  and get it working using the  Dacta   Dos program  and  the serial port !

[LH4PI]

I find a solution , I bought a  vintage Toshiba Tecra  M5   that have  a standard 9 pin serial port (as well as SD, PCCARD, USB, CD/DVD, Video ou and a 80 GB  SATA  harddrive and 2G RAM)   ,  I successfully  install Lubuntu  18.04 LTS and  Dosbox  for linux  and get it working using the  Dacta   Dos program  and  the serial port ! https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qP8ikgW1RdHr6lKT7XvZvx8HCeDMJicG/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ksEbxfCaHvN_ZMdJo2E9ZHQbzpGiAcLO/view?usp=drive_link

 

Edited April 9, 2024 by LH4PI

[LH4PI]

Everyone 

I now also want to run interface B , rcx and nxt using robolob 2.9  on windows xp  using natively serial port . Can anybody confirm that the interface B actually works well on this platform.

Best Lars 

Edited April 26, 2024 by LH4PI

[LH4PI]

Hi again 

Please , that must be somebody in this forum that use or have experience using the Robolab that I can share information to get Lego running  

Best Regards Lars 

[Toastie]

1 hour ago, LH4PI said:

that use or have experience using the Robolab that I can share information to get Lego running

Hi Lars,

unfortunately, I don't have Robolab. However, Google tells me that it was intended to be used for programming the RCX and the NXT. The RCX uses either the serial or the USB tower, the NXT a USB cable or Bluetooth. As per Google, Robolab 2.9 does not support BT - that leaves you with the UBS cable for the NXT; I would not know how to attach the NXT via a serial cable.

The only "RS232" only device in your list is then the interface B, correct? That works with a USB2Serial adapter, right?

Or is your inquiry software related? As in: "Does Robolab 2.9 support direct RS232 communication?" I am a bit lost here. I'd just use the USB ports on the XP machine with USB2Serial adapters where required (i.e. for the interface B).  

Best,
Thorsten

EDIT: I just found Robolab on the InternetArchive, installed it and ran it on my Win11 64 bit laptop without problems. As it shows the RCX, NXT, and interface B on the "RCX/NXT settings" tab, and you can select the COM port you want to use along with each of those, I guess all should be fine with USB2Serial adapters, right?   

Edited April 29, 2024 by Toastie

[BatteryPoweredBricks]

I remember trying to get Robolab working years ago but was never successful.  After using the official Lego DACTA Control Lab software I've never had a reason to look back.  If I find any info I'll be sure to pass it along!

[LH4PI]

Hi Thorsten

Okay now You have the sam setup as me,also Download the same  ( I suppose you also update to 2.9 4C)

Since I have the Interface B ( as well as rcx an nxt ) I like to try Robolab  of course I have tried  to communicate  using usb to serial dongle on my windows 7 pro 64 machine but  the communication work not stable ( but using dosbox on the same hardware ad well on my vintage Toshiba Tecra M5  and dacta ctrlab 1.3 work perfectly) 

So it something with Robolab 

 

But if I remember correctly you do not have a Interface B , do You can not test ?!

 

Best Lars

 

 

 

 

[Toastie]

5 hours ago, LH4PI said:

But if I remember correctly you do not have a Interface B

Hi Lars,

no, unfortunately, I don't. It is one of the "last" ;) vintage items, I really like to acquire.

So, on your side, does interacting of Robolab with the RCX work? And if so, how? Do you use the serial or the USB tower?

Best,
Thorsten

 

[LH4PI]

Hi Thorsten

Okay now You have the sam setup as me,also Download the same  ( I suppose you also update to 2.9 4C)

Since I have the Interface B ( as well as rcx an nxt ) I like to try Robolab  of course I have tried  to communicate  using usb to serial dongle on my windows 7 pro 64 machine but  the communication work not stable ( but using dosbox on the same hardware ad well on my vintage Toshiba Tecra M5  and dacta ctrlab 1.3 work perfectly) 

So it something with Robolab 

 

But if I remember correctly you do not have a Interface B , do You can not test ?!

 

Best Lars

HiThorsten 

No , I have not testet rcx yet with robolab but should try to get time  for that tomorrow.  I am initially more interested to get cli to work if possible   . I have tested little more and its clear that the implementation of cli (control lab interface) is buggy and I try to understand what commands works and what is wrong ( it looks like the cli commands use the rcx commands instead sometimes  . 

The update to 2.9 4c  was needed to get at least a basic start of working communication. 

More to come 

Best /Lars

 

 

 

 

 

[LH4PI]

Hi Brian 

When you mention that you tried  CLI (Control Lab Interface ) using Robolab  in earlier  days  but didn't get it to work , do you remember if you get any communication at  all  or not , my knowledge so far is that   it sometimes it  work  (initate the correct outport port  (at least  A,B and C )  and  keep going to do so  but dependent  of the history of  what I do it van stop to work   ,  it can also be that the Robolab  2.9.4c  installation is not set up  correctly .!?  By the way  did you test RCX  with Robolab , better experience with that hardware ?

Best Regards Lars