X7 DSP controller card doesn't work on Win8

[Tech_Marco]

In the mean time, X7 doesn't support Wind8.0 or Win8.1
Only XP and Win7 only. The programmer is working on it


Marco

[thejuggernaut]

How long do you think it will be before they get it working. It says on your website that it supports windows 8. I have 5 computers and none of them run Windows 7 anymore.

[Greolt]

What's the problem?

LaserCad program will not run on Win8?

Or it will not communicate with the AWC708 on Win8?

The AWC708 does not run on windows. It just communicates with it via USB or Ethernet. Both very robust standards.

[thejuggernaut]

I have the latest version of lasercad running (7.42) on a windows 8.1 machine. But I powered up the head unit and attached it via USB 2.0 and it wouldn't recognize it when I hit the find com button. Just says "communicating unsuccessful." It does make that little windows chime you get when you plug in something with USB. I didn't go look around in my devices. My 13 month old kept trying to come out there and my wife isn't home, so I had to give up.

[Tech_Marco]

As I already said that the X7 will not run on Win8 until a patch is launched. The AWC608 will works just fine. It is not about the LaserCad but the hardware issue on X7. The Win8 does not recongize the X7 USB. No idea why but Li just told me that it won't work on Win8 in the mean time


Maco

[Tech_Marco]

Update:
Just received new LaserCad 7.42 and per Li saying it will support both Win7 and Win8. I will test it tomorrow
It also comes with macro for Adobe Illustrator and with better improvement.


Marco

[Greolt]

How about compatibility with Coreldraw X7.

[thejuggernaut]

I don't know, maybe it needs to be tweaked or I have a setting wrong but when I try to add the CorelDraw add-on, it says it can't find CorelDraw. Marco got a copy of that version, maybe once he looks it over he can make it work better than me with my limited experience.

[mikenmel08]

When will the new laser cad 7.42 be distributed?

[Tech_Marco]

I tried the V7.42 but no luck. The Windows allow it to run but the driver for USB connection from the X7 couldn't be found or installed. I'll talk to Li tonight about the issue. Thank you for your patience.


Marco

[thejuggernaut]

I went and got a Windows 7 rig from my office to try it out on but I got the same thing. Couldn't find the USB driver. Do you have an older version of LaserCAD and drivers that will work with windows 7 and the X7 DSP

[Tech_Marco]

I went and got a Windows 7 rig from my office to try it out on but I got the same thing. Couldn't find the USB driver. Do you have an older version of LaserCAD and drivers that will work with windows 7 and the X7 DSP

Under the LaserCad setup folder, there is a folder name "Update". You can click the "Windows7_32" or "Windows7_32" to make it workable under Win7. Li is working on Win8 now. He said that he would send me a driver later tonight.


I forgot to mention that you can use "Ethernet", the network connection to run the X7 DSP on Win7 and Win8. I'll try a cross over RJ45 cable tomorrow so that I don't have to use a hub. If it works out, I can make some cable for folks who need to run the X7 on Win8 till a new patch released.


Marco

[thejuggernaut]

Are you saying there might be a way to network it without a network hub?

[jeckardt]

I'll jump in on this one to save Marco some time...

There are two types of network cables: "normal" and "crossover".

The "normal" one (which are any that aren't explicitly labeled as "crossover") are intended to wire a "compute device" (i.e., a computer) to a "network device" (i.e., a hub or router).

The "crossover" cable -- named such because the TX and RX pairs are swapped at one end -- can be used if you need to attach two "compute devices" together.

SO, based upon Marco's comments, the DSP is wired as a "computer device". So is your laptop. Normally you'd have to use a hub to connect the two together, but since there are only two devices involved, a "crossover" cable would allow you to connect your laptop directly to the DSP without a hub and at a fraction of the cost.

A crossover cable (often but not always made from red cable so it looks different from a standard one) may be a bit difficult to find. Look for a "real" electronics parts store or a store specializing in computer cables. Should cost only a couple dollars for a short one.

I could give you the pin-out details of both types of cables if you really want them, but I suspect that's not interesting.

[Tech_Marco]

By default, we only need 4 wires from 8 wires for up to 100Mb speed: 1 2 3 x x 6 x x (x = 4,5,7,8 and ignored)
1 & 2 a pair for Transmitting where 3&6 is another pair for Receiving
To make connection without a hub, we need a cross over cable.
It is just simply need t swap 12 and 36 position
So, on one end is 1,2,3,4,5,6,78, then other end is "3,6,1,4,5,2,7,8" Pay attention that 4,5,7,8 position unchanged

See attached image from a mapper showing a crossover RJ45 cable
For standard RJ45,it is going to show "1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8" on both rows!

I tried it and it works great on Win8 without any hesitation to upload a file on the LO-7 DSP!
It will work the same for the AWC608


Marco