HELIOS 10 WITH QUESTAR TIMERS

[SURFBOSS1]

I HAVE JUST CONVERTED TO HELIOS 10 IN A NEW DELL PENTIUM 4 FROM HELIOS 9 IN A 2 YEAR OLD COMPUTER. THE DELAY EXPERIENCED WHILE THE COMPUTER COMMUNICATES WITH THE TIMER HAS GONE FROM ABOUT 1 SECOND TO 5 OR 6. I HAVE RESET THE BAUD RATE (2400) AND THE QUESTAR DELAY (.1)TO MATCH MY HELIOS 9 SETTINGS. DECREASING THE TIMER DELAY TO .01 AND UNCHECKING THE FIFO BOX HAVE NO EFFECT. SOMEYHING IN XP PROFESSIONAL SEEMS TO CONTROL THE DELAY. HELIOS TECH SUPPORT CANT SEEM TO HELP. THE DELAY IS VERY IRRITATING AND WIL BE UNWORKABLE IN THE BUSY SEASON. I WILL GO BACK TO H9 IF THIS CANT BE FIXED.

[Andy]

You will have better luck talking to Rob (or Ron) can not remember ... at SunStar Timers. They are the current supplier of what used to be Questar and he has been VERY helpful to a number of my clients.

http://www.sunstartimers.com/


They actually have a completely separate Timer Server program that works with Helios and their timers .... works very well.


If you do decide to "upgrade" to V9 (just kidding ... V10 has in my opinion on most issues finally reached the stability of V9) .... I have a utility at allows me to restructure V10 data back into V9 format. .... call if interested

[Andy]

They actually have a page in their Knowledge base dealing with Slow Communications re V10 .... this may also help:

Knowledge Base Article #KBSS008
Last updated: June 10, 2003
Units are slow or not communicating using Helios10.

Part 1 - Get Timer Configuration

Run QCOM1 and QCOM2 from the testdisc or StarCom or StarComD from the Customer InfoPak. Take note of the COM port, Unit Id, and baud rate being used by the timer.

Part 2 - Configure COM port

Now configure your COM port using the Control Panel as follows (assumes Win95/98):

Click "Start", then "Settings", then "Control Panel". The Control Panel window will open.
Double click on the "System" icon (near the bottom). The "System Properties" property sheet will appear.
Click on the "Device Manager" tab.
Click on the plus (+) sign next the line that says "Ports (COM & LPT)".
Highlight the communications port that the timer is connected to as reported by QCOM1, QCOM2, or StarCom.
Click on the "Properties" button. The "Communications Ports Properties" property sheet will appear.
Click on the "Port Settings" tab.
Change the setting to match the following:

Bits per second: 2400
Data bits: 8
Parity: None
Stop bits: 1
Flow control : Xon/Xoff


Click the "Advanced..." button.
Make sure there is a check in the box that says "Use FIFO buffers".
Click "Ok".
Click "Ok".
Click "Ok".
Close the Control Panel window (X in upper right).
Part 3 - Change The Delay Setting

Click "Start", then "Run".
Type "regedit.exe" then click "Ok".
Click the plus (+) next to "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE".
Click the plus (+) next to "SOFTWARE".
Click the plus (+) next to "HELIOS".
Click the plus (+) next to "HELIOS10".
Click folder next to "UTILITY".
Right click on "QUESTAR DELAY", then click "MODIFY".
Type in ".1" to change setting (Recommended starting point).
Click "OK".
Close the Registry Editor window (X in upper right).
Part 4 - Restart Windows


Click "Start", then "Shut Down".
Select "Restart" and click "Ok".
All computers are different. We recommend that you run at this setting for at least a week. If there is no loss of communication, you want to lower the delay setting by .01 increments (IE, .09 .08 so on..) by following the procedures in PART 3, getting this number as low as you can get without any loss of communication. In doing this, you are optimizing the time it takes for the computer to send time to the timer. If you lose communication with the timer, increase the setting.


© Copyright 2001, SunStar Timers, Inc.