Problem with Set-Up of ESU Lokprogrammer

[davefoxx]

I am standardizing on ESU sound decoders in all of my locomotives.  I have been successful modifying the CVs on these decoders through JMRI to tweak the settings for improved train handling and sound effects.  So, this week, I bought an ESU Lokprogrammer, so I can update the software on my decoders, e.g., upgrade a few Loksound Select decoders to Full Throttle.  Yay!  But, I can't get it to work.  Boo!

Admittedly, I am not computer savvy.  Disclaimer: I am attempting to run this hardware through a Mac, and Lokprogrammer is only compatible with Windows.  So, I went to Codeweaver and purchased the CrossOver software to run Windows programs on a Mac.  (An older version of this software is what I have successfully used in the past to run AnyRail on my Mac).  After a lot of trial and error last night (mostly error), the Lokprogrammer software is installed and will open on my Mac.  Success!  However, . . .

THE PROBLEM: I cannot get the USB/serial cable to be recognized by my Mac.  In other words, while the Lokprogrammer software will run, I cannot get the Mac and the Lokprogrammer to communicate with each other, because the cable is not recognized.  I need help in a bad way.  I did download the drivers for the USB cable from ESU.  I believe that I have set it up through CrossOver, but it just won't work, regardless of which USB port I plug it into on the Mac.  Help!

DFF

[Mark W]

Just covering all the bases here, are you using the USB-Serial cable supplied with the LokProgrammer?  It requires a specific cable type.  My LokProgrammer arrived without the cable, but I wanted to use it now so I bought a (not so cheap) one from BestBuy, but like you nothing was recognized.   Once ESU's cable arrived, everything ran perfectly and I returned the BBY cable.   

[davefoxx]

Just covering all the bases here, are you using the USB-Serial cable supplied with the LokProgrammer?  It requires a specific cable type.  My LokProgrammer arrived without the cable, but I wanted to use it now so I bought a (not so cheap) one from BestBuy, but like you nothing was recognized.   Once ESU's cable arrived, everything ran perfectly and I returned the BBY cable.

Thanks for responding, Mark.  Yes, the Lokprogrammer came with the USB cable, and I downloaded the driver from ESU's website.  I'm sure I'm doing something wrong, but I don't have any more ideas.  Interestingly, I also tried the USB/serial cable that I have that does work on this Mac for JMRI (to connect to my NCE command station), but it also wasn't recognized.  D'oh!

DFF

[Jbub]

I don't know why they still use the serial port. USB/Serial cords are hit and miss in compatability because there is something wrong with the converting chip in them. There are ways around it but if you're not tech savvy it's hard to find what to do. I don't know why esu hasn't made the new programers straight USB

[davefoxx]

There are ways around it but if you're not tech savvy it's hard to find what to do.

This is exactly what I am up against.  I was hoping somebody here could somehow walk me through it. 

DFF

[reinhardtjh]

So, I went to Codeweaver and purchased the CrossOver software to run Windows programs on a Mac.  (An older version of this software is what I have successfully used in the past to run AnyRail on my Mac).  After a lot of trial and error last night (mostly error), the Lokprogrammer software is installed and will open on my Mac.  Success!  However, . . .

THE PROBLEM: I cannot get the USB/serial cable to be recognized by my Mac.  In other words, while the Lokprogrammer software will run, I cannot get the Mac and the Lokprogrammer to communicate with each other, because the cable is not recognized.  I need help in a bad way.  I did download the drivers for the USB cable from ESU.  I believe that I have set it up through CrossOver, but it just won't work, regardless of which USB port I plug it into on the Mac.  Help!

DFF

I am sad to say, CrossOver won't work.  I had the same experience that you did.  After much fussing getting the right pieces of .NET installed and other Windows parts I got the LokProgrammer software to mostly work.  But it won't talk to the USB ports.  No way, no how.  I Googled and Googled and found several supposed fixes but none worked.

As far as I know the only way to run the LokProgrammer software and have it talk to the hardware on a Mac is by using a PC emulator with actual Windows.  I use Oracle's VirtualBox and Windows 7 Pro.  Dave Sands of the JMRI and LokSound groups uses Parallels and others have used VMWare Fusion.  The problem with this approach is that you have to also buy Windows.  But there is no other way around this.  If I were you, I'd use VMWare Fusion.  I've used it before and it's pretty simple to set up and use.  I switched to Oracle VirtualBox for some techy reasons (running Linux systems on my Mac) which wouldn't help you.  Then again, VirtualBox is free, Fusion is about $50 I think.

Sorry, Dave. 

I don't know why they still use the serial port. USB/Serial cords are hit and miss in compatability because there is something wrong with the converting chip in them. There are ways around it but if you're not tech savvy it's hard to find what to do. I don't know why esu hasn't made the new programers straight USB

macOS has several USB/serial drivers already installed.  The FTDI driver and pl2303 are the most common.  I use several FTDI based cables and haven't had any problems.

[jdcolombo]

I used to use VMware's Fusion, but then I decided that if I'm running Windows anyway, it would be easier just to dual boot it and run Windows natively via Bootcamp.  So that's what I did.  Eventually I bought a new MacBook, and the old one now just sits in my work room running Windows for just this purpose.

But . . . you might be able to pick up a used, older laptop or desktop (if you have an extra monitor lying around) with Windows already installed for not much more than you'd pay for a retail version of Windows, and just dedicate that to your JMRI/LokProgrammer setup.   Used computer equipment is really, really cheap, and you don't need much horsepower for this.

John C.

[davefoxx]

John,

As always, thank you sharing for your vast knowledge.  You have confirmed my worst fears.  Oh, well, the only real loss is the new subscription to CrossOver.  I'll probably look into VMWare and Windows.  I wish there was an el cheapo PC that I could buy that would include Windows and avoid this whole Mac complexity.  I could just make this my dedicated JMRI/Lokprogrammer computer.

DFF

EDIT: HAHA!  Love the simultaneous post, John!

[Mark W]

...
But . . . you might be able to pick up a used, older laptop or desktop (if you have an extra monitor lying around) with Windows already installed for not much more than you'd pay for a retail version of Windows, and just dedicate that to your JMRI/LokProgrammer setup.   Used computer equipment is really, really cheap, and you don't need much horsepower for this.

John C.

Black Friday is around the corner.   JMRI/LokProgrammer will run on the lowest spec laptops which many will be priced lower than the LokProgrammer itself.
 
https://www.bfads.net/

Oh, well, the only real loss is the new subscription to CrossOver.

If it didn't support the program you intended it for, you can probably get your subscription refunded, or at the very least the remaining subscription pro-rated back.

[davefoxx]

If it didn't support the program you intended it for, you can probably get your subscription refunded, or at the very least the remaining subscription pro-rated back.

No biggie.  I can use it for AnyRail, but I may need to renew that, too. 

DFF

[davefoxx]

Black Friday is around the corner.   JMRI/LokProgrammer will run on the lowest spec laptops which many will be priced lower than the LokProgrammer itself.

Anyone want to recommend a cheap laptop that will run LokProgrammer?  It would also need to have WiFi, so I can get internet access to download programs from ESU for decoder and LokProgrammer updates.

Thanks,
DFF

[RBrodzinsky]

There are perfectly acceptable laptops from HP, Dell and Lenovo listed on Amazon in the $150 range, with WiFi and Windows. Not the speediest, nor biggest displays, but just fine for LokProgrammer and JMRI.

[jdcolombo]

https://www.discountelectronics.com/dell-latitude-e6400-windows-7-pro-laptop/

(just one example; there are a bunch of places on the net that sell used/refurbished laptops).

John C.

[reinhardtjh]

That Dell Latitude is decent (for a Windows PC  ). when I worked as a contractor at GE that's what they gave me but with 8GB memory.  4GB will run JMRI or LokProgrammer just fine.

[peteski]

There are plenty of refurbed laptop deals on ebay. Few years ago I bought a Dell Latitude E6410 laptop (it was fairly vintage even then) for couple hundred dollars. It has Win 7 Pro (64-bit) installed. Intel Core i5 2.6GHz, 4GB RAM, 250GB hard drive. I also pickled up a docking station for it to get the serial and parallel ports, and couple additional video ports.  That is actually the laptop on which I'm typing up this message. I run all sorts of software on it (including the LokProgrammer).    Plenty of "horsepower" for what I do on it.