The Mikohn Mark2 Animation Logic Board

[stayouttadabunker]

A totally new ballpark for me...
I've never played with the animation boards before and I am making headway!...
However, tonight I ran straight into a brick wall
There's quite a bit to this...
First you gotta hook it all up to a huge 2x3 Mikohn display and use 3 power supplies!
A 9Vdc for the Mk2 logic board, and two Mikohn PS's power up the display panels.
A DB9 9-pin serial cord from the desktop computer to the Mk2's serial port.
Then you draw 3 simple Text .pic files with a program called  the IBM Story board and
save them to your hard drive into a batch file.
From there,  you use the WindowsV2.0 DOWNLOAD.exe program and
run it to send the animations to the MK2 Logic board which in turn
drives the animations onto the big display panels!
You configure both the MK2 and the Mikohn Downloader so that they are
on the same page and can talk to each other.
That's where I ran into a wall...

I downloaded and couple of short video clips from youtube to first show
how you're supposed to download the .pic files to the MK2 driver board?
I know it's not communicating because an error pops up right away saying that the
there's an "Error Getting Directory"- meaning there's something wrong with
com 1port from my computer to the J6 serial port header on the Mk2.

The second short video take is just the display going through the boot up sequence after I applied power.
Has anyone played with these before?
If not, how can I obtain some type of DB9 serial communication?
From the very thin and vague Mikohn Animation Display "Fast Entry"document,
I understand that the ports need to be configured to have the same addresses
(Group address=255/  ID address=64) on both ends and they shoot
information into the lines using the 9600 baud.
I've done all this...what piece of the puzzle is missing?

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/xmCJwq-gJK0&rel=0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/xmCJwq-gJK0&rel=0</a>

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/xXFLAMGm4KU&rel=0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/xXFLAMGm4KU&rel=0</a>

[stayouttadabunker]

Picture of MK2 Logic Board hooked up w/display and
a pic of the Mark2 Logic Board>>>

[stayouttadabunker]

Here's the MK2's DB9 serial port which is
the "default port" according to the "Fast Entry" manual
and a pic of the secondary 6-pin header which I believe
can connect to a CON2 Supercontroller.
The LEDs for the TX (transmit data) and the RX (receive data)
do not light up even though I tested them and are not burned out.
That's a dead giveaway that there's no communication>>>

[stayouttadabunker]

The first pic is the Mikohn labeling on the board while
the 2nd pic is of the other end of the DB9 plugged into the com1 serial port
of my computer.
The number in black on the top side 5 pins in in this order:

#1 pin out from computer=NC. (not connected)
#2 pin out from computer=TX  (red)
#3 pin out from computer=RX  (green)
#4 pin out from computer=NC  (Not Connected)
#5 pin out from computer=GRD (Black)

[CaptainHappy]

Just a quick shot in the dark that someone who remembers better than I can confirm....

Is this the instance where the serial cable needs to have a couple pins jumpered or crossed?? I seem to remember something about pin 1 and 5 maybe???

You may be way beyond this question, but I figured bringing up the thought could not hurt!

CH

[Tomba]

Hey Guys,

I am 100% sure I have the manual for this board in a box somewhere but never worked on it. Storyboard I used ages ago for the supreme display so this I can not help you with. Tomorrow morning I will look for the manual and will try to scan it. I am leaving Tuesday for a 10 day trip so if I don't manage in time just wait a little bit. In the meantime good luck with the board.

Tom

[knagl]

I'm not familiar with the Mark 2 board you're using, Mark, but a few things I can tell you from connecting to the Supreme that I have:

Yes, you must use a serial cable with pins 1 and 5 jumpered on the Mikohn side.  This is the same cable that would be used for a ChamII+ and PSP.

Change the address on the board -- 255 and 64 are bad news as they can potentially represent more than one sign and cause communication issues.  Change the GRADR (Group Address) to 1 instead of 255, and the IDADR (ID Address) to, I don't know, 5.  Then, in the Download software, make the changes in the drop-down menu to match the sign.  If the sign has a setting, make sure that it's set to 9600 baud.  You should be able to change the sign settings by moving the configuration switch on the sign and then using the menus to change the address and verify that it's set to 9600 baud.

[stayouttadabunker]

Thanks guys for helping me out! 
It's a snap changing configurations but I thought this unit used a straight serial cable...
I have a jumpered DB9 serial cable that I use for the other Mikohns.
I believe the jumped pins was for the handshake?
Serial connections was never my cup of tea...
there's so many different ways to configure them. ArgHH!!.

[stayouttadabunker]

Update:
I soldered in a jumper wire between pins #1 & #5 in the Mikohn side of the serial cable harness.
I set both the Mikohn Downloader V2.0 program and the MK2 animation board to use:
Port 1 at 9600 Baud,
Group Address=5
ID Address=5
Jackpot Group=0
Ran the Downloader and still no communication between my computer and the logic board.
I know this because I get the same error readout of "Error Getting Directory" and
absolutely no Tx and Rx LEDs lit up.
How can I verify if there's anything coming out of my serial Port on my desktop motherboard?
I have a 3-18V Logic meter.
Using the extra power harness splitter in my computer that plugs into the hard drive and CD/DVD roms -
I have 12Vdc and 5Vdc. If I hook up the Logic meter to the 5Vdc and
touching the pins on the serial header while "sending" should tell me the logic is on
high or low when the meter is set on TTL right?

[Foster]

Serial Ports (RS-232) are Negative Voltage for Logic 1 and Positive Voltage for Logic 0

Computer Transmit to MK2 Receive
Computer Receive to MK2 Transmit
DTR and DSR etc I cant remember off the top of my head.

Post the manual page with the DB9 pins for the MK2.
or compare it to the Cham II+ if it is the same a standard serial cable with jumpered 1 and 5 will work.
 

[stayouttadabunker]

Thanks Foster!
Attached below is a short video clip of a logic tester
on the MK2's third (#3) serial port pin.

Before I start the Mikohn Download program, that pin is on green ("Low").
As I start the program, I get a single red flash ("High") on the logic tester.
After a few seconds, I get a couple of more red ("High") flashes.
The final 4th red ("High") flash is at the point in time when the Error code
message of "Error Getting Directory" pops up on the screen.

The amazing thing is that the signal is definitely going through the serial cable at the #3 pin
position from my computer to the MK2 board, and the video proves that.
But the Rx and Tx LEDs on the Mk2 board are not lighting up.
I tested the LEDs and they are known good.

My vague Mikohn Animation Display "Fast Entry"manual does NOT have
any pin-out descriptions whatsoever.
I uploaded my copy of the "Fast Entry" manual into the "Submit A New File" section.
What I really need is a more full-version manual that will show my the serial port DB9-pin configuration.
I will look at the Supreme manual which might help?

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/fAQQPqVnPpQ&rel=0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/fAQQPqVnPpQ&rel=0</a>&

[Foster]

Stout,

Try to find a regular Serial Cable, or make one.
It is a straight through cable pin 1 to 1, 2 to 2, 3 to 3 etc. just jumper pin 1 and 5.

You may have one laying around someplace, especially if you had an external modem at one time or another.
Try it with a jumper on 1 and 5,

The 3 wire setup you are using has no provisions for hardware handshaking (DTR/DSR, etc are used for that).
I can tell you if the MK2 acts like the Cham II+ when we use PSP with the Cham II+, hardware handshaking is used by the MK2.

[stayouttadabunker]

You're right about my cable only having 3 wires with 1 & 5 jumped.
Are you saying I should populate all 9 pins with wires and still jump the 1 & 5 ?

[Foster]

  

[stayouttadabunker]

Okay Foster...I'm on it! "Straight Pinned"...give me a few minutes to make one up...

[stayouttadabunker]

Update:
All 9 pins are straight through from computer to MK2 and
pins 1 & 5 are jumped on the Mikohn end of the cable.
There's something going on but I don't know what.
Still no LEDS for the Tx & Rx on the MK2 but whenever I pull the serial cable out or plug it back in -
the display goes through it's boot up test.
We're getting somewhere because now the MK2 is reacting to something I'm doing at least!
I suspected that it didn't need the jumpered 1 & 5 pins so
I cut the jumper...no change, nada, no communo...

I'm still getting the "Error Getting Directory" error code and I noticed that whenever
I try to send a file ( .pic / .sh~ / or .bat ) to the MK2 by hitting the "Send" button -
I get an error message "No Target Address!"...
I've configured both the MK2 and the Mikohn Downloader with identical addresses,
so I'm suspecting that the Downloader is still not able to
send signals down the cable to the correct MK2 pins...

[stayouttadabunker]

The more I do research and browsing around looking for information and documentation -
the more I get back to a serial DB9 with this configuration I've posted below.>>>
This one's from an Mikohn ChamIII manual.
The Mikohn Supreme manual also has similar serial configured cabling.
The thing that's NOT in ANY of these documents is the jumpered #1 & #5 pins. Difficult...
This is the first time I've seen that there should be a 1K ohm resistor in pin #1.
IGT's documentation is so vague...I wonder if the resistor should be 1/4 or 1/2 watt?

[Foster]

Computer Com Port DB9

1 Data Set Ready
2 Receive Data
3 Transmit Data
4 Data Terminal Ready
5 Ground
6 Data Set Ready.
7 Request To Send
8 Clear To Send
9 Ring Indicator

The Mark 2 is configured as Data Communication Equipment (modem)
Check your com port settings and disable all handshaking including X-on X-off,

[knagl]

The thing that's NOT in ANY of these documents is the jumpered #1 & #5 pins. Difficult...

This image is from Mikohn and indicates in places that it is for a CON1, CON2, PSP, CHAM II, and CYCLE STEALER SUPREME (a "Supreme").  It indicates that a jumper must be soldered between pins 1 and 5 on the Mikohn end.

It does not mention the Mark 2, so it may not be the right cable for it, or this drawing could pre-date the Mark 2, also.

[tacman]

Well, my Elite Series displays I thought were the newest PGI/Mikohn around. They utilize a completely different conversion and transfer program than any of the other Mikohn displays, BUT the transfer cable is the same that has been shown in this thread. I have not opened up my Elites, since they have metal cases, so I don't know if there is a mark2 board in them or not. I do know that it took me 2 years to get the programs and a remote to operate/contol the displays and that was before IGT took complete control of PGI.

 Dan (tacman)

[stayouttadabunker]

It would be fantastic if you could take a look inside and post a couple of pictures for me?
We might have the same beasts but I'm suspecting you still have a newer version of
a progressive board than mine. Why?
Because my MK2 sockets' occupation consists of 3 chips dated around 1993.

I want to thank you very much for the cable drawings knagl...
I can see the left side of the drawings showing the jumped #1 to #5 pins.
I have a cable like that I made for the Mikohn CON1s...

However, I'm leaning now towards to what Foster is saying about the Mk2
being configured as a modem, and a possibility that my computer might
be doing some "Handshaking" that I'm not aware of...

In the Windows Download 5.5 program, there's stuff in there about modems
and I couldn't understand what that was all about until Foster confirmed it.
Jay is right about me being "in un-charted waters" on this beast... 
I've wracked my brains the entire weekend trying to hammer this serial puzzle out.

The closest I came to communication with the Mk2 was that
whenever I pulled the serial cable off the board, the display would
go into the start-up sequence of displaying the configurations I put into it earlier.
(Via the value/function buttons on the board itself.)
The battery is still good because it retains my settings no matter
how long I leave the board un-powered.

I ran into a bit of luck by contacting the Rocket and I am waiting for a more
descriptive MK2 board Manual which I hope will shed more light and instructions on the
different jumpers, serial/modem communication, proper software/hardware, etc.
The "Fast Entry" manual I have is far too vague...  

[StatFreak]

...
The "Fast Entry" manual I have is far too vague...  

Maybe you're just reading it too S-L-O-W-L-Y. 



  (about something else that's related)

[knagl]

I did see that the Download 2.0 program does specify it can be used with the Mark 2.

[stayouttadabunker]

Yes,
The older 5.5 version..though a real pain to use because it doesn't like to respond to my mouse, is the version
depicted in the "Fast Entry" manual. It specifically states to set the board and
DOWNLOAD.exe program to group address (GRADR) of 255, and the ID address (IDADR) to a "1".
The Select to a "6" then hit "T" for transmitting to the board.
There's more in the "Fast Entry" manual but it's not too specific on the error codes and
how to resolve them other than stating that I should
"assess the serial connection between your computer and the logic board".
This part I spent my entire weekend on...LOL
Apperaently the program tries to make 3 attempts to send data before the error code pops up.
Whenever I try "send" I get an instant error of "to what address?" meaning
it doesn't recognize the ID's of the boards' addresses.
I will continue to explore this board further as I search for more documentation about it.

[Foster]

Stout

Try opening hyperterminal if you use XP and point it to the com port that you use for the MK2 board.
Setup a direct connection in hyperterminal.
Connect, press enter a few times.
See if you get a response from the MK2 like "COMMAND -->"

I get the following text from my Cham II+ "COMMAND -->"