USB-interface for DiveRite/Tusa/Apeks/Cressi

[dexter98]

I've now bought the Apeks Quantum - so a dive during the weekend wil tell.

Thanks for all your answers.

Btw: The cressi sure looks better....

That would be great! Last few days, thanks to bill, I've managed to draw a schematic for a serial adaptor cable. More details about it can be found in this thread: http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=126233&page=2.

If this trick is going to work, we're done!

 

[Hanssing]

I've now bought the Apeks Quantum - so a dive during the weekend wil tell.

I had a couple of dives yesterday, and the quantum failed, after I pushed a button :06: It got stuck on onel display page, and the buttons no longer worked. It seems the buttons shorted out due to water ingress (my guess). The buttons did not work on land either. This morning I could use the buttons again, so I got to perform a download:

Cressi-software ver. 5.00 did not want to talk to the quantum, since it was a wrong product :11doh:

Apeks software ver. 4.02 downloaded the dives without problems

So the answer to my original post is - yes the interface works.
But the quantum sucks :crossbone
I've since read about the many problems with water-ingress for these computers. Well back to the LDS with this one.

Nicolai

 

[Hanssing]

Hanssing,

Let me know if you want the 'trick' for transferring data from the TUSA / Apeks software to MS Excel once you try things out - PM me with your external e-mail address.

I suppose you just do that by exporting t o .csv-file right?

Though the .csv is not a very userfriendly format.

Nicolai

 

[WarmWaterDiver]

No, there's a drag and drop function - it is mentioned in the software manual, but the instructions were unclear for me. I e-mailed TUSA and got a reply via e-mail with more detailed instructions including screen shot captures I'm willing to pass along.

There is also the functionality to export in .csv format, also mentioned in the software manual. Not my personal choice of routes to take.

Your choice. I'd need an external e-mail address to forward the note to.

 

[dexter98]

I had a couple of dives yesterday, and the quantum failed, after I pushed a button :06: It got stuck on onel display page, and the buttons no longer worked. It seems the buttons shorted out due to water ingress (my guess). The buttons did not work on land either. This morning I could use the buttons again, so I got to perform a download:

Cressi-software ver. 5.00 did not want to talk to the quantum, since it was a wrong product :11doh:

Apeks software ver. 4.02 downloaded the dives without problems

So the answer to my original post is - yes the interface works.
But the quantum sucks :crossbone
I've since read about the many problems with water-ingress for these computers. Well back to the LDS with this one.

Nicolai

Thank you VERY much for testing it!!!

Too bad that is isn't working, otherwise I could publish a fully working pc-interface here. But (of course) I'll certainly continue working in it. To be continued.

 

[dexter98]

Little update: I have found the layout of the EEPROM to set a custom VID/PID for the PL2303, so I now know which value should go where in this EEPROM.

I'll try this at the end of this week.

 

[Hanssing]

Little update: I have found the layout of the EEPROM to set a custom VID/PID for the PL2303, so I now know which value should go where in this EEPROM.

I'll try this at the end of this week.

The software has a possibiliry to set interface to serial, but I dont know if it would work - but I'm thinking this would be easier than doing a serial interface over USB?

Nicolai

 

[dexter98]

Yes, you're correct about that! That would make things much easier! In fact, I already have a design of the schematic and even a PCB layout for a connection on the serial port ready for testing.

But since the software from Cressi-sub does not accept divecomputers from other manufacturers (as you have tested yourself) and the pc software from these other manufacturers only offer a connection to a USB-interface, this is not really an option.

And, in fact, the 'original' USB-interface for these divecomputers is actually a very simple (and cheap!) USB-to-serial interface in a special housing.


I do have observed however that the PC-software from DiveRite is able to communicate with an unaltered standard USB-to-serial cable! So this might be a good option to succeed!

 

[dexter98]

GOOD NEWS!

I've found a datasheet from a pin-compatible PL2303-like device. In this datasheet, also the layout of the EEPROM is described. I have programmed the correct VID/PID into this EEPROM... and WE HAVE CONTACT!

I have tested it with the software from TUSA, Cressi-sub and DiveRite and they all find my altered USB-to-serial cable and spit-out the correct data ('ABC').


So, basically the complete USB-to-divecomputer interface is hacked/cracked! The last step is to connect the serial-to-divecomputer interface to the USB-to-serial interface and test it with a real divecomputer.

Below, you'll find a picture of the altered USB-interface. Note that this PCB already offered the possibility to add an EEPROM, so I could simply solder a (temporary) DIL8 socket to it. The final solution will be to solder a SMD-version of this EEPROM on this place.

 

[thordyy]

GOOD NEWS!

I've found a datasheet from a pin-compatible PL2303-like device. In this datasheet, also the layout of the EEPROM is described. I have programmed the correct VID/PID into this EEPROM... and WE HAVE CONTACT!

I have tested it with the software from TUSA, Cressi-sub and DiveRite and they all find my altered USB-to-serial cable and spit-out the correct data ('ABC').


So, basically the complete USB-to-divecomputer interface is hacked/cracked! The last step is to connect the serial-to-divecomputer interface to the USB-to-serial interface and test it with a real divecomputer.

Below, you'll find a picture of the altered USB-interface. Note that this PCB already offered the possibility to add an EEPROM, so I could simply solder a (temporary) DIL8 socket to it. The final solution will be to solder a SMD-version of this EEPROM on this place.

Hi dexter98

I have a question. I have a Archimede I computer and would like know if your schematic works well with my computer. Have you test it?

Thanks.