| IPSonLab Frequently Asked Questions / known Bugs |
If you create a nice device and
try to make a well covered manual, you will always overlook important (or less
important) issues. So a f.a.q. page will come in handy. The questions uptill
now: 1. I can get no communication with the IpSonLab. What can I do? |
1. I can get no communication with the IpSonLab. What can I do?
| There are a lot of things that can be done. First be sure you installed and
configured the IpSonLab according to the manual.
This means: are you sure the IpSonLab 'knows' the ip-address of your computer
(=remote ip) and does it match with the actual ip-address of your computer. If you connect your computer with a cross ethernet cable for example, your computer (in most cases) does not get an ip-address assigned by the server (the IpSonLab does not act as a dhcp-server!). This means that after a certain time-out period, your computer just makes up a number for itself and the IpSonLab does not now the "host" (=your computer) anymore. Be sure to give your computer a fixed ip-address when working with a cross ethernet cable. So you always know the ip-address of your computer. We also found out that communication with the IpSonLab and for example Max/Msp does not work ok if the Firewall is still activated within MacOSX. Try shutting it down, or re-configure it. |
2. I do not get the right data into Max/Msp
| Be sure to download the right otudp-read and otudp-write objects and install them into the right folder (see download section). If these objects are in the wrong folder, you'll see error messages in the Max-window. Within Max/Msp you also have to read a certain portnumber. By default I put this to 8000. This means that the IpSonLab also has to sent data to this port. You can easily check whether data is coming in, by using the print object and connecting it directly to the otudp-read object. You should see packages coming in at the max window. |
| Be sure to use a
powersupply voltage of at least 12V. If you use a lower voltage, the xport does
not get enough current (due to the big (and hot!) series resisor). If you want
the ipsonlab to work on a lower voltage (minimum of 7.5V) you have to remove the
series resisitor and replace it with a shortcut (wire). If the voltage is too
low, the xport sends out 'blurry' data which Max/Msp interprets as wrong,
non-valid data. Be sure to have the baudrate on 230400 baud (the US version). |
4. When I 'ping' the ipsonlab, I get the response: host unknown ...
| As written in faq question nr 2, when using a crossethernet cable (one on one connection) the remote computer (the host) has probably a random ip-address. This ip addres the IpsonLab (xport) does not recognize as being your computer. Be sure to give your computer (remote) a valid ip-address. |
5. IpSonLab is sending unvalid data
| (see also 2) When the IpSonLab is sending unvalid data to your computer (Max/Msp) check the following: Powersupply to the IpSonLab 12V? (too low voltage can be confusing for the xport). Is the xport set to the right baudrate? (HS version:115200; US version: 230400). |
6. When I connect to the xport with a web browser, I do not see the description and
values on the same line.
| If you try to configure the xport with a web browser, the lines on your screen can go 'blurry' The description and the values to be changed, are not in the same line. I found out that FireFox is the best web browser to configre the xport. The PC version of FireFox even better. |