Use W/docking Station

[fduane]

Because my aging Dell laptop has only two native USB ports, and only one free when a mouse is in use, I've generally been using a docking station. The Dell dock also supplies the serial port that I use for my mount. But BackyardEOS refuses to connect through the dock. I can't connect the camera to either native port; those are blocked when the docking station is attached.

 

So, any known solution for connecting through a docking station?

[fduane]

Update: The problem seems to be solved, though I have no real idea how. Following Guylain's suggestion, I installed the Canon Utility, and found that the T2i connected through the docking station just fine. After closing the Canon program, I opened BYE, and found that it, too, connected with the camera through the docking station, and seemed to have all functions working.

 

Did I perhaps miss something about having the utility installed first? BYE worked great without it when connected through the laptop's native USB ports, so I assumed all was well. After seeing a few posts here about conflicts with the utility, I deliberately chose not to install it, but I'm now seeing no issues as a result of having both installed. Or should I say, not yet?

[admin]

What camera model are you using?  I ask because your reference to the serial port is most-likely irrelevant.

 

Can you connect any other USB devices when using the docking station?

 

Can you connect the camera using EOS Utility when using the docking station?

 

Remember that your docking station acts as a USB hub and that is probably where the issue relies... somewhere... just a hunch though.

 

Regards,

[s3igell]

To add to Guylain's Troubleshooting Suggestions:

 

• Provide us with Details of the Model of Canon DSLR (so we know whether there are specific Considerations for your Model).
• Confirm that you have the Canon EOS Drivers for your DSLR Installed (older Models have specific requirements that include using the Original Drivers provided with the Camera by Canon rather than Windows' latest Default Drivers).
• Test whether you can connect in BYE to the DSLR when the DSLR is connected to a USB Port directly on the Laptop when it is removed from the Docking Station (exclude the Docking Station from the Issue for Troubleshooting purposes).

 

BYE has a very Good record of working with most any PC Hardware - as long as that PC Hardware is working as expected AND all the Proper Drivers are Loaded...

[fduane]

My camera is a T2i/550D. Drivers installed automatically when it was first connected. The serial port is for mount control, not for the camera. I just mentioned it to explain my other reason for using the docking station.

 

The camera connects and works fine with BYE - running under XP Pro - through the one available native USB port, i.e., without the docking station. I don't have any other program on the laptop for capturing images, but plugging the camera into the docking station does bring up the dialog asking to download images from the camera, and I'm able to do that.

 

So, yes, I realize the docking station seems to be the problem, and is being perceived as a hub. The error message that pops up when I try to connect through it does refer to the hub issue as a likely source of the problem. What I'm wondering whether inability to connect through a hub is curable, or is a flat no-go.

[astroman133]

BYE uses Canon-supplied software, called the EOS SDK, to manage communication with the camera.  If the SDK is unable to connect, then I would expect that there is little that Guylain could do to work around it.

 

You might try a different configuration that does not use the docking station...Such as a different USB hub, and a USB-RS232 adapter for the mount.  If your cabling is short, then you might try an inexpensive, unpowered hub.

[admin]

So, yes, I realize the docking station seems to be the problem, and is being perceived as a hub. The error message that pops up when I try to connect through it does refer to the hub issue as a likely source of the problem. What I'm wondering whether inability to connect through a hub is curable, or is a flat no-go.

 

It is probably a flat no go, not because BYE can't connect through a hub, but because there seem to be a conflict with the hub/drivers/Canon SDK.

 

Try EOS Utility and see if that works.  I'm 99.9% sure that if BYE does not connect then EOS Utility will not connect either.

 

Regards,

[s3igell]

It sounds like you have a VERY Aged Dell, if it has only 1 native USB Port.  With Devices that Old, it's very possible that Dell did something rather "Non-Standard" to endow the Docking Station with additional USB Ports - and whatever that was could be what is giving you the Connection Problem.  

 

If the Docking Station is the Problem, then the only real Solution is to be able to operate without the Docking Station.

 

That means procuring a USB2 Hub to give you Multiple USB Ports connected into the sole USB Port on your Laptop.

USB2 Hubs (even ones of Good Quality) are rather inexpensive (Amazon: $5-15), making it none too costly for you to debug your condition.

 

With the USB2 Hub connected directly to your Laptop, confirm that you can perform all of the standard BYE Functions (LiveView, Image Capture, Image Download, etc).  All of this can be done in daytime, with the Laptop sitting on your table (no need for Scope or Dark)...

 

Speaking of "Download"...  Do you have any Confirmation that the Laptop USB Port is "USB 2.0" and not the older "USB 1.1" ??  The easiest way to tell is if you have the original Owners Manual with it's Hardware Feature List.

USB2 is a good 10x Faster at Camera Image Downloading in BYE, although USB1.1 works (if you have the patience)...  But, if you eventually look to move on to LiveView or Planetary Imaging, or also want to add AutoGuiding, then USB1.1 really won't cut it...  (sorry)

Once you have the DSLR connected in BYE, time how long the first few Images "downloading" takes...

 

Once you know that the Docking Station is the Issue AND that you can successfully manage your DSLR through the USB2 Hub using BYE, then it is time to acquire a USB-Serial Converter so that you can also connect your Mount (all without the offending Docking Station).

These are a bit more expensive as you want a Decent Quality one to avoid any odd complications.  You didn't mention the Make of your Mount, nor which Software you use to Manage it, but I'd suggest that you ask on the Forums where you get Support for that Mount / Software for recommendations on the brand of USB-Serial Converter has a good track record with that Mount / Software combo.  (I've had good success with this one: Sabrent USB2-Serial Converter - as you can see it is USB2 not slow USB1.1)

 

Good Luck...  Post your results from any of these steps that you perform...

[fduane]

The laptop is about 6-7 years old,and has two USB2 ports. Only one is available because I'm using a mouse. For that reason, I can't use a USBserial adapter, and the serial port of the docking station works great. Until now, the docking station has also worked better as a USB2 hub than any other I've tried, so I'm reluctant to get another hub.

 

I'll be trying Guylain's guidance and a few other thoughts have come to me. Thanks for the help, and the efforts that produced such excellent software.