SMA powerline modem using USB?

[Ivan]

Has anyone successfully used SMA's powerline modem on a computer without the old-style COM ports? I have purchased a USB to COM adaptor, but although the adaptor installs ok, and is recognised by the computer, it won't allow the computer to communicate with the SMA powerline modem link. The strange thing is, that the SMA SunnyData Control seems to recognise the adaptor being attached, as it's listed under settings (ie where you choose which connection method is used - which in my case is COM5, my v92 modem or network). I've checked the BAUD rate (1200) and the protocol, and they're the same as my desktop computer which does have a COM port and does speak to the SMA inverters ok.

[Ian]

I prefer the SMA Sunny Data 1.81 software as the comms side of the software does not try to be so sophisticated as Sunny Data Control (whatever version we are on now...). But, yes, I have managed to get the comms side working on both Sunny Mini Centrals (my SMA preferred inverter of choice) and a couple of Sunny  and Windy Boys.

I tend to use USB to Com port adapters based on the Prolific chipset; they are also only a couple of quid out of HK. I am not sure if I have used any other makes, but after a lot of fiddling with settings, have always managed to get the software to work with whatever inverter is attached.

Using Sunny Data Control, I have noticed that it can take quite some time for the software to poll all the ports, protocols and combinations. Maybe you should give the software a while to go through and complete its detection routines - sometimes up to a couple of minutes.

If you are feeling confident, you can restrict the protocols and ports polled in the "Options / Settings" (I think) menu which does speed up the detection.

I hope this helps,

Regards,
Ian

[EccentricAnomaly]

USB to serial adapters are black magic.  Some work with some kit, others with others.  I've never seen a plausible explanation.  This is about connecting GPSs but might lead to something useful:

http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/GPS_Serial_to_USB

[PhatBob]

One of the most common reasons that we've found for this is that there are often more than one serial driver installed on the machine.  Its worth uninstalling  all the serial drivers you can find on the machine in question, and ensuring that the one driver that gets installed is the one for your adaptor.

Some manufacturers are lazy and bundle a load of their 'popular' drivers into one install.

I have never ever ever had a problem with the USB->Serial adaptors that Easy Sync sell:
http://www.easysync.co.uk/

[EccentricAnomaly]

Just taken my own advice and re-read that OpenStreetMap page which mentioned that for some adapters the more recent Linux kernel drivers are better so I tried the combination of my Garmin 12XL GPS and Belkin adapter which didn't work a year or so ago (and two Ubuntu versions ago).  It works fine now.  Yay, knock off one more reason for firing up my noisy and power hungry desktop machine.

More on-topic, though, is that it also shows that using up-to-date drivers can help - it's not (just) a hardware matter.