Realtime Connection Problems

[Terrie]

Hello, everyone.  I am brand-new to Eclipse.  I have recently discovered -- after two weeks of troubleshooting and calling tech support -- that the only way I can maintain a realtime connection is if my writer (Elan Mira A3) is connected via a usb-to-serial adapter from IO Gear.  And I discovered this after speaking with a tech support guy from my prior software company, not Advantage.  I was wondering if anyone else has experienced the same thing?  I'm on Windows 7 and I followed all of the protocol as far as disabling my power save settings, usb settings, etc., and "every time" I started a file for realtime, it would be fine for the first couple pages and after being idle for anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour, I would lose my connection.  And this problem did not resolve until I got the IO Gear adapter.

 

Does Eclipse 5 only work well on Windows 7 with IO Gear products?  Did I miss the memo on that? lol!

I would love to connect my writer with a usb cable rather than the serial adapter, but after I've gone through for the past two weeks, I'm afraid to even think about it!

[Christy Fagan, CRR, RMR, CSR]

The best thing to do is to go wireless, if you can, with a Stenocast product if all of that is compatible with your hardware.  I've been connecting via bluetooth with my writer for over 2 years now and it ALWAYS connects.  You never have to worry about a loose connection or wires going bad. 

[Wynne A. Pauly]

Hi, Terri!

Welcome to our group!

It all depends on what ports you have on your computer.  USB to serial adapters are frought with problems (as it seems you've discovered) and, as a general rule, are not reliable. Intermittent transmission is quite common with the avergae USB to serial adapter and really has nothing to do with Eclipse.

The commercial grade ones are reliable, and it seems you've found one with the IO usb to serial adapter.

You can also connect wirelessly from your writer (again depending on the type of writer you have) using Stenocast.  Their products are fantastic and very reliable.  I used a wireless Stenocast connection from my writer to my laptop for years....I could leave the courtroom and go into chambers and the data would transmit through the walls into the courtroom onto my laptop.

Advantage Software does not "push" their products, but they carry very reliable connectors.  For anyone who's interested, this is a good place to start.  Go to their website and look for "Store" at the top.

[Terrie]

Thanks, Christy and Wynne.

 

So with the Stenocast wireless adapters, do you ever get interference from cell phones?

[Christy Fagan, CRR, RMR, CSR]

No interference whatsoever.  I also use bluetooth to send/receive my realtime feed and never had any issue with anything.  Bluetooth has never let me down.  I used Stenocast RED at first but sold it and made a system just like Stenocast but a lot cheaper that works with Eclipse that Dorothy Blankenship told everyone about.