Dearborn adapter woes

[Wingnut13]

Hey all,

Ive got one of the Dearborn adapter DPA III Plus units. I’ll put the picture below. But I can’t get it to communicate with a laptop at all. I’ve used two different laptops with different versions of software. Additionally I’ve got two different USB to serial adapters that you need to utilize to make the connection.

power is on in the truck, three of four lights are powered up on the adapter. Again, see picture below. Does anyone have any tricks or suggestions to make this work? It seems I have the right drivers for the USB to serial adapter.

Im not sure what to do next. I’d appreciate some input

 

[GeneralDisorder]

USB to serial adapters are notoriously difficult to make work for some applications expecting a hardware serial port.. Best to use a laptop with a built in serial port.

 

[Keith Knight]

What version of windows are you using?

 

[Wingnut13]

USB to serial adapters are notoriously difficult to make work for some applications expecting a hardware serial port.. Best to use a laptop with a built in serial port.

Understood…. I have three laptops. None of which have a serial port to include an old engineering laptop. That’s running Win 7 ( never connected to the web) and a newer running Win 11.
I do have a MacBook, but would obviously be needing the serial adapter .

 

[Ronmar]

What General said, have had issues with some over the years… you said you tried different versions of windows, did you try running any of them in compatibility mode with even earlier versions like windows XP?

 

[Wingnut13]

I hadn’t tried the compatibility mode. I’ll query my local tech guru for that.
Thanks for the suggestions. I’ll see what I can do with that.
I really don’t want to buy another laptop for a dang serial port.

 

[Lostchain]

Hey all,

Ive got one of the Dearborn adapter DPA III Plus units. I’ll put the picture below. But I can’t get it to communicate with a laptop at all. I’ve used two different laptops with different versions of software. Additionally I’ve got two different USB to serial adapters that you need to utilize to make the connection.

power is on in the truck, three of four lights are powered up on the adapter. Again, see picture below. Does anyone have any tricks or suggestions to make this work? It seems I have the right drivers for the USB to serial adapter.

Im not sure what to do next. I’d appreciate some input

View attachment 921233

With the ignition to the truck turned on and the DPA hooked to the truck, what does the Dearborn Adapter validator show? Screenshots please

 

[fuzzytoaster]

Make sure to try all channel types, you may just have to do process of elimination. I've noticed some trucks like theJ1708 and others J1939 connection. Make sure the dual-link option is unchecked, these trucks don't support that feature.

 

[Wingnut13]

I’ll go try these suggestions and report back. Thanks!

 

[Wingnut13]

 

[Wingnut13]

I tried the different J1708 and 1939. I think I’ve got a problem with the USB to serial adapter at the moment.

 

[Lostchain]

yes, the adaptor validator points to a problem between the PC and the DPA.


did you download and install the “legacy” drivers from the Dearborn website?

https://www.dgtech.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/DPAInstall.exe

 

[Jonas947]

I tried it with a USB to Serial Adapter and got a Shortcut bc. USB only got 5 volts and the Truck has much more

 

[aw113sgte]

yes, the adaptor validator points to a problem between the PC and the DPA.


did you download and install the “legacy” drivers from the Dearborn website?

https://www.dgtech.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/DPAInstall.exe

Based on what the validator shows, yes it looks like he does.
I have had very good luck with this adapter on various computers and versions (xp, windows 10). Have used it with CAT ET, Allison Doc, Spicer CTIS, ABS The dearborn driver is for 32bit operating systems only, I doubt that's the issue as it shows you have the driver installed.

USB to Serial Adapter cable, Windows 10 | U.S. Converters

Professional USB to Serial Adapter compatible with Windows 10, Mac and Linux. Shop U.S Converters for data products and fast tech support.

www.usconverters.com

 

[Jonas947]

Is there a chance to get these Programms ? CAT ET, Allison Doc, Spicer CTIS, ABS

greetings
Jonas

 

[aw113sgte]

Is there a chance to get these Programms ? CAT ET, Allison Doc, Spicer CTIS, ABS

greetings
Jonas

With the exception of CTIS they are all paid software so links cannot be posted on the forum.

 

[Suprman]

You can get a nexiq clone for around 200 it will connect much easier.

 

[coachgeo]

With the exception of CTIS they are all paid software so links cannot be posted on the forum.

pretty sure links can be posted. review the rules.... its less an issue that people turned it into. Mostly rule is about auctions (like gov. planet) where people were 1. mentioning them here, creating sometimes unwarranted run up the auction price and 2. to support the sites advertisers who need to auction prices to NOT be run up so they can win, clean it up, resell for profit, stay in business., buy advertising here.

 

[aw113sgte]

pretty sure links can be posted. review the rules.... its less an issue that people turned it into. Mostly rule is about auctions (like gov. planet) where people were 1. mentioning them here, creating sometimes unwarranted run up the auction price and 2. to support the sites advertisers who need to auction prices to NOT be run up so they can win, clean it up, resell for profit, stay in business., buy advertising here.

Sure, I should have been more clear, some websites post download links to files that are pirated.

 

[Wingnut13]

You can get a nexiq clone for around 200 it will connect much easier.

Yeah I wish I knew that. I’m about $200 into the setup I have now. What version Nexiq clone?