I have just purchased a rio car version 1.02
and downloaded the instruction booklet in pdf format from the web.
I have installed emplode version 2.0 from empeg.com.
I am not able to get the emplode to be recognized by the computer.
I am running xphome, using the usb connection.
I have installed the rioxdrv driver, and when emplode looks for the device
it shows up as unknown player on usb.
When I select it to open it up it says "the operation completed successfully"
then nothing else is activated. can't go any further.
Under emplode help\about. it says under version "no unit connected"
and the same thing under serial. It naver gave me a chance to enter the serial.
Please help. Is there a support phone number that can be called, any help would
be greatly appreciated. By the way the player works great using the rca
connection and power adapter. I can only listen to the music that was already on it.

Please click here.

Thanks, But I have read virtually all of the faq regaurding usb.
I already have the latest emplode version 2.0. downloaded from empeg.com. and I used the new usb xp driver. still does what is descibed earlier.

This is a snapshot of what my screen looks like after I select the usb device. after I hit ok It just goes back to the select device screen.

1) Did you also install the new 2.0 firmware onto the player itself?

2) Are you sure the new USB driver is the one it's using? It requires that you hand-install it based on the text instructions in the release notes... running setup for emplode is not enough.

3) Do you have any other USB devices for your computer, and how do they work? We should try to rule out whether it's a general USB problem with your PC, or if it's only the empeg.

4) Is your PC running the latest flash BIOS version and the latest USB chipset drivers for the motherboard? Often, problems with USB can be cured by making sure those are updated.

5) Do you have the ability to use an ethernet LAN? It's better than USB for the empeg player anyhow.

I did not install anything on the player itself, I just got it yesterday. All other usb ports seem to be working fine with other peripherals. I pluged in a usb mouse and a usb game controller into the same port. worked fine.
I manually installed the rioxdrv driver. under computer management\device manager\there is a usb port identified as
sonicblue riocar with the driver details as version 2.0.3.6
It shows that it is working fine. I am really stumped on this on.
Also I have cable internet access. No router. I would be happy to explore using ethernet if neccessary. Any help would be great.

Aside from any other unidentified problems you may be having, Tony has already caught one definite problem with this question:

Did you also install the new 2.0 firmware onto the player itself?

You say you have not installed anything onto the unit itself. As far as I know, different software versions will not talk to each other. So emplode 2.0 installed on your computer is not going to talk to kernel 1.02 on your player. You need to follow the instructions for upgrading the player's software using the serial port. If that doesn't work, then you also may be having issues with USB.

I would agree with Tony about which connection to use, though. Ethernet is several times faster. But you'd still have to upgrade the player kernel to 2.0 before you'd be able to use it.

New Riocar, why don't you let your older brother handle the rio sonicblue ultra megamusic blaster rock crusher system. He is much smarter and better looking. (the fact that he looks younger is a bonus like a mug)

okay so I need to udate the 1.02 kernal on the player itself.
can anyone tell me what kind of serial cable to get in order to do that. I tried an rs 232 cable already and it did not pick up the riocar. when I tried to update the firmware it said looking for riocar. turn power on now.. I did this, yet it still did not show up. it timed out. What is a null modem serial cable?

okay so I need to udate the 1.02 kernal on the player itself.

Full instructions here. You need a NULL MODEM cable.

I read that already, Thats where I read null modem cable.
On the back of the rio there is a 9 pin male serial out and there is a male 9 pin serial in on the back of my computer. So can I just get a female to female 9 pin serial cable? Will that work. Thanks for your help.

So what I am asking is, will a db9 female to db9 female serial cable work. Is that what null modem means? I googled it for pictures and info and that is what it looks like. please help.

Yes a DB9 Female-Female cable. Like this (or this shorter one).

Thank you very much. I am off to radio shack.

Please make sure it says ``null'' somewhere on the packaging.

The other option is to use the sled, which I assume you havn't already installed. It's a bit precarious, but in a pinch I plug it directly into my laptop and upgrade away.

Matthew

Just to clarify...

The difference between a regular cable and a null modem cable is that the TX (transmit) and RX (receive) pins are swapped:

Regular cable:
Pin 5------- Pin 5 (Ground)
Pin 2------- Pin 2 (RX)
Pin 3------- Pin 3 (TX)

Null Modem cable:
Pin 5------- Pin 5 (Ground)
Pin 2------- Pin 3 (RX->TX)
Pin 3------- Pin 2 (TX->RX)

IMPORTANT QUESTION:
Why don't you already have the null-modem cable that came with the player?

(There's more to it than just that, but it's certainly enough to get the idea.)

There's more to it than just that

Not for the empeg. It only uses those three pins...

I quote:

The difference between a regular cable and a null modem cable is...

No ``for the purposes of this conversation'' or nuthin'.

Ppppthtpthpthppth.

It was purchased from ebay, did not come with the serial cable.

That was a great idea mathew. It worked perfectly.
firmware is now 2.0 and the computer recognizes it using usb. thanks everyone. now off to have fun loading my music.

Just wanted to say thanks again to everybody on here.
Thanks to you guys my new empeg is working wonderfully.