WheelchairDriver

Hi all,

I made a USB cable to program my new(to me) chair, but when trying to use it, I keep getting "comms inactive", I've tried using the different software versions that I can find, with no luck.

The weird part is that when I try to program my other vr2 chair (Karma Blazer 2), it works perfectly...

I've checked the joystick cable by meaturing continuity between the xlr port and the cable that goes into the controller.

I tried removing the vr2 from the other chair and was going to see if I could still program it through the q500 joystick, but the battery/motor connectors do not fit? The q500 vr2 itself is different and even the logo says "VR2 2"?

The chair was apparently built in 2023 if that helps.

Has anyone had any luck getting "comms active" with one of these "VR2 2" controllers please? If so, which version of the software was used please?

Thanks!

From memory the version of vr2 you have requires different software.

I think he has the one needed. As well as the older ones. Odd isnt it.

Thanks both, I assume the one that should work is version "17-1-0", I've tried this as well as "14_6_0" and "14_4_3". They all seem to work for the older VR2 chair, but nothing will connect to the newer one.

I always avoided VR2 since R-Net is available on all the same chairs. I have seen a few, never owned one. So dont understand them much. So its all alien to me. Should be working as far as I can tell.

I prefer R net. But you need an expensive dongle for that. I have 5 of the 120A R-net chairs. And another 4 spare 120A full ready to fit systems inc seating modules, bus cabes, joysticks, power modules etc. All pre programmed and labelled for each chair. So that I can fix any chair in a matter of minutes, just swap out parts. Because I do not like to rely on the "experts"... I do not have a lot of confidence in them being even remotely capable.

I am sure there are some somewhere. But in 30 years of talking to suppliers, building chairs, dealing with various companies and the WCS I never spotted one in the wild. All of them have been truly clueless.

Theres is rover on here, maybe a handful of people in the country. If you find one get a ring on it. No I mean get his phone number. No that sounds bad too, I mean a card!

If PATIENT and you learn to fish eBay and other online forums well, you can get silly cheap R-Net stuff. When its avalable its like buses. Make daft offers and wait!

For e.g below is a seating module (does 6 actuators, and lights) as well as a 120A power module. He through in 2 bus cables too. For £50... As good as new. Not even dusty.



And a brand new joystick. Never been out of its box, still with screen protector. Says £100 here, but he accepted 80.



SOME of the rest. Theres about 2 more complete systems not shown here.
All of this stuff combined was under 1K total. It took a lot of fishing. All joysticks are brand new. The most expensive ones were the CJSM2 ones, £125, £125, £150. The rest was all around the 40 to £50 mark.

I've been keeping an eye on ebay/fb for rnet parts But it seems it'll be a long time before I get everything at affordable prices. Main concern with rnet is the dongle... Only ones I have seen for sale have been crazy money.

Yes.
And where they were once easy to get then now not so much.

Everything is becoming locked down.

You will pay hundreds for one. Unless used.

But when you consider that all the REST of the stuff can be aquired over time cheap. Or part of a chair. Then it suddenly looks cheap!

Think about this.
I have 3 complete full house rehab style chairs with all the seating bells and whistles and high end joysticks etc.
Came on my carefully choosen chairs.

In addition!
I have 3 more, identical full R-net systems in a box. As backups/spares/to convert future LOCKED DOWN chairs, to programmable R-Net. Complete brand new joysticks and the rest either new or literally AS new. Full high end systems complete with seating components, and bus cables etc.
I also have a few spare LOWER end joysticks, also new. So another 3 basic ones or the cheaper plastic colour joysticks. All are completely interchangable. And a few spare seating and power modules... So a lot of R-Net stuff. Total cost of ALL of it is around £1200 to build or convert 5 full chairs!

So a few hundred on a dongle equates to a tiny percentage per chair. It means I can properly program all this stuff...

See this?



It is basic! It can replace ANY of the other joysticks as a backup, plug and play.
Its also completely new, and he accepted my £40 offer and added a free bus cable...

BELOW
EVERYTHING needed here for a full rehab high end chair (£175):



I buy when they appear CHEAP and I do so fast! And only NEW or from a NEW CHAIR, or from a FACTORY REFURB supplier.
You seldom see these things at good prices as they are bought up fast by people like me. I watch eBay from half a dozen countries, search for the stupid names that people that dont know what they have call them. Like pride controller, ECU, "Brain for lights" and 100 other things. Those are where you find bargains for around 2 minutes!

The result of all of this is that I now have EIGHT complete high end R-Net systems either on chairs, or in boxes all bagged, pre programmed and labled as spares. And a few spare modules and joysticks and cables on top!

That will see me out. I am 65.

It means that if anything fails, I am back in action straight away.
It means that I have plenty of swap out options, to fault find!
It means that if R-net, the last remaining non locked down system, becomes locked, then I will still not be going forwards even if I have to swap a system out!
It means I can buy any old cheap new or ebay chair wih a less than great control system, or a locked one like curtis instruments or linx etc and just swap it to R-Net for cheap! And then EBAY the pride/dynamic/low end/locked systems for a profit... And end up with another better chair!
Options...

The LOT and there is a lot, was sub £1200 over 10 years of watching. Plus that ESSENTIAL programmer!

I had the same problem. After installing the newest version of PG software, it worked. That was 2017.

faico_26 also had problems connecting with VR2, he bought an original cable.

Good afternoon, we have the OEM and dealer version 14.6.0 of PG Drive for PC programming installed on a laptop and a PC. The cable is an original PG Drive, and now, after years, it doesn't recognize the COMMS.
We deleted everything and restarted the machines, and it's still the same. We did it as administrators, the ports are working fine and up to date, the devices recognize the cable, but we can't find the solution.
Have you experienced the same thing? We appreciate any feedback.

Gabriel and Tomas.

Well another problem, which may or may not be related to this.

When I first got the chair and started to use it(using lead batteries) I noticed it had a 7 light fault code appear (Possible joystick trip), turned off and on again and it worked. Happened a couple of times over those few days. Earlier I was out and it happend 4-5 times within about 10 mins.

I plugged in another joystick, thinking maybe the joystick was faulty, to test programming it, still did not work with any of the versions of software.

Wondering if the controller could be faulty? Or my programming issues and fault code 7 are seperate and there is an intermittant issue with the joystick/joystick cable(maybe pinched at some point)?

Potty wrote:Well another problem, which may or may not be related to this.

When I first got the chair and started to use it(using lead batteries) I noticed it had a 7 light fault code appear (Possible joystick trip), turned off and on again and it worked. Happened a couple of times over those few days. Earlier I was out and it happend 4-5 times within about 10 mins.

I plugged in another joystick, thinking maybe the joystick was faulty, to test programming it, still did not work with any of the versions of software.

Wondering if the controller could be faulty? Or my programming issues and fault code 7 are seperate and there is an intermittant issue with the joystick/joystick cable(maybe pinched at some point)?

You can also check the data cable and even the gym ball, which may be dirty or have poor contact. Sometimes we see the problem there, replace those components, and it's solved.

On 7, 10, or 11?

Which driver?

REPARACIÓN SILLAS wrote:You can also check the data cable and even the gym ball, which may be dirty or have poor contact. Sometimes we see the problem there, replace those components, and it's solved.

Thanks for the reply, by "gym ball" I asusme you mean at the base of the joystick? (I've not yet had one of these apart)

Sorry for the translation, obviously I don't speak English...
I'm referring to the joystick.

Thanks

Just clicked!

Gymn Ball. Gimbal.

Burgerman wrote:Just clicked!

Gymn Ball. Gimbal.

Ah

RE - Programming:

https://www.sunrisemedical.co.uk/suppor ... patibility

Guess there was a software update for this newer VR2, I'm guessing the version 17 we have access to was prior to 2022/23?

Thats only for the hand held programmer tool in a production enviroment.
I think we do HAVE the newest...

Have a read.
17.X and anything beyond 16.1 has VR2 PM 2 support.

https://www.wheelchairdriver.com/progra ... %20Man.txt

Specifically:

Issue 16.1.0: Software upgrade.
Added new product support - VR2 PM2 - new template.
Updated pdf help file.

Burgerman wrote:Thats only for the hand held programmer tool in a production enviroment.
I think we do HAVE the newest...

Have a read.
17.X and anything beyond 16.1 has VR2 PM 2 support.

https://www.wheelchairdriver.com/progra ... %20Man.txt

Specifically:

Issue 16.1.0: Software upgrade.
Added new product support - VR2 PM2 - new template.
Updated pdf help file.

Ah I see, I did read that file, but must have missed it, .

Was thinking about buying an older used 90a vr2 controller, as I think that should work, given I am able to program my older 70a one from the karma.

My issue will be finding stock settings for a Q500R, does anyone happen to have a stock programming save file for the Q500 using VR2 please?

I got one for R-net.

Its not hard to swap it and make up a new one though. As long as you know things like brake volts etc.

Potty wrote:Was thinking about buying an older used 90a vr2 controller, as I think that should work, given I am able to program my older 70a one from the karma.

My issue will be finding stock settings for a Q500R, does anyone happen to have a stock programming save file for the Q500 using VR2 please?

I could. Probably get one a program.

Also have a 90a vr2 module if of interest.

Burgerman wrote:I got one for R-net.

Its not hard to swap it and make up a new one though. As long as you know things like brake volts etc.

Thanks, would you mind sending it to me please?

rover220 wrote:

Potty wrote:Was thinking about buying an older used 90a vr2 controller, as I think that should work, given I am able to program my older 70a one from the karma.

My issue will be finding stock settings for a Q500R, does anyone happen to have a stock programming save file for the Q500 using VR2 please?

I could. Probably get one a program.

Also have a 90a vr2 module if of interest.

That would be great if you can please.

Interested in the vr2, will pm you, thanks

Raro wrote:faico_26 also had problems connecting with VR2, he bought an original cable.

Exactly. I had a homemade cable which gave constant comms active/inactive and eventually blocked my control unit. I fixed it buying an original PG cable but since I have a new VR2 it ONLY works with 16 version of PG software. It DOES NOT work with 14 versions (older).
By the way, my VR2 is 90amp and as I have explained in this forum before it stops the motors when facing a tiny 3cms curb. And I cannot program it differently because it is already at the maximum. As Burgerman explained, the problem can be because I need a 120A control unit which would make me go to R-net. I think I saw a video in this forum proving that changing to a more amps control unit solved the problem. My chair is a Q300R (rwd) very heavy. But I tested q100r and q200r (not as heavy as mine) and these could NOT climb curbs either, although they had 70amps control unit.

IF the chairs motors do not draw 120A at stall, then it wouldnt help even if they had a 1000A control system. So it ay be that they are using higher impeedance motors on them?

This is why I always insist on 4 pole. Because that NORMALLY ensures they do draw adequate current. But the stupid 4mph 4 pole motors on the Dietz chair are 4 pole and are still 118mOhm (or more? Dont remember now). So even thogh I have a 120A controller, they will never actually pull that many amps. But since they are geard to be outrun by a snail, they have plenty of torque anyway.

Hi,
Mine are 4 pole 450W motors 10 km/h. And by the way the chair reaches only 9km/h.