Larry's Complete Idiot Pearls of Wisdom.

This stuff, computers etc, is complex. You'd think that the more one knows the easier it is, however, it's not always true. Sometimes the more you know, the tougher it is to find some kinds of problems. Actually it happens at both extreams. For instance they say that Einstine could not balance his check book - and too, neither could Danny, who was mentally retarded with ability less than a 7 year old child. This is all not to say that us "average" people don't sometimes just have a bad day. I remember the day my back hoe tractor would not start. I worked on it for hours trying all kinds of things and even got Mike, our next door neighbor guru auto machanic, in on the project in exchange for all the beer he could drink, and he could drink a lot of beer. After about another 2 hours of work, and 2 six packs later, Mike suggested I try starting it with the fuel shut-off valve in the other direction - just for fun. I knew it wouldn't work because I've started it thousands of times over so many years. But Mike insisted ( I think we were out of beer ), so I did, and it started right up!

Then I remember one of the reasons Dad went out of the TV repair business. "He was too nice", Mom said. One example of his poor business practices was making a house call (this was in the 1950's) to repair a TV set only to discover the power cord was not plugged into the wall outlet. He'd plug it in and wouldn't/couldn't charge anything. --- which brings me to this one:

Hi Bill,

Just getting around to old email...  trying to 
think of how to present these pearls of wisdom 
in a way that will inform and entertain, then remembered I 
forgot to thank you for your email and to tell you that I also, 
too often learn what an idiot I am, but unlike you, I am 
not a complete idiot because I have parts missing.

larry,

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bill Kallock" 
To: "Pfranc2" 
Sent: Tuesday, April 23, 2002 10:17 AM
Subject: RE: ETrex Legend Help


> Larry,
> 
> Thanks again for the help the other day. I spoke with the folks at National
> Geographic TOPO! this morning. They had me try testing the GPS with
> HyperTerminal in much the same way as you did, except they told me about a
> procedure to test the cable connection,
> http://www.gpsconnection.com/gpscommunicating.htm. Using this I was able to
> determine I am a complete idiot. The cable was not completely pushed all the
> way in on the GPS! Anyway add that to your list of troubleshooting questions.
> 
> Thanks again for the help and the great cable!
> 
> Bill
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Pfranc2 [mailto:larry@pfranc.com]
> Sent: Monday, April 22, 2002 5:11 PM
> To: wkallock@umich.edu
> Subject: Re: ETrex Legend Help
> 
> 
> Great! ...
> here's a dumb question,-- after seeing HT work, did you go back and try the
> application software again?
> 
> mybest,
> larry,
> 
> Lawrence Henry Berg,
> Purple Computing,
> 2048 Southside Rd, Box 100,
> Murphy, OR 97533
> USA
> Voice: 541-479-8087, Fax: -8089
> http://pfranc.com
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Bill Kallock" 
> To: "Pfranc" 
> Sent: Monday, April 22, 2002 1:07 PM
> Subject: RE: ETrex Legend Help
> 
> 
> > Larry,
> >
> > Thanks for the help earlier today on the phone. I reinstalled the driver
> > that came with your cable and then was able to jump pins 2 & 3 and have
> the
> > cable echo back using Hyperterminal. So now I know it's not the cable, but
> > most likely the software.
> >
> > I'm off to badger the people at National Geographic Topo! software. I'll
> let
> > you know how it goes.
> >
> > Thanks again!
> >
> > Bill Kallock
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Pfranc [mailto:larry@pfranc.com]
> > Sent: Sunday, April 21, 2002 11:24 PM
> > To: wkallock@umich.edu
> > Subject: Re: ETrex Legend Help
> >
> >
> > Hi Bill,
> >
> > Your OS (XP) is cool,  the eTrex is OK and it sounds like the USB is trying to
> > work because of the flashing light.  The unknows (to me anyway) are the
> > applications you are using.
> >
> > When you installed the latest version of the USB drivers... did you run
> the
> > uninstall program they have first?  And reboot? And let XP discover the
> "new
> > device" and ask you for drivers?  Then I really hate they way they present
> > the driver selections -- if you don't scroll the stupid window over you
> > can't see which is which for selection!!!  Anyway, assuming all that is
> > OK... all that's left is the Apps.  TOOOO many I've run into do now work
> > with USB devices.  Many were using a COM32bit driver that has bugs in it!
> > It's not easy to get the software people to look at the possibility they
> > might have a bug.  It helps with they start to believe their software
> > doesn't work with any USB-COM converter and we tell them how their
> > competition has fixed their bugs and now works with our units.  Even
> Garmin!
> > They fixed Mapsource and came out with Ver 4.0, just for me, because I
> sent
> > 2 free units to them for testing.  We have several success stories - and
> > some failures too.  There ARE still bugs in the MCT drivers!  I think.  I
> > wish I had more control but I don't.  All I can do is beg them to look at
> > it.  Someday I'll have the control.  I hope I use it.  Bill Gates has the
> > control and power but doesn't bother to use it.  If we could just force
> him
> > to sit down for a few minutes and make him answer a few questions like
> "why
> > does this do that --- this way?"
> > oops... new keyboard, fingers need exercise, keys flying....... back to
> > work!
> >
> > mybest,
> > larry,
> >
> > Lawrence Henry Berg,
> > Purple Computing,
> > 2048 Southside Rd, Box 100,
> > Murphy, OR 97533
> > USA
> > Voice: 541-479-8087, Fax: -8089
> > http://pfranc.com
> >
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: 
> > To: 
> > Sent: Sunday, April 21, 2002 9:38 AM
> > Subject: PT: ETrex Legend Help
> >
> >
> > > Sent from Pfranc page URL:home page
> > >
> > > Hi Larry,
> > >
> > > I've been trying to connect my Garmin eTrex Legend to my new laptop for
> a
> > couple of weeks now. After reading all the good things about your USB to
> > serial cables I decided to give it a try and have not been able to get it
> > too work either.
> > >
> > > I'm running a HP Pavillion n5445 laptop, Pentium III processor, tons of
> > RAM, Windows XP, no serial port, but two USBs.
> > >
> > > I installed your connector just fine. It's on COM 5 and says it's
> > functioning correctly (the green light is on and flashes when I attempt to
> > communicate with the GPS). I have tried using 2 programs to connect, Topo!
> > and g7towin, configured to COM 5 and baud 9600. I also installed the most
> > recent version of both the Topo! software and the driver for your cable,
> but
> > these didn't solve the problem.
> > >
> > > Hopefully, I've provided you enough information to help me figure this
> > out. I'm about ready to give up and go back to my map and compass.
> > >
> > > Thanks in advance for your help!
> > > --------- end of message -------
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> 
> 
>