Family Software Newsletter #25 - January 5, 2004

Drag Racing Computers and Software - www.iFamilySoftware.com

Topics

1. JEG's Team Wins Big Using RaceLog Pro!
2. Adding 9-Pin Serial Ports to Your PC for PageAire Pro

-- JEG's Team Wins Big Using RaceLog Pro! --
In 2003, the JEG's Racing Team began using Family Software's RaceLog Pro software and PageAire Pro Paging Systems utilizing a Davis Vantage Pro weather station. The results speak for themselves in Pro Stock and Super Comp. Then, JEG's went to Moroso for the 5-day Bracket Event and made history! The headlines read, "COUGHLIN STUNS BRACKET CROWD AT MOROSO 5-DAY"! Jeg Coughlin won the opening contest of the five-race series and the $10,000.00 first-place prize when he took a final-round victory over a broken Will Kivell. Coughlin scored again on Day 4, winning a second title and clinching the overall points title, winning an additional $7500.00. By the end of the fourth day, Coughlin had amassed an insurmountable points lead and finished with 154 points, a Moroso 5-Day record! He became only the third driver to win two events in the same weekend.

You can use one of the same Family Software systems to win big too:

FS-6151PKG - Vantage Pro Wireless Paging System with Solar Powered, Fan Aspirated Sensors

FS-6150PKG - Vantage Pro Wireless Paging System with non-aspirated sensors


-- Adding 9-pin Serial Ports to Your PC for PageAir Pro --
Adding Serial Ports to your USB equipped computer is easy using our USB to Serial Adapter, part # GUC-AD9. The adapter includes a CD-ROM containing the required Windows drivers. Sometimes installing drivers from a CD or floppy can be very tedious. The easiest method to install current drivers to your PC is to go to Windows Update at Microsoft.com. Windows Update will automatically scan your PC and install the necessary updates to your operating system including drivers that your PC needs to operate properly. I update my Windows OS about once a month and you should too. If you are using Windows XP and it is up to date, simply plugging in the Serial Adapter to your USB Port is all that is required.

Once you have installed additional serial ports, in order to use them, you must find out what Comm Port #'s Windows has assigned to them. To find your computers Comm Port Assignments (#'s):

Left Click on Start
Right Click on My Computer
Left Click on Properties
Left Click on Hardware
Left Click on Device Manager
Double Left Click on Ports (Com & LPT)

Look for the comm Port assignment for each USB-to-Serial cable. They will be shown as:

Prolific USB-to-Serial Comm Port (COM#)
Prolific USB-to-Serial Comm Port (COM#)

One Comm Port is to communicate with a weather station and the another is for our Paging System. It might be better to plug in one USB to Serial cable at a time, so that you will know which one is assigned to that particular comm port #. PageAire Pro doesn't find the USB to Serial Cables on its own. It would have no way of knowing their assignments. You must enter the correct assignment for each comm port into PageAire Pro.

For example, if Windows Device Manager reports that the Comm Port is #11 for the cable connected to the weather station, in PageAire Pro, you must click on Interface Setup, then click on Comm Port, and enter 11 into the box. If PageAire Pro finds the weather station on Comm Port 11, it will then show 11 in the Weather Port Window. If instead, the weather station is not found a zero will be placed in the Weather Port Window.

Pager example, if Windows reports that the Comm Port is #14 for the cable connected to the Paging Transmitter, in PageAire Pro, you must click on Pager Setup, then click on Comm Port, and enter 14 into the box. If PageAire Pro finds the Paging Transmitter on Comm Port 14, it will then show 14 in the Paging Port window. If instead, the transmitter is not found a zero will be placed in the Paging Port window. The Paging Transmitter will not be found if it is not connected or powered on. Once, you have setup the comm ports in PageAire Pro, they will be remembered by the program. You only have to do this one time. Make sure that you have the Destination Folder in PageAire Pro set to C:\RaceLog Pro 3 and the Working Folder in RaceLog Pro3 set to C:\PageAire Pro. This is covered in the instructions for RaceLog Pro and on the Weather Station Paging System Check List provided.

-- REAL World Technical Support --
With Family Software, you'll get better technical support than anywhere on the planet. Why? Because, we design and/or use all of the products that we sell. All of my 30+ years of racing experience and knowledge is available to you and our other customers. Try to find that kind of information at any one of our competitors. You won't be able to, I guarantee it! Family Software cares about the racer and his/her success as a racer. We also want you to get the most value for your hard earned dollars.

-- Toll Free Ordering --
We also have a new Toll Free Order line to save you even more money! If you're placing an order by phone, call 877-497-0992. If you need information or technical help, call 610-497-5561.

-- Secure Ordering --
You can safely order directly from our web site. All of your information is handled on our Secure Server. We have established a privacy policy and it is posted on the web site. Our company is registered with the Public Eye for safe, secure ordering.

If you have questions or topics that you would like to see covered in this newsletter, please Email them to me. Or, start a new topic on the bulletin board located on our web site. I'll be glad to join in.

Bob Kodadek
SC 1596
Family Software - Drag Racing Computers and Software
http://www.iFamilySoftware.com - 610.497.5561(Voice/Fax)

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