Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Thread Like Summary - 861v6 won't connect to Mconfig - at wit's end. Help?

Hi all,

I have just taken receipt of an 861v6 with the v8 firmware earlier today. Excited to hook it up.

But I am having no luck getting MConfig to recognise my 861v6 is "connected".

I have just come from an 861v4 (with v8 firmware), and did not experience any of the problems I am experiencing below.

Can anyone please help me? I am at my wit's end

I have 2 computers and neither of them recognise the 861v6 as connected (to the MConfig software).

MConfig just says "no product detected" - no matter what I do.

I'm at a heartbreaking loss

I have used two different USB to RS232 cables (a 'Comsol' with FDTI chipset, and the other a generic cable with Prolific chipset ; I have read all historical posts here saying the latter can be "pedantic") - I have connected each to either:

- A Windows XP PC or:
- My newer Dell Windows 10 PC.

No matter what I do, with either cable, MConfig will not detect my 861v6 on either computer. When I select "identify" in MConfig every time it just says "No product connected to COMx can be identified".

I even tried to connect to the Meridian Keyboard (software) ie, bypass MConfig and, although it says "connected", this seems to be a red herring as the 861v6 does not respond to any commands at all through this (volume up, down, nothing) - therefore, I believe my V6 is not connected at all. (Perhaps it IS connected to the COM port but, not the 861 - how can this be ..?)

My cabling has not changed from when I owned my 861v4 - this connected perfectly on Windows XP using the Prolific-chipset USB TO RS232 cable.

Not this 861v6, though.

I have also mapped the COM port in MConfig to the converter's COM port as displayed on my PC.

The ONLY thing I can think I haven't done, vs. what others on here have done, is buy the Startech or
Keyspan adaptor (FDTI?). But, I've tried the Comsol one above and although not the same brand this appears to be confirmed as FDTI in my driver software.

If the Startech/Keyspans are the only ones guaranteed to work then I'll track them down but, I just have a feeling given no matter what I do, the 861v6 is sending "no" signal to Mconfig, I wonder if cabling is in fact not my problem.

I don't know what else to do..

Can anyone help a fellow out ?

Thankyou so much !

Andrew

All,

Turns out I had a bad RS232 cable. By process of elimination worked my way back through the extension cable (fine) then USB to RS232 cable (fine) then :

Replaced the RS232 cable in the back of the unit and, bingo! Unit detected.

Just had to install a new version of Mconfig exe, and I am now up and away.

Whew 🤣. Was feeling pretty worried there..

Andrew