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Axe027 Settings

The document provides instructions for changing the default COM port number and improving download speed for the AXE027 PICAXE USB cable. Users can adjust the COM port number through the Device Manager and modify the latency timer to enhance data transfer speed. The recommended latency setting is between 2 and 16 ms, with a suggestion to lower it from the default 16 ms to approximately 3 ms for faster downloads.

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13 views4 pages

Axe027 Settings

The document provides instructions for changing the default COM port number and improving download speed for the AXE027 PICAXE USB cable. Users can adjust the COM port number through the Device Manager and modify the latency timer to enhance data transfer speed. The recommended latency setting is between 2 and 16 ms, with a suggestion to lower it from the default 16 ms to approximately 3 ms for faster downloads.

Uploaded by

singizitp
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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AXE027 Advanced Configuration Settings

A) Changing the AXE027 PICAXE USB Cable Default COM Port

When the AXE027 cable is used for the very first time Windows’ ‘New Hardware Wizard’ will allocate
the cable the next available virtual COM port number (e.g. COM5). This COM port number is then
permanently reserved for this cable (as long as it is always used in the same USB socket on the
computer).

If desired it is possible to change this default value to a different COM port number. This may be of
benefit in a school IT suite with multiple computers, so for instance each computer can be set to use
exactly the same COM port number.

B) Improving the AXE027 PICAXE USB Cable download speed

The AXE027 PICAXE USB cable uses the FTDI USB<>serial chipset, which is generally considered to be
one of the best quality and most reliable USB chip/driver combinations available. Revolution
Education work closely with FTDI to ensure the Windows drivers are the best possible.

The default FTDI driver setting includes a 16ms 'latency timer' delay on data transfer. The technical
reasons behind latency are quite complicated, but latency is basically added to increase reliability of
the USB<>serial conversion system, which obviously works, as the AXE027 is extremely reliable!

Latency does however slow down data transfer, making a PICAXE download slightly slower. But the
good news is that, if you want to, you can change the FTDI latency to anything between 2 and 16 ms
(16 is the default, and FTDI state you should not use a value of 1) via the COM port driver settings.
By changing from 16 to 3 ms you can approximately halve your overall download time.

www.picaxe.com AXE027 Advanced Settings Page 1


Step 1:

Within the PICAXE Editor 6 click the ‘Device Manager’ link within the Workspace Explorer (or
alternately start Device Manager from within Windows Control Panel).

www.picaxe.com AXE027 Advanced Settings Page 2


Step 2:

Find the AXE027 in ‘Ports (COM & LPT)’ section, right click over it and select ‘Properties’.

Step 3:

Select the ‘Port Settings’ tab and click the ‘Advanced’ button

www.picaxe.com AXE027 Advanced Settings Page 3


Step 4:

To change the allocated COM port number simply use the drop down list (select COM1 to COM255
as required * ).

To change the ‘Latency Timer’ value use the drop down list (e.g. to change from the default 16 to a
lower value such as 3).

Click OK twice to save the new values and then exit Device Manager.

* Note as the Windows system ‘reserves’ COM port numbers you may see that a COM port is marked
as ‘in use’ even if you know that it is not (e.g. if it was reserved for a different physical USB socket or
for a price of old equipment that you no longer use). In the situation it is safe to reselect this COM
port number anyway and ignore the warning message.

www.picaxe.com AXE027 Advanced Settings Page 4

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