MMCX and Nikon 522
Posted By Dave Macomber on 1/26/2009 at 8:14 AM

Has anyone connected an MMCX to a Nikon 522? I have recently (within the past week) purchased an MMCX and i have a Nikon 522 total station. I had a Recon running TDS software and have the cable for the Recon to the Nikon 522. I also have a Z-Xtreme GPS base and Rover setup. I can connect the MMCX to either of those via the cable I used with the Recon and the I/O module on the MMCX. I cannot, however, get the MMCX to talk to my Nikon 522. Any help is appreciated. Thank you.


Re: MMCX and Nikon 522
Posted By Mark Silver on 1/26/2009 at 10:12 AM

Hi Dave,

I have had some success by connecting a bluetooth dongle (like the parani) to the gun and connecting with bluetooth.

The hardware connection on the MMCX does not include clear-to-send and data-set-ready signaling, so in order to make a cable you have to tie these handshaking lines on the gun to each other.

I don't have a 522 to play with, but you may be able to turn off handshaking in the gun and get it to work with the cable that you have.

Mark



Re: MMCX and Nikon 522
Posted By Dave Macomber on 1/26/2009 at 3:37 PM

Thank you for your reply, Mark, but at this point in time, spending more money is not what my bosses want to hear. I went back and played some more with configurations. The Nikon 522 was set to 1200 for its baud rate as was my Recon. I thought that was the only rate the Nikon would work with. I went into the settings on the Nikon and found the baud rate settings and was able to change it. I tried 2400 on the Nikon and set the MMCX to the same. to my surprise, it worked and they were talking to each other. I set up a backsight, took a shot and stored it. I took several other shots and stored them. I shut the MMCX down, and shut the Nikon down, turned them both back on and reset the baud rate to 4800, and 9600. at all three baud rates the MMCX and the Nikon 522 were talking to each other. Again thank you for your help, Dave.


Re: MMCX and Nikon 522
Posted By Mark Silver on 1/26/2009 at 3:53 PM

Happy Day! The Parani bluetooth adapter is a pain in the but-t to get working so you are much better off.

Did you get the FAST Survey update (V2.3.3) for the CX yet? I have been playing around with background images for the last week. Worth the upgrade effort.

Also, make sure you have upgraded the EBoot to 2.5!

Thanks,

Mark