Vcp Tutorial.....easy Set Up

[spikebaby]

Remember the tut was taken from wb electronics, if you need to upgrade your software for the programmer, its all there if needed i can forward the drivers

General
The VCP - Virtual COMport - mode of the Infinity USB Unlimited, makes it possible to use software that would normally require a serial COMport-based Phoenix or Smartmouse interface.


Installing the VCP
The VCP is part of the setup file for Infinity USB Unlimited (from v2.50 and up) and the necessary drivers and setup will be done automatically when installing the Infinity USB Unlimited software.


Enabling and setting up the VCP mode
In the "Tools" menu of the Infinity USB Unlimited, choose "Virtual COM port (VCP) mode", and the following setup-window will appear:

First, choose the basic settings:

COMport Choose which port to create. Ports already existing on the PC (most PCs have a COM1 and COM2 port), are marked with [!]. This doesn't mean you cannot use them though, if you choose a port marked with [!], the existing port will be disabled, and the VCP will take over it's place. When you exit VCP mode, the VCP will be disabled and the previous port enabled again.
When choosing a COMport it is recommended to use a port that is not already in use (for instance COM3 if not marked by [!]) but some 3rd party software limits the available ports to COM1-COM4, or even only COM1 or COM2, so that may not be possible.

Reset-polarity Choose Phoenix or Smartmouse reset-polarity (Phoenix is most typical).

Frequency Choose the frequency that matches the card you wish to use, and the frequency the 3rd party software expects. This will typically be 3.579MHz (3.58MHz). For special cards or experimentation, choose "userdefined", and enter the frequency in Hz below (1000000Hz = 1MHz). Any frequency between 760000 (760kHz) and 25000000 (25MHz) can be chosen. Do not choose a high frequency (>10MHz) unless you're certain the card can tolerate it.

Transparent boost Increases the communication speed and therefore the overall programming speed, by equally increasing frequency and baudrate. This will be completely transparent to the 3rd party software used, and no changes are therefore required in the 3rd party software settings, to increase the speed.
If for instance a SIMcard is to be accessed by Phonefile, choose a COM port, reset-polarity (Smartmouse) and frequency (3.579MHz) as usual. Then change the transparent boost slider to for instance 2.0.
You'll see that the frequency next to the ratio, will be changed to "2.0 x (7.516MHz)" (2 * 3,579MHz), but the baudrate chosen by the 3rd party software (typically 9600bps) will also be changed by the VCP to twice the normal speed (or whichever ratio has been chosen).
The 3rd party software will connect to the VCP as usual (at 3.579MHz / 9600bps) but the card will actually be accessed by the programmer at 7.516MHz / 19200bps.

The maximum speed depends on the card and the 3rd party software. Tests have shown that most OS cards only works below 8MHz (boost 2.1 or less), while SIM cards work fine up to boost 3.0.
This setting is for advanced or experimenting users, so use it only if you're certain the card can tolerate the higher frequency.

VCP settings Making an easy to use yet compatible VCP is very complex due to the very high combinations of different cards and 3rd party software. In the Infinity USB Unlimited VCP, it is therefore possible to choose between a number of profiles, that closely matches specific cards or software.
Since some cards need very specific timing, especially in regards to trapping the card, the VCP actually analyzes all data going from and to the card, and intercepts and modifies certain trap sequences. The VCP can also override the timeout values setup in the 3rd party software and override/predefine the COMport pins normally used on a serial-based Phoenix/Smartmouse interface.
Choosing any other profiles than "Custom" will preset all Timeout values and Port flowcontrol states so they work with the specific card.

Choose the profile that closest matches your card. If the card is not listed, choose "Default". The "Custom" setting is only for very experienced users, and explained further below. Logging can be enabled if you wish to see what's going on "behing the scene" or if you experience a problem and wish to use the log for finding the cause. Enabling the VCP log will open a separate log window.

Press "Enable" when everything has been setup. The LED on the Infinity USB Unlimited will turn purple, and the Infinity USB Unlimited software will be minimized to the systray:

By rightclicking the blue Infinity USB Unlimited icon, you can exit VCP mode (or the entire Infinity USB Unlimited software which will also close the VCP), or you can change the VCP settings. Changing the VCP settings can even be done "on the fly" (while 3rd party software has opened the Virtual COMport and is communicating with the smartcard).


Using the VCP
Open up the 3rd party software you wish to use. Choose the COMport (for instance COM3) you just created in the VCP settings, and choose the correct frequency and Resetpolarity (if available). When the 3rd party software connects to the COMport, the LED will light up bright purple, and the blue icon in the systray will change. During activity (communication between the Infinity USB Unlimited and the 3rd party software, the LED will flash.

[reddiesel]

Good post spike , we have had a lot of questions on this lately, ive made it a sticky.

[spikebaby]

Originally Posted by reddiesel

Good post spike , we have had a lot of questions on this lately, ive made it a sticky.

nice one mate, oh i dont rate these new ones, vcp is a pain in the bum

[ronster]

Cheers spikeybaby m8 my usb unlimited used to work no prob in pheonix mode but since the firmware updated to 2.70 always had problems so had to stick to funs

just followed your tut and everythings rosey again ive got 6 moscs lying about so time to have a play

never upgraded to the 2.71 cause of this last upgrade feck up

[spikebaby]

glad it helped mate