Amazing Box II
BEI Design
Box II will not "write" designs for the Singer Quantum XL5000 (one
site says quite specifically that there is a "compatibility problem").
The specifications on another site says: ...[it] can read the
following design cards: "...Singer XL-100, Singer XL-1000..." but
there is no mention of the Singer Quantum XL5000. Can anyone verify
this, or if incorrect, please tell me your experience, I can't afford
to buy one if it won't do what I need.
I have several designs I purchased and/or downloaded, and now I need
to find out how to get them into my machine. I have the "Conversion"
software which came with the machine, but I am unable to get my new
notebook, which has USB only (no serial port), to communicate with the
XL5000, so I really need software/hardware which will ~write~ to the
Singer SmartMedia cards. Is PSW2.0 the only way?
Thanks so much for any help/advice you can offer.
--
Beverly
delete nospam and .invalid to reply
Not Gimpy Anymore
news:p8OdnfGGJI3...@comcast.com...
I may be going out on a limb a bit here but there should be USB based
Smartmedia reader/writers readily available - I am guilty of assuming that
such a device will let you write anything onto the Smartmedia card - there
is NOTHING that I can find in my XL5000 manual that says it has to be
a specific format - and the XL5000 should be able to read & use it. If that
turns out to not be the case, I'm in for a big disappointment also.
In fact, I suppose I could rant a bit about the manual, but I think it
would
be ineffective... I kept searching & searching to try & discover what format
the XL5000 uses - and I never did find it. I have come to think from what
I've read that it will use almost any format, though the results of some may
be more accurate & repeatable than others.
HTH
NGA
BEI Design
"5 foot 2" <5fo...@NoMailHere.Invalid> wrote in message
news:gn6ia1h4e68usr18d...@4ax.com...
> A small piece of hardware will do the trick.
> You can get an adaptor that will go from the laptop USB to a serial
> port cable to the machine.
> Here's a couple of links so you can see what you need.
> http://www.usbgear.com/USBG-232MINI.html
> http://sewelldirect.com/usbtoserial.asp
Hi 5 foot 2,
Oh dear, I should have added that I have tried ~several~ USB-to-serial
converters (form computer stores), some with cables, some like the
device at the first link you provided, which I used with a null modem
cable. None of them worked to establish communication between the
"Conversion" software installed on my notebook computer and the
XL5000. No combination of baud-rate, com-port setting worked. I have
had some assistance from the Singer tech support people, but no joy.
I am about to order the Singer USB-to-serial cable (item #270
10U1-06101), but at $40. + S&H it feels like a rip-off. And I still
don't know if it will work, because I don't know what the problem is.
Next, I will probably take my machine in to the dealer where I bought
it (who has been very disappointing in terms of assistance) and ask
them to verify that the serial port on the XL5000 is ~working~.
Thanks for trying to help,
BEI Design
<you wrote>
> I may be going out on a limb a bit here but there should be
> USB based Smartmedia reader/writers readily available - I am
> guilty of assuming that such a device will let you write
> anything onto the Smartmedia card - there is NOTHING that I can
> find in my XL5000 manual that says it has to be a specific format -
> and the XL5000 should be able to read & use
> it. If that turns out to not be the case, I'm in for a big
> disappointment also.
I'm with you, guilty as sin, out on that limb, and VERY
disappointed... :-(
I assumed that I could buy a SmartMedia card and reader-writer box,
and just "save" a file to it, using the "Conversion" software. So I
bought a nice little USB 7-in-one floppy/card reader-writer for my new
notebook, and opened one of my downloaded designs in the software,
used "save as" to save the design in .xxx format AND .psw format to
the SmartMedia card (I originally bought a 128MB card, Singer tech
told me I would have to use a 16 or 32MB card, so I exchanged for a
32MB, smalllest one I could find). I can see that the files are ~on~
the media card, using Explorer. However, the XL5000 machine just
gives me the red-X error when I put the card in the slot and touch the
icon to import from a media card.
> In fact, I suppose I could rant a bit about the manual, but I
> think it would
> be ineffective...
Gad, for an expensive piece of equipment, that has to be one of the
~poorest~ manuals I have EVER seen. It appears to have been written
originally in Chinese, translated to Hungarian, and then finally to
English. Bleagh!
>I kept searching & searching to try &
> discover what format the XL5000 uses - and I never did find it.
Nor have I, and I'm beginning to think they have some proprietary
format which will only be created ~by~ the PSW software.
> I have come to think from what I've read that it will use
> almost any format, though the results of some may be more
> accurate & repeatable than others.
Not my experience, but if you make it work, share please? I am
actually wondering if I have a defective embroidery machine, since
neither the serial port (and why did they use THAT outdated bit of
hardware???) or the SmartMedia port ~seem~ to be working.
> HTH
> NGA
Thanks for trying, maybe we'll find a solution. For the rare time I
would be likely to use it, the PSW software is ~very~ expensive, so
I'm hoping to find an alternative..
HC
Janome's you need to insert the CF card into the machine so it can load
the folders to the CF card. Then the card goes into your computer so
you can load the designs into the folders that the machine just created.
Do you think it's worth a try doing this with your Singer? Might be
clutching at straws but it's all I could think of right now. Hope it
helps?
Bronwyn ;-)
BEI Design
HC wrote:
> While I'm not at all familiar with Singer machines, I do know
> that with Janome's you need to insert the CF card into the
> machine so it can load the folders to the CF card. Then the
> card goes into your computer so you can load the designs into
> the folders that the machine just created. Do you think it's
> worth a try doing this with your Singer?
I have no idea, at the present time I am unable to "read" the card I
put in the XL5000 SmartMedia slot, let alone "load" anything to it
while it's in the machine. As far as I know, the SmartMedia slot in
the XL5000 is "read-only".
>Might be clutching
> at straws but it's all I could think of right now. Hope it
> helps?
> Bronwyn ;-)
I suspect the two systems are too dissimilar. If someone with an
XL5000 want to jump in here with experience on the issue perhaps we
can get clarification?
HC
BEI Design
"HC" <IHat...@home.com> wrote in message
news:42a9...@dnews.tpgi.com.au...
> Suppose you've done a google search for Singer groups? ;-((
Yes, and I've been reading the archives of the Yahoo XL5000/XL6000
group, but I have not seen this specific question addressed. Since I
don't know if what I want to do is *impossible* or whether I have a
defective machine I'm kind stuck. I'll post here if I ever get this
figured out. :-\
Big B
Hello,
I too had the same dilemma and to the best of my knowledge in order to
use a Blank Smart Media card is to buy their PSW 2.0 software and Card
Reader/Writer bundle kit. This combo works but it is very expensive.
I tried to copy designs from their XL Conversion software to the
machine. Well the fastest Baud Rate I could use was 4800bps. Now that
is really #%^# slow! Ok so I decided to format a smart media card from
one of my digital cams and copy just one design from my Windows XP
system. This was after formatting the card and such. Well, after the
file was copied and inserted into the machine I got a big Red X. I
tried various methods and even with my 25 plus years of computer
experience I was stumped. I went ahead and spent $849 for the PSW 2.0
software and Card Reader/Writer combo and everything works great.
But.... I am very dis-pleased of the PROPRIETARY nature of this issue.
What gets me even more is that even spending all this money, PSW does
not have a batch conversion utility! I have to use Embird 2004 for
that!
This is a case in point where Software and Hardware is way too
expensive for what you get. Many software vendors have Trial versions,
and many do not. MOST vendors will not take software back after it was
opened. Another Kluster for the poor consumer.
One other thing is their NULL modem cable I''ve seen people sell for
over $50. You can get the same cable for $5 if you shop around. A null
modem cable from XYZ company is a NULL modem cable period. DOn't get
ripped off!.
Anyway, I hope I've answered this question, and sorry that I have
vented my frustrations but it is justified. As far as the manual...
don't let me get started...LOL
Big B
BEI Design
Big B wrote:
> Hello,
> I too had the same dilemma and to the best of my knowledge in
> order to use a Blank Smart Media card is to buy their PSW 2.0
> software and Card Reader/Writer bundle kit. This combo works
> but it is very expensive.
<Sigh> That is the conclusion I'm slowly and painfully coming to.
> I tried to copy designs from their XL Conversion software to the
> machine. Well the fastest Baud Rate I could use was 4800bps.
> Now that is really #%^# slow!
You were able to get better results than I, and I would have been
delighted with a transfer at *any* speed. I could have set it to
transfer and go do something else for awhile. :-} No matter ~what~
baud rate I used all I got was the red-X error. (But I may have a
defective XL5000, I have not yet had it tested.)
> Ok so I decided to format a smart
> media card from one of my digital cams and copy just one design
> from my Windows XP system. This was after formatting the card
> and such. Well, after the file was copied and inserted into the
> machine I got a big Red X.
Yup, exactly my experience, too. I did get the advice from Singer
tech that the machine memory cannot read a card larger than 32MB, so I
exchanged the 128MB card I had bought. Still, no luck getting the
XL5000 to read the card, and I *know* the files were there.
>I tried various methods and even
> with my 25 plus years of computer experience I was stumped. I
> went ahead and spent $849 for the PSW 2.0 software and Card
> Reader/Writer combo and everything works great.
So I guess that's what I'm going to have to do, I am really
disappointed, the Singer salesperson told me that I *would* be able to
transfer designs to the machine using the "Conversion" software which
is supplied.
> But.... I am
> very dis-pleased of the PROPRIETARY nature of this issue. What
> gets me even more is that even spending all this money, PSW
> does not have a batch conversion utility! I have to use Embird
> 2004 for that!
I downloaded Embird, hoping I would be able to "save" files to the
SmartMedia card, but that didn't work either. I will pay for a
working version of Embird for all its other features.
> This is a case in point where Software and Hardware is way too
> expensive for what you get. Many software vendors have Trial
> versions, and many do not. MOST vendors will not take software
> back after it was opened. Another Kluster for the poor consumer.
I really wish I could get a trial version of PSW in order to test my
machine. I will really be ticked off if I buy the software, and STILL
can't transfer designs. Between the XL5000 and the notebook computer
I bought specifically to be a dedicated embroidery computer, I have
well over $5000 invested, requiring another $900 seems RUDE to me.
:-(
> One other thing is their NULL modem cable I''ve seen people
> sell for over $50. You can get the same cable for $5 if you
> shop around. A null modem cable from XYZ company is a NULL
> modem cable period. DOn't get ripped off!.
I have a couple of null modem cables still lying around from dial-up
days. ;-) I tried using them with a USB converter, didn't work.
Singer wants $40+ for the USB-to-serial cable which is apparently the
only way I'm going to get communication going between my new notebook
(6 USB ports, no serial ports) computer and the XL5000.
> Anyway, I hope I've answered this question, and sorry that I
> have vented my frustrations but it is justified. As far as the
> manual... don't let me get started...LOL
Oh, I hear 'ya! What a flipping POC!
One thing I haven't tried yet is installing the Conversion software on
an older computer running WIN 98 second edition, and running a nul
modem cable from its serial port to the XL5000. I know, it shouldn't
make any difference, but dang, I've wasted so much time now trying to
resolve this, what's another hour or two, especially if I discover
that I don't have to invest another $900 in software.
Thanks for the input,
Lobod80
format the smartmedia card on the sewing machine? Perhaps even save
a file from the machine to card. If so, then take it back to your computer
using the card reader and see if you can see those files in embird or the
like. If you can, I bet you would be able to add designs from the computer
at this point (using the sewing machine formatted card).
Another very likely possibility would be to find someone with the
psw 2 software/reader and have them format and load a design on the card.
Then again, try reading that design on your computer, and if so, try to add
files from your computer to that card.
Good luck.
BEI Design
> I'm not familiar with your sewing machine, but is there a way to
> format the smartmedia card on the sewing machine? Perhaps even
> save a file from the machine to card.
As far as I have been able to determine, no. The XL5000 on-board
computer will read from a SmartMedia card in the slot, but I have
found NO information about writing TO the card either in the XL5000
media slot or in my computer's SM card reader/writer. Designs, once
imported, can be saved in machine memory, but that's it.
> If so, then take it back to
> your computer using the card reader and see if you can see
> those files in embird or the like. If you can, I bet you would
> be able to add designs from the computer at this point (using
> the sewing machine formatted card).
Good suggestion, I just don't think it will work.
> Another very likely possibility would be to find someone with
> the psw 2 software/reader and have them format and load a design on
> the card. Then again, try reading that design on your computer,
> and if so, try to add files from your computer to that card.
My guess is that even if I bought a Singer design card, I would not be
able to write designs to the card without having the PSW 2.0 software.
I guess I'll have to bite the bullet and buy the software.
> Good luck.
Thanks,
Sarah at couturegiftables
nobeidesignspam wrote:
>
> From the research I've done so far, it would appear that the Amazing
> Box II will not "write" designs for the Singer Quantum XL5000
> (one
> site says quite specifically that there is a "compatibility
> problem").
> The specifications on another site says: ...[it] can read the
> following design cards: "...Singer XL-100, Singer XL-1000..."
> but
> there is no mention of the Singer Quantum XL5000. Can anyone verify
> this, or if incorrect, please tell me your experience, I can't afford
> to buy one if it won't do what I need.
>
it says Not compatible with Singer XL5000 right on the side of the box. In
case anyone is till wondering. I don't know the reason why that is.
--
BEI Design
> replying to BEI Design , Sarah at couturegiftables wrote:
> nobeidesignspam wrote:
> Hi. I'm selling Amazing Box II on my Amazon store, and I
> have the box here, it says Not compatible with Singer
> XL5000 right on the side of the box. In case anyone is till
> wondering. I don't know the reason why that is.
*nine* years ago.
--
Beverly E. Ickes
BEI Designs