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MP150 Communication Type Utility
Firmware
If your MP150 was sold in 2004 or earlier, there is a possibility that the
device is configured to use a DLC communication protocol instead of the
UDP communication that current devices utilize (skip this section if you are
certain your device was made after 2004). Support for DLC
communication does not exist in operating systems later than Windows
XP. If AcqKnowledge version 3.7.3 is the most recent software version
used with your device, that device will require a firmware upgrade to work
with a newer OS. If your MP150 has been used with AcqKnowledge 3.8 or
3.9, this possibility remains, although it is less likely.
If you are using one of these older versions of AcqKnowledge on a
computer running Windows XP, the Windows “Start”menu should allow
you to find a utility program that configures the communication type that
the software will try to use. Click the “Start”menu in the Windows Task
bar, click “All Programs”to expand the list, and then look for an “AcqKnowledge”entry that includes the “MP
Communication Type Utility”(the system used to generate the image at right has multiple AcqKnowledge versions
installed. You should expect to find only one on your system).
The MP Communication Type Utility presents a single dialog box that allows you to specify the type of MP device you are
using and the communication protocol if the device is an MP150 (see image below). If the utility has “MP100”selected,
click the “MP150”radio button. Try first with the “UDP”radio button selected. If you made any changes, click the “Switch”
pushbutton, cycle the power on the MP150 (turn it off and turn it on again), and re-start AcqKnowledge. If the device does
not communicate with UDP protocol specified by the communication type utility, try selecting DLC protocol (if you are using
Windows XP or earlier), cycling the power on the MP150, and re-start AcqKnowledge again.
MP150 Communication Type Utility Dialog Box
If your device is old enough that it might be using DLC protocol, keep this issue in mind as you proceed through the next
set of steps. It may be worthwhile to try switching communication protocols again after other potential problems have been,
in principle, eliminated.
If your MP150 is being used with a computer it has not previously communicated with and that computer is running
Windows XP or earlier, you might need to contact BIOPAC (support@biopac.com) to request a copy of the DLC protocol.
The protocol installed byWindows will not allow MP150 communication; if the MP150 is attempting to use DLC, the DLC
protocol on your host computer must be one that has been obtained from BIOPAC Systems.
Software
Network Card Driver
An inappropriate device driver for the network card is the cause of some communication problems. In most versions of
Windows, there is a “Device Manager”control panel. Within that control panel is “Network adapters”. Click on the “+”sign
next to Network adapters to display all such devices. Find the connection corresponding to the adapter attached to the
MP150. If this is the only network adapter in the host computer, disconnect the MP150 and connect the computer to the
network (via a patch cable). Once there is a working network connection, right-click on the adapter that will be used for
MP150 communication and choose “Update Driver Software...”. Allow Windows to search the web to determine if there is a
better device driver than the one that it is using.
In the Fall of 2013, MP150 systems started shipping with ethernet to USB adapters. If you are using such an adapter from
us, you should make sure the device driver came from the manufacturer. The device should have the Tripp▪Lite logo on it.
The driver for this device may be located here. Click the “Support”tab to find the driver. Download and execute the file to
install that driver.
