Vallon VMH3CS Mine Detector

[KingJL]

... I think, somewhere in this thread, someone identified the data pins.

post #425 page 17

... I also seem to remember someone, in this thread, trying the upgrade software and experiencing a "dongle not found" situation.

post #925 page 37

A little more discussion of the RS232 is on posts #926, #927 and #928 on page 38.

[Altra]

post #425 page 17
post #925 page 37

A little more discussion of the RS232 is on posts #926, #927 and #928 on page 38.

Those three posts sum it up pretty well. The serial data probably is normal, serial Rx/Tx on external connector , but the GUI won't function unless it detects the Vallon cable/dongle.

Maybe someone will figure a work around?

[kingswood]

Thats interesting!
Does the Vallon have a removal HDD that holds the software??...

[KingJL]

New Home for Test Environment

I have put the Vallon test environment in a proper case.

[KingJL]

Thats interesting!
Does the Vallon have a removal HDD that holds the software??...

Kingswood, you deserve an answer... No, the Vallon does not have a removable HDD to hold the software. The firmware is flashed into a non-volatile memory.

[6666]

I have put the Vallon test environment in a proper case.

Nice

[kingswood]

Kingswood, you deserve an answer... No, the Vallon does not have a removable HDD to hold the software. The firmware is flashed into a non-volatile memory.

Thats a shame!...thought we could have found a way to hack it !!
Your new packaged unit looks awesome!!
Although I use a GPZ7000 now and am actually finding gold, the Vallon still intrigues me .....I still want to find at least one bit with it to prove it works on gold!!!!

[Mdtoday]

Nice work KingJL

Yes, I did some testing with the data port some time ago and came to the conclusion a dongle was required, probably in the form of a USB but could never get an answer from Vallon on the bootloader software required.
At that point I put it aside.

VALLON EVA2000 logging software that can be downloaded requires the USB dongle, so maybe what is being offered to Rocketdemon includes that dongle which is also the Serial to USB converter, makes sense.

Perhaps Rocketdemon could ask the question of Vallon.. what software is required to upgrade firmware.

I'm not into hacking but it would be interesting to have the option to upgrade firmware.

cheers

Brian

[Mdtoday]

Just on the serial port, I started looking at the user interface connections about that same time with a view to replacing the display keypad combination and I think from memory, it had a serial type interface.
Cant remember if it was I2C, SPI or standard logic level serial.
As I only had the one unit, I didn't want to hack it so I put it back together.
If I could get another unit for parts at a reasonable price I would revisit it.

Cheers

Brian

[KingJL]

I also seem to remember someone, in this thread, trying the upgrade software and experiencing a "dongle not found" situation. I would imagine that the 224EUR cable is a specialized configuration that Vallon uses to identify a legitimate connection...

Mdtoday clarified that the dongle requirement was for the logging software, not the firmware upgrade!

[Rocketdemon]

Vallon got back to me with prices........

If I get the detector to the Eningen factory in Germany upgrade costs 71.30 Euros

"Alternatively, we can provide a data cable and USB converter to enable you to do the update on your own.

Costs: (plus 19% VAT/TAX)

CONNECTION CABLE OUT-PC 6POLE, LENGTH: 3 m, Vallon ref. 2509990071 = EUR 224/-
USB TO SERIAL CONVERTER, Vallon ref. 5800001017E = EUR 41/-
Firmware: free download"

Well this may seem a bit crazy to some but.......I am a keen biker and every year I take a trip over to mainland Europe, usually do a lap around the Nürburgring.

I am always looking for somewhere of interest to go...Guess where I am going this year? Vallon said if I give them 3 days notice they upgrade over the counter while I wait.

I knew that Vallon back pack would come in useful for something one day!

[Altair]

We could think about a collective purchase of the expensive cable, if several geotechers are interested...

[KingJL]

We could think about a collective purchase of the expensive cable, if several geotechers are interested...

Interesting proposition!

[Mdtoday]

Interesting proposition!

Sounds like a plan, I'm interested.
Don't know how we would work it out but worth a shot.

One thing is for certain, it will be a well travelled cable

[6666]

For such an arrangement would require a certain amount of trust and co-operation, somebody would have to take ownership and be coordinator.
The receiver would have to pay the postage and some type of international money transfer would be handy.