Autopilot Toolbox II: Cable from Laptop to NAV ?
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Don’t know about part numbers, but if I remember correctly it is just breaking out the serial pins on the NAV controller. You could probably find the pin out somewhere and just connect it to a usb to rs232. The wiring harnesses on the Trimble stuff is all pretty straight forward.
And splice in Trimble's 63076 Cable...no thanks.
Autopilot Toolbox II software was used by dealers to setup configurations and do calibrations on new installs, so its rather unlikely dealerships' mechanics spliced away.
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It’s just a USB to rs242 like Guy1000 said.
Working with EZG-500, and if I read the TEALEAVES correctly, EZG's AUX port's cable(s) is wired back to NAV II via 62609 & 62754 cables (not verified yet). On 62609 cable, there appears to be an USB port in pic below. Would this be the access means for using Autopilot Toolbox II software on a laptop hooked to an USB to Serial Adapter Cable?
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You would have to open the cable up and see where it goes. If that is a USB port it probably is connected to a usb to serial or usb to CAN converter. But it would be super easy to build your own adapter. Don’t quote me on which pins are which but if I recall on the 12 pin deutsch connector pin 3 is RX pin 4 is TX and 5 is rs232 gnd. Basically you would need to take the RX line from the NAV and run it to TX on the adapter and then TX from the NAV to RX on the adapter. Because you want the adapter to receive what the NAV is sending out and vice versa.
Next week I plan to see a CASE tech on a related topic (flashing a NAV II for an update), but I suspect that USB port is used for that software program. Maybe only a USB-to-USB cable is needed. Logically, a service port would have been provided. All I found from Trimble was it was not for getting config/field data, which is done on EZG's backside
This is the cable that would be used to flash or use the software program for configuring/calibrating. Trimble notes
![Handwriting Font Rectangle Circle Number]()
EZG-500.....Trimble does not say which USB port to use (display or on a 62609 cable). My focus is on EZG-500, so I can speak to other displays/etc.
EZG-500.....Trimble does not say which USB port to use (display or on a 62609 cable). My focus is on EZG-500, so I can speak to other displays/etc.
Fine Point Considerations (Apparently, DB9 port on backside of EZG's display is used; not sure what 62609 cable's USB port is used for)
1. Sealevel indicates at Amazon " Easily connect your computer’s USB port to any RS-232 serial peripheral"
2. Trimble States - "NMEA output is turned off from the Autopilot system."
This I understand, which is done via EZG's menu, and points to the DB9 connector on display's backside. This connector can receive RTCM/TSIP or output NMEA. Currently, this DB9 port is being used by Deere's NT planter (on the tractor) for ground speed via Ag Express cable.
3 Trimble States - "There is a a good serial connection to the NavController, either via a hard serial port or a USB serial adapter"
1. Sealevel indicates at Amazon " Easily connect your computer’s USB port to any RS-232 serial peripheral"
2. Trimble States - "NMEA output is turned off from the Autopilot system."
This I understand, which is done via EZG's menu, and points to the DB9 connector on display's backside. This connector can receive RTCM/TSIP or output NMEA. Currently, this DB9 port is being used by Deere's NT planter (on the tractor) for ground speed via Ag Express cable.
3 Trimble States - "There is a a good serial connection to the NavController, either via a hard serial port or a USB serial adapter"
From Trimble's statement, "NMEA output is turned off from the Autopilot system," and from Sealevel's statement, " Easily connect your computer’s USB port to any RS-232 serial peripheral," I must conclude the DB9 end on Sealevel's cable plugs into backside of EZG's display.
Be careful plugging it directly in. Just because it has the same plug doesn’t mean it is compatible. Check the pin out and compare it to the rs232 standard. A hardware serial port isn’t necessarily a db9 connection it just means the RX and TX lines that you can break out of the harness and connect them to an adapter. Why do you want to connect to the display now, I thought you were trying to connect to the NAV?
Trimble offered two different software programs, one for flashing firmware, and one for configuring/calibration. The later one will be used. I understand AG Express will flash them for some $80. I plan to talk to a CASE tech Tuesday, and see if he can flash the NAV unit itself there, and see if he knows what that USB port on the cable was used for. I'm just wanting to use software for calibration...mainly a Roll calibration over a distance. Via EZG's display, its a joke...need installer software to do it right.
Sealevel's cable has same RX/TX/GND pinout as EZG-500's DB9 port, and Trimble suggested this cable. It uses an authentic FTDI ICs. See Note below in pic....I suspect some dealers screwed the firmware update with sub-grade USB/RS232 cables.
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AUTOPILOT AUTOMATED STEERING SYSTEM TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE
Version 4.00
Revision A
September 2016
Sealevel's cable has same RX/TX/GND pinout as EZG-500's DB9 port, and Trimble suggested this cable. It uses an authentic FTDI ICs. See Note below in pic....I suspect some dealers screwed the firmware update with sub-grade USB/RS232 cables.
See first sentence
AUTOPILOT AUTOMATED STEERING SYSTEM TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE
Version 4.00
Revision A
September 2016
DB9 connector on EZG's backside can be configured as Output (NEMA) or as Input (TSIP/RTCM)
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When configured for "RTCM" (TSIP), I believe this is a direct path to the NAV. When I get the cable and software loaded on a laptop, I will be using the software for config/calibrate, so if it works, this will confirm this method is OK.
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![Rectangle Font Screenshot Parallel Software]()
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When configured for "RTCM" (TSIP), I believe this is a direct path to the NAV. When I get the cable and software loaded on a laptop, I will be using the software for config/calibrate, so if it works, this will confirm this method is OK.
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Every nav controller I’ve ever seen comes with a harness that has a rs232 port on it. Just grab a trimble wiring guide for your application and it will show it. This port is usually used for sharing navigation messages via serial port as well.
Okay. I misunderstood what you were trying to do.Trimble offered two different software programs, one for flashing firmware, and one for configuring/calibration. The later one will be used. I understand AG Express will flash them for some $80. I plan to talk to a CASE tech Tuesday, and see if he can flash the NAV unit itself there, and see if he knows what that USB port on the cable was used for. I'm just wanting to use software for calibration...mainly a Roll calibration over a distance. Via EZG's display, its a joke...need installer software to do it right.
Sealevel's cable has same RX/TX/GND pinout as EZG-500's DB9 port, and Trimble suggested this cable. It uses an authentic FTDI ICs. See Note below in pic....I suspect some dealers screwed the firmware update with sub-grade USB/RS232 cables.
See first sentence
![]()
AUTOPILOT AUTOMATED STEERING SYSTEM TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE
Version 4.00
Revision A
September 2016
305 has a back seat full of wiring (USED ON IMPLEMENT), I'll have to take a look...but here are the cables used, 62609 & 62754 cables showing all ends, and I don't see a RS232 port available.
Has a RS232 port on backside. Hooking a laptop to it with USB/RS232 cable should not cause an issue...either the software will communicate, or it won't. Keep in mind this display RS232 port can be used with AG252/262/372, and these AG receivers are "talking" in RS-232 "language."
Service techs with each new install had to configure/calibrate, so its highly unlikely these techs had to hack wires.
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CASE tech had no idea what it is for, but he was not around then. I will attempt to ask someone else. Here's a diagram below. 2&3 wires on USB port would not be used for serial communications...needs three wires...Rx/Tx/Gnd.
USB is its own protocol(the plug has 5v, -s, +s, gnd) you do not run RS232 over a usb cable you only run USB(a usb cable is very specialized compared to RS232 where it doesn’t matter) as they are two completely different animals. More than likely that USB port either goes to a usb to CAN or RS232 adapter or it goes to dedicated pins on the display(I never seen a display with usb on the main plug, so this is less likely).
To add RS232 isn’t really what “language” they talk in and this could lead to a bit of confusion. They use rs232 protocol to send information between devices, but the format of this data really depends on the device, so they may be able to hear each other but not understand what is being said. You can have two devices that use rs232 that both can send data between each other but the formatting of the data may be incompatible even though they can send data between them.
"There was a series of DirecTv receivers that had a USB port where you could plug in a USB to RS-232 adapter in order to give that receiver a standard RS-232 serial port...This was useful (back in the days before TiVo or on Demand viewing) to control which programs to record (unattended) on your computer for later playback."
Diagram shows two wires....not four
Type A USB
Pin 1 is Bus Power (+5V originally limited to 500mA)
Pin 2 is D+
Pin 3 is D-
Pin 4 is Ground
My point stands. In your example it most likely uses a usb to rs232 adapter that contains a FTDI or microcontroller. They are two completely different protocols that would fry stuff if you tried and connect them. I also found a complete wiring diagram and all 4 usb pins are connected. Surprisingly enough they do have dedicated pins on the main plug. The usb may or may not be used for communication with a computer(would have to connect it to a computer and see if it works) or it could be used for data logging with a usb flash drive.
Trimble said somewhere in one doc I've seen, not for an USB stick to obtain config/field-data...usage has not been explained. I plan to talk to an old timer tech tomorrow, if I can catch him in time.
All wires goes back to display....none to P2/P3 connectors....
Do you have a NAV II pin out?
Thanks for pinout.....
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