Using MaxStream XBee-Pro USB with Vista x64
Posted by duane on June 20th, 2008
I’m working on a small project developed using MaxStream’s XBee-Pro USB module. To save development time and costs we are using the eval board to send commands from the computer. The drivers on MaxStream’s website are pretty old and are only 32-bit, no help for Vista 64-bit.
MaxStream is using an FTDI USB to serial port adapter on this board, but have changed the vendor information slightly for their application. I was able to find FTDI’s usb drivers for 64-bit Vista (and 64-bit XP), but because of the changes to the USB device string it wouldn’t install the drivers.
After a little digging I was able to add the needed modifications to the driver information files. After making the modifications windows recognized the drivers from FTDI as also being for MaxStream’s hardware (however, I had to try to install the drivers twice in a row for it to take-not sure why, but it worked on the second try and I didn’t care after that).
Here are the modifications I made (add the lines to the specified sections in each file):
ftdibus.inf
[FtdiHw]
%USB\VID_0403&PID_EE18.DeviceDesc%=FtdiBus.NT,USB\VID_0403&PID_EE18
%USB\VID_0403&PID_EE19.DeviceDesc%=FtdiBus.NT,USB\VID_0403&PID_EE19
[FtdiHw.NTamd64]
%USB\VID_0403&PID_EE18.DeviceDesc%=FtdiBus.NTamd64,USB\VID_0403&PID_EE18
%USB\VID_0403&PID_EE19.DeviceDesc%=FtdiBus.NTamd64,USB\VID_0403&PID_EE19
[Strings]
USB\VID_0403&PID_EE18.DeviceDesc=”Digi PKG-U USB Wireless Module”
USB\VID_0403&PID_EE19.DeviceDesc=”MaxStream XBee XTender Port”
ftdiport.inf
[FtdiHw]
%VID_0403&PID_EE18.DeviceDesc%=FtdiPort232.NT,FTDIBUS\COMPORT&VID_0403&PID_EE18
%VID_0403&PID_EE19.DeviceDesc%=FtdiPort232.NT,FTDIBUS\COMPORT&VID_0403&PID_EE19
[FtdiHw.NTamd64]
%VID_0403&PID_EE18.DeviceDesc%=FtdiPort232.NTamd64,FTDIBUS\COMPORT&VID_0403&PID_EE18
%VID_0403&PID_EE19.DeviceDesc%=FtdiPort232.NTamd64,FTDIBUS\COMPORT&VID_0403&PID_EE19
[Strings]
VID_0403&PID_EE18.DeviceDesc=”Digi PKG-U Serial Port Adapter”
VID_0403&PID_EE19.DeviceDesc=”MaxStream XBee XTender”
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January 8th, 2009 at 6:28 pm
Thanks so much! This worked perfectly! I’d been searching for a solution for a while now.
January 21st, 2009 at 2:44 am
Thanks Duane,
I have a USB development kit for the xbee (not pro). I downloaded the driver from http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/VCP.htm 2.04.06 and modified the lines you mentioned. I used a slightly different approach though. (I think the driver I downloaded is newer than the one you used) I kept the part before the ‘=’ as it was and only changed the value according to the value I saw on my original (Win XP) driver.
You have to install twice indeed. Two different devices I assume.
All works well now on Vista x64
January 21st, 2009 at 9:59 am
You guys are welcome. This was a bit of a pain to figure out-had i not just been messing with some inf files a little while before this problem it probably would have taken longer. I’m glad it has helped someone else.
I wish MaxStream would just release current drivers for their dev kits.. As we see here it would not take much for them to make the proper changes to their inf files and put out “official” drivers.
February 13th, 2009 at 4:39 pm
Thanks a lot!!!
I did exactly as you instructed and everything worked great.
February 15th, 2009 at 2:31 am
Hi,
can you post (or mail) the both inf files - changing the lines did not work for me.
Thank you,
Rainer
February 18th, 2009 at 4:32 pm
Rainer: I will have to see if i can find the files again. I haven’t had to use it for a while and don’t have it on my current dev machine.
February 18th, 2009 at 7:59 pm
Hi,
My operating system is windows vista x64. I added the lines you mentioned and still have the same problem. Windows can not find the Maxstream PKG USB driver.
Have any one found the clue to this?
Thanks all in advance
March 28th, 2009 at 11:59 am
Hi,
My operating system is windows vista x64. I have the same problem. changed the lines and still not working. You can send me the changed files by email?
July 8th, 2009 at 3:54 am
Please, send files to me too, or upload them to free host. Thanks.
July 13th, 2009 at 9:30 am
I’ll see if I can dig the installer back up. I haven’t had to use it for quite a while (and it is installed on my laptop).. I should still have it in my installs archive.