imaq-1408 will not snap due to IMG_ERR_TIMO and will not Grab due to DMA timeout

[Rick 623]

I have installed my IMAQ-1408 board, it shows up correctly in MAX, and I am using a standard NTSC camera. In MAX when In try to grab, this error pops up:
ERROR(DMA timeouts)...
and it suggest that I reduce the size of the aquisistion window. I tried reducing the size to its minimum value from 640X480 to 8X2 and it still gives the same error. And I also took the numbers for "left" and "top" to 0.
When I try to Snap a picture I get another Timeout error: .
I know that it is getting some sort of signal because when I take the cable out it says that it cannot lock onto video signal.
Furthermore, I have another frame grabber installed on my computer and the same ca
mera works fine on it.
The same errors occur when I try to run labview example programs rather then MAX to aquire an image.

[Morten]

Hi Rick,

Did you try this board in another PCI slot? Try a slot that sits closer to the motherboard. Also, if that still gives you problems, try it in another computer.

Hope this helps.

Thanks,

Morten Jensen
National Instruments

[Ken L]

I was having the same problem as Rick. After a search, I found this answer. I didn't really think it would work, but I was desperate. Surprisingly, it _did_ work.

I guess it is good that I had my problem solved, but I don't know how confident I am in a product that needs to be in a specific PCI slot.

Also, I think Morten's comment was supposed to say "Try a slot that sits closer to the CPU." At least, that's how I interpreted it.

[FraserD]

I have the same problem and have tried every PCI slot, and indeed every slot for my single board computer in the same passive backplane. The DMA error persists.

Has anyone ever had a problem with using a PCI-1409 with a single board computer ? Are there any particular settings in BIOS which are required ?

[FraserD]

Rick,

What version of windows were you using ?

[Underflow]

Responding to old threads... ah well, just in case it helps others.

Had the same problem, swapped PCI slots with no effect.

On a hunch, I turned off hyperthreading (Win2k, 3G processor) and the acquisition worked.  Of course, my Device Net card *stopped* working... /shrug.  One problem at a time 😛

JZ

[David S.]

Hi JZ -

I'm not familiar with DNET devices, but I'm pretty handy with IMAQ.  😉

I'm glad the hyperthreading trick worked.  This was often necessary with old versions of the NI-IMAQ driver.  If you're not using v3.5.1 yet, you should upgrade so you can keep hyperthreading enabled on your system.  You can find it as part of the Vision Acquisition Software package on our website.

If you're coding in LV, you'll need this patch for 1408 support. Just replace the VI in this llb for each version of LV you're using (7.0+):
<LabVIEW X.X>\vi.lib\vision\driver\DllCalls.lib

Hopefully someone else from NI will be able to discuss your DNET problem.

Message Edited by David S. on 04-27-2006 07:55 AM

[Underflow]

Hey David, thanks for the reply.

I've bookmarked this for future consideration, since I'm out of time to work on that aspect ("Just make it work!":))

In any event, Intel seems to have some internal dissent over whether hyperthreading is beneficial for Win2k:

http://www.intel.com/support/processors/sb/cs-017343.htm says it isn't beneficial
http://www.intel.com/support/processors/sb/cs-012775.htm at least implies it does work if you install the correct components from MS

For the Devicenet card, I've solved the problem by swapping out the card.  The guilty card is laying on my desk, looking innocent.  I'll interrogate it later, perhaps it will give up its secrets.

Thanks again,

Joe Z.

[nguyenhk]

I am using a camera Pulnix TM1040 with a frame grabber PCI-1422. When grabbed, it showed the error:"IMAQ error: The serial read didnot complete within the specified timeout period". I have tried to change the timeout number, downloaded the camera file from NI ftp but the result was still the same. Does anyone know about this and help me to solve? I really need now because I am running out of time for my experiments.

Thanks a lot.

[David S.]

Hi nguyenhk -

Are you getting this error when trying to Snap in MAX as well as Grab?  This error is reporting that, when trying to initialize the acquisition, there is no response to the serial commands sent to the camera.  (These commands are speicified in the camera file.)

Which mode are you trying to use the camera in?  Are you using triggerring or any special features of the camera?  Have you verified that the camera is set up properly for whichever mode you're trying to use?

Do you have another camera you can test the setup with?

---

On another note, I strongly encourage you to consider the following guidelines when posting a question to the NI Discussion Forums:

1. Try to post your question in the appropriate forum for your hardware/software.  People scanning the VISA or LabVIEW forums are less likely to have answers for your IMAQ questions than people in the Machine Vision Hardware forum.
   
2. If you have a new issue, create a new thread for it.  This makes issues easier to find when searching in the future.  This way the solution to your problem can be found by others who may have the same problem.
   
3. Post your question only once.  It will be noticed by visitors and NI employees alike.  Duplicate postings will likely not be responded to.