Walkthrough: AP Map Manager on the Mac

Walkthrough: Using your AccessPort on your Mac

 

Using your Cobb AccessPort on your Intel Mac.

 

What you will need:

Cobb AccessPort (and the PC connection cables included with it)

Intel Mac

Serial to USB adapter (I’m using the Keyspan http://www.keyspan.com/products/usb/USA19HS/ )

Copy of Parallels Desktop (http://www.parallels.com/en/download/desktop/ )

Copy of Windows XP (I’m using SP2)

Copy of AccessPort Map manager (you can download this from the COBB forum http://www.cobbforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32247)

 

 

I decided to load Windows into Parallels instead of using Boot Camp because I don’t want to partition my HD and should something get screwy with the virtual machine I can just delete it and start all over again. I have less to worry about this way. I’m sure you can go the Boot Camp route, but I don’t recommend it. I understand that for some Mac users this thread may be obvious. For those of you out there the only thing to take away is that this works for sure. For others, you can follow these steps to get your AP running on your Mac. For Windows users, you can switch to the Mac and still use your AP

 

Instructions:

Start by installing Parallels. Then have it automatically install Windows from your XP CD. After that is complete install the Keyspan driver found on the CD that came with the adapter. The cool part about Parallels is that you can drag and drop files from your Mac onto the desktop of the PC. Drag the AccessPort Map Manager to the PC desktop and install the software.

 

Next you want to connect the USB adapter to the AP and then to your Mac. Also, connect the power adapter to the AP. The green light on the Keyspan adapter should be blinking. With Parallels running in the front (Parallels should be listed next to the Apple logo; upper left of your screen) go to the devices menu → USB controllers → and select the Keyspan adapter.

 

Windows will prompt you saying that your device is being installed and then that it’s ready.

 

Open AP Map Manager and configure connections. Select the only Com that’s available (for me it was listed as COM 3). Then you want to connect to PC on the AP and connect to AP on the PC end.

 

Your now done. You should see your Base and Real Time maps appear and now you can load new maps while using your Mac.

 

Cost: $30 for the Keyspan adapter. Parallels $79 (freebee from a friend. Yes he uninstalled it before I installed it). XP $89 from various places online (freebee from a friend upgrading to Vista).

 

Total Cost: $198. For me it cost a whopping $30. I’m sure you can find all the software/hardware on the web discounted.

 

I’ve tried to included some screen shots of menus to help you do the configuration but received a PHP error so I'll try again later. For now please visit http://web.mac.com/adam_ford/iWeb/APonMac/Screen%20Shots.html for screen shots. The process is pretty simple and now I don’t need to borrow a friend’s computer or ::GASP:: buy a Windows machine just so I can update my AP.

Cool. It would probably work the same way with a PowerPC machine and Virtual PC.

 

X

^ it might. Virtual PC isn't as clean or nearly as fast as Parallels, but it very well might work.

That is right, but it is the only option for Pre-Intel machines.

 

I run it on a Dual 2.5G G5 and works pretty well.

 

X

I thought Macs could do everything a PC could and then more?

 

He could run BootCamp (boot loader) and just boot into windows as well. However, this is better from the stand point you don't have to leave where you are at just to run one app.

is the AP v2 happy with bootcamp/parallels? I would imagine the whole process is at least a little bit easier, just because of usb.

yup, no problems, works just like on a PC.

well i guess i need an AP and a copy of xp, then