"Show designer not responding"

Well, based on your user ID, have you tried praying for divine intervention?

The Elation site is acting buggy right now so I can't download docs for the SD3 so I can't be more usefull.

Concern 1: What OS are you using?

Concern 2: You've swapped out the USB or the serial cable? Are you sure you're using a null modem adaptor? Do you need a null modem driver?(sometimes you do, sometimes you don't). I have a sizable collection of M-F and F-F null modem adaptors, that I still have applications for. I mean, I definately have more than I really need.

Without things like computer specs, OS and other nifty details like that, it's hard for me to give more useful information. I was going to go download an SD3 manual to see if I could help you, but as I said, as of right now when I make this posting, the Elation main site was acting up. I'll bet this is resolved in a few hours.

Then again, maybe you've done nothing wrong and the SD3 is defective or gone bad. The good nws(for lack of a better term) is you're making the effort to try different computers and try different cables. This does lead me to think that the SD3 is acting up.

Or it could simply be that perhaps your choice of operating system might be incompatible with the SD3. Again, can't get more information becuase the Elation site is acting up at the moment. Hopefully I remember to check back.

Update:

First, ensure you're using the correct type of null modem cable.

If you're using a USB to serial adaptor cable. Not all work equally or with everything. With having to do recent updates to my A&H ML5000 48B audio desk recently, I chose to go old school and used a laptop with an actual serial port to do the firmware update.

The lack of serial ports on desktops are rather annoying to me these days. But as an IT pro and data comm guy, I prefer to have a serial port readily available.

Did you confirm and validate the correct serial port is being used? Do you have another device to test the cable with? I'm super protective of my working cables because I do rely on them for my living.

Also, is the proper software installed?

Is the console set in the right operation mode to work with the computer?

Any reason why the compact flash option is a viable alternative for you? I only ask because it seems convenient.

Yes we have prayed over our computer! lol

Thanks for all the info, I will double check on all of that!

Hey, thanks for the help.
We are using an actual serial cable with a null modem adaptor.
Here is some more info that might be helpful. We were using another computer to run the sd monitor program and all was working fine. We then had an accident and the serial jack on the computer basically got ripped off the mother board and is moving around inside the computer. We then got another computer to use in its place and now we cant get it to work. We are running windows xp on both machines and using the same serial cable with a null converter. This leads me to believe that its a computer problem and not a sd3 problem.
We only have one serial port on the computer and I have tried using both options on the sd monitor program for connecting.
Do I need to configure the serial port on the computer or something? Is there a way to even see if the computer is recognizing the board? We have extinguished all our resources to this point.
Thanks for your help.

Ugh!!

Yeha, ripping out a serial port sucks. But, that may be a replacable item if you have a serial port header and it was something that was bolted to the case chassis or else a slot mounted option. But if it was a serial port attached to the mainboard, you might have damaged more stuff than you think, so be extra cautious.

The good news is you're saying youre using a standard serial cable with a null modem adaptor. That says you're doing what the manual says to do.

If the SD3 came with software, you have two things you need to do:
1: Install the software, which clearly you have done. This should also take care of configuringthe serial port properly.
2: Ensure you're using the right serial port, either Com1 or Com2. If you have a regular modem laying around(one that attaches serially) or else some other device you would communicate with on a serial port, that should tell you which serial port to use. The software should give you a choice of which serial port to use.

3: Have you put the console in a mode to accept communication on the serial port? This is an easy to skip step if you're not familiar. It's documented in the manual.

After that, I really can't help because I don't have an SD3. I do have a few computers with serial ports, but I'm finding my newer ones(I build all but my laptops) lack them.

Again, some software wants a null modem driver, some don't, it just depends on the software. The manual is unclear as to the exact requirements, so I am assuming, perhaps WRONG, that you don't need a null modem driver. I find TCP/IP apps that use SLIP or PPP want a null modem driver to facilitate that bridge for networking, that's been my experience.

Test your cable. Test your null modem adaptor. Is your cable a 9 pinF to 25 pinM? Is your null modem adaptor 25-pin to 25 pin M-F? Are you then using a 9 to 25-pin adaptor? I don't want to go into the endless permutations. If it was me I'd build my own cable as I hate adaptors for this sort of thing. but out in the field, I have my Cisco cables, my USR/3Com cables, Ascend cables and other speciaity cable sets, some may or may not include adpators.

I think you need a helping hand from an expert. Call Elation Support. Good folks there, they'll help you out right.

Don't quit. You'll get it.