| 1. How do I tell if my Phoenix controller is compatible with the Castle Link USB device?
Your Phoenix controller must have software version dated August 2003 or later to have the necessary interfaces to the PHX-Link. If your controller has the Soft Start programmable feature then you have a PHX-Link compatible controller. If your controller is not August 2003 or later revision then you will need to send your product to our factory for a software update to make it operate with the PHX-Link device.
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| 2. Can I use the Castle Link on my brushed Castle Creations' Controllers?
No, the microprocessor currently used on the Castle Creations' brushed controllers is not capable of connecting to the Castle Link at this time.
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| 3. Will the Castle Link work on a Macintosh computer?
Sort of. Macintosh users may take advantage of software such as Parallels Desktop, VMware Fusion, or Apple's Boot Camp to run the Castle Link software provided the Macintosh has an Intel processor.*
*Parallel's Desktop, VMware Fusion, and Apple's Boot Camp require a copy of Windows.
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| 4. What are the system requirements for the Castle Link to work on a PC? Does it work with Vista?
Castle Link will work on almost any PC running Windows 98 SE through Vista (32 bit version only). It will not run on Windows 95 or earlier.
Castle Link will function with Vista as long as you have the 32 bit version. Currently there are no drivers available for the 64 bit version. With Vista you need to install the software a little differently than with other versions of Windows. Go to the downloads page on our website, and click on "Download Now". On the next page that pops up, click "I have read and understand this information, download now", and when you get the pop-up window asking whether you'd like to "RUN" or "SAVE", choose "SAVE". Save the installation file to your desktop. Once the download is complete go to the desktop, right click on the installation file, and choose "RUN AS ADMINISTRATOR". The software should install properly after that.
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| 5. I downloaded the Castle Link software and when I try to install it I get a message saying that Windows doesn't know what to do with a ".msi" file (should only occur in Windows 98SE and Windows ME). What should I do?
You will need to update your Windows program installer. To do this go to this link. Read the directions and download and run the .msi installer. You will now be able to install the Castle Link software.
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| 6. Why do you keep updating the software for my Phoenix controllers? Can't you just get it right once and for all?
With software updates you can apply new features to your Phoenix ESC without having to buy a new controller or sending it in. We don't believe in planned obsolescence. We are one of the few hi-tech companies that will admit there is no such thing as perfect software. While our code is not perfect, it is better than most and we keep improving it. Also, the motor landscape (brands and types) changes radically every six months or so with new designs, sizes, and requirements for each. We can react quickly to those trends (usually before they come out to the public) and keep every Phoenix controller in up-to-date shape for any motor – regardless of when the controller was made.
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| 7. I notice some of the Castle Link software on your website is labelled "Beta". What does this mean?
We thoroughly test software updates before we release them but there is no way we can test every possible system configuration. A beta release comes with a questionnaire and several follow up e-mails so we can get feedback from beta testers on how the software performs. With this feedback we can fix bugs or other problems before the software in installed on our production ESC’S. If you are curious about beta software but are leery of becoming a tester, rest assured, all beta releases have the ability to be turned back into the last stable release version.
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| 8. I'm getting error messages during or after installation of the Castle Link software. How do I fix this?
See the Castle Link Software Troubleshooting Guide.
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9. When I updated to the current version of Castle Link I get a message saying “Can’t connect to database”, a .NET error, some weird .DLL not found message, or the program freezes when I try to update my ESC. How do I go about fixing this?
- Delete .NET in Add/Remove Programs in your computer’s Control Panel. If your computer has 2 versions (v1.1 and v2.0) delete both.
- Download/install the appropriate version of .NET based on your operating system from the list below.
- Download and install MDAC 2.8 and MDAC 2.8 Service Pack 1 from the links below.
The link should function properly after this.
For Windows Vista or Windows XP
It seems there are bugs in the .NET 2.0 software that are preventing Castle Link from working properly. If you are using Windows Vista, .NET Framework 2.0 came factory installed on your computer. To use Castle Link it is necessary to have .NET Framework 3.5 on your computer. Click on the following links below and install Microsoft .NET 3.5.
Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5
Note: Choose "RUN" when prompted. If you choose "SAVE", the program will not install.
For Windows 98 or Windows 2000
Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1
Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1 Service Pack 1
Microsoft Data Access Components (MDAC) 2.8
MDAC 2.8 Service Pack 1
Note: Choose "RUN" when prompted. If you choose "SAVE", the program will not install.
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| 10. Will my Castle Link work with my Palm Pilot/Palm PC?
No. Most Palm Pilots/Pocket PCs do not have the ability to support USB server clients. There is also the difficulty of attaining a driver file to run the link off the Palm Pilot/Pocket PC.
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| 11. When I plug my high voltage (HV) controller into the Castle Link it does not connect. Why?
The HV controllers are opto isolated which stops all current between your receiver and the speed controller during normal operation. Because of this, power between your computer and the controller is also interrupted. As such, you must supply power to the processor from an outside source. The processor on the HV controllers requires at least 16 volts (equivalent to a charged 4s lipo or 16 cell NiMH pack) to boot up. Be sure to plug the controller into the link first, then plug the pack in. It will not work the other way around.
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| 12. I know I have to plug a battery pack into my high voltage (HV) controller to get it to connect to Castle Link, but it’s still not working. Why?
Answer: First, ensure that the pack you are plugging in is higher than 16 volts, and that your “USB connection status” box in the lower left hand corner of the Castle Link screen is green*. Plug the controller into the Castle Link, and then plug your battery pack into the controller. It will not work the other way around (battery then link). If it is still not connecting, try removing the green PCB (printed circuit board) at the end of the Castle Link, plug it back in, and repeat the process. If none of this works, contact tech support.
*If your “USB connection status” box is red, please skip down to the driver installation question on the FAQ page to resolve it.
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| 13. My “USB connection status” box on my Castle Link screen is red. Why is that, and how do I get it to turn green?
The Link installation program usually installs the Link Driver with no problem. However, if something happens during the driver installation that prevents driver installation Windows does not give you another chance. The following directions will help you install the Link driver manually.
- Click on Start
- Click Control Panel
- Click on System
- Click on the hardware tab
- Click Device Manager
- Find Phx link or Phoenix link on the list that comes up and double click on it
- Click on re-install driver or update driver (whichever your computer states)
- You want to let windows search for the driver so select “yes, this time only”, and “install this software automatically” - it will find it on the internet and download it for you
- Click finish when done and you should be good to go
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| 14. I'm having trouble installing Castle Link on my computer. I start the program and connect the USB, then hardware wizard starts to install new device and at that point computer locks up, no keyboard or mouse control and I must do a forced shut down to get the computer functioning again. It locks up on the file CydLib.sys to C/windows/system32/drivers. What should I do?
If you're using Trend Micro you may have issues if you've updated recently. To get the Castle Link software working, disconnect your computer from internet, turn off Trend Micro, install the software, turn on Trend Micro, restart computer, and then re-connect to the internet.
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