Well, I didn't. I found I needed to babysit the machine because .... every time I walked away something happened and a mess needed to be fixed. So, I started to use it mainly for making labels.
This fancy dandy embroidery software was back in the days of Microsoft XP. We're going way back and since I only use it for labels, why upgrade to the latest version .... Right?
Fast forward to today, this technology is considered archaic .... ancient .... but I still would like to use it. My old Compaq Evo N800C laptop that is programed to function with this machine is also archaic ... We're talking like ..... over 18 years old ... but it still functions well and has an amazing screen resolution. It was "top of the line" way back when I purchased it.
As you might have guessed, things are starting to fall apart ... like the USB ports. Back then it was all parallel ports .... so I need to use a USB to parallel port adapter.
I only have two (2) USB ports in the back of the laptop. And now, one of the USB ports on old faithful no longer works. I need two (2) ports for machine embroidery ... one for the USB to parallel mechanism and one for the software dongle.
I tried figuring the COM port on another newer laptop that still runs on XP but I could not get it to work. The driver software was no longer available for the Belkin USB to parallel port mechanism.
I seriously thought I would need to say goodby to machine embroidery .... I could not justify buying a new embroidery machine just for labels ....
I did a search for a USB hub that would work with Microsoft XP. Found this little baby ....
Well, wouldn't you know it it works!
Now I have access to four (4) USB ports .... and check this out! It's in direct communication with the machine!
OMG ... I'm stitching
Thanks for stopping by my little corner in cyberspace and I do hope this post helps someone in the same situation I was in.
Catch you all later! Cheers!
6 comments:
They always say, “where there is a will there is a way.” Glad it was such an easy fix. Have fun stitching.
WooHoo -- congrats on finding a workaround! At least you have a USB port -- my first embroidery machine had a floppy -- and we all know where that technology went LOL. I still have an old computer that will work with it, but I worry about it alot. I laughed when you said you only use it for labels -- man, we spent a lot of money on stuff we never used, didn't we???
My wife has this same Artista 180 and I recently used a similar serial adapter to connect this to my new windows 10 computer. I am using Bernina's free Artlink 8 software and am able to write designs directly to the embroidery unit. She can edit the designs from any file type in Embird, convert to an .art in Artlink, and then sent to the machine.
You are way ahead of me. My 1130 and 1630 died, so I replaced with a 180 with all the bells and whistles (embroidery stuff). (Not thinking clearly that dayI thought is was a 130). Up on local sales page pops a 180 for less than $100.00-works for me thinking I am upgrading from a 130 to a 180 - I buy it- learned it has 80 hours on it but an older version of software (have to learn what that means). Another pops up - still way cheap- $200.00 so I buy it also. Take it to the shop to learn it has ‘2 hours’ on it as the mother board has been replaced, repairman says it is like a new machine. Get out the original buy when I realize it is also a 180 - so now I have 3 180’s with a total of 296 hours between the 3 of them. Haven’t had time to determine if they sew differently but I have each labeled with dates of service, # of hours, and have given them names to keep the ‘triplets’ recognizable! This is what happens when you get old.
I really liked the bernina 180 s altho I had trouble with the first one breaking threads as I embroidered. I bought a used 180 to embroider with and really liked it so when I saw an ad or 200 I purchased it as well. I wanted to teach some friends how to quilt and was having a fine time doing so.
Then I fell several times and had trouble walking and sitting and all of the other things that quilting requires, Half a dozen procedures on my back didn’t help any so I have been in a wheel chair for the last year or so. Now I’m on dialysis s which I must take three times a week.
I plan to sell several sewing machine,a HQ Fusion, a commercial sewing machine (a really old one) a server or two , a feather weight with its own table, most of my fabric (3 rooms of it) and all of the notions which go with it.
We plan to have the sale this Fri evening and all day sat or as long as I can stand being there.
We are about an hour north west of Charlotte NC.
Thank you for this! I have babied my 180 and was so disappointed when Bernina stopped supporting the Artista. I love the sewing capabilities of the machine, but was frustrated with the embroidery functions.
I was really P. O.’d at Bernina for stopping support when I had paid $4000 for a machine!
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