Active-Game Minisim 150

I bought a used working motion simulator from someone else on this board. I can't get it to communicate with SimTools, after paying 100 bucks for the "pro" version. Anyone have any ideas? This simulator has a USB to serial 9-pin going into a simple small motherboard, that has 2 ethernet jacks that go to the VFD units (CFM210 single phase 220 in with variable output), and two 9-pin serial cords that come back to the board from the 220v AC motor units, presumable to sense the motor position. It does the whole mechanical range of motion fine when holding the reset button, so presumably its not a VFD/Motor issue, so I suspect the board is bad? One of the ethernet jacks doesn't light up with the green led side on the left like the other one, otherwise the board looks normal/fine. I tried everything computer-wise, AV & firewall off/million different settings/drivers/etc, but not able to control the unit with the sliders in SimTools no matter what output settings entered. I'm trying buying a different USB->9-pin Serial cord to try, but I doubt that's the problem as the current one seemed to test out okay with loopback. Its a hard thing being a proprietary and not DIY system, but thought Id ask for help. Thanks.