[DXBase] Rig Control via USB Port

Sun, 1 Dec 2002 22:06:05 -0500

I just bought a USB to serial converter on Ebay solely for the intent of
keing my rig using my currently unused USB port.
I had not hooked it up yet when I saw this thread. I couldn't not see why
RTS and DTR cannot be controlled just like any other COM port, unless
USB-to-serial devices are strictly XON/XOFF based vs "hardware". I decided
to test this with Digipan and MMSSTV and my MFJ-1275 sound card interface.
I just installed the driver for Windows (Prolific USB-to-Serial Comm Port)
and configured the device. I tested it on COM3 using Digipan and works like
a charm. Tested it with MMSSTV and works great! Tried it with DXBase 2003
and it doesn't work.
So what's the problem with DXBase 2003? I doesn't affect me since I don't
use the CW option anyhow.
73!
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ron Stordahl" <[email protected]>
To: "Steve Baron - KB3MM" <[email protected]>; "Jack"
<[email protected]>; "Ron Stordahl" <[email protected]>; "Bill Nowicki
[WA4OYH]" <[email protected]>; <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, December 01, 2002 4:33 PM
Subject: Re: [DXBase] Rig Control via USB Port
> So far everyone I know of who as tried say they can't control DTR for CW
> generation via a USB to Serial converter. That's not to say it can't be
> done...probably nobody needs it (except us hams who are barely a blip on
the
> radar).
>> Ron
>> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Steve Baron - KB3MM" <[email protected]>
> To: "Jack" <[email protected]>; "Ron Stordahl"
> <[email protected]>; "Bill Nowicki [WA4OYH]"
> <[email protected]>; <[email protected]>
> Sent: Sunday, December 01, 2002 3:16 PM
> Subject: Re: [DXBase] Rig Control via USB Port
>>> > Are you saying that one cannot control DTR and RTS ?
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Jack" <[email protected]>
> > To: "Ron Stordahl" <[email protected]>; "Bill Nowicki [WA4OYH]"
> > <[email protected]>; <[email protected]>
> > Sent: Sunday, December 01, 2002 20:46
> > Subject: Re: [DXBase] Rig Control via USB Port
> >
> >
> > > Ron,
> > >
> > > We haven't explorered the internals of USB in too much detail, but as
we
> > > understand the USB standard, toggling leads like you can with a serial
> > port
> > > is not possible and the Window's drivers for USB ports do not allow
it.
> > So,
> > > if our "limited" exploration is correct, using a USB port direct will
> not
> > be
> > > an option for communicating with things like keying CW through a
> > > transistor/diode circuit, toggling PTT, etc.... unless somebody
invents
> > > drivers to allow lead access to a USB port. But then that opens up
> > another
> > > can of worms... hihi.... since the design of operating systems is
> becoming
> > > more and more rigid about external control of communications ports in
> non
> > > standard ways.
> > >
> > > Time will tell.
> > >
> > > Regards
> > > Jack
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "Ron Stordahl" <[email protected]>
> > > To: "Bill Nowicki [WA4OYH]" <[email protected]>;
> > > <[email protected]>
> > > Sent: Sunday, December 01, 2002 3:32 PM
> > > Subject: Re: [DXBase] Rig Control via USB Port
> > >
> > >
> > > > Here are some prices (from Byterunner)
> > > >
> > > > 2 port PCI serial card: 46ドル.00
> > > > 4 port PCI serial card: 99ドル.00
> > > > 8 port PCI serial card: 189ドル.00
> > > >
> > > > The USB alternative:
> > > >
> > > > 1 USB to 1 Serial: 20ドル.00
> > > > 1 USB to 2 Serial: 38ドル.00
> > > > 1 USB to 4 Serial: 110ドル.00
> > > >
> > > > So, although there is no USB to 8 serial device available that I am
> > aware
> > > > of, the prices via the USB route are about the same as PCI cards.
> > > >
> > > > While the Byterunner PCI cards do support DTR CW generation and
Baudot
> > > code
> > > > generation (with DTR push to talk), I would need some evidence that
> the
> > > USB
> > > > alternative would support those very limited (to hams) applications.
> > > >
> > > > BUT...USB is the future path of PC's. Very compact PC's are being
> sold
> > > with
> > > > no user accessible slots at all.
> > > >
> > > > Courtny..when you say DXBase does not support a 'direct USB
interface'
> I
> > > am
> > > > guessing that you are talking about support for non standard things
> like
> > > > controlling individual lines (DTR for example). Won't the operating
> > > system
> > > > allow these converters to look like conventional COM ports for
typical
> > > > communications use? And as such wouldn't these USB to RS232 devices
> > work
> > > > for radio frequency control, rotor control, packet tnc, etc.
> > > >
> > > > Ron N5IN
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > > From: "Bill Nowicki [WA4OYH]" <[email protected]>
> > > > To: <[email protected]>
> > > > Sent: Sunday, December 01, 2002 1:37 PM
> > > > Subject: Re: [DXBase] Rig Control via USB Port
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > > Courtney,
> > > > > I must disagree with the statement that a USB to Serial HUB is a
> waste
> > > of
> > > > > computing power. I have need for more than 4 serial ports and to
> > > purchase
> > > > > serial port expander cards such as Rocketport is expensive and
> > requires
> > > > > computing power to operate. The USB to serial HUB is a less
> expensive
> > > > > option. The serial interface in Windows does not seem to have a
> > standard
> > > > > that every manufacture or software developer will follow. My hope
> is
> > > that
> > > > > DXBase will support USB in the future and get away from the
resource
> > > > > problems that hamper standard serial ports.
> > > > >
> > > > > Bill WA4OYH
> > > > >
> > > > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > > > From: "Jack" <[email protected]>
> > > > > To: <[email protected]>; <[email protected]>
> > > > > Sent: Sunday, December 01, 2002 1:05 PM
> > > > > Subject: Re: [DXBase] Rig Control via USB Port
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > > Tom,
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Use a USB to Serial hub and get multiple serial ports from one
USB
> > > port.
> > > > > > DXbase does not support a direct USB interface. ( such a waste
of
> > > > > computer
> > > > > > resources to do so ).
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Regards,
> > > > > > Courtney
> > > > > >
> > > > > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > > > > From: <[email protected]>
> > > > > > To: <[email protected]>
> > > > > > Sent: Sunday, December 01, 2002 12:50 PM
> > > > > > Subject: [DXBase] Rig Control via USB Port
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > > Is it possible to control a 756PROII via the USB ports? Thank
> > you.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Tom Neill K4XG
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > _______________________________________________
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