[Dxbase] USB Support Revisted

Wed Jan 25 23:08:07 EST 2006

Hi Bob,
I have the microKEYER by microHAM which is also a USB device. I am not sure
about the product you mentioned, but microHAM provide a USB driver for their
hardware. The USB driver simply creates virtual COMM ports that are used by
DXbase as if they were hardware ports. In short, DXB thinks they are just
additional hardware ports.
With the microHAM products comes a nifty piece of software called a Router
which allows you to configure both the virtual ports and the actual
hardware. With the router software, you can actually double up some of the
devices to even use the same port, for example PTT and FSK share the same
comm port on my setup. So if you use MMTTY or similar programmes with DXbase
you cut down on hardware resources.
If you look at almost any USB device like some cameras, PDA's (akin to a
Palm) or even some mice. It is up to the hardware manufacture to provide the
drivers not the software it is use with. For example Wacom supply the
drivers for my tablet to use with editing software like PhotoShop.
I think the main concern with Jack and DXbase is potential timing problems
when 'talking' to Virtual comms via USB ports. Also you have to remember
that the USB hardware might be used with other radio software, so the driver
has to be portable and not part of the user programme like DXbase.
73,
Eric - VE3GSI
-----Original Message-----
From: Bob Main
Sent: January 25, 2006 10:06 PM
I asked about have USB support earlier as part of DXBase uprade since it
only supports COM ports to radios and keyers. True radios still use COM
ports, but there are some keyers on the market now that are USB. One such
keyer is the UCW-100 from Unified Microsystems and it is listed on 
http://www.unifiedmicro.com/
This keyer has a USB cable on it that plugs into the computer and also a
1/4" plug that goes to the radio.
What if you want to use the internal DXBase CW interface and wanted to use
it with this keyer, you can't because there is no USB support. So how about
some USB support too?
73
Bob
KB4CL