Re: Hardware or software?

On Wednesday 03 January 2007 03:54, Joe Barr wrote:

<snip>

> I'm wondering now if the problem may be one of flaky rig communications.
> Anyone have any thoughts on this?

Some 'RS232-powered' level converters receive their supply from the RTS line.
This may result in problems such as the one you describe.

As far as I know, the Hamlib library only activates RTS briefly, for the 
duration of the rig poll. As the rig poll goes out to the rig, the power 
rail(s) of the level converter are still in transit. As a result, the first 
query - and even the second - may be corrupted; the rig replies with 'huh?'  
in CAT language.

You can verify whether this is the problem by testing with 'rigctl', which, I 
believe, activates RST while the program is running.

However, you can _still_ use your dodgy RTS-powered level converter with the 
Hamlib library. Use the RPC rig daemon 'rpcrigd' which grabs the UART and 
activates the RST line full-time.

As a bonus, multiple applications can access the rig at the same time (e.g. 
xdx and your favourite logging software). 

HTH..

Wilbert, ZL2BSJ