Skip to main content

US232 FTDI USB -serial trouble clear ini file settings helped

In the end it was simply an error in the  N1MMlogger.ini
But before I came to that I walked some byways..

My new FTDI  US232  USB to serial failed to work with my Radio / N1MM logger Notebook.

Using COM2  with this US232  ( 12345.. all tried as well)
It will not send CW using DTR =CW  as used to with the 
HQ USB-rs232  Prolific chip type.
Since N1MM was generating more and more time out  / overflow errors/ popups with the CAT connection I decided to change to the FTDI type  as this was advised by the N1MM community.
The US232 was installed quick no driver disk was needed and the CAT  connection with N1MM worked instantly.
But to my surprise I could not send CW
Pressing F1 =CQ  RTS  asserts  high, TX is on but DTR stays low. RTS would not return low until ESC was pressed. 

Changing to  TR4W logger using the same USB-serial com2  all is okay!

DTR keys CW , RTS switches T/R  normally.

When I plug this US232 in my other Laptop  it takes COM2  also there it works normal.


DTR is keying CW   RTS is T/R switching like it is configured in N1MM

Also TR4W logger worked normal using DTR RTS and CAT  on com2 on the 2nd PC



The text is distorted by  W7 for free!

When pressing ctrl T  N1MM starts tuning the K3 with DTR high!  So DTR can be controlled by N1MM for the tune command but just not for CW anymore
Some setting must have been altered?

Question is  what process /setting can cause this?

I did reinstall drivers  tried other ports.
The result  is that also the other HQ USB-rs232  that worked okay before is now having the same problem! 

TR4W  logger can use both  converters on this Notebook..
Using TR4W  logger is no option I have tried this before.
This logger is useless but its interfacing seems  good!
N1MM is good but it's interfacing   using CW IF.EXE ????

Strange problems after using N1MM that long, first with a fixed system com-port  and later  on the Laptop using the USB-rs232 with good result.

But it worked best with a normal System USART chip  sure thing.
The USB serial  gave this  CAT errors  more and more  and generates more noise too.

Might have to go back to an old XP  desktop with system comport onboard or  PCI serial card?


Possible  a MOXA USB-serial would be okay  we have many applications at QRL using  MOXA  PCI multi serial ports  C168U  8-ports   and  N-port servers 8 / 16 serial ports  running


Strange thing is that TR4W  is working okay but N1MM will not with the same converter on the Notebook D420 W7pro32.

On the 2nd laptop both work okay in a short test not yet contest proven...
Running a contest is the real test since only then Murphy will come along too..

I am the only one having this problems it seems.

The response delay  and the  frozen  QSO data  I have experienced in the past only seem to happen here.

These USB -serial devices are a real pain in the ass sometimes with unpredictable results.


Could not let rest the subject

I looked into the  N1MMlogger.ini file  this is a text file can be opened with notepad
I use Notepad++ for this
 I could no see any difference between both PC  ini file data

Then I tried N1MM config -> clear ini file settings    all is reset then





Before doing this keep note of settings ..  well for ports setting I had my training by now.

I knew the digi settings and some other tweaks
Need to set comport K3  DTR RTS  Digimode  etc  MMVARI - using sound-card here

Eureka ! DTR was active and CW sound again pff..

Must have been the port address,  2E8  was  set on the Notebook
and now it is 2F8  This was altered by N1MM  I did not change it manually.
Afterwards I remember 2F8 is the default address of com2  3F8 is com1 changing this only could have done the trick.
By switching between USB devices this setting must have changed?
This reset also seems to fix the unwanted DIGI mode changing to GMSK after every band switch.

Now I can test and see if the US232 with its big blue flashing LEDS a bit overdone ..is holding its promise..

until now it has been working without failure so I am hoping the CAT trouble will be over now.



Comments

Archive

Show more

Popular posts from this blog

2011-01-22 DIAMOND 2m 70cm 1m30 Colinear inside

Having relative poor signals on the local 70cm / 2m channels using this X50 Diamond collinear 70/2  1m antenna at a height of 25m. I needed to investigate what could be wrong. Measuring the cable only 3W is left for the antenna of the 10W 435MHz output from a IC451E The cable is 30m type H100 Z50 10mm outside diameter it is semi air-spaced but has an impossible 4mm² solid CU inner conductor not much air left. I preferred the H43 Z75 cable having lower loss and mechanical better ratio in conductor size. My antenna uses SO239 connector UHF type semi air spaced isolator.  3W should be enough for a comfortable noise free FM signal. But only 27km away at PA0A the signal is weak too weak something must be wrong? I made a simple reference dipole of 2x17cm CU wire. With this dipole the signals where totally worse. So the Diamond does work? I got curious to look inside. Maybe moisture penetration degraded the antenna. This  antenna is rainwater close in its n...

SPF5189z Low noise preamp 23cm

 14-4-2018 updated Above the low noise  preamp 50 - 4GHz    ebay  6€ Tested  2 small porto antennas 1 Baofeng UV antenna left   2nd best signal on PI2NOS 2 eBay DIAMONDSRH805S  wide band 144/432/1200  it works for its size as expected 3 piece of wire :   best signal in the setup... Unit under test at workbench. It was stable  50mA  at 5V   few days,  but sudden the current went up to 100mA And i could  no longer adjust it with the negative bias Voltage. The - Voltage went to zero and the SPF input port became low Z. This SPF5189z was broken  no oscillations, no input overload just it broke while i was receiving the PI2NOS 430.125 using a small antenna at the workbench. The specs of  SPF5189z  say it has an internal circuit  regulating the bias current. Replaced . again   with an other of the 5 spare SPF i have. The new one again could be adjuste...

BIJZEN mast en ontwerp fouten.

In 2013 heb ik een Bijzen aluminium mast 3 x7m  opgehaald  bij iemand die hem niet mocht plaatsen Gemeente Oss  dat zegt misschien al genoeg.. Pas in 2018 heb ik hem geplaatst had ik veel eerder moeten doen. Mooie mast, mijn xyl vond hem zelfs mooi. Hij is licht, de 3 delen wegen  235kg  het vaste deel 102kg dus het te lieren gedeelte weegt   slechts 133kg + ca 50kg rotor + antennes etc.  De elektrische lier is wel erg zwaar 30kg misschien wel maar die zit onder    Antenne  3ele Steppir  19kG  +  G2500DXC rotor: 3.6kg  + rotorbuis 12 kg  +  kabels 10kg  + 5/7 ele 6m beam. ongeveer 50kg Je moet niet te dichtbij  kijken, dan valt op dat het Aluminium lastwerk heel slordig is gedaan, scherpe bramen aan de lassen waar kabels door kunnen worden beschadigd of haken Er is zeer ! weinig ruimte voor de rotor een YAESU G2500DX past net maar dan ook net  met beetje buigen van  kruisverband. Het...