(Elecraft) XG3 RF generator software port selection

[nels.nelsen_NE7LS]

Has any one gotten the XG3 RF generator to talk to a laptop just thru a USB
port? I am useing a Windows XP laptop which does not have the old style
com-port 1 with a db-9 connector, it just has the modern USB ports. I am
wondering If I don't have a problem with the USB driver.
When I start up the software that comes with the generator, there is no
selection of a port available in the  "select this port"  portion of the
windows software.
Has any one found a cure for this?
Thanks,
nels nelsen
NE7LS
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[Paul Saffren N6HZ]

Hi Nels,

If you want to use the XG3 with a USB port you'll need to order the KXUSB cable from Elecraft.  This has a USB connector on one end and a 3.5mm stereo male plug on the other.  The XG3 utility DOES have the ability to change com ports. Bring up the utility and click on the PORT tab, then click the drop down and select the appropriate port.

If you have the KXUSB adapter and want to change the port that Windows associates with it, follow these steps:
1) Click on Start, Control Panel, Device Manager.
2) Expand the PORTS by clicking on the arrow to the left.
3) Locate the device you want to change and right click on it.
4) Select PROPERTIES, and click on the ADVANCED button.
From here you can simply change the com port number using the drop down COM PORT NUMBER.

73,

-Paul

[Don Wilhelm-4]

Nels,

You mention "software that comes with the generator"  Would that be the
XG3 Utility?  If you do not have XG3 Utility, download it from the
Elecraft website.

Separately, you must have a driver for your USB to serial adapter. That
adapter is the same one that is shipped with the KX3, and you should go
to the FTDI website to download the latest driver.  There is a link on
the Elecraft website for that.

It is helpful to remember that the adapter for the XG3 and the KX3 are
the same.  Get the driver, and then open XG3 Utility.  I am thinking
(but don't know for sure) that you may have no com ports configured on
your laptop, so there are no COM ports available to show in XG3
Utility.  add the drivers for the USB adapters first. BTW, they will
first recognize the driver for the FTDI chip, and then Windoze will want
to load a driver for a Serial Port - you must do both.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 9/21/2012 4:37 PM, Nels Nelsen wrote:
> Has any one gotten the XG3 RF generator to talk to a laptop just thru a USB
> port? I am useing a Windows XP laptop which does not have the old style
> com-port 1 with a db-9 connector, it just has the modern USB ports. I am
> wondering If I don't have a problem with the USB driver.
> When I start up the software that comes with the generator, there is no
> selection of a port available in the  "select this port"  portion of the
> windows software.
>

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[Dick Dievendorff]

Another thing to be aware of is that the COM Port generally won't show in
the Device Manager or XG3 Utility until the USB device is physically plugged
into a USB hub on the computer and the appropriate drivers are located by
the Operating System.  

If you've already started the XG3 Utility and plug in the USB device after
the program has started, there is a "refresh" button on the Port page that
causes the XG3 Utility to again ask the Windows OS for its list of COM
ports.  The list of COM ports in the Port tab's drop-down combo box comes
from the Operating System's inventory of COM ports.

Dick, K6KR


-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Don Wilhelm
Sent: Friday, September 21, 2012 3:00 PM
To: Nels Nelsen
Cc: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] (Elecraft) XG3 RF generator software port selection

Nels,

You mention "software that comes with the generator"  Would that be the
XG3 Utility?  If you do not have XG3 Utility, download it from the Elecraft
website.

Separately, you must have a driver for your USB to serial adapter. That
adapter is the same one that is shipped with the KX3, and you should go to
the FTDI website to download the latest driver.  There is a link on the
Elecraft website for that.

It is helpful to remember that the adapter for the XG3 and the KX3 are the
same.  Get the driver, and then open XG3 Utility.  I am thinking (but don't
know for sure) that you may have no com ports configured on your laptop, so
there are no COM ports available to show in XG3 Utility.  add the drivers
for the USB adapters first. BTW, they will first recognize the driver for
the FTDI chip, and then Windoze will want to load a driver for a Serial Port
- you must do both.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 9/21/2012 4:37 PM, Nels Nelsen wrote:
> Has any one gotten the XG3 RF generator to talk to a laptop just thru
> a USB port? I am useing a Windows XP laptop which does not have the
> old style com-port 1 with a db-9 connector, it just has the modern USB
> ports. I am wondering If I don't have a problem with the USB driver.
> When I start up the software that comes with the generator, there is
> no selection of a port available in the  "select this port"  portion
> of the windows software.
>

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[George Danner]

Nels,
I'm using the KXUSB USB interface that came with my KX3.
It works as advertised with my XG3 to the XG3 Utility.
I have used both chip-sets for USB interfaces in the past with my XP laptop
so there was no driver downloads to deal with.
The XG3 Utility will list the available com ports and it is just a matter of
finding the one that works. That will be the one that connects.
I would think it normal for the Utility to not list a com port if you did
not yet have an USB to RS-232 interface. My laptop lists 2 com ports. The
one for the P3/K3 & the one for KX3 or XG3; both are USB to RS-232 - one
DB-9 the other a mini-phone plug.
George
AI4VZ

-----Original Message-----
From: Nels Nelsen

Has any one gotten the XG3 RF generator to talk to a laptop just thru a USB
port? I am useing a Windows XP laptop which does not have the old style
com-port 1 with a db-9 connector, it just has the modern USB ports.

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