Ken,
I believe you are being confused between hardware and software
configurations. See if this explanation helps.
One cannot arbitrarily connect serial ports using a Y cable. The
SteppIR can do that ONLY because it simply monitors the traffic for band
change information, it never transmits commands.
MixW is a software application that can be configured to use a
particular COM port, it is not a com port itself and the connection is a
logical one, not a physical one. The translation of the logical port to
a physical (hardware port) is handled by the computer operating system.
Your inclusion of the RigExpert muddies the waters a bit because things
depend on just how the RigExpert is configured to pass the data (the
audio lines do not count here, only the serial port part). That is why
I have not used any of the 'fancy' interface boxes that include both a
soundcard and some sort of serial port 'pass-thru' because there are
many things that interface can do on the serial connection. I prefer to
run audio from my soundcard directly to the K3 and run the serial port
control inside the computer with applications that allow that to happen.
Normally only one device can make use of a hardware serial port at a
time. Look at it this way - you have only a single serial cable plugged
into the K3.
Software programs like LP-bridge allow several applications to 'talk to'
virtual serial ports (they exist only inside the computer, but are not
real hardware ports) that in turn LP-Bridge translates to the real
hardware serial port that is connected to the K3.
You may have to turn LP-bridge off and bypass the RigExpert to run
K3Utility for firmware downloads - some users have said that they have
used other functions of K3 Utility through LP-Bridge.
73,
Don W3FPR
Kenneth Waites wrote:
> How to connecct all I need to connect ot the RS232 port is perplexing to me.
>
> I need it for:
> Stepir antenna tracking - on a y cable
> Rig Expert digital modes interface for MIXW - on a y cable
> K3 Utility interface (disconnect everything else)
> Rig Control Program/Logging program. This leaves me bound to MIXW.
>
> I use a Y cable to interface to Steppir and MIXW. Putting more Y cables creates a rats nest behind the K3, and there could be confilicts on a wire.
>
> I feel kinda stuck.
>
>
>
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home:
http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraftHelp:
http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htmPost: mailto:
[hidden email]
This list hosted by:
http://www.qsl.netPlease help support this email list:
http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Locked
