Elecraft › [HAM]

USB interface

Classic

List

Threaded

9 messages Options

Dave LaBat

USB interface

Well the old laptop computer with the serial interface is probably on its
last legs.. gee W98 held out pretty good! Writelog never seemed to mind and
generated CW as well as rig control on a single COM port. So I think I am
switching to a new laptop and adding to what the rig can do. Still I need a
USB interface.

What has been the experience with the Timewave HamLink USB? Any other
contenders out there that will allow CW generation on the same COM?

Thanks

Dave NT6AA

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

Rick WA6NHC

Re: USB interface

Dave,

SignaLink (Tigertronics) is quite popular and works well. Instead of
replacing the internal jumper set (wired for my TS-940) and paying an extra
$25, I made up my own interface cable (already had the connectors) to the K3
so I can switch back and forth if needed by leaving the interface attached
to each radio and moving the SignaLink.

It plugs into (and is powered by) a USB port and is a self contained sound
card so your OS sounds can go out the computer while the radio noises go
to/from the radio. No oops, I just transmitted the boot up audio ("Good
morning Mr Phelps") on 14.07 MHz.

The SignaLink USB contains a VOX created PTT output which works great for CW
(the actual PTT comes from HRD or K3 VOX on). Just for grins, I've run it
at high speed CW and it works great (which for me isn't very fast, but the
computer can do it better and FAST).

It works under MultiPSK (with the K3 VOX on) for JT65 too.

Rick WA6NHC

Disclaimer: I don't work for anybody anymore. I'm retired and feeling MUCH
better now.

-----Original Message-----
From: Dave LaBat

Well the old laptop computer with the serial interface is probably on its
last legs.. gee W98 held out pretty good! Writelog never seemed to mind and
generated CW as well as rig control on a single COM port. So I think I am
switching to a new laptop and adding to what the rig can do. Still I need a
USB interface.

What has been the experience with the Timewave HamLink USB? Any other
contenders out there that will allow CW generation on the same COM?

Thanks

Dave NT6AA

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

Joe Subich, W4TV-4

Re: USB interface

> SignaLink (Tigertronics) is quite popular and works well. Instead of
> replacing the internal jumper set (wired for my TS-940) and paying
> an extra $25, I made up my own interface cable (already had the
> connectors) to the K3 so I can switch back and forth if needed by
> leaving the interface attached to each radio and moving the
> SignaLink.

Is absolutely useless for radio control (frequency) and CW which is
what the question was about - not a sound card replacement.

Any simple USB to serial converter will do the job ... you can set
the K3 CONFIG: PTT-KEY to rts - dtr for compatibility with the CW
and PTT outputs of Writelog or other similar logging software that
puts CAT, CW and PTT on a single serial port.

The only pitfall to avoid is to find a USB to serial converter based
on an FTDI chip as the Prolific based converters sometimes have
driver issues with software written in certain languages or compiled
with certain Microsoft compilers using the Microsoft serial comm
library.

73,

... Joe, W4TV

On 11/1/2011 10:32 PM, Rick Bates wrote:

> Dave,
>
> SignaLink (Tigertronics) is quite popular and works well. Instead of
> replacing the internal jumper set (wired for my TS-940) and paying an extra
> $25, I made up my own interface cable (already had the connectors) to the K3
> so I can switch back and forth if needed by leaving the interface attached
> to each radio and moving the SignaLink.
>
> It plugs into (and is powered by) a USB port and is a self contained sound
> card so your OS sounds can go out the computer while the radio noises go
> to/from the radio. No oops, I just transmitted the boot up audio ("Good
> morning Mr Phelps") on 14.07 MHz.
>
> The SignaLink USB contains a VOX created PTT output which works great for CW
> (the actual PTT comes from HRD or K3 VOX on). Just for grins, I've run it
> at high speed CW and it works great (which for me isn't very fast, but the
> computer can do it better and FAST).
>
> It works under MultiPSK (with the K3 VOX on) for JT65 too.
>
> Rick WA6NHC
>
> Disclaimer: I don't work for anybody anymore. I'm retired and feeling MUCH
> better now.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Dave LaBat
>
> Well the old laptop computer with the serial interface is probably on its
> last legs.. gee W98 held out pretty good! Writelog never seemed to mind and
> generated CW as well as rig control on a single COM port. So I think I am
> switching to a new laptop and adding to what the rig can do. Still I need a
> USB interface.
>
> What has been the experience with the Timewave HamLink USB? Any other
> contenders out there that will allow CW generation on the same COM?
>
> Thanks
>
> Dave NT6AA
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

Phil Salas

Re: USB interface

"Any simple USB to serial converter will do the job ... The only pitfall to
avoid is to find a USB to serial converter based on an FTDI chip as the
Prolific based converters sometimes have driver issues with software written
in certain languages or compiled with certain Microsoft compilers using the
Microsoft serial comm library. 73, ... Joe, W4TV"

After having some problems with my old Prolific-based USB converters, I
purchased some Startech ICUSB2321F FTDI USB/Serial converters on eBay.
www.ebay.com/itm/250908534890?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

$20 each plus $4 shipping. They work great. I use Vista 32-bit Home
Premium. I just plugged in the Startech units, the drivers were
automatically found, and everything was up and running in seconds. I'm
using these with my K3, KPA500, XG3, and MFJ-998.

Phil - AD5X

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

M0XDF

Re: USB interface

Pity the won't ship the the UK ROSH compliance I guess.
73 de M0XD (K3 #174, P3 #108, KX3 #???)
--
Two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity.
But I'm not so sure about the universe. -- Albert Einstein.

On 2 Nov 2011, at 11:12, Phil & Debbie Salas wrote:

> "Any simple USB to serial converter will do the job ... The only pitfall to
> avoid is to find a USB to serial converter based on an FTDI chip as the
> Prolific based converters sometimes have driver issues with software written
> in certain languages or compiled with certain Microsoft compilers using the
> Microsoft serial comm library. 73, ... Joe, W4TV"
>
> After having some problems with my old Prolific-based USB converters, I
> purchased some Startech ICUSB2321F FTDI USB/Serial converters on eBay.
> www.ebay.com/itm/250908534890?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649
>
> $20 each plus $4 shipping. They work great. I use Vista 32-bit Home
> Premium. I just plugged in the Startech units, the drivers were
> automatically found, and everything was up and running in seconds. I'm
> using these with my K3, KPA500, XG3, and MFJ-998.
>

Jon Kåre Hellan

Re: USB interface

On 11/02/2011 12:31 PM, David Ferrington, M0XDF wrote:
> Pity the won't ship the the UK ROSH compliance I guess.
> 73 de M0XD (K3 #174, P3 #108, KX3 #???)

Usually, it's just that US merchants find it too much hassle to deal
with foreign customers.

Jon LA4RT
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

gm3sek

Re: USB interface

In reply to this post by M0XDF

David Ferrington, M0XDF wrote:
>Pity the won't ship the the UK ROSH compliance I guess.

Why do you want to ship an FTDI-based USB adapter from the USA? They are
available from local vendors in every major country, and they're all
functionally identical because they use the same FTDI chip.

Google for: ftdi usb adapter site:uk

FTDI is a relatively small company, still privately owned and still
based here in Scotland, that has become a world leader by specializing
in just one thing... but doing it better than anyone else.

(Does that sound familiar?)

--

73 from Ian GM3SEK
http://www.ifwtech.co.uk/g3sek
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

M0XDF

Re: USB interface

Good point Ian
73 de M0XDF
--
Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored.
-Aldous Huxley, novelist (1894-1963)

On 2 Nov 2011, at 13:51, Ian White GM3SEK wrote:

> David Ferrington, M0XDF wrote:
>> Pity the won't ship the the UK ROSH compliance I guess.
>
> Why do you want to ship an FTDI-based USB adapter from the USA? They are
> available from local vendors in every major country, and they're all
> functionally identical because they use the same FTDI chip.
>
> Google for: ftdi usb adapter site:uk
>
> FTDI is a relatively small company, still privately owned and still
> based here in Scotland, that has become a world leader by specializing
> in just one thing... but doing it better than anyone else.
>
> (Does that sound familiar?)
>
>
> --
>
> 73 from Ian GM3SEK
> http://www.ifwtech.co.uk/g3sek
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

rharding64

Re: USB interface

Hello All,

For those that would like alternative to existing windows forms applications that control the ICOM radios, I am prepared to offer customized .NET based applications to interested individuals.

With the above in mind, it would be very helpful to hear of what the user requirements would be for a new terminal control application.

To the forum administrator, if you think this would better be posted elsewhere, please let me know where the current location is best to do so. I would like to offer new applications that allow for internet connectivity as well. Your input would be most appreciated.

N7HBR

73's

Ron