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17
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eHam Forums / Computers And Software / RE: USB->Serial Adaptor Frustration
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on: September 21, 2011, 04:32:38 AM
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I am a Mac & Linux user, so I can't tell you where to look to see what type of converter you currently have. Determining which one is easy for Macs & Linux. If memory serves correctly I think you might need to look at the add/remove hardware in control panel to see what is on the usb bus. Either way, pretty much all usb/serial converters use either the ftdi or prolific chip set to do the heavy lifting. You probably just need the correct driver for win 7. You can get a generic prolific one at http://www.prolific.com.tw/eng/downloads.asp?id=31and a generic ftdi one at http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/VCP.htmOne or the other should work, depending on which device you have. Alex/AB2RC |
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19
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eHam Forums / Digital / RE: Mode Identifaction software ? ? ?
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on: September 15, 2011, 05:42:10 AM
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Yet another  digi op here also, too many modes that are somewhat visually/aurally similar, yet decode very differently. I can see and hear signals on the band that I am unfamiliar with, but by the time I  figure out what they are, the guy at the other end is no longer transmitting. Possibly they were calling cq, and got no response -- not because there was nobody listening, but because no one who was listening could figure out what mode it was. If folks would use rsid on any mode other than PSK31 and RTTY it would make things alot simpler. |
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21
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eHam Forums / Elmers / RE: counterpoise/ homebrew vertical question!
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on: August 26, 2011, 05:45:42 AM
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I hadn't seen this construction method befores. It's quick and dirty.
I would consider this to be a 'very temporary' installation. If it is left out in the weather, the wood will absorb moisture. At RF it will likely develop leakage paths that will no doubt affect SWR and efficiency. There is always the chance of a fire hazard either to the board or surround material if arcing occurs.
bill
I have used these for portable antenna systems before, they will last a long time as a temporary system. I used one in a 'semi permanent' installation by substituting a HDPE cutting board for the wood (remember to buy the xyl a new one BEFORE you snag hers out of the kitchen). Lasted 2 years outdoors before I got around to installing a real permanent antenna. I still have the base, it looks dirty, but still solid. |
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23
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eHam Forums / Misc / RE: Got Ham License Plates? READ THIS!
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on: June 28, 2011, 04:35:51 AM
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I had something similar happen a few months ago.
I was stopped at a traffic light along with about 10 other cars, when some fool decided that he did not have to stop and rear ended me (not much damage to either vehicle, surprising since it was a full size Dodge Ram that hit my 99 Subaru Outback).
Fortunately a police cruiser was going in the opposite direction at the same time, and turned around to assist.
The problem occurred when the officer tried to call in my plate – AB2RC-2 (the -2 is in a smaller font than the rest of the plate). AB2RC comes back to one of my other cars – in this case a 2000 Subaru Outback in a different color. The officer was starting to hassle me about an invalid registration (year & color of the car). I had to explain to him several times that the problem was that he called in the plate incorrectly, that he needed to call in the additional -2 also, the AB2RC plate belongs to one of my other cars.
In retrospect the problem is that when he called in the plate as “AB2RC with a little -2 following it” probably did not compute with the dispatcher. “AB2RC-2” did not work either (even thought that is how it is printed on the registration card). What did work was when he called it in as “AB2RC2”, apparently that is how it had to be entered into the dispatchers computer.
Actually it was kind of interesting hearing someone else saying “Alpha Bravo 2 Romeo Charlie” into a microphone.
Alex/AB2RC (dash two)
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25
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eHam Forums / Misc / RE: Why do you Ham?
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on: June 10, 2011, 10:56:43 AM
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and found myself walking down a street in Boston and went by a Radio Shack store. I stopped, went in and looked at all of this very impressive electronic gear. The clerk was very helpful...... and then said I found that it would be necessary for me to drive over a hundred miles to the closest city, a place full of crazy people who never learned to drive,
One of the reasons I moved out of Boston in the first place.... Just kidding, I love the city, but moved out when the "big dig" started. -- Alex/AB2RC |
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26
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eHam Forums / Elmers / RE: Surface Mount Soldering Tips needed.
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on: April 29, 2011, 05:07:25 AM
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From what I've read, I think I have three approaches. One is to use a small soldering iron, tweezers, magnifying glass, etc.
You forgot the most important item in smd soldering. If you are like most hams, the sensitivity of your personal electromagnetic radiation detectors (sometimes known as eyeballs) in the 390-750 nanometer band is probably not what it used to be. A bright light really helps. Also there is a product called "Chip Quik" which is really good at helping you remove any misplaced chips. Alex/AB2RC |
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27
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eHam Forums / Digital / RE: Mac, Windows, or DOS???
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on: April 29, 2011, 04:53:39 AM
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Today I would rather use a Macintosh but of course current Macs do not have serial ports. From what I've seen lately, apparently not much of the digital mode software is Mac either.
The lack of serial ports is everywhere, it is not just a Mac problem. If you do not really need the actual voltage levels provided by a real serial port, a USB-Serial converter will do just fine for most things.
1) Is it realistic to use a Mac for what I want?
My operations are about 75% digital, and I use a Mac Mini and a Macbook in my shack. There are more choices for ham radio software in the Windows world, but you will find what you need for Macs. Alex/AB2RC |
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28
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eHam Forums / Misc / RE: Use of words?
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on: March 10, 2011, 05:11:27 AM
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Movie recommendation: Idiocracy
No radio content, but a great & funny (and more or less unknown) movie |
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29
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eHam Forums / Digital / RE: fldigi, OS X, & FT-817
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on: March 10, 2011, 05:06:15 AM
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I'm using fldigi for OS X on my MacBook Air, connected to my 817 (without rig control software, for what that's worth). I've just started digital, so I'm having problems.
I receive fine. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, I have loop under my eaves that works find with my TS-480 on SSB. I can receive PSK31 on the 817 like crazy - much more signals than on the 480 with SSB. All over the continental US and out to Hawaii. However, I'm not sending. When I click on the transmit button in fldigi, the SignaLink USB goes into transmit mode, the radio's light goes from green to red, it's in transmit mode, and the stuff I've typed into the buffer gets repeated into the other buffer that says the program thinks it's sending. However, I get no responses. (Even from a guy who was CQ'ing from a town about 15 minutes north of here.)
I have a variety of known unknowns that I'd like to address before I get into the unknown unknowns. First, I'd like to make sure I have my software correctly configured.
Is anyone else using fldigi on a Mac with a SignaLink USB connector? I'd like to know what your fldigi settings are. And should I assume they're the same on Windows with 817? If the radio is being put into transmit mode, may I assume that my software and hardware are correctly configured and that the problem is elsewhere?
What is your ALC setting on the FT-817, and how did you determine what setting to use?
What settings are you using for your TX, RX, & delay knobs on the SLUSB?
I have a SGC237 tuner at the loop, fed back into the shack, and it may be that I'm not successfully tuning. Any suggestions on how to determine that? The tuner is up under the eaves, so I get not feedback on tuning at the shack. How can I tune the remote autotuner when using fldigi?
Many thanks for your patience and kind assistance.
I see you are posting similar questions under 2 topics, both are answered here... I am using a MacBook & MacLoggerDX, with a FT-100, using a FT-817 will be more or less the same (just some different names & items on the menu - the 817 is sensibly arranged, my FT-100 not so much). For xmitting, you probably are not getting enough signal to the dataport. Looking at the FT-817 manual you need to set menu #26 to PSK31-U. Set the xmit level on the SignalLink USB about 1/2 way. Now comes the fun part... xmit a tune signal from fldigi, and the AFSK input level (the 817 calls it DIG MIC, menu #25) to a point where you get ZERO bars showing on the ALC meter, then adjust the xmit level on the SignalLink so you are putting out a comfortable power level -- about 1/2 of your transmitters maximum - that would be 2.5 Watts for the FT-100. Now you can play PSK31 -- enjoy. For cat control I use one of these between my MacBook & FT-100, the 817/857/897 also use the same cable http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-USB-CAT-cable-Yaesu-FT-857-FT-817-CT-62-FT-897-/160363235946?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item255664ca6aYou will need the Prolific PL-2303 usb/serial driver from here http://www.prolific.com.tw/eng/downloads.asp?id=31You did not mention which model air you have, if you have one of the older ones with a single usb port, you will need to get a powered usb hub and connect everything thru that. Personally, I run just about every USB device thru a powered hub and have no problems. I use a powered hub to avoid additional drain on the port, this is probably more important on the MB Air than a regular MacBook, or a desktop. 73 de AB2RC - will look for you on the air |
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30
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eHam Forums / Computers And Software / RE: Echomac problem
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on: March 03, 2011, 05:21:50 PM
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Sometimes deleting and reinstalling doesn't fix a software problem since the register still retains the original data. After deleting software, you might try going to CMD, REGEDIT, then locating the software in question, and deleting.
The application is Echomac, it is a Macintosh program, not a Windows program, no registry involved. Most Mac apps use plist files (plist = preference list). That being said, did you try deleting the preference file for Echomac? delete or move ~/Library/Preferences/net.sourceforge.echomac.plist then open the Echomac app again. The plist will be recreated from default values if it is not present. |
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