Messages

1

General discussion forum / Re: DXLab + RRC-1258 + K3/100 - settings?

« on: 2017-04-23, 03:54:25 »

OK, Mitch, it sounds like there was a misunderstanding regarding a requirement to use Mode 4 if using only RRC, DXLab, and a PC (and no K3/0-mini).

The only radio I normally use at home is a K3/100.  When away from home controlling it with a K3/0-mini is great but it takes time and space to set it all up.  I have read a little bit (emphasis on "little") about the dongle you mentioned.  If those dongles now support CW operation I suspect your suggestion could well be the best way to go.  In using the 1258 I figured it would take care of both CW mode plus make DXLab work.  It seems that the RRC Micro PC Client dongle must also create an interface for DXlab just like the 1258 Control does - correct?  Thanks for your advice.  73, Art

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General discussion forum / Re: DXLab + RRC-1258 + K3/100 - settings?

« on: 2017-04-22, 03:42:06 »

Mitch, would you agree that what I was told about the requirement to use Mode 4 is, in fact, correct?  In other words the only way I can use DXLab + RRC + K3 (no K3/0-mini) is by using Mode 4 and that mode requires a relay for power turn-on?  btw tnx de Art.

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General discussion forum / DXLab + RRC-1258 + K3/100 - settings?

« on: 2017-04-19, 21:16:48 »

With RRCs in Mode 14 a K3/0-mini can control a K3 very well.  Likewise, DXlab will interface with the two Elecraft products flawlessly.  I would like to be able to eliminate my K3/0-mini and control the K3 with just a laptop running DXlab on Win7 and using an FTDI adapter.  I was told that all I had to do was change both RRC boxes to Mode 4.  In doing that I found the following undesirable results.  DXlab (with Commander) does not instruct the RRCs to turn on the K3.  The only way I can get the K3 turned on is by setting the Control RRC's Auto Connect option to Yes which should not be necessary.  Then, when I close DXLab the K3 stays on, which is the second undesirable result.  Other than those two major problems I find that DXLab and RRC alone will adequately control the K3.

I am looking for advice from anyone who might be using the RRC boxes and DXLab to remotely control a K3.  Do you use Mode 4 in both boxes?  Did you have to create a switch command to turn on the K3?  I do not find that 'PS1; sent by Commander will turn on the K3, although several other created commands work fine.  The only useful on/off I am able to achieve is with the K3/0-mini's power switch.  And I want to be able to eliminate the K3/0-mini.

4

General discussion forum / Re: comment request on control/radio box settings

« on: 2016-11-14, 04:56:32 »

When I returned home and connected the head to body this new TS-480 would not power up.  I verified a good low-ohm continuity and correct indexing of all 6 wires within the cable.  I'm told that the RRC boxes still should have connected when HRD was opened.  This did not happen.  A connection was only possible using Auto Connect mode.  Then the remote radio would work normally.

The same set of RRC boxes were reconfigured to work with the repaired K3/K3-0/mini and normal operation resumed as prior to the lightning strike damage.  Art

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General discussion forum / Re: RRC voltage provided to TS-480 control head

« on: 2016-11-01, 19:58:41 »

As a side note maybe I should mention that I am hearing some sort of alert tones (lots of cw "c" characters) every time I make a change via HRD or DXLab software.  In the past, when I have used K3/K3/0-mini, I never heard these tones.  Because they are annoying I've been trying to determine their origin with no success yet.  Art 

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General discussion forum / Re: RRC voltage provided to TS-480 control head

« on: 2016-11-01, 19:30:31 »

Because the Auto Connect option isn't normally used it took me about a week's worth of troubleshooting to discover that selecting it would result in a reliable connection between my two boxes.  Program Mode is set to Mode 5 and the baud rate is 57600.  Although the original head connection cable ohmed out OK I still replaced it with a brand new 3-line phone cord (made no difference).  I have compared the jumpers with the pictures in the RRC manual several times.  The TS-480 is new and bought especially for this trip when my K3 suffered lightning damage just days before we left home.  Would be glad to send .html copies of my settings if I can find Mike's e-mail address.  Art

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General discussion forum / Re: RRC voltage provided to TS-480 control head

« on: 2016-11-01, 05:27:17 »

Yes, the raw 8v is used for the backlight.  But it also goes to 5v voltage regulator IC6.  It looks to me like that 5v is the principle operating voltage for the remainder of the head circuitry.  We all know a voltage regulator must have a minimum input voltage in order to reliably maintain its specified output.  Kenwood has specified that voltage to be 9.25v.

I removed the jumper on JMP2 and it made no difference - the TS-480 still refuses to turn on.  I did not verify an increase of 1v on the 8v line - will take your word for it.

The TS-480 body back home is responding normally to all HRD and DXLab commands - if and only if RRC control Auto Connect is set to "on".  From N.C. I have worked some EU stations via the TS-480 body in Florida.  Some success is better than none at all.   

8

General discussion forum / RRC voltage provided to TS-480 control head

« on: 2016-10-30, 18:50:44 »

The TS-480 control head obtains its operating voltage via its RJ-12 jack.  Therefore when used with RRC the RRC control box must provide it.  On Page 115 of the TS-480 service manual the voltage required for proper operation of the TS-480 head is shown to arrive on Pin 5 of J2.  Internally, this line is identified as 8M.  One of the first places 8M goes is Pin 1 of voltage regulator IC6.  The Kenwood service manual stipulates that voltage is to be 9.25v.

Instead of the RRC control box providing 9.25v +/- 5% or even 10%, the Microbit instruction manual shows the voltage supplied will be 8v.  On my control box I have verified the no-load voltage to be only 8v.  This is almost 15% less than Kenwood engineers stipulate for reliable turn-on and proper overall TS-480 operation.  My question is how can this be considered desirable and/or acceptable?  Art

9

General discussion forum / Re: comment request on control/radio box settings

« on: 2016-10-29, 21:30:08 »

Latest (10/29/16):  Have at last managed to acquire a PC connection by using (only) Control box's "Auto Connect" option.  Works with both HRD and DXLab.  Only works reliably using USB to serial adapter although it has been observed to connect and tune with Microbit's USB to mini-USB cord (different COM ports).  Still no attempt of TS-480 head to evidence a normal turn on.  Interestingly, the TS-480's radio sound does come through the TS-480's otherwise dead control head.  Similarly, the RRC's keyer sound comes through the otherwise dead head.  If I plug headphones directly into RRC all audio is on the left side.  Once the same headphones are plugged into the TS-480 headphone jack then normal monaural audio is present in L and R sides of headphone - just observations.

The best observations are that with this PC software connection by way of the inappropriate "Auto Connect" mode I do see perfectly normal band and power level indications on the virtual 2K-FA panel.  And of course there is normal receiver tuning and band activity sounds.  I could probably make a Q when I elect to.

While the TS-480 is known to be a very reliable radio, searching the Internet on problems with its' head failing to turn on both head and body results in several such instances.  Some relate to jitter changes, some relate to voltage differences between head and body, and some totally unexplained.  Art

10

General discussion forum / Re: comment request on control/radio box settings

« on: 2016-10-27, 06:59:10 »

Mitch, I was afraid of that (the RTFM).  A most recent observation is interesting to me.  Maybe it will be to someone else who may be following this thread.  As previously noted my two boxes will connect and indicate SIP transfer if the Control box "Auto Connect" option is selected.   Once in that mode the remote Radio box interface does begin to show an option box labeled "Disconnect".  Each and every time I click (from N.C.) on that Disconnect option (in Florida) my TS-480 control head (in N.C.) sounds off a short beep.  It is the same short beep that the control head would express when the system actually worked properly about 3 weeks ago, and it was turned on.  Because the Control box Auto Connect option remains "on", clicking on the remote Disconnect button results in only a brief disconnect.  Then the system resumes transferring.  Repeated clicking on Disconnect results in a corresponding series of beeps.

The same day I made the above described observations I also had the opportunity to set up my  Control box, TS-480 head, and laptop, at a completely different QTH in another state (Tenn.).  I was careful to make sure I had a useable connection.  I also had a brand new TS-480 to RRC 6-wire phone cord.  Because my system hasn't, in any normal fashion, tried to work since I left Florida 3+ weeks ago, I was not to surprised that it didn't work in Tennessee either.

When I get back home I'll be anxious to connect the TS-480 head and radio together again.  If proper operation is observed I will begin to seriously doubt that I'll ever see this TS-480 work with RRC again.  At least Elecraft has informed me that my lightning damaged K3/P3 has been fixed.  Since RRC did work quite well with the K3 for almost two years I will have to be satisfied to believe that such operation will resume.  I will also have a little used TS-480 for sale.  Art

11

General discussion forum / Re: comment request on control/radio box settings

« on: 2016-10-25, 05:41:52 »

Can it possibly be the case that a USB to Serial converter on COM2 isn't even needed at all provided you leave the Setup Manager cable plugged in?  Am I guilty of falling prey to the RTFM syndrome?

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General discussion forum / Re: comment request on control/radio box settings

« on: 2016-10-25, 05:09:22 »

Plugging my USB-to-serial adapter into a USB port will not cause any of the the Microbit VCPs to appear.  Plugging in the RRC cable to a USB does cause all the Microbit VCPs to appear.  Is that normal?

13

General discussion forum / Re: comment request on control/radio box settings

« on: 2016-10-25, 03:37:29 »

Still fighting this inability to connect RRC via TS-480 control head *or* with only HRD/DXLab.  Has consumed an estimated 60-80 hours of my vacation now.   Soon won't matter.  At least on this trip.

Found it interesting that even during the 2 year period my RRC did work I never saw any of the Microbit virtual com ports in Device Manager.  All I ever saw was the single entry: "USB Serial Port (COMxx)".  Well, I recently discovered that the illusive Microbit ports can be made to show up in Device Manager if I leave the Set Up Manager cable plugged in.  I had previously thought the cord ought to be unplugged once the two boxes were set up.  Of course the appearance of these ports (see screenshot) hasn't changed a thing as far as my gaining a connection.  Just interesting observations that might mean something worthy of comment by the experts.  Art

14

General discussion forum / Re: comment request on control/radio box settings

« on: 2016-10-22, 23:00:11 »

>>When using HRD you inititate the SIP session by pressing the "connect" button on the status page

Yes, and when I do that the adapter CTS, RTS, and DSR (only) LEDs immediately illuminate.  However they stay lit with no pulsing and the TXD and RXD LEDs never indicate data flow at all.

My adapter: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AHYJWWG/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

15

General discussion forum / Re: comment request on control/radio box settings

« on: 2016-10-22, 22:33:10 »

Mike, roger your last.  I hate think that the new TS-480 I bought especially for this vacation trip failed upon arrival.  It was bad enough that a lightning strike took out my K3/P3 and lots of other stuff right before we left home.  The new 6P6C cord should arrive in a couple days.  But even if the TS-480 control head or cord has failed shouldn't HRD or Commander initiate the sip session? I am using a FTDI serial to usb adapter that has always worked fine in the past.  Neither HRD or DXLab will read frequency.  Art