steppir vertical and remote?

[KJ4ZVV]

Anyone using a Steppir vertical with a remote setup?  I am hoping to do this with a TS480 and am curious what you had to do to get everything working?  One thing I noticed was there does not seem  to be a way to power off the control unit and have the copper tape retract...?

Thanks,

Zach

[dj0qn]

Hi Zach,

I have a 3 element SteppIR that I have been remote controlling for years.
In my case, I can also switch to 180 degree mode, etc., as well as retract
or calibrate.

In my case, I use VNC to control the software on a host PC, but there is no
reason what you can't connect it to the RRC's serial port, or use another
serial/ethernet server like one from Lantronix.

The software clients that I have used over the years are:

- TRX-Manager (my main logging and control software) http://www.trx-manager.com/
- SteppIR VCP  http://www.telepostinc.com/SteppIR-VCP/index.html
- Seeker  http://www.pagus.it/seeker/
- ddutil  http://k5fr.com/ddutilwiki/index.php?title=Main_Page

I hope this helps.

73,
Mitch DJ0QN / K7DX

[ON4AOI]

Mitch, can you get Seeker to work with a prosistel rotator ?

Guy

[on4iq]

seekers does not work with prosistel under Vista,  the steppir control works ok

[dj0qn]

Guy,

I also use a Prosistel rotor with my SteppIR, and I have never been
able to get it working with Seeker. There is no reason why it shouldn't
work, but it doesn't. I use XP.

I never put a lot of effort to get it working, since I use TRX-Manager
basically for everything (SteppIR, rotor, LP-100, Acom 2000a sync, etc.)

73,
Mitch DJ0QN / K7DX

[ON4AOI]

Ok Mitch
gonna see what I can do about in the XML configuration file
probably its something stupid that is missing
the code for steppIR is more difficult and that works ok
I am in touch with MAX I8NHJ who promessed to help

Keep you informed

Guy ON4AOI
 

[dj0qn]

Thanks, Guy, that is nice of you. Seeker gave me a good impression at
first to use for when I use another program like Win-test, but I dropped
it when I couldn't get the Prosistel control working.

Since both of them are in Italy, I would think they could get things
working a bit quicker ;-)

73,
Mitch DJ0QN / K7DX

[ON4AOI]

Mitch I think that SEEKER works with the older "C" controller from Prosistel
there were some changes in the commands between "C" and "D" controller
thats why we needed to make 2 selections in DX4WIN but forgot what they
changed, still looking in backups if I still have some notes about "C" controller

Guy ON4AOI

[dj0qn]

Thanks for the update, Guy.

I find that very strange, since Seeker only came out a year or two ago
at most, and the "D" controller has been around for at least 7 years and
surely has a much larger installed base. I guess Max must have an older
"C" controller and didn't realize this.

73,
Mitch DJ0QN / K7DX

[ON4AOI]

No Mitch he didn't have a prosistel
and only got reply from prosistel compagny that it worked
think they didnt test it

anyway I stripped the XML file and only have left what is needed for the prosistel

also have the cmd lines for model C and D in DX4WIN
and can start comparing where it goes wrong,
the data is sended out from seeker for sure but no reaction from prosistel
so or it is wrong or there are spaces between commands and
that is the difference between model C and D (D doesnt need spaces between cmds)

Guy ON4AOI
 

[ON4AOI]

Mitch,
After modification I got it working now
except for the display that doesnt shows
the degrees or when it does they are not relevant
guess its up to the author now to correct his
code to accept my changes.

Guy ON4AOI   

[dj0qn]

That's great, Guy!

Thanks for figuring that out and passing on to Max.

73,
Mitch DJ0QN / K7DX

[ON4AOI]

All is OK now Mitch,
could figure out with PORTMON what was missing in the
communication between prg and controller
see attached picture.
If any wants the corrected file drop me a mail

Guy ON4AOI

[dj0qn]

Thanks, Guy, that is super!.

Yes, please send it to me at dj0qn (at) arrl.net.

73,
Mitch DJ0QN /K7DX