HRD not connecting via virtual UDP comm port

[w4tx]

New RRC1258MkII with firmware updated to v2.21

New RRC-Micro PC-Client v1.0.10 32 bit

Rig is a Yaesu FT-897

CAT cable is a Yaesu CT-62 connected to COM2 of the RRC1258MkII. COM2 is set to mode 3 - char timeout. Speed is 9600. JMP-3 is installed inside the RRC-1258MkII.

HRD is the latest version 5 beta. It sees the virtual port but will not work at any baud rate. The CAT speed at the radio is 9600.

From reading another post, I uninstalled HRD and the PC-Client. I made sure all virtual COM ports were removed, then re-installed the PC-Client and HRD. The UDP virtual port is the lowest (COM3), and the only one on the laptop. But, still no connection. I also tried a second laptop with the same result. Both laptops are running Windows XP, fully updated.

This is being tested on a local LAN using the default ports. No router or internet connection is used at this point.

Any ideas for more things to check and test would be appreciated.

73 - Doc, W4TX

[ON4AOI]

Try first to connect the ct-62 cable to the TS-480
and check if HRD is working OK
If not check my drawings for correct pin numbers on com2

Guy ON4AOI

[w4tx]

Thanks for the tip Guy.

HRD does connect to the radio when directly connected with the CT-62 cable and a USB to serial converter.

73 - Doc, W4TX

[ON4AOI]

Hi Doc,

sri my mistake was TS-480 instead of FT897D

so in short it looks like this ?
HRD
virtual udp port 2 (com-x)

LAN or WAN

RRC-1258MKII
COM2 = DB9-MALE
then CT62(RS232) to FT897d

probably you need to change pin 2 and 3 at the ct62 connector

or you could try to use COM1 instead of COM2

Guy ON4AOI

[w4tx]

Hi Guy,

You are correct with the setup except one thing. And, I think that is the problem. I have the virtual upd port 0 set up, not port 2. But the CT-62 is plugged on to COM2. I will change that and report back.


Thanks and 73!

Doc - W4TX

[w4tx]

Hi Guy,

Changing to virtual UDP port COM2 did not work. I'm sure that is the proper port to use, since the CT-62 is plugged into COM2 on the RemoteRig box. So I'll look at the RX and TX data pins next.

73 - Doc - W4TX

[ON4AOI]

Ok Doc,
keep us updated

Guy ON4AOI

[w4tx]

I have connected an RS-232 monitor on COM2 of the RRC-1258 MkII. While trying to connect HRD through the virtual UDP port, there is no activity at all on any of the data or handshake lines.

I also installed the RRC Client and HRD on a desktop computer running Vista. I had the same result as the XP laptop AND the XP netbook.

I may next eliminate the CT-62 and connect the Yaesu CAT directly into COM0, the TTL jack.

73 - Doc - W4TX

[ON4AOI]

No Doc
dont do that
its a different protocol on com0

Guy ON4AOI

[w4tx]

Hi Guy,

Are you referring to the TTL jack (COM0) being 0 to 5 volt logic levels versus the RS-232 levels on COM2? If so then it should be fine. The Yaesu FT-857 CAT jack is 0 to 5 volt logic levels. The CT-62 cable has a level converter built in. By eliminating the CT-62 cable, I'll have TTL levels from the Yaesu CAT jack to the TTL jack on the RemoteRig.

If the protocol difference is something else, please let me know.

Thanks and 73 - Doc - W4TX

[ON4AOI]

Hi Doc,
Not about the levels Doc I was aware that you figured that out
but the communiciation between control panel and the radio are
not CAT commands, they are totaly different (100% sure for Kenwood)
so it probably is also true for YAESU

Guy ON4AOI

[w4tx]

Hi Guy,

I went back through the manual and it actually shows cabling for the FT-897 that goes from the CAT port on the radio to the TTL jack on the RemoteRig box. I made up a cable and set the parameters for the box and the PC-Client but I still can not get HRD to connect to the radio via the virtual UPD port.

At this point I have nothing else to try that I can think of. I will wait for a software update and hope that fixes the problem.

73 and thanks for the ideas and help - Doc - W4TX

[w4tx]

Installed the PC-Client 1.0.12 beta that was just released.

HRD will now connect with the radio (Yeah!!). However, it is very unstable. The frequency displayed on HRD jumps all over various bands. Also, when the frequency on the radio is changed manually at the radio, HRD does not reflect the frequency change. Various buttons and sliders on the HRD display are randomly changing.

I can change modes from USB to LSB and the radio will respond to the mode change but the change is not reflected on the HRD screen.

The PC-Client software (1.0.12) was installed on a laptop running XP and a desktop running Vista. Both computers behaved identically.

73 - Doc - W4TX

[w4tx]

This morning, I made COM2 inactive on the PC Client and RRC-1258 Mk II, and activated COM0. I kept the CT-62 cabled connected to COM2 knowing the COM0 data would also be on COM2.

The result was exactly the same as my last post. Both 38,400 and 9,600 baud was tried.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

73 - Doc - W4TX

[w4tx]

Good news!!

The latest software versions (v2.27 for the RRC-1258 and v1.0.22 for the PC-Client) have completely corrected the problem with the virtual serial port used for HRD. It is now functioning very well. The audio is also very solid.

Thank you for your efforts!

73 - Doc - W4TX