Several of you asked me to post the results. I had several replies
and I appreciate them. The following message gives the best detail
on how to accomplish the network with a single serial port.
GL in the contests!
73,
Rich Thorne - WB5M
133 Light Falls Drive
Wake Forest, NC 27587
rthorne@ibm.net
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> CAA240379 for <rthorne@ibm.net>; Thu, 12 Oct 1995 02:28:22 GMT
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> id smaHvMDM2; Thu Oct 12 02:28:14 1995
> Received: from LOCALNAME by ix.ix.netcom.com (8.6.12/SMI-4.1/Netcom)
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To: <ct-user@contesting.com>
> Date: Thu, 12 Oct 95 02:29:04 +0000
> From: wd8aub@ix.netcom.com
> To: rthorne@ibm.net
> Subject: Re: CT V9 and networks with ONE com port?
> Content-Type: multipart/mixed; charset="us-ascii";
> boundary="PART.BOUNDARY.0014.813549694"
>
> >
> >Rumor has it that CT version 9 can support a network using a single
> >com port v.s. the use of two comports.
>
> True.
>
> >
> >Is there any truth to this. I'm running version 8 so I currently do
> >not have a version 9 manual.
>
> Dont look for it in the Version 9 manual either. They added it (fixed
> it?) with 9.13 or so.
>
> >
> >If this is true (which would be great for laptop users) do you use a
> >y connector off the com port?
>
> Don't think so... read on.
>
> I tested 9.25 over the weekend with single com ports on two computers
> with my WD8AUB homebrew box. It worked fine. (The real test is with 3 or
> more computers.) Here is my secret: (works with NA too)
>
> What I have done is build a box that has 5 25 pin seriel ports. (DB25
> females).
> Wire them so that the pin 2 of port 1 goes to pin 3 of port 2. Then, pin 2
> of port
> 2 goes to pin 3 of port 3. Then pin 2 of port 3 goes to pin 3 of port 4.
> You get
> the idea. VERY IMPORTANT is to complete the loop by taking the last port
> pin 2 to pin 3 of port 1. This way, you are looping the DTR/DTS pins from
> port to
> port. To do it absolutely correctly, you may want to do it in full
> handshaking
> by connecting the other pins that a null modem reverses. Think they are
> 6 and 23, but you should check that if you elect to do that. I havent. It
> worked great with 5 NA computers last year at VP5VW.
>
> Two more points to complete the project.
>
> 1. You should do some shielding on the box to keep RF out. Maybe
> some ferrite chokes on the lines. Keep the lines as short as possible, and
> ground and tie all of the pin 7's together to the chassis. And you can then
> ground the box to the earth ground.
>
> 2. The "switch" (command line) on CT to get it to do the loop is CT -loop.
>
> Also, if you are not going to use all of the ports at the same time,
> insert a jumper into the unused ports pins 2 and 3 (this way they
> are tied together much the same as they would be if used
> with a computer attached to them.)
>
> This way, the WD8AUB box can be used for any combination of
> computers in a multi-op environment. We used 5 last year, and will
> have 3 or 4 this year at VP5FOC. Like I said, just be sure to complete
> the loop by jumpering the pins 2 and 3 on ALL unused ports.
>
> One other point... Be sure to use seriel cables. NOT NULL MODEM
> CABLES. You made the cross over with the box wiring. This had the
> advantage of allowing you:
>
> 1. To use either a DB9 to DB25 modem cable (readily available) without
> any adapters. (the computer will use a db9 most likely on notebooks)
>
> 2. If you want to run them a long distance (Like I did at VP5VW last year),
> you may be able to buy long cables as much as 75' long with DB25's on
> both ends. Here, for a notebook you will need a DB9 to DB25 adapter.
>
> So, what I do is drag along the box (4"X4"X3" or so), seriel cables, and
> a couple jumper pins for the unused ports. And you are all set. No
> need to jury rig any Y-adapters. (Actually, I doubt a Y-adapter will
> work because the program works by sending the data around the
> network ONCE. It wont talk without a null modem type crossover
> arrangement.
>
> If you want to see some documentation on this, try the NA Version 9
> manual. CT apparently did not bother to write up the documentation
> (or they forgot...? when they did Version 9...)
>
> Anyway, let me know if this works for you and share any problems
> you might encounter.
>
> GL in the contests!
>
> 73 de Doug, WD8AUB
> WD8AUB@IX.NETCOM.COM
>
>
>
>
>
> >
> >
> >73,
> >
> >Rich Thorne - WB5M
> >133 Light Falls Drive
> >Wake Forest, NC 27587
> >rthorne@ibm.net
> >
> >
> >--
> >Submissions: ct-user@eng.pko.dec.com
> >Administrative requests: ct-user-REQUEST@eng.pko.dec.com
> >WWW: http://ve7tcp.ampr.org/mailing-lists/ct-user.html
> >Questions: reisert@eng.pko.dec.com
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
>
--
Submissions: ct-user@eng.pko.dec.com
Administrative requests: ct-user-REQUEST@eng.pko.dec.com
WWW: http://ve7tcp.ampr.org/mailing-lists/ct-user.html
Questions: reisert@eng.pko.dec.com
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