Field Day was interesting. My remote antenna switch, controlled from =
the DB-25 connector on the Omni worked like a charm. The Computer =
Control, however, did not. =20
We experienced many lockups with the units. I identified the problem as =
being with the Omni and not the laptop because even the keying from an =
external keyer, connected in parallel with the laptop keying line, would =
not key the radio. One way to resolve the problem was to push the USB =
button, then the CW button and all would be hunky-dory for a while. =
Frequently, while calling CQ or a sending a report, the laptop display =
would show the out of band message. Also, and I have not had a chance to =
correlate it to any particular activity, the tuning rate would drop to =
its lowest speed. Bummer!!
Fortunately, we had a good signal and could hold our own on the =
frequencies where we found productive spots, otherwise, tuning around =
would have been a real problem or having to do a reset would have been =
worse. We were just about at the point where we were going to pull the =
plug on the computer....the computer control interface plug, that is. =20
Anyone have any ideas? We were running at 4800 baud. Should we have =
tried a higher or lower baud rate? Anyone else experience and solve a =
similar problem?
When the computer control interface worked, it worked well. Nothing =
like being able to change bands with the press of two keys =
(alt-f1/alt-f2) or one button (keypad bandswitch) and everything =
(computer, radio, antenna) changes. Neat!!
Next year, two tribanders, a 40m beam, maybe, an 80m inv vee. With a =
switch to select either (NW or NE) or both tribanders. =20
Also, this was apparently the first time some of the Texas DX Society =
members had an opportunity to operate an Omni VI. The comments that I =
received about its performance (outside the lockup problem--everyone =
else blamed the computer) were very positive. That was very reassuring. =
73,
Dale, KG5U
kg5u@hal-pc.org
http://www.hal-pc.org/~kg5u
=20
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