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FW: Omni VI and Computer Control

To: <tentec@contesting.com>
Subject: FW: Omni VI and Computer Control
From: kg5u@hal-pc.org (Dale Martin)
Date: Tue, 25 Jun 1996 22:09:08 -0500
Forgive the bandwidth for resending this, but I received a couple of 
comments that my lack of 'carriage returns' presented a message
with only 4 lines....4 very long lines.  

Sorry for any inconvenience.

73,

Dale, KG5U

==================

Subject:        Omni VI and Computer Control

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.  

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.  

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.  

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




    







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