Re: [WriteLog] Writelog-CT17-Radios

[Ron Stordahl <ron.stordahl@digikey.com>]

I believe much of the difficulty in controlling radios are timing 
issues.  DXBase2005 for example provides the control strings used in a 
file called radios.ini.  In each radio's description the strings used 
are specified along with the ability to introduce 'waits' at various 
points in the sending of the strings.  If multiple strings are needed, 
then delays can also be inserted between these.  I would have thought 
making the 'waits' longer than they need be would only make things slow, 
but in some cases they make the commands fail as well...perhaps the 
radio times out.  Surprisingly a radio which can be controlled without 
error at 9600 may not work at 1200, where apparently delays or 'waits' 
of different duration are required.

The whole thing is a can of worms.  I spent a lot of time 'fine tuning' 
the strings and 'waits' for the ICOM 781, and then later the ICOM 
756ProII.  Also the ICOM 7800, where I have it working at 9600 but 
cannot make it work at 1200!   Since I have never had any problem using 
WriteLog with my 756 Pro II (which is set to the address for the Pro 
rather than Pro II) I have not looked into if Writelog has a user 
accessible file with the radio definitions...I guess it doesn't.

When I finally got a working set of strings and delays for the 756ProII, 
they were released with DXBase and just as I should have expected they 
worked with some 756ProII's and not with others.  I had to issue an 
update to the radios.ini file for that radio adding additional timing 
delays, which had the effect of slowing down the frequency setting and 
reading process, but at least, as far as I know, now wotks with all of 
the ProII's out there.

As I said  earlier the whole thing is a can of worms.  And trying to get 
any cooperation from the radio manufacturer, at least from ICOM, has 
been impossible.  For example in their current product line not one of 
the radios offers the ability to read the current status of split and/or 
dual watch.  That ability is present in the Kenwood and Yaesu rigs, but 
not in the ICOM.  I have been in regular contact with ICOM, both in 
person and via e-mail for several years about this deficiency.  It came 
as a disappointment to me that when the ICOM7800 was released this 
ability was still lacking.  Now they have released the ProIII and it 
also is lacking this needed capability.

Not being a Kenwood, Yaesu, etc user I can't really say if those radios 
are easier to interface.

The control interface to our radios is way down on the list of things we 
think of when we make radio purchases.  This is unfortunate because this 
allow the manufacturer to pretty much ignore the issue as well.

I believe your only hope is to contact Ron Stailey, K5DJ, the author of 
WriteLog to see if he can fine tune the timing of the commands for you.

Ron, N5IN

Richard Zalewski wrote:

> I would like to renew this thread to see if we can come up with a
> solution.  Again it was a frustrating weekend having to click twice,
> three, four times or more to get a spot to move to the entry window. 
> Sometimes the spot would move to the entry window but the entry window
> would not be the active area so it would take another click or two.
>
> One thing that seemed to help a little (I emphasize little) was 
> changing the comm ptt to NO on the radio.
>
> I am able to use DX Labs suite of programs and select band spots
> without any problem so I do not think it is a radio or computer
> problem.  It may be a set up problem of some sort but it sure is
> annoying.
>
> One last clue and this has existed for some time.  After transmitting
> about 90% of the time there is a "No Rig" displayed for a brief moment
> and then the correct frequency is displayed.  This has been going on
> for many revisions.
>
> I have to believe there is some sort of polling problem and sure could
> use some help on this.
>
> Thanks to all.
>
> Dick W7ZR
>
>
> On Mon, 29 Nov 2004 18:27:31 -0600, George Skoubis
> <george.skoubis@verizon.net> wrote:
>  
>
> > Dick,
> >
> > Do you have the setting on the IC-775 line (in the ports menu) set to
> > sync?
> >
> > Try that and see if it works.  It may be a communications problem
> > where the PW-1 / IC-775 / Writelog are trying to use the comm bus at the
> > same time and there are collisions.   I think sync tells Writelog to
> > wait until the channel is clear until it sends its command.
> >
> > Wayne explained the sync setting a few years ago but I've forgotten
> > since!
> >
> > Let me know if this helps.
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > George / KF9YR
> >
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: writelog-bounces@contesting.com
> > [mailto:writelog-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Richard Zalewski
> > Sent: Monday, November 29, 2004 10:06 AM
> > To: Writelog
> > Subject: [WriteLog] Writelog-CT17-Radios
> >
> > This is the first time I have had a problem with this and looking for
> > some advice.  I use Writelog (Latest version) with an IC-775DSP and a
> > PW-1.  What I experienced all weekend in WW was when I clicked on a
> > spot I had to do multiple clicks before it would put the spot in the
> > entry window and change the frequency on the radio.  What I noticed on
> > the band map was that the frequency would change immediately and then
> > just as fast go back to the original frequency.  I would have to click
> > many times to get this to work.  I then tried it with the PW-1 off and
> > that seemed to fix the problem.  Frequency changes were immediate.
> > So, have I a bad CT-17?  I don't think so.  I changed the ports around
> > and it made no difference.  Any ideas, help, or incouragement would be
> > appreciated.  Note-this had worked before in multi-band contests and
> > this weekend I was single band.
> >
> > Dick W7ZR
> > _______________________________________________
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> > WriteLog@contesting.com
> > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/writelog
> > WriteLog on the web:  http://www.writelog.com/
> >
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>
>
>  

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