[RTTY] USB-Serial

[Robert Chudek - K0RC]

Joe said: "I have used the Prolific cables for rig control and they 
worked fine."

"Thump" ...there, I'm giving this horse one more kick for good measure!

Joe is correct... there does not seem to be any issue with using either 
FTDI or Prolific converters for rig control. The difference comes to 
light when trying to key the low speed FSK data.

During the earlier days when RTTY operators were making the transition 
from physical COM ports to USB/Serial ports, the pass/fail results were 
traced to the different implementations by these two manufacturers. 
Those having success reported the device used the FTDI chipset, while 
those having mixed results were using the Prolific chipset.

In any case, in my shack I have the FTDI adapters exclusively. This 
eliminates the probability of my 'senior moment' when I put the wrong 
vendor adapter on my FSK connection!

73 de Bob - KØRC in MN

------------------------------------------------------------------------

On 6/13/2011 12:12 PM, k0bx at arrl.net wrote:
>    This dead horse never dies!  But that means we are getting new guys on RTTY.
>
> I needed a USB=>Serial port adapter to run my laptop on FD.  Someone here I
> think pointed me to the following website:
>
> http://www.usbgear.com/USB-PRODUCT-DETAILS.cfm?sku=USBG-232FT-1&catid=106&cats=106
>
>
> This is the one I bought.  Quick service.  The software came with it and all
> worked well.  I was able to do RigControl for my PRO3 and CW on the same adapter
> at the same time.  I did not get to try it on FSK.  That would have answer the
> question below.    This did have the FTDI Chip.  So I think it would work fine.
> BTW the website has other adapters.
>
> I have used the Prolific cables for rigcontrol and they worked fine.
>
> Joe K0BX
>
>   Stop the insanity!
> Please do not add me to any distribution lists (Joke, Stories or Junk) without
> my permission.
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: Robert Chudek - K0RC<k0rc at citlink.net>
> To: rtty at contesting.com
> Sent: Mon, June 13, 2011 11:29:14 AM
> Subject: Re: [RTTY] USB-Serial
>
> Hello Pete,
>
> The most effective solution is to use a software driver called EXTFSK.
> This removes the need to find an "old" USB/Serial converter to run FSK
> at 45 baud. Using this software driver with MMTTY allows just about any
> modern USB/Serial device to work. There is an issue though, to ensure
> the USB/Serial converter works it's best to find a device based upon the
> FTDI chip set (as opposed to the Prolific chip set).
>
> Here's a link to the FTDI site: http://www.ftdichip.com/FTProducts.htm
>
> Make certain the converter you purchase says it uses the FTDI chipset
> and driver. The Prolific chipset "might" work, but it's a crap shoot,
> depending upon its age and software driver.
>
> So there's two pieces to the puzzle... Using the EXTFSK software driver
> with MMTTY and using an FTDI based converter for the hardware connection.
>
> 73 de Bob - KØRC in MN
>
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