[TenTec] RE: Pegasus ATTN button

[M. Clark]

In trying to decide whether or not to buy a Pegasus, I downloaded the
software and the programming manual.  According to the manual, the Peg does
not have full handshaking.  That is: in the case of the Attn and other
commands, it doesn't specifically inform the PC software that the radio
setting no longer matches the screen setting (or even that it has received
a command).  

That said, it apparently doesn't work the way it should.  The PC software
has to constantly poll the radio to get the rcv signal level (or fwd/rev
power if transmitting).  In fact, if the PC doesn't poll the radio, there
is a provision for the radio to timeout and shut down.

What the programmers should have done, and appear to have done only
partially, is to have had the PC software go into a failure mode when the
radio failed to respond to the polls.  Upon the resumption of the poll
responses, the PC software should make no assumption about the state of the
radio, and it should reset all radio parameters to match those on
screen--including the Attn setting.  Apparently they left out the Attn
setting.

There is another more troubling possibility too.  It could be that in this
circumstance the radio can't handle the mass of data sent to it, and the
Attn (and perhaps some other as yet unnoticed function) simply remains at
its power up default.

One way to find out for sure is for someone with a Pegasus to monitor the
data stream sent to the radio under these circumstances, and report what
actually is sent.      

73, Malcolm WX4YZ


At 06:55 AM 12/7/99 -0500, you wrote:
>
>I'm learning to live with computerized rigs now. Ususally I leave the
>PC turned on all day, come home at night, turn on the Pegasus and
>presto, I'm on the air with no booting. Yes, I'm able to leave the
>Pegasus software running and when the rig is turned on, it just takes
>over except for one little item.
>
>I need someone to try this:
>
>Get the Pegasus operating normally then
>Turn on the ATTN button. (blue)
>Turn off the rig
>Turn the rig back on
>ATTN button stays blue but it's no longer attenuating and requires
>reactivating the button.
>Could this be a little software bug?
>Steve N4LQ


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