[TenTec] Slowly into the 21st Century - Interfacing an Omni VI

Thu Oct 23 13:52:05 EDT 2008

I used this cable i got E-Bay   item # 380074497745 it cost about 5 dollars and plugs in the  jack on back of radio  and the usb  port,,,, this works the logging  program .
--- On Thu, 10/23/08, tentec-request at contesting.com <tentec-request at contesting.com> wrote:

From: tentec-request at contesting.com <tentec-request at contesting.com>
Subject: TenTec Digest, Vol 70, Issue 23
To: tentec at contesting.com
Date: Thursday, October 23, 2008, 12:00 PM

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Today's Topics:

   1. Slowly into the 21st Century - Interfacing an Omni VI (Ron, K5XK)
   2. Re: Mini Lamp Needed (Dr. Gerald N. Johnson)
   3. Re: Slowly into the 21st Century - Interfacing an Omni VI
      (Rick Denney)
   4. Re: Slowly into the 21st Century - Interfacing an Omni VI
      (CSM(r) Gary Huber)
   5. Re: Omni VII & Ele K3 comparison (John Kountz)
   6. Re: Slowly into the 21st Century - Interfacing an Omni VI (jack)
   7. For Sale: ORION II Filters (RLVZ at aol.com)
   8. Re: Slowly into the 21st Century - Interfacing an Omni VI
      (Ken Brown)
   9.  Omni VII & Ele K3 comparison (Dennis OConnor)

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

Message: 1
Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2008 11:44:44 -0500
From: "Ron, K5XK" <qrzthedx at gmail.com>
Subject: [TenTec] Slowly into the 21st Century - Interfacing an Omni
	VI
To: <tentec at contesting.com>
Message-ID: <00ad01c93465$7d8e0350$6401a8c0 at Office>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="us-ascii"

I'm an analog, trailing edge, albatross being drug slowly into the
'20th
century.'  Would someone tell me exactly what I need, and specifically how,
to do the following:

a. Interface an OMNI VI+ to my shack computer for DX PacketCluster, rig
control & logging...

b. How to key the OMNI from computer logging software...

I've read that Win XP does weird things to a CW note, so among my keyers, I
have a WinKey Serial & WinKey USB keyer.  The computer is an IBM PC with
USB
and what I 'think' may be serial and parallel connections.  I assume
I'll
need some type of outboard keying interface...what are the best options?

I'm on the list's digest mode, so please reply directly to
k5xk at arrl.net .

Tks in advance / 73,

Ron, K5XK

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

Message: 2
Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2008 10:35:51 -0600
From: "Dr. Gerald N. Johnson" <geraldj at storm.weather.net>
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Mini Lamp Needed
To: tentec at contesting.com
Message-ID: <1224693351.3509.20.camel at host.domain.com>
Content-Type: text/plain

On Wed, 2008-10-22 at 03:58 -0700, Jim WA9YSD wrote:
> The 44 is a 6.3 volt 0.25 amp higher current and usually indicates more
heat being dissipated.
> 
Not usually. Its certain the 44 dissipates more heat. All tungsten lamps
put out mostly heat with a little light.

> I will stick with the 755.  The brightness on the TT amp and Omni meters
appear to match that on the 755 in the auto tuner.
> 
So be it.

> The 51 is 12 Volt and a rare one to find these days.
> 
> How much more long life would the bulb have if a 51 was substituted?  Yes
I may have a few of these around as well.  I took apart and fixed a few of those
radios in the 60s. Tvs had these as well to light up the channel dial.
> 
Like said before at least twice, 51 or 1893 or 1891 running at half
voltage could last up to a century if not broken by vibration.

> What tube did they put one of these lamps in the circuit to control the
voltage/current to it?  Been way to long.
> 
Like I said yesterday and the day before, the 35Z5.

>  Keep The Faith, Jim K9TF/WA9YSD
> 
> 
> 
73, Jerry, K0CQ

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

Message: 3
Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:35:22 -0400
From: Rick Denney <rick at rickdenney.com>
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Slowly into the 21st Century - Interfacing an
	Omni VI
To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment <tentec at contesting.com>
Cc: k5xk at arrl.net
Message-ID: <1077417599.20081022143522 at iteris.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

Ron, K5XK writes...

> a. Interface an OMNI VI+ to my shack computer for DX PacketCluster, rig
> control & logging...

I use the TigerTronics Signalink USB with my Omni V.9. It connects to
the audio in and out and the PTT jacks. I use it for the digital
modes.

For control and logging, my Omni V.9 (which has the N4PY chip, which
changes the serial protocol to CI-V similar to the Omni VI) is
connected to the serial port on my computer directly. I use the N4PY
control software, and it writes a file on the computer similarly to
the Pegasus control software for interfacing with my logging software
(DXLab Suite). DX Commander, which is part of DXLab, will also control
the rig directly if I'm not running the N4PY rig control software. The
serial connection really only needs three wires, but some pins need to
be jumped on both ends. That should be in the manual from Ten Tec.

> b. How to key the OMNI from computer logging software...

My Tigertronics interface will key the rig for the digital modes by
sensing when the computer is sending data to the rig in the form of
modulated audio. It then closes the PTT contact. I believe your Winkey
USB will plug into the Key jack on the rig, and your key will plug
into the Winkey. It will key the rig either from the paddles or the
computer. On the Omni V, my recollection is that the RTTY jack is the
same as the keying jack (both are ignored in sideband mode), and can
be used to key the rig in CW or true FSK mode. With that, it would be
possible, I think, to use two keying sources. But with the Winkey USB,
I wouldn't think that would be necessary.

> I've read that Win XP does weird things to a CW note, so among my
keyers, I
> have a WinKey Serial & WinKey USB keyer.  The computer is an IBM PC
with USB
> and what I 'think' may be serial and parallel connections.  I
assume I'll
> need some type of outboard keying interface...what are the best options?

Isn't the WinKey USB already an outboard keying interface? What am I
missing? I know that the Omni VI has an internal keyer, and I'm
assuming that it has a setting for a straight key, which would work
with an outboard keyer.

The serial port is a 9-pin DB-9 connector. The parallel port is a
25-pin DB-25 connector on IBM-style PC's. Nothing else uses those
connectors. My shack PC (which is an actual IBM) has a single serial
port in addition to USB. But I have the rig and a rotator that require
serial control, so I use a Keytronics serial/USB interface. Unlike a
cheapie interface that I tried, the Keytronics makes no RF and times
perfectly.

Rick, KR9D

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

Message: 4
Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:19:24 -0500
From: "CSM\(r\) Gary Huber" <glhuber at msn.com>
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Slowly into the 21st Century - Interfacing an
	Omni VI
To: "Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment" <tentec at contesting.com>
Message-ID: <BLU142-DS11F6BA91D278F823E5F8FA6290 at phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="iso-8859-1"

Download DXLab suite http://www.dxlabsuite.com/ .... its free and has excellent
support. I'm using it with both my Omni VI+ and Corsair II.

73 & DX,

Gary - AB9M
http://www.csm-gh.com/AB9M.htm 

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Ron, K5XK" <qrzthedx at gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 2008 11:44 AM
To: <tentec at contesting.com>
Subject: [TenTec] Slowly into the 21st Century - Interfacing an Omni VI

> 
> I'm an analog, trailing edge, albatross being drug slowly into the
'20th
> century.'  Would someone tell me exactly what I need, and specifically
how,
> to do the following:
> 
> a. Interface an OMNI VI+ to my shack computer for DX PacketCluster, rig
> control & logging...
> 
> b. How to key the OMNI from computer logging software...
> 
> I've read that Win XP does weird things to a CW note, so among my
keyers, I
> have a WinKey Serial & WinKey USB keyer.  The computer is an IBM PC
with USB
> and what I 'think' may be serial and parallel connections.  I
assume I'll
> need some type of outboard keying interface...what are the best options?
> 
> I'm on the list's digest mode, so please reply directly to
k5xk at arrl.net .
> 
> Tks in advance / 73,
> 
> Ron, K5XK
> 
> _______________________________________________
> TenTec mailing list
> TenTec at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
>

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

Message: 5
Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:00:40 -0700
From: John Kountz <John at T6EE.com>
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Omni VII & Ele K3 comparison
To: Gary at doctorgary.net, 	Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment
	<tentec at contesting.com>
Message-ID: <48FFA288.7010804 at T6EE.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

And be so kind as to share the results with the rest of us as decisions 
are made and dollars spent.
vry tnx & 75 de ...

Gary Smith wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> Please reply offlist to me if you've been able to compare these side 
> by side.
> 
> Thanks
> 
> Gary
> KA1J
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> TenTec mailing list
> TenTec at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
> 

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

Message: 6
Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2008 17:06:28 -0600
From: "jack" <jfriend31 at comcast.net>
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Slowly into the 21st Century - Interfacing an
	Omni VI
To: "Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment" <tentec at contesting.com>
Message-ID: <902AD58FFAAC46C9B412F2A0584E100F at selfebyk3w5uiq>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
	reply-type=original

Ron, i had the same questions in regard to the Orion. i am not familiar with 
the Omni VI. however one can key any radio directly in Windows with MixW 
thru a serial port (or USB/serial adapter) with the simple switching circuit 
in the MixW help file. one diode, one transistor and 2 resistors all found 
at Radio Shack for a few dollars along with an aluminum box for enclosure. i 
am thus sure any software that will switch on/off thru serial port or 
printer port will do for your purposes. i also use LOGic8 and it will so the 
same thru the keyer built into the logging program.
jack ak7o

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ron, K5XK" <qrzthedx at gmail.com>
To: <tentec at contesting.com>
Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 2008 10:44 AM
Subject: [TenTec] Slowly into the 21st Century - Interfacing an Omni VI

>
> I'm an analog, trailing edge, albatross being drug slowly into the
'20th
> century.'  Would someone tell me exactly what I need, and specifically

> how,
> to do the following:
>
> a. Interface an OMNI VI+ to my shack computer for DX PacketCluster, rig
> control & logging...
>
> b. How to key the OMNI from computer logging software...
>
> I've read that Win XP does weird things to a CW note, so among my
keyers, 
> I
> have a WinKey Serial & WinKey USB keyer.  The computer is an IBM PC
with 
> USB
> and what I 'think' may be serial and parallel connections.  I
assume I'll
> need some type of outboard keying interface...what are the best options?
>
> I'm on the list's digest mode, so please reply directly to
k5xk at arrl.net .
>
> Tks in advance / 73,
>
> Ron, K5XK
>
> _______________________________________________
> TenTec mailing list
> TenTec at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec 

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

Message: 7
Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2008 21:36:42 EDT
From: RLVZ at aol.com
Subject: [TenTec] For Sale: ORION II Filters
To: tentec at contesting.com
Message-ID: <c4c.3ed16a95.36312f2a at aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"

For Sale: ORION II Filters- 300hz, 600hz, 1.8khz.  Cost $99 each.  New and in 
the original boxes.  Save 25%, buy all 3 for $225 plus shipping.

73,
Dick- K9OM

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

Message: 8
Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2008 20:43:20 -1000
From: Ken Brown <ken.d.brown at hawaiiantel.net>
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Slowly into the 21st Century - Interfacing an
	Omni VI
To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment <tentec at contesting.com>
Message-ID: <49001D08.8060208 at hawaiiantel.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

I must agree. I had a problem with Hyperlog running on DOS, decided it 
was time to migrate to a windows based logging program, and am now using 
the essential components of DXLab suite. So far I am just using DX 
Keeper and Commander, which are essentially the logging program and the 
computer interface to the radio. I have not tried any of the other 
stuff, for digital modes and awards tracking. The important thing for me 
is that the QSOs are getting logged, including the frequency the rig is 
on. The other bells and whistles can be played with later. Works good 
and the price is right.

DE N6KB
> Download DXLab suite http://www.dxlabsuite.com/ .... its free and has
excellent support. I'm using it with both my Omni VI+ and Corsair II.
>   
>

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

Message: 9
Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2008 06:29:48 -0700 (PDT)
From: Dennis OConnor <ad4hk2004 at yahoo.com>
Subject: [TenTec]  Omni VII & Ele K3 comparison
To: tentec at contesting.com
Message-ID: <257059.26627.qm at web32705.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

Just a comment to Gary... These are two completely different radios with
different missions... Comparison is apple to oranges...
For just a few of the numerous differences: 
The K3 is originally designed for bare bones kit assembly to save dollars and
most features are additional.. 
They spent their money on the receiver to run with the big dogs
The display is pretty basic

The Omni 7 is an internet oriented, remote control capable machine with a whiz
bang display.
Built in Ethernet port and remote interface
Live transmit and receive control out of the box
Pretty much complete as is

?I am not taking sides here, just pointing out they have different missions
denny / k8do

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

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End of TenTec Digest, Vol 70, Issue 23
**************************************