[TenTec] Any update on a replacement for the Orion II?

Kimberly Elmore cw_de_n5op at sbcglobal.net
Mon Apr 7 11:06:23 EDT 2014


I'll preface my query with the caveat that I'm not a software engineer nor do I program for a living. I know C (a little) and programmed in mostly FORTRAN when I did do a lot of programming. I've never programmed at the hardware level. Thus, I may be woefully ignorant on many details. 

Comment: It's too bad that the Alex has no interest in developing a driver for the Eagle. Yet, he makes OmniRig available for free to the community so in a very real sense, one gets what one pays for. OmniRig appears to be open source, so if someone wants a fully-functional driver for the Eagle they'll have to write it themselves. 

Here's my question: Why do we need radios with COM ports? Why not radios with USB ports that go to embedded FTDI chips? That's what my Green Heron rotor controller has and for the most part it seems that's what people use: a USB-to-RS232 adapter since no one puts RS232 ports on either desktop motherboards of laptops anymore. 

Kim N5OP




________________________________
 From: Rick - DJ0IP / NJ0IP <Rick at DJ0IP.de>
To: n4py3 at earthlink.net; 'Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment' <tentec at contesting.com> 
Sent: Monday, April 7, 2014 8:06 AM
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Any update on a replacement for the Orion II?
 

GM Carl, Ron, and others,

I must say Alex's comment shocked me too, but I thought it would be easy
enough to do so I didn't even reply to him.
I tried exactly that; to send  "BW=0" command (I forget the exact context -
that was 2 years ago).
Unfortunately my modified driver crashed the software.

When you look at the list of supported radios, basically every man and his
dog is on the list.
It's a crying shame that the Eagle is not on that list.

Ron brings up some pretty good points.
The fate of a hardware product may depend to some extent on the motivation
of some middleware programmer who may have a personal agenda.  On the other
hand, there are always alternatives and for personal use, it's not problem
to choose another.

WHAT WE NEED IS FOR MORE COMPANIES TO BRING OUT RADIOS WITH SERIAL PORTS!

"FLrig" is a similar product.  It doesn't support quite as many radios as
Omni-Rig, but it DOES SUPPORT THE EAGLE!
It is also a freeware and its author is (or used to be) a Ten-Tec user and
member of our group.  In fact if I recall correctly, he even has an Eagle.
FLrig is used by the "FL" software (i.e., FLdigi), however I am unaware of
any 3rd party software that uses FLrig.  

I'm not an insider on this stuff.  I only got interested because I wanted to
get my Eagle working fully with Win-Test.
I have never succeeded.  My only hope is Carl's suggestion.
Problem is, I don't have the time to throw at the problem right.
Seems there aren't enough days in the hour.

I wanted to announce a new antenna at Dayton - promised Scott I'd have them
ready for him by then, but the guy who was to build the first batch broke
his hand and is out for 6 to 8 weeks.  Looks like I will end up building
them myself, together with my XYL who is thrilled beyond belief.  No telling
what all that's gonna add to her honey-do list.
As it stands, I'll be pushing it to get the first batch of antennas ready in
time for Friedrichshafen in late June.

I hope I can find time to make this work before the next contest season
begins.

Carl, I live in a great area; wine festival every weekend during the summer
and fall months.
You're welcome to come for a visit!  ;-)

73 - Rick, DJ0IP
(Nr. Frankfurt am Main)


-----Original Message-----
From: TenTec [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Carl
Moreschi
Sent: Monday, April 07, 2014 2:22 PM
To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Any update on a replacement for the Orion II?

You know the Omni Rig guy probably thought that because the Eagle uses USB,
it did not make a comport.  If he knew it still appeared as a comport, I bet
he would add the commands.

After a bandwidth command is sent, all a program has to do is then send a 0
bandwidth command to restore operation of the front panel bandwidth knob.

Carl Moreschi N4PY
58 Hogwood Rd
Louisburg, NC 27549
www.n4py.com

On 4/7/2014 4:40 AM, Rick - DJ0IP / NJ0IP wrote:
> For instance, Ham Radio Delux interfaces to Omni-Rig and can be used 
> with any of the 75 radios on the list.
> There is lots of software using it.
>
> TEN-TEC PLEASE,  whatever the Orion II replacement is, make sure it is 
> supported by the Author of Omni-Rig (loan him a radio for 6 months).  
> That will assure compatibility with a wide portfolio of software programs.
> (TNX)
>
> And maybe JH could write an Omni-Rig driver for the Eagle.
> I'm sure it's just a 5 minute hack if you start from the ORION2's 
> Omni-Rig driver.
> To my knowledge, the only two commands needing adjustment are the 
> bandwidth and mode.
> (TNX AGN)
>
> 73 - Rick, DJ0IP
> (Nr. Frankfurt am Main)
>
> _______________________________________________
> TenTec mailing list
> TenTec at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec

>
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