[CALV-AUXCOMM] Cables, programs and Stuff

[Jim Tetlow]

Yesterday, Bob kf3aa and I were looking over some of the desktops in the CARA radio room. We made some interesting discoveries that tie into the last Auxcom meeting a few weeks ago. 
First there are a couple of machines that are running windows XP, thus I will download Hyper-terminal that it may be up loaded to later windows os machines.  

Second I was able to download on a drive rms express from an XP machine. I will make this available on a DVD or CD (you let me know your preference) thus you can load the unsupported version of RMS express on a XP operating system....it will still work with message and P2P. I will also put the fldigi suite of programs on the disc, along with a loadable copy of Ham Radio Deluxe (unsupported version).
Third we (Bob) verified that the RT systems radio specific program cables will work well as a CAT cable if your computer does not have 232 ports. The programming cables do span multiple radios by manufacture (i.e. The kenwood cable usb to 232 and the yaesu cable usb to 6pin mini do several radio models; although the program itself may be different the driver is the same.)
If you have an hf radio with CAT control (some vhf/uhf do also) 
Load your rt systems programming on the computer with out the cable plugged in first. This will download the driver and also get any driver update for your computer. Then exit the program, plug in the cable to the radio, turn the radio on (can be on dummy load). Now plug the usb side into your computer usb port. Your computer should now load the driver for the cable. Go to computer control panel ....then device manager....look at com ports and find your port for the cable ( it may be a virtual port 10 or above) you need this number for your program to operate with the correct usb cable. Usually this com port number stays the same if you plug the cable into the same usb plug each time......just keep in the back of your mind if you plug in many devices dvd drives, hard drives etc., your com port number COULD change. If your program doesn't work after it has worked before, you connection port may be different because you added a mouse first that wasn't there the first time. Most of there programs are manual direct not automatic, so if you entered com port 10 in the program it will always look to com port 10. If your port number changed in the computer due to things you were doing/changing, not to fear, just look in device manager find the port number, go to your program and manually change the old port for the new port number.....if you can delete the old port number. I will stop here so it doesn't get too confusing.
Windows 10 users, the only thing that I like in windows 10, it finds published drivers (it calls them microsoft windows drivers but they are usually correct oem). Thus you can usually skip loading drivers or programs step, just plug in your radio (turned on) then it will find the driver for you and tell you the com port when installed on the desktop toolbar.
Also if you dont eject the usb from the computer, it will usually get the same com port when you plug it back in, but another device in that usb port may be called rts systems!!
Hope I didn't bore any with this, those of you that this comes easy to, please remember those of us my age find it easier playing and understanding rf and 150,000 volts in a radio than simple computer magic! Everyone stay well and see all at the next meeting ..location pending!

Sent from my iPad,
Best Regards, 73,
Jim Tetlow