[Elecraft] N1MM Contest Logger VFO B issue, USB-Serial, & Serial CW Keying

Mon Oct 30 05:28:04 EST 2006

Hi Mark:

I'm no expert on N1MM logger but I have used it with the K2. I just
tried it using v6.10.10, but I know this has worked before with earlier
versions. When you use both VFO A and VFO B, you need to have 2 data
entry windows open, one for A and one for B. There are key shortcuts to
switch back and forth between A and B but if you simply click in the
bandmap for VFO B, the focus for everything switches to the VFO B entry
window and anything entered there will be entered correctly into the
log. If you then click on the bandmap for VFO A, everything shifts back
to the entry window for VFO A and the data will be logged correctly with
VFO A data. If you have ONLY the entry window for VFO A open and use
that for data entry while using VFO B, then only VFO A data will be
entered into the log. This has worked for me using both "real" serial
ports as well as the "USB-to-serial" connections.

I haven't read the help manual/file lately (I must before next weekend),
but it used to be explained fairly well in there. 

The only problem I have had with N1MM and using both VFOs is with
operating split and getting the software to send on A while listening on
B and vice versa.

Good luck!

73,
Ken K3IU

-----Original Message-----
From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Mark Schreiner
Sent: Sunday, October 29, 2006 6:12 PM
To: Gregg R. Lengling; Elecraft Reflector; Carter W. Craigie
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] N1MM Contest Logger VFO B issue, USB-Serial,&
Serial CW Keying

I started this thread with the original question.  I specifically
wondered about folks using serial port for communications for band/mode
info with N1MM logging program.  I'm using v6.9.6.  As long as I use VFO
A only things are okay.  If I switch to VFO B I don't see it displayed
on the program window and it doesn't log info from VFO B but continues
to log the info from VFO A, which is the wrong VFO at that point.  I
think some of the responses have indicated that this specific problem
has been seen, with multiple versions of software from N1MM.  Thanks
everyone for that input and I believe they will be looking into this
problem now as I'm not the only one with that problem.

I also tried EQF logging program and it displays both VFO frequencies
and correctly indicates which VFO is the active one, and I believe it
logs the info correctly as well if it displays it correctly.  I really
like the N1MM program, though, so I'm going to stick with that and know
that it has that shortcoming, and hope it gets resolved by the N1MM
programmers soon.  I appreciate everyone's comments on this and I hope
I've helped others be alerted of this potential bug so that you don't
have too much to edit in a log when you realize things don't look quite
right.

WRT the USB-Serial converter, I was only using that for the CW Keying
and I had tried radio communications with that as well but it didn't
seem to work at all so I didn't pursue it any further, yet.  Could just
be the Belkin model I have or maybe some other setup issue, though.  CW
Keying with either the normal serial port or the USB-Serial adapter
didn't seem quite smooth enough and the timing was off a bit.  I just
built the parallel port interface using a single 2N2222 and a 1-kohm
resistor and it seems quite a bit smoother.  I'm not sure if this is
just wishful thinking or if it really is better, but I guess I'll find
out the next time I run a more serious effort on a CW contest to try it
out.  My quick test made me think it was better though.  Any experience
or comments from others on the parallel versus serial port CW keying, or
for that matter, how about USB port via some other interface?  I think
this will get me by until I figure out which K1EL Keyer to get, probably
the USB version.  BTW, the response from the S/W folk at N1MM Log is
that they will not be supporting the "KY" protocol.  Just curious if
others who are reading this thread have used another logging program
that supports the "KY" protocol and how they like it?  Maybe that should
be a topic for another thread, though.

73,

Mark, NK8Q
K2 4786

Gregg R. Lengling wrote:
> If you are having problems with HRD with you setup I would venture to 
> say the problem is not with your radio or the software but the USB-232

> converter you are using.  I use HRD exclusively and have no problems.
> You will see quite a few people having problems with certain USB 
> converters repeatedly on the HRD forums site and you will also see a 
> lot of good recommendations for better USB adaptors.  That is the 
> first place I would look.
>
> Gregg R. Lengling, W9DHI, Retired,Again K2/100 SN 3075 
> http://www.milwaukeehdtv.org http://forums.ham-radio.ch/
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ken Alexander" 
> <k.alexander at rogers.com>
> To: "KT5X" <kt5x at cybermesa.com>; <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Sunday, October 29, 2006 3:39 PM
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] N1MM Contest Logger VFO B issue
>
>
>> I updated my copy of N1MM Logger (v6.10.10)in the hope that I would 
>> be able to get into the CQWW this weekend and noticed that it didn't 
>> recognize VFO B either.
>>
>> On a related note, I downloaded, installed and configured Ham Radio 
>> Deluxe a few evenings ago and found that it's ability to display the 
>> K2's frequency was very shaky.  If the K2 was tuned to 7015.45 kHz 
>> then HRD would display the correct freq for a few seconds, then it 
>> might display something like 701 for a few seconds, then 545 for a 
>> few more secs, then some other combination of digits from the freq 
>> next...changing every 10 or 15 seconds.
>>
>> The K2 is connected to my notebook via the cable provided with the 
>> KIO2 and through a serial-to-USB converter.
>>
>> Any help would be gratefully accepted.
>>
>> 73,
>>
>> Ken Alexander
>> VE3HLS
>>
>>
>> --- KT5X <kt5x at cybermesa.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Yes, I noticed the same problem (and more) last summer with VFO B.  
>>> Maybe it is fixed in a newer edition, dunno.
>>>
>>> 72,  Fred - kt5x

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