[Elecraft] K3-DXLabs-LP-Bridge AI command question

[Joe Subich, W4TV]

Sam,

Are you trying to run anything other than DXLab Suite (Commander) and
NaP3?  If not, why not connect NaP3 to Commander's Secondary CAT Serial
Port using a software null modem?  That would eliminate LP-Bridge as a
source of problem.

73,

    ... Joe, W4TV


On 12/29/2013 1:16 AM, Sam Morgan wrote:
> Well since I tried to cover all my bases and ask this on 3 different
> reflectors, in the hopes I might get an answer I could use, I'll sum up
> the results and post them now.
>
> First, thanks to all who responded to my questions.
> Second I'm not trying to bash LP-Bridge, only find a fix for my problem,
> and I hoped the new info about AI from Dick might help solve it.
>
> Dave AA6YQ says:
> "When Commander starts controlling a K3, it sends an AI2; command unless
> you have "Continuous interrogation" disabled, in which case it sends an
> AI0; command."
>
> Larry N8LP says:
> "The AI boxes in LP-Bridge have nothing to do with the AI mode of the
> K3. These are used to simulate AI modes for apps connected to each
> virtual port. LP-Bridge forces the K3 into AI2 mode all the time. With
> many apps trying to control the rig, it would be a mess to let each one
> try to change the AI setting in the rig, therefore all AI commands are
> intercepted once LP-Bridge puts the rig in AI2 mode."
>
> and from Dick K6KR, I learned how I could put the K3 into AI2 myself,
> independent of either DXLabs or LP-Bridge, by using the K3 Utility pgm.
>
> Over the last two years I have been using 2 different boxes,
> during which I was encountering random LP-Bridge crashes on both.
> I say random because there was nothing that would cause the crash.
> I could leave the pgms running and not touch anything yet after while
> LP-Bridge would crash with a Runtime error.
>
> One box was an AMD 2.9 Ghz, 4gig ram, with both Win7 Pro 32-bit and 64-bit.
> The other box is an AMD 4.0 Ghz, 32gig ram with Win7 Pro 64-bit.
> Both machines have real serial ports, not usb to serial, and
> the serial cards were different on the 2 boxes.
>
> I always set the polling rate for LP-Bridge to 200ms & NaP3 & DXLabs for
> 300ms as was suggested by Larry here:
> http://www.telepostinc.com/NaP3.html#Setup
>
> <quote>
> Rig Timing (ms)...
> Polling Interval: Defaults to 300ms. If using LP-Bridge or LPB2, be
> careful when setting this lower than 300, and never set it lower than
> the setting in LP-Bridge or LPB2. In general, this should be set about
> 100ms slower than the LP-Bridge / LPB2 setting.
> </quote>
>
> Over the last 2 years I've made a several runs at solving this.
> I have ask on the LP-PAN list a number of times about my crash problem.
> Each time it seemed I was the only one having the problem, so I would
> wait a while and ask again later in the hopes that someone new to the
> list might also have the problem and maybe even the solution.
> But if others can't duplicate the problem, of course they can't help fix
> it. :-(
>
> So I have just tolerated it or just not run LP-Bridge if it got to bad.
> Some days I could run LP-Bridge all day, but then if it crashed once,
> it would continually crash the rest of the day, even after reboots.
>
> All the above is just to give details, not to bad mouth LP-Bridge!
> I love it, it's a valuable tool, that is why I keep trying to use it,
> but it's hell trying to use it, if it won't stay running.
>
> It's a bit to soon to tell, but I have had some success over the last
> week, even before Dick's info about the K3's AI setting, just by chance
> I had tried setting the DXLabs virtual port in LP-Bridge to AI2,
> at least it would run longer before it crashed.
>
> So to sum this up, now I have the K3 set to AI2
> Larry says LP-Bridge defaults to AI2 when it talks to the K3
> Dave says DXLabs Commander uses AI2 for continuous interrogation.
>
>
> LP-Bridge is currently handling 4 different programs at the same time.
> DXLabs Commander, N3FJP, VE7CC, & NaP3
> It's been 6hrs with no crash, maybe everyone is on the same page now.
>
> Sorry for the bandwidth, feel free to use your delete key ;-)
> sm
>
> On 12/28/2013 9:49 PM, Larry Phipps wrote:
>> The AI boxes in LP-Bridge have nothing to do with the AI mode of the K3.
>> These are used to simulate AI modes for apps connected to each virtual
>> port. LP-Bridge forces the K3 into AI2 mode all the time. With many apps
>> trying to control the rig, it would be a mess to let each one try to
>> change the AI setting in the rig, therefore all AI commands are
>> intercepted once LP-Bridge puts the rig in AI2 mode.
>>
>> As far as DXLabs goes, many users run it with LP-Bridge, but there are
>> so many hardware and software variables between stations that it's hard
>> to make direct comparisons.
>>
>> Larry N8LP
>>
>>
>>
>> On 12/28/2013 7:46 PM, elecraft-request at mailman.qth.net wrote:
>>> Date: Sat, 28 Dec 2013 14:05:33 -0600
>>> From: Sam Morgan<k5oai.sam at gmail.com>
>>> To:"elecraft at mailman.qth.net"  <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
>>> Subject: [Elecraft] K3-DXLabs-LP-Bridge AI command question
>>> Message-ID:<52BF2F0D.7000008 at gmail.com>
>>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>>>
>>> Rig is a K3. Computer is running WIn7 Pro 64-bit, AMD 4.0 Ghz, 32gig
>>> ram, real Serial port, not usb to serial. LP-Bridge is set to 200ms
>>> polling rate, DXLabs Commander is set to 300ms polling rate.
>>>
>>> Having just read K6KR's reply to Barry about the AI command (quoted
>>> below) I wonder if this may be the cause of my random LP-Bridge crashes.
>>> My K3 is set to normal AUTOINF or AI0
>>>
>>> Is anyone using LP-Bridge with DXLabs with no crashes,
>>> if so, what setting are you using in LP-Bridge for the AI setting,
>>> and what settings are you using for AUTOINF on your K3?
>>>
>>> Not knowing what AI did (until I just read about it in the K3 Programers
>>> Reference Manual) I have been experimenting with different settings for
>>> the AI for DXLabs within LP-Bridge. It seems LP-B doesn't crash 'as
>>> often' if I use AI2.
>>>
>>> =============quote==============
>>> It's in the K3 programmer's reference.  From the K3 Utility, command
>>> tester,
>>> enter "AIn;" where n is 0, 1, 2, or 3.
>>>
>>> Don't enter the quotes, do enter the semicolon.  "AI;" is a query, it
>>> should
>>> respond with "AI0;" or "AI1;", etc.
>>>
>>> 73 de Dick, K6KR
>