[Elecraft] K3/Logger 32 Interface issue

[Joe Subich, W4TV]

One can search Prolific's support site for alternate drivers and
try them all until finding one that works.  There is no guarantee
that one will find a solution but I would start here:

Others have reported some success by getting drivers directly from
Prolific:
    http://www.prolific.com.tw/US/ShowProduct.aspx?p_id=225&pcid=41

It may be necessary to log into the support site and try multiple
drivers until finding one that works with your cable/computer.

An alternate driver mentioned on the N1MM list at one time was:
     http://www.valley-ent.com/soft/radio/PL2303Vista3200.exe
I have no idea if it is still available or is applicable to your
particular operating system.

The entire issue is *timing* - the nonfunctional drivers issue the
"character received" interrupt before making the character ready for
the application.  The application (Microsoft Communications Toolbox)
then faults with the 8020 error.  Software such as N1MM Logger,
Logger32, DXLab Suite, etc. are written in VB6 - one of those languages
that is part of the Microsoft "Visual" development environment and uses
the Microsoft Communications Toolbox.  Other compilers - most notably
some of the independent C and C++ packages - are either slower to read
characters from the USB driver or perform multiple reads to get the
data when receiving a "no data available" error.

73,

    ... Joe, W4TV


On 11/22/2013 5:21 PM, mikefurrey at att.net wrote:
> What Mike and Fred said. Also look for cables that are shielded. I
> unknowingly started with a prolific chipset and after loading the
> driver, the laptop with Win7 functioned so bad, I had to reload the OS.
> I found a FTDI unit and it works fine BUT the noise level dramatically
> increased until I replaced them with shielded units. BTW, I have noted
> that when the prolific chipset is used, it rarely  mentioned on the box
> or by the manufacture. I have also noted that when the FTDI chipset is
> used, the box/manufacture always does indicate such! Hmmmmmm ...
>
> My Experiences ...
>
> 73, Mike WA5POK
>
> --------------------------------------------------
>
>> Ditch the Prolific adapter and get one with the FTDI chip. And of
>> course the proper driver.
>>
>> 73, Mike NF4L
>>
>> On Nov 22, 2013, at 2:31 PM, Denis Jackson <radio at modesgate.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Just installed a new shack PC, with I7 processor, Haswel chipset,,
>>> and WIN 7
>>> 64 Bit OS.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Using an older KUSB, with the Prolific chip set.  K3 has a SteppIR
>>> controller connected to it, using a Y cable.  This combination works
>>> fine,
>>> on my old PC, which has a COM port on the motherboard.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> When I first set it up, the K3 communicated with Logger 32 without any
>>> problems.  However, after a few miniutes, (or a couple of
>>> band-changes on
>>> the K3, Logger32 appears to no longer be receiving data from the K3.
>>> I can
>>> control the k3 from Logger32, i.e. I can change bands etc, but I have no
>>> indication of mode or frequency back from the radio.  The only way I
>>> can get
>>> it working again, is to unplug/re-plug the KUSB and the PC.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I don't think that this is a configuration options issue (although
>>> would be
>>> happy for someone to tell me that it is), and suspect this is just
>>> another
>>> manifestation of the endless USB/serial adaptor problems that seem to
>>> be all
>>> too frequent.  I will probably order myself a PCI serial card, but in
>>> the
>>> meantime, if anyone has any ideas of what I could try, I would be very
>>> grateful.  I've already tried disabling the power management features
>>> on the
>>> internal USB hub, with no luck.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Thanks in advance
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Denis MW0CBC / GW8OQV
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
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