[Elecraft] K3 - Win4K3 Suite
Joe Subich, W4TV
lists at subich.com
Wed Sep 4 20:08:45 EDT 2013
> In the case of the Microham devices, as far as I can tell, there is a
> cable supplied that has a direct connection to the rs232 port on the
> k3.
The microHAM products require a direct hardware connection to the
transceiver - period, no exceptions. However, they support the
equivalent of a 57,600 bps connection for transceivers that operate
that fast (e.g. TenTec) so 38,400 bps is not an issue with the K3.
Most "normal" logging software works just fine with the microHAM
interface (microHAM Router) as long as the software can tolerate
issues like delayed responses and "extra" data when the K3 changes
bands - this includes N1MM Logger, Writelog, etc. Some software -
particularly software that emits multiple polls at a time (e.g.
DXLab Commander, N1MM Logger, etc.) work best if there is at least
200 to 250 milliseconds between polls (mostly to account for the
maximum latency during a band change).
> There is one possibility though which I have not tried nor thas
> anyone else: If you connect Win4k3 aux/cat port directly to a
> physical port, and then connect the Microham rs232 cable to this
> serial port via a null modem cable, then it will see the radio
> without all of the polling going though the Microham.
Connecting the serial output of the microHAM interface to another
software program (other that PowerSDR emulating a Kenwood transceiver
for Flex-1000/1500/3000/5000) is not acceptable. When configured for
a single application (one CAT port), microHAM Router is completely
transparent - data from the application to the radio and data from the
radio to the application are passed without regard to "poll/response
matching" and Router does not insert its own polling as long as the
application polls for the required information (FA; FB; IF; DT; DV;
and SB; in the case of the K3). The microHAM interfaces will not
tolerate a CPU reset or "raw" EPROM dumps for any transceiver.
In addition, microHAM Router will create a virtual null modem that
allows linking other software to each other (e.g., linking OmniRig
to DXLab CI-V Commander's Secondary CAT Serial Port) which could
certainly be used to link a logging program to the Aux port in
an application like Win4K3.
> Anyone in the montreal area that can lend a Microham for a few days?
I'm nowhere near Montreal. However, as the microHAM distributor for
the Americas, I am always happy to test (and document) any *full*
*function* software (I do not deal with time limited or crippled
software as it becomes impossible to provide ongoing user support) in
the microHAM environment (as I currently do for at least a dozen
logging packages and a similar number of digital, CW and utility
applications). Example configurations for most the software tested is
available at www.microHAM-USA.com/support.html for each interface if
that software is compatible with the microHAM products and of general
interest.
73,
... Joe Subich, W4TV
microHAM America, LLC.
http://www.microHAM-USA.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/microHAM
On 9/4/2013 4:07 PM, Tom wrote:
> Hi
> Maybe I can shed some light on this.
> Win4k3 offers a rich interface to the radio as well as mirroring what goes on in the radio if a user manipulates a control. Thus there is a lot of polling going on. A lot of work went into optimizing the timing of this polling and this requires a dedicated port to the k3.
> Now Win4k3 has an aux/cat port which can be used with third party programs that need to connect to the k3. This port requires either a physical port, or two virtual ports where it can connect to and the other device can get and set radio commands. This port works for many things like dx4win, logger32 winlogger winOM and others. It does not work for N1MM which has a high polling rate as well.
> In the case of the Microham devices, as far as I can tell, there is a cable supplied that has a direct connection to the rs232 port on the k3. Therefore one would connect through the Microham via a virtual serial port. For the same reasons that high polling rates might not work with Win4k3 they may not work for the Microham.
> There is one possibility though which I have not tried nor thas anyone else:
> If you connect Win4k3 aux/cat port directly to a physical port, and then connect the Microham rs232 cable to this serial port via a null modem cable, then it will see the radio without all of the polling going though the Microham.
> I do not own a Microham but if I could borrow one for a few days I'm sure I could get this operational.
> In both the Microham and N1MM logger, I am looking at providing an option that will suspend most polling in Win4k3 and as long as one does not touch the physical radio. this should work with these products.
> That being said, a new version of the software is underway with additional aux/cat ports as well as remote serial port redirection allowing you to use third part software remotely and connect to the physical device via IP.
> Anyone in the montreal area that can lend a Microham for a few days?
> Regards, Tom
>
> va2fsq.com
>
> iPhone
>
> On 2013-09-04, at 3:10 PM, Karl-Heinz - DL2FAG <dl2fag at arcor.de> wrote:
>
>> I have just test it with virtual serial ports (generated by an
>> external application), which I split to use the ports (CAT,
>> Rotor, winkey etc) simultanouly on different other running
>> application (like mixw, LOGic)
>>
>> Unter this circumstances, I was not able to run WIN4K3. So long the
>> ports were splitted, WIn4K3 does not work - If I disable the
>> port-splittig, the Ports are fine for Win4K3
>>
>> 73
>>
>> Karl
>> DL2FAG
>>
>> am Mittwoch, 4. September 2013 um 20:11 schrieben Sie:
>>
>>
>>> What is the issue with microHAM virtual ports? If you trying to
>>> run both a logger on the CAT port and a second application on the
>>> 2nd CAT port, the second application must be low priority and do
>>> minimum polling. Remember, the combined data rate of the serial
>>> port is only 38,400 bps maximum. The K3/P3 combination needs to
>>> be able to keep up with not only the combined polling rate of
>>> *two* applications *plus* the overhead of communication between
>>> the K3 and P3 that the user/applications never see.
>>
>>> 73,
>>
>>> ... Joe, W4TV
>>
>>
>>> On 9/4/2013 11:20 AM, Karl-Heinz Kuehlborn wrote:
>>>> Hi,
>>>>
>>>> the same here - the suite needs a "complete" access to the serial
>>>> ports - it worked partly, if I made the virtual ports just in a read
>>>> state.
>>>>
>>>> Haven't yet found a workable solution if you work with virtual serial
>>>> ports.
>>>>
>>>> Karl
>>>> DL2FAG
>>>>
>>>> am Mittwoch, 4. September 2013 um 17:13 schrieben Sie:
>>>>
>>>>> Bill:
>>>>
>>>>> I loved it until it was obvious there were BIG problems running with
>>>>> MicroHam Router virtual ports..
>>>>
>>>>> W4CCS
>>>>
>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>> From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
>>>>> [mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Bill
>>>>> Sent: Wednesday, September 4, 2013 6:40 AM
>>>>> To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
>>>>> Subject: [Elecraft] K3 - Win4K3 Suite
>>>>
>>>>> I understand Win4K3 Suite is much improved from its original offering,
>>>>> however, my 30 day test expired a long time ago and I am unable to try the
>>>>> newest version. Hence, the questions:
>>>>
>>>>> Is anyone using Win4K3 Suite? If so, how do you like it? Any other comments?
>>>>
>>>>> Thanks,
>>>>
>>>>> Bill W2BLC
>>>>
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>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Mit freundlichen Grüßen
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>> mailto:khkuehlborn at outlook.com
>>
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