[Elecraft] LP Bridge crashes with K3

[George Kidder]

Hi all,

Lots of good thoughts there.  I should have mentioned a number of 
things:  The connection is via a RS-232 cable, not by USB converter.  
There is only one "real" com port on this computer (COM 1) so I cannot 
check this by substitution unless I were to use a USB to RS-232 
converter.  The failure occurs with no RF output, and with any mode I 
have tried.  The LPB version is 1.1.0; I only tried LPB2 as a way of 
using a slower baud rate, since LPB is fixed at 38K.  LPB2 crashes as 
well!  Re-starting LPB does not re-establish connections if other 
programs are used on the virtual ports; killing these other programs 
does restore connections.  I have not carefully investigated a total 
power cycle.

As I noted before, the failure occurs without any other programs 
connected to the virtual COM ports, and indeed even when these COM ports 
have not been created.

Wiping the computer and reloading the OS seems a rather drastic cure for 
a small ill, especially when there is no guarantee that it will work.  I 
do have another computer running XP, and have used LPB on it in the 
past.  It's problem is that it is slow enough that when all the programs 
I want to run are on it, there are precious few CPU cycles left.  This 
was why I got the Win 7 machine!

VA2FSQ's solution is possibly one way out.  I will have to consider it 
and other similar options.

Thanks for all the good and very prompt feedback.  BTW, in the time 
between my sending my first question and the present, the computer was 
left running with LPB on it alone, and it crashed, reading IS Q500!

George, W3HBM


On 12/3/2016 11:47 AM, Mike Flowers wrote:
> Hi George,
>
> Just some thoughts:
>
> - how is your K3 attached to the PC?  A real RS-232 COM port or a USB/Serial converter?
>
> - if by an RS-232 COM port, could you try a different one?
>
> - if by a USB/Serial converter, what kind?  Can you try another one?
>
> - Are you transmitting at all between failures?  If so, RFI may be playing a role.  Try just leaving the rig on but no TX.
>
> - if you have a dummy load, try TX into it if the above test indicates RF may be the issue.
>
> - How close are your antennas?  Are the rotatable?
>
> - How are the rig, PC, coax shields, etc. bonded in a 'ground' system?   RF can induce voltage on cables if various units are not at a common 'ground'.
>
> - Do you have really good quality cable connecting your rig and PC?
>
> - Have you tried any ferrites on the cables?
>
> Just some thoughts.
>
> -- Mike Flowers, K6MKF, NCDXC - "It's about DX!"
>
>> On Dec 3, 2016, at 6:33 AM, George Kidder <gkidder at ilstu.edu> wrote:
>>
>> OK, gang!  I've tried everything I can think of, and am now looking for some additional thoughts.
>>
>> Equipment: K3 (unmodified) with firmware 5.53, computer (2.99 GHz dual core, 4 GB memory) running Win 7, LP-Bridge (LPB) set for 200 mS delay.  The computer is not connected to the internet, and all programs are brought in from another computer using a flash drive.
>>
>> Problem:  At random but long intervals (hours) LP-Bridge crashes, displaying error 13 (type mismatch).  Clearing this window causes program to close.  This behavior is seen with no external programs connected to LPB, and with LPB set to any polling rate from 200 mS (default) to as much as 1000 mS.  It is seen when LPB2 is used and the baud rate is reduced to 4800.  When the crash occurs, the error seems to be in a response from the K3 - for instance, the "Rig Received Text" window shows "IS 0|00;" while it should show "IS 0600;".  In this case the K3 was set to CW mode.  In LSB mode, the same window shows "CW 6+;" where I presume it should have been "CW 60;".  This damaged text shows up in all windows (Rig received, K3 Com port, Power SCR-IF Aux CAT port, etc.)
>>
>> Attempted resolution includes reloading the K3 firmware and reloading LPB from the website after clearing out all remnants of the old program.  Nothing helps - LPB still crashes when allowed to run for several hours.  Other programs not affected.  Computer is on a UPS, so momentary power outage would not be a cause (even if there should be one every night!)
>>
>> Clearly, there is a communication failure between the K3 and LPB, since it occurs with nothing else connected.  Is the problem with the K3, LBP or the Win 7 operating system which sits between them?  And what more can I try to fix it?
>>
>> Your thoughts will be greatly appreciated.
>>
>> George, W3HBM
>>
>>
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