[Elecraft] COM port problems

[Peter Dougherty (W2IRT)]

The issue is far deeper than this. None of the COM ports work normally after
starting the system. Occasionally the radio connects to the software
normally, other times it doesn't. If I have it working with N1MM, close down
N1MM and try to start Commander (DX Labs) it won't work initially, but if I
try it 3 or 4 times in a row it will connect normally.

Ditto with my two rotors. Those are the only serial ports in my system. The
K3s, my 6m rotor (Rotor-EZ board in the controller box) and a Green Heron
RT-20 (serial-to-USB, not pure USB like the newer RT-21). For whatever
reason, there is *something* holding all the installed/configured COM ports
open and unavailable. I cannot find that "something."

 - pjd

-----Original Message-----
From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net <elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net> On
Behalf Of Geoffrey Feldman
Sent: Friday, July 1, 2022 1:23 PM
To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] COM port problems

These is nothing unique about the Elecraft serial cable except possibly the
radio side connector.  Basically it's a USB to RS232 Ground/transmit/Receive
cable. Anyone who understands USB com ports can help you.  They don't need
to know radio.  They should understand what I wrote here.

For USB COM port problems (with anything, including these).
Run DEVMGR (I do this by entering that in the search bar) In Devmgr "View"
menu , click / check "Show Hidden Devices"
Look in the list for "Ports(COM & LPT) Expand that to the sub list You will
see a list of ports there in the sub list.  Some are grayed out, those are
not connected.
Plug in your Elecraft serial cable. Is there a change?  You should see  a
grayed out one now dark (enabled) (as COM 1 is)  That is the number of the
Elecraft port.
OR ... a new one just appears. This sometimes happens. That is the new
number of the Elecraft port. (This is a likely outcome).

Make a note of anything in devmgr list, this may help Elecraft help you but
I expect you will have figured it out with the above steps.

If this does not work, try other USB ports on your computer with the above
procedure.

If this does not work, try the Elecraft cable on a friends computer (the
driver for Elecraft is pretty standard you don't need the radio to check the
cable).  If this does not work, you need a Elecraft serial cable.  You can
also look in the cable and make one.  There are USB to RS232 cables you can
change the connector to match the cable description in the manual.  Others
available may have the same connector but TX and RX are reversed.  Some are
already the same as elecraft.

W1GCF
Geoff

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