[Elecraft] COM port problems

[Peter Dougherty (W2IRT)]

OK, got a massive problem that just cropped up this evening that is far
beyond my understanding that has completely killed my ability to use my K3
with my computer.

 

After restarting the PC, suddenly I cannot communicate with the radio using
DX Lab Suite or N1MM+ on the assigned COM port. I have downloaded the K3
Utility software and it is able to connect to the radio on COM5, its usual
port, and invoke macros via the Utility. So I know there's proper
communication between the radio and the PC. But once I close down the K3
Utility program I get the first major problem. The radio goes into transmit
for 10 seconds, releases for about 4 or 5 second, and goes back in to
transmit. Only powering the radio off and back on again stops this behavior.

The main issue is that no CAT control software seems to be able to connect
to the radio at all. The radio is on COM5, and has been for at least the
last 4 or 5 years, and until today it has just worked, even after building a
new computer last November. I just rebooted today and everything went to
heck.

The kicker is that's it's not a K3 hardware problem, and since it works with
neither N1MM nor DX Lab software any more it's apparently not those programs
either, and quite frankly I just don't know where to look next. Compounding
the issue, and likely related to it, the N1MM Rotor control cannot find
either COM port assigned to the rotors (COM1 and COM3). I have tried
removing the ports and re-adding them in Device Manager but the problem
still persists. I am absolutely prepared to pay a certified systems
professional to diagnose and fix this, but with ultra-specialized radio gear
I doubt they'd be able to figure it out either. Any suggestions? I'm
basically QRT until I can fix this.

 


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Regards,
Peter Dougherty, W2IRT

DXCC Card Checker/CQ-WAZ Checkpoint

www.facebook.com/W2IRT