[ICOM] Computer Control Interface

[AD5VJ Bob]

Hello All,

Well I tried everything that made sense and I could not
get the MFJ-1279 to do FSK although it will do everything
else.

I could see, after taking the top cover off of the MFJ,
that the MFJ  was in fact sending data over the TXD line
from the computer with RTS and DTR both keyed down solid
for PTT. 

So I put in the jumper that should send the data to the
"CW Output" of the MFJ-1279 and made a cable for the ACC 1
jack on the back of the rig (connecting the center pin to
pin 1 (RTTY keying) and the outer shell to pin 5 (ground).

But did not get FSK data to come out of the rig when in
the RTTY mode, instead all I got was a steady keydown
state no matter what I did with the jumper configuration.

So then I changed over to a BUXCOMM RASCAL MV5RY which
also does everything (including FSK) just fine  -  except
that BUXCOMM, in their infinite wisdom, did not include in
the design a way to connect to the "Key" jack on the back
of the rig in order to key cw.

After using various configurations of the two, I have
found a temporary way to do it all by using both units,
but that takes up two ports (waste of resources).

The MFJ-1279 on port 1 for keying the CW jack and the
BUXCOMM RASCAL MV5RY on port 2 for doing all the rest of
the sound modes as well as FSK. It works fine when the rig
is in USB-D or RTTY. No problem. It just wont key the CW
"Key" jack because there is not provision for it in the
design.

Now what I am trying to do is (modify the BUXCOMM design)
to figure a way to make a "Key" connection for the Buxcomm
and connect it to the "Key" jack at the back of the rig.

Then I think I can take the MFJ-1279 completely off of the
bench and the Buxcomm will then do it all.

At least that is the plan.

Has anyone ever made a BUXCOMM RASCAL MV5RY key the "CW
Key" jack on the back of the rig?

Is it just a simple matter of soldering in a line to the
serial 9 pin connector going to the Buxcomm or do I have
the make a driver circuit for it.

Also not sure which line to use for CW keying on the "Key"
jack on the back of the rig (RTS, DTR, TXD)

The Buxcomm serial cable has only three lines connected to
the buxcomm circuit board from the computer:
clear insulation (goes to pin 5 "Ground")
brown insulation (goes to pin 3 "TXD")
green insulation (goes to pin 7 "RTS").

I have found some simple circuits (common transistors)
that I think will work for driving the keying circuit (if
that is necessary)

If not, then it's just a matter of connecting the correct
pin to the "Key" jack. But which one?

Again:
Has anyone ever made a BUXCOMM RASCAL MV5RY key the "CW
Key" jack on the back of the rig?

  73 fer nw,
Bob AD5VJ

10X# 37210, FP#-1141, SMIRK#-5177
http://www.n5iet.com/
Code may be taking a back seat for now,
but the pioneering spirit that put the code
there in the first place is out front of it all.




> -----Original Message-----
> From: icom-bounces at mailman.qth.net 
> [mailto:icom-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Adam
Farson
> Sent: Sunday, December 25, 2005 8:26 PM
> To: 'ICOM Reflector'
> Subject: RE: [ICOM] Computer Control Interface
> 
> 
> Hi Bob,
> 
> The USB-D mode mutes the MIC socket. Baseband has to be
fed 
> to the radio via ACC(1). It also disables compression,
and 
> allows the selection of filters with 500 Hz or narrower
BW, 
> and a shape factor appropriate to narrow-band data modes
(BPF 
> Indicator on.)
> 
> http://www.qsl.net/ab4oj/icom/ic756pro_notes.html#BPF
> 
> Cheers for now, 73,
> Adam VA7OJ/AB4OJ
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: icom-bounces at mailman.qth.net 
> [mailto:icom-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of AD5VJ
Bob
> Sent: 25 December 2005 17:49
> To: 'ICOM Reflector'
> Subject: RE: [ICOM] Computer Control Interface
> 
> OK I tried it and it didn't work.
> 
> What is the USB-D mode? Can it only be used through the
ACC 1 port?
> 
> Not happy the decision to give up on FSK and work only 
> soundcard, I have now tried my BUXCOMM RASCAL which
works 
> great with the FSK, it is just fine.
> 
> However I cant seem to get it to work correctly with the

> soundcard modes such as PSK.
> 
> What is the USB-D mode? The manual says virtually
nothing 
> about it except that it exists, how to get to it and
that 
> when in USB-D mode it mutes the microphone.
> 
> So can I assume since it mutes the mic that I need to
use the 
> ACC 1 instead of the mic input that I use with the
MFJ-1279?
> 
> 
> 
>   73 fer nw,
> Bob AD5VJ
> 
> 
> 
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