[ICOM] Help with ICOM and Visual Basic for the CI-V control system

[John Hagle]

I am having some difficulties writing software that will reliably 
address the CI-V system to control several Icom rigs I use in the shack.

I am using the Icom CT-17 interface on com1, and my operating system is 
Windows 2000 professional. The language I am programming with is Visual 
Basic 6.0.

I have been successful in writing software to read the operating 
frequency and mode, as well as to set the frequency and mode on my Icom 
735, Icom 275 and Icom R7000. Either individually or together.

When I try to combine both computer operations at the same time I seem 
to be getting conflicts on the data bus. I watch the flow of characters 
and see unpredictable results.

I do not fully understand the MsComm control and its methods and do not 
know how to clear the datalines prior to doing read and write 
operations. I also do not understand how to use software to read the 
status of the bus within my procedures.

Any help and direction will be appreciated.

thanks in advance

de N2JH
John

first licensed in 1961 as WA2SXH and later AA2GV