[Flexradio] Flex-1500 w/other software

[Hulen Smith]

I'm at a loss as to how to connect (CAT control w/third party software) with
my 1500 since it has no serial port. I'm familiar with vCOM & VAC as I use
it with my K3/PWSDR-IF. I use it also with LP-Bridge and HRD with my
Flex-1000. These radios have serial ports. Once I connect to them I can use
VCOM or similar virtual com port program to inter-connect with everything. I
can't figure out how to get to first base with the 1500 since it is USB.
All of the third party software looks for comm ports for these connections.

I've "written" (Visual Basic) programs to control my K3, TS-2000 and
OrionII. No issue connecting to these radios with my software. The 1500 is
an exception, yet I read and see where others are doing this. I must be in a
unique position of NOT being able to see the forest for all the trees in the
way. Can someone explain CAT control differences between radios with comm
ports versus those that are controlled via USB/IEEE ? or direct me to a file
somewhere?

Please don't suggest the 1500 manual. I believe much of it is a reprint from
earlier manuals as it doesn't suggest anything unique for the 1500 with
regard to CAT. Maybe therein are all those trees standing in the way. ;)

I'm having to use VAC now to redirect my audio to USB phones since the
"Phones" output on the 1500 is defective. I have a RA already to return it
to Flex for repair. This is another issue that I hope hasn't much or
anything to do with CAT control and third party software.

Thanks much
Hulen
K5HCS

[Ray - K9DUR]

Hulen,

Remember, the radio is actually the software. All the hardware does is act
as an RF modem.

PowerSDR (the REAL radio) does utilize serial ports. Open the Setup form &
click on the "CAT Control" tab. There you can select the serial port to use
for CAT control & a separate port (if desired) for PTT control.

The manual does not "suggest anything unique for the 1500 with regard to
CAT" because PowerSDR handles CAT the same way regardless of the type of
radio. You are correct in that much of the FLEX-1500 manual is copied from
earlier manuals. Again, that is because PowerSDR is used for all of the
radios, & each manual repeats what is common. It only goes into specifics
for each type of radio where hardware differences demand it.

73, Ray, K9DUR
http://k9dur.info

[Ray - K9DUR]

Hulen,

Sorry, I accidentally hit Send" before I was ready. To continue on...

Go to the Knowledge Base article entitled "How to Configure CAT to
Communicate with Third-Party Programs - Introduction"
(http://kc.flexradio.com/KnowledgebaseArticle50345.aspx) for an explanation
of how to use CAT to allow PowerSDR to talk to 3rd party software, such as a
logging program.

73, Ray, K9DUR
http://k9dur.info

[Brian Lloyd]

Post by Hulen Smith
I'm at a loss as to how to connect (CAT control w/third party software) with
my 1500 since it has no serial port. I'm familiar with vCOM & VAC as I use
it with my K3/PWSDR-IF. I use it also with LP-Bridge and HRD with my
Flex-1000. These radios have serial ports. Once I connect to them I can use
VCOM or similar virtual com port program to inter-connect with everything. I
can't figure out how to get to first base with the 1500 since it is USB.
All of the third party software looks for comm ports for these connections.

There is no difference between the 1500 and the 3000 and 5000. The
connection between the RF hardware and PowerSDR is not at issue because the
"radio" is really PowerSDR. It is PowerSDR that is controlling your other
programs, not the physical hardware.

I don't know what programs you want to use with PowerSDR but they all work
the same way regardless of RF hardware. The big question is whether you want
to control more than one program from PowerSDR, e.g. digital mode program
and a logging program, or you want PowerSDR to be controlled by more than
one program. In that case you need to learn about DDutil.

I recommend you read the section in the FlexRadioWiki (
http://FlexRadioWiki.com) on Overview of the PowerSDR system with supporting
and external programs<http://abrohamnealsw.on-rev.com/index.php?OverviewSDRsys>
. Follow that with the sections on Virtual Serial Port
Programs<http://abrohamnealsw.on-rev.com/index.php?VspPrograms>
and VAC <http://abrohamnealsw.on-rev.com/index.php?VAC>.

I think that will answer a lot of questions for you.

[EB4APL]

Hulen,

Use the serial ports (real or virtual) of your computer. The radio is
the computer, your 1500 is "only" the front end.
You can select the port and other details in the setup/CAT tab of the
program.

73 de Ignacio EB4APL

Post by Hulen Smith
I'm at a loss as to how to connect (CAT control w/third party software) with
my 1500 since it has no serial port. I'm familiar with vCOM& VAC as I use
it with my K3/PWSDR-IF. I use it also with LP-Bridge and HRD with my
Flex-1000. These radios have serial ports. Once I connect to them I can use
VCOM or similar virtual com port program to inter-connect with everything. I
can't figure out how to get to first base with the 1500 since it is USB.
All of the third party software looks for comm ports for these connections.
I've "written" (Visual Basic) programs to control my K3, TS-2000 and
OrionII. No issue connecting to these radios with my software. The 1500 is
an exception, yet I read and see where others are doing this. I must be in a
unique position of NOT being able to see the forest for all the trees in the
way. Can someone explain CAT control differences between radios with comm
ports versus those that are controlled via USB/IEEE ? or direct me to a file
somewhere?
Please don't suggest the 1500 manual. I believe much of it is a reprint from
earlier manuals as it doesn't suggest anything unique for the 1500 with
regard to CAT. Maybe therein are all those trees standing in the way. ;)
I'm having to use VAC now to redirect my audio to USB phones since the
"Phones" output on the 1500 is defective. I have a RA already to return it
to Flex for repair. This is another issue that I hope hasn't much or
anything to do with CAT control and third party software.
Thanks much
Hulen
K5HCS
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FlexRadio Systems Mailing List
FlexRadio at flex-radio.biz
http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz
Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/
Knowledge Base: http://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/

[Hulen Smith]

Ok the trick was to assign the Kenwood TS-2000 in HRD rather than Flex SDR. I had assumed the TS-2000 was for only PowerSDR since HRD had Flex as a choice. ASS U ME L



Now how can I configure my homebrew soft to work? As if it?s talking to a Kenwood I presume using the same virtual port as had been configured for HRD? That?s next.



Thanks again



Hulen

K5HCS







From: dan edwards [mailto:w5xz at att.net]
Sent: Monday, December 20, 2010 12:21 PM
To: Hulen Smith
Subject: RE: [Flexradio] Flex-1500 w/other software




hulen:



i'm pretty fuzzy on the conceptual parts myself. i just blindly follow instructions, and

it seems to work ! ha !



nice part is NO SOLDERING...not that i'm afraid to solder, but still..yup the CAT

thing has to be enabled to talk to one end of the virtual pair. and the software

talks to the other end. ..( i think )



just this weekend, i got N1MM talking to my flex. no cables, or switching transistors

required...already had dxLab working...keys the rig, ptt, and reads frequ / mode...

sweeet..



73, w5xz, dan



--- On Mon, 12/20/10, Hulen Smith <clay1952 at cmaaccess.com> wrote:


From: Hulen Smith <clay1952 at cmaaccess.com>
Subject: RE: [Flexradio] Flex-1500 w/other software
To: "'dan edwards'" <w5xz at att.net>
Date: Monday, December 20, 2010, 6:07 PM

Hi Dan,



I?m using N8VB virtual port program. It works well. I?m just having a conceptual problem but with the feedback I?m getting, I think I?ll get this figured out. It seems if I?m understanding this feedback then I should have the CAT on the SDR configured for a virtual port that?s paired with another virtual port rather than a hardware port connected to at least one program and using that program to connect to virtually. Now I?ve confused myself. I hate it when I do that J



Actually what I?m trying to do is to talk to it using my own program that I wrote. I can configure any com. port I want. SO this is to be paired with SDR CAT port? If so I?m not having any luck with that. Not even with HRD using the same port as my homebrew software. I?ll NOT give up. Persistence wins every time.



Thanks to all that have responded.



Hulen

K5HCS





From: dan edwards [mailto:w5xz at att.net]
Sent: Monday, December 20, 2010 9:41 AM
To: Hulen Smith
Subject: Re: [Flexradio] Flex-1500 w/other software




hulen



you cant use k5fr's virtual serial ports ? works with my F3k, anyway...



73, w5xz, dan



--- On Mon, 12/20/10, Hulen Smith <clay1952 at cmaaccess.com> wrote:


From: Hulen Smith <clay1952 at cmaaccess.com>
Subject: [Flexradio] Flex-1500 w/other software
To: flexradio at flex-radio.biz
Date: Monday, December 20, 2010, 3:37 PM

I'm at a loss as to how to connect (CAT control w/third party software) with
my 1500 since it has no serial port. I'm familiar with vCOM & VAC as I use
it with my K3/PWSDR-IF. I use it also with LP-Bridge and HRD with my
Flex-1000. These radios have serial ports. Once I connect to them I can use
VCOM or similar virtual com port program to inter-connect with everything. I
can't figure out how to get to first base with the 1500 since it is USB.
All of the third party software looks for comm ports for these connections.

I've "written" (Visual Basic) programs to control my K3, TS-2000 and
OrionII. No issue connecting to these radios with my software. The 1500 is
an exception, yet I read and see where others are doing this. I must be in a
unique position of NOT being able to see the forest for all the trees in the
way. Can someone explain CAT control differences between radios with comm
ports versus those that are controlled via USB/IEEE ? or direct me to a file
somewhere?

Please don't suggest the 1500 manual. I believe much of it is a reprint from
earlier manuals as it doesn't suggest anything unique for the 1500 with
regard to CAT. Maybe therein are all those trees standing in the way. ;)

I'm having to use VAC now to redirect my audio to USB phones since the
"Phones" output on the 1500 is defective. I have a RA already to return it
to Flex for repair. This is another issue that I hope hasn't much or
anything to do with CAT control and third party software.

Thanks much
Hulen
K5HCS




_______________________________________________
FlexRadio Systems Mailing List
FlexRadio at flex-radio.biz
http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz
Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/
Knowledge Base: http://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/

[Tim Ellison]

As if it?s talking to a Kenwood I presume using the same virtual port as had been configured for HRD?

I believe the answer is yes, because I am not 100% sure what you are doing.

The CAT interface in PowerSDR is "bi-lingual" in that it will receive a Kenwood formatted CAT command and instruct the radio to execute it. The same happens with a PowerSDR formatted CAT command (aka " ZZ commands). If you send PowerSDR a CAT command it understands, it will instruct PowerSDR to do that function, like change bands, set the mode, read the VFO, etc...


-Tim


-----Original Message-----
From: flexradio-bounces at flex-radio.biz [mailto:flexradio-bounces at flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of Hulen Smith
Sent: Monday, December 20, 2010 2:07 PM
To: 'dan edwards'; flexradio at flex-radio.biz
Subject: Re: [Flexradio] Flex-1500 w/other software

Ok the trick was to assign the Kenwood TS-2000 in HRD rather than Flex SDR. I had assumed the TS-2000 was for only PowerSDR since HRD had Flex as a choice. ASS U ME L



Now how can I configure my homebrew soft to work? As if it?s talking to a Kenwood I presume using the same virtual port as had been configured for HRD? That?s next.



Thanks again



Hulen

K5HCS







From: dan edwards [mailto:w5xz at att.net]
Sent: Monday, December 20, 2010 12:21 PM
To: Hulen Smith
Subject: RE: [Flexradio] Flex-1500 w/other software




hulen:



i'm pretty fuzzy on the conceptual parts myself. i just blindly follow instructions, and

it seems to work ! ha !



nice part is NO SOLDERING...not that i'm afraid to solder, but still..yup the CAT

thing has to be enabled to talk to one end of the virtual pair. and the software

talks to the other end. ..( i think )



just this weekend, i got N1MM talking to my flex. no cables, or switching transistors

required...already had dxLab working...keys the rig, ptt, and reads frequ / mode...

sweeet..



73, w5xz, dan



--- On Mon, 12/20/10, Hulen Smith <clay1952 at cmaaccess.com> wrote:


From: Hulen Smith <clay1952 at cmaaccess.com>
Subject: RE: [Flexradio] Flex-1500 w/other software
To: "'dan edwards'" <w5xz at att.net>
Date: Monday, December 20, 2010, 6:07 PM

Hi Dan,



I?m using N8VB virtual port program. It works well. I?m just having a conceptual problem but with the feedback I?m getting, I think I?ll get this figured out. It seems if I?m understanding this feedback then I should have the CAT on the SDR configured for a virtual port that?s paired with another virtual port rather than a hardware port connected to at least one program and using that program to connect to virtually. Now I?ve confused myself. I hate it when I do that J



Actually what I?m trying to do is to talk to it using my own program that I wrote. I can configure any com. port I want. SO this is to be paired with SDR CAT port? If so I?m not having any luck with that. Not even with HRD using the same port as my homebrew software. I?ll NOT give up. Persistence wins every time.



Thanks to all that have responded.



Hulen

K5HCS





From: dan edwards [mailto:w5xz at att.net]
Sent: Monday, December 20, 2010 9:41 AM
To: Hulen Smith
Subject: Re: [Flexradio] Flex-1500 w/other software




hulen



you cant use k5fr's virtual serial ports ? works with my F3k, anyway...



73, w5xz, dan



--- On Mon, 12/20/10, Hulen Smith <clay1952 at cmaaccess.com> wrote:


From: Hulen Smith <clay1952 at cmaaccess.com>
Subject: [Flexradio] Flex-1500 w/other software
To: flexradio at flex-radio.biz
Date: Monday, December 20, 2010, 3:37 PM

I'm at a loss as to how to connect (CAT control w/third party software) with my 1500 since it has no serial port. I'm familiar with vCOM & VAC as I use it with my K3/PWSDR-IF. I use it also with LP-Bridge and HRD with my Flex-1000. These radios have serial ports. Once I connect to them I can use VCOM or similar virtual com port program to inter-connect with everything. I can't figure out how to get to first base with the 1500 since it is USB.
All of the third party software looks for comm ports for these connections.

I've "written" (Visual Basic) programs to control my K3, TS-2000 and OrionII. No issue connecting to these radios with my software. The 1500 is an exception, yet I read and see where others are doing this. I must be in a unique position of NOT being able to see the forest for all the trees in the way. Can someone explain CAT control differences between radios with comm ports versus those that are controlled via USB/IEEE ? or direct me to a file somewhere?

Please don't suggest the 1500 manual. I believe much of it is a reprint from earlier manuals as it doesn't suggest anything unique for the 1500 with
regard to CAT. Maybe therein are all those trees standing in the way. ;)

I'm having to use VAC now to redirect my audio to USB phones since the "Phones" output on the 1500 is defective. I have a RA already to return it to Flex for repair. This is another issue that I hope hasn't much or anything to do with CAT control and third party software.

Thanks much
Hulen
K5HCS




_______________________________________________
FlexRadio Systems Mailing List
FlexRadio at flex-radio.biz
http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz
Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/
Knowledge Base: http://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/





_______________________________________________
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http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz
Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/
Knowledge Base: http://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/