[WT-support] OmniRig & CW keying

[Bob Wilson, N6TV]

There should be no need to struggle with COM interfaces of the IC-9700.
Just install the driver well before you connect the USB cable.

Everything you need to know, including how to recover from connection
problems, is covered in my presentation (https://bit.ly/USBserial2021).  If
you can't figure something out, install TeamViewer and I'll help you
remotely.

Note that if you move the rig's USB cable to a different USB port, it may
end up on a different internal "USB hub", so it will be assigned new COM
port numbers.

For simultaneous rig control and DTR/RTS keying of the IC-7300 when using
OmniRig, the most economical solution is to buy an FTDI to CI-V cable
(CT-17 equivalent), use that new connection for rig control via the REMOTE
(CI-V) jack, and use the ONE virtual serial port provided by the IC-7300
USB connector for CW and PTT keying via DTR and RTS, and sound card.

For the KX3, I'd recommend my Serial Box USB which provides the CW and PTT
keying circuits, plus a KXUSB for rig control, or use an S-BOX-USB-2 which
provides two independent serial ports, one for rig control, one for DTR/RTS
keying, so no need for the KXUSB cable.

https://www.kkn.net/~n6tv/S-BOX/Features.html#KeyingExampleKX3  (shows one
port being used for both, but there are many other configurations
available).

73,
Bob, N6TV
https://bit.ly/S-BOX


On Tue, May 4, 2021 at 8:44 AM dl2alf <dl2alf at arcor.de> wrote:

> Hi Bob,
>
>
>
> Thank you for your quick response (scripts also arrived meanwhile, tnx).
> I’ll go and check them asap.
>
> I remember that I’ve struggled quite a while with the COM interfaces of
> the IC-9700 to get it working in general but we will see.
>
>
>
> I forgot to mention that I’m facing similar issues with OmniRig & IC-7300
> + Elecraft KX-3 in our contest setup…
>
>
>
> 73 de Frank, DL2ALF
>
>
>
>
>
> *Von:* support-bounces at win-test.com [mailto:support-bounces at win-test.com] *Im
> Auftrag von *Bob Wilson, N6TV
> *Gesendet:* Dienstag, 4. Mai 2021 07:13
> *An:* Win-Test Reflector
> *Betreff:* Re: [WT-support] OmniRig & CW keying
>
>
>
> Frank,
>
>
>
> There's a much easier solution.
>
>
>
> The IC-9700 defines *two* virtual serial ports.  Let's say they are
> assigned to COM5 (A) and COM6 (B).  You can find out which is A and which
> is B by looking at the Windows Device Manager, Ports, COM5, Properties,
> Details, Device Instance Path.  The last letter indicates which is COM A
> (rig control) and which is COM B (can be used for CW / PTT via DTR and
> RTS).  For screenshots see my recently updated presentation:
> https://bit.ly/USBserial2021 .
>
>
>
> Assign COM5 to OmniRig Rig 1, Radio:  IC-9700.
>
>
>
> In Win-Test set *Radio 1* type to *OmniRig*.
>
> Do not select *COM5*.
>
> Set *COM6* to "Other Interface" in Win-Test, with *DTR=CW*, *RTS=PTT*
>
>
>
> In the IC-9700 menu:
>
>
>
> SET > Connectors > *USB Send/Keying*
>
> Set *USB SEND* to *USB(B) RTS*
>
> Set USB *Keying(CW)* to *USB (B) DTR*
>
>
>
> Now OmniRig uses COM5 for rig control and Win-Test uses COM6 for CW and
> PTT with DTR and RTS keying.  Connect paddle into radio for hand sending.
> I've just updated my IcomScripts to support the IC-9700 scope and other
> controls.  Still testing.  Will send you off list.
>
>
>
> 73,
>
> Bob, N6TV
>
>
>
>
>
> On Mon, May 3, 2021 at 9:56 PM dl2alf <dl2alf at arcor.de> wrote:
>
> Hi all,
>
>
>
> after running the May VHF contest here with new setup I am facing some new
> problems.
>
> My aimed setup is as follows:
>
>
>
> -          IC-9700
>
> -          CAT via OmniRig (mandatory due to multiple access from
> different applications to rig needed)
>
> -          Win-Test V4.30
>
>
>
> The only significant difference to previous setup is the connection via
> OmniRig instead of a plain serial connection.
>
> Everything went well until I tried to use the CW keyer from Win-Test
> (Traditionally, CW keying was done via RTS/DTR status lines).
>
> This function completely fails, so that I had to switch back to
> traditional setup.
>
> Meanwhile, I did some investigations on this topic.
>
>
>
> I see two ways to get CW keying via OmniRig working:
>
>
>
> #1: Use OmniRig status lines similar to serial connection
>
> - feature is available at the OmniRig ActiveX interface
> - is not supported by Win-Test so far
> - may cause timing problems
>
> #2: Use CW send text command supported by ICOM
>
> - possible to send any text via CI-V
> - I modified the great IcomScripts collection by Bob, N6TV, to get this
> working (add IC-9700 as device, add some code for escape handling)
>
> I’d prefer #2 BUT:
>
>
>
> If I define a new F1 command script for CQ, I was not able to access the
> standard CW messages defined as $F1 .. $F8 so I must hardcode a new CQ text
> in the script.
>
> Not the best choice. Furthermore, I was not able to send it repeatedly as
> a CQ loop does.
>
>
>
> The best solution I came up with so far is to redefine CW standard texts
> into “#ICOMPLAY(“…CQ…CQ… DE…”) which runs the ICOM send text script with
> the original text message.
>
> Works but is also not the best choice as the defines seem to be stored
> contest-specific in the *.wt4 files.
>
>
>
> Any ideas?
>
>
>
> 73 de Frank, DL2ALF
>
>
>
>
>
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