I agree. The 'tricks' hams have been used to, like DTR CW keying, won't be an option. I have given up on DTR CW and am using the W5XD Multi Keyer which you support and which generates flawless CW as well as providing additional features.
My only point is that USB is possibly going to replace serial ports in the future, and the solution for hams is the USB to serial converter that you mention. With the operating system taking care of the device issues. USB does have additional promise for hams..for example D/A A/D converters (just a few dollars for the IC) could be built into future radios at reasonable cost and interfaced with USB. RTTY, PSK31, whatever you can dream up could be done with USB 2.0, to say nothing of full radio control. Time will tell! So you are on the right track! Ron N5IN ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jack" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Ron Stordahl" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "Bill Nowicki [WA4OYH]" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, December 01, 2002 2:46 PM Subject: Re: [DXBase] Rig Control via USB Port > Ron, > > We haven't explorered the internals of USB in too much detail, but as we > understand the USB standard, toggling leads like you can with a serial port > is not possible and the Window's drivers for USB ports do not allow it. So, > if our "limited" exploration is correct, using a USB port direct will not be > an option for communicating with things like keying CW through a > transistor/diode circuit, toggling PTT, etc.... unless somebody invents > drivers to allow lead access to a USB port. But then that opens up another > can of worms... hihi.... since the design of operating systems is becoming > more and more rigid about external control of communications ports in non > standard ways. > > Time will tell. > > Regards > Jack > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Ron Stordahl" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: "Bill Nowicki [WA4OYH]" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; > <[email protected]> > Sent: Sunday, December 01, 2002 3:32 PM > Subject: Re: [DXBase] Rig Control via USB Port > > > > Here are some prices (from Byterunner) > > > > 2 port PCI serial card: $46.00 > > 4 port PCI serial card: $99.00 > > 8 port PCI serial card: $189.00 > > > > The USB alternative: > > > > 1 USB to 1 Serial: $20.00 > > 1 USB to 2 Serial: $38.00 > > 1 USB to 4 Serial: $110.00 > > > > So, although there is no USB to 8 serial device available that I am aware > > of, the prices via the USB route are about the same as PCI cards. > > > > While the Byterunner PCI cards do support DTR CW generation and Baudot > code > > generation (with DTR push to talk), I would need some evidence that the > USB > > alternative would support those very limited (to hams) applications. > > > > BUT...USB is the future path of PC's. Very compact PC's are being sold > with > > no user accessible slots at all. > > > > Courtny..when you say DXBase does not support a 'direct USB interface' I > am > > guessing that you are talking about support for non standard things like > > controlling individual lines (DTR for example). Won't the operating > system > > allow these converters to look like conventional COM ports for typical > > communications use? And as such wouldn't these USB to RS232 devices work > > for radio frequency control, rotor control, packet tnc, etc. > > > > Ron N5IN > > > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Bill Nowicki [WA4OYH]" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > To: <[email protected]> > > Sent: Sunday, December 01, 2002 1:37 PM > > Subject: Re: [DXBase] Rig Control via USB Port > > > > > > > Courtney, > > > I must disagree with the statement that a USB to Serial HUB is a waste > of > > > computing power. I have need for more than 4 serial ports and to > purchase > > > serial port expander cards such as Rocketport is expensive and requires > > > computing power to operate. The USB to serial HUB is a less expensive > > > option. The serial interface in Windows does not seem to have a standard > > > that every manufacture or software developer will follow. My hope is > that > > > DXBase will support USB in the future and get away from the resource > > > problems that hamper standard serial ports. > > > > > > Bill WA4OYH > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > From: "Jack" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[email protected]> > > > Sent: Sunday, December 01, 2002 1:05 PM > > > Subject: Re: [DXBase] Rig Control via USB Port > > > > > > > > > > Tom, > > > > > > > > Use a USB to Serial hub and get multiple serial ports from one USB > port. > > > > DXbase does not support a direct USB interface. ( such a waste of > > > computer > > > > resources to do so ). > > > > > > > > Regards, > > > > Courtney > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > > From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > > To: <[email protected]> > > > > Sent: Sunday, December 01, 2002 12:50 PM > > > > Subject: [DXBase] Rig Control via USB Port > > > > > > > > > > > > > Is it possible to control a 756PROII via the USB ports? Thank you. > > > > > > > > > > Tom Neill K4XG > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > > > DXBase Reflector - Please visit us on the web at www.dxbase.com > > > > > - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > > > > > To UNSUBSCRIBE please visit: > > > > > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/dxbase > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > > DXBase Reflector - Please visit us on the web at www.dxbase.com > > > > - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > > > > To UNSUBSCRIBE please visit: > > > > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/dxbase > > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > DXBase Reflector - Please visit us on the web at www.dxbase.com > > > - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > > > To UNSUBSCRIBE please visit: > > > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/dxbase > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > DXBase Reflector - Please visit us on the web at www.dxbase.com > > - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > > To UNSUBSCRIBE please visit: > > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/dxbase > >
