> Hey Mark, > > Thanks for the reply. > > It was relatively straightforward getting the Lucent RFTG software to work. > No special cable or PCMCIA card was needed. Here’s what I’ve learned in the > few days that I’ve had my modules. > > First, the RFTG software runs under Windows XP with no problem. I gave up on > trying with Windows 10 and compatibility modes. I downloaded virtualbox > (free) which lets me run a Windows XP virtual machine on Windows 10. (you’ll > still need to have an XP install disk) I gave the VM just enough memory and > disk space for it to run RFTG so it runs without wasting a lot of resources > on the host, Windows 10 pc. > > For the physical interface I use standard, cheap RS-232 to USB serial > adapters. Virtualbox allows you to select which USB devices get passed > through from the host to the XP VM so I simply pass the serial port usb > device through to the VM and run the USB serial port drivers in the XP VM. > > Now that I have a working XP PC with a serial port the rest is easy. The > RS-232 port can be connected to the RS-422/485 port with a simple 3 wire > connection, as follows. On the RS-232 interface, connect pins 2,3 and 5 to > pins 9,8, and 7 (in that order) of the RS-422 port on the RFTGm-II-XO module. > This is the port on the far right end of the XO module that is labeled > RS-422/1 PPS. As soon as I made this connection, I was able to see serial > data flowing from the module at 9600N81 using a terminal program. After > running RFTG.exe and selecting the right serial port, RFTG came to life > showing the GPS status, etc. By moving the RS-232 interface over to the > RS-422 port on the Rb module, (same pin configuration) you can monitor the > status of the Rb module instead. > > The RFTG software is designed to use 2 serial ports, 1 for the XO and 1 for > the Rb. I think this is where the Lucent proprietary “Y” cable comes into > play. Although I haven’t proven this yet, I believe that the 2 RS-422 > connections (1 from the XO and 1 from the Rb) are simply combined in the > module on the upper left side of the frame. (above the Rb module, connectors > labeled J7 through J11) I’m guessing that the Lucent “Y” cable plugs into > J7, J8 or J9 and splits the “combined” RS-422 signals back into 2 separate > RS-422 ports. I have some USB to RS-422 ports (although I could just use > RS-232 ports) and some DB-15 connectors on order. As soon as I prove this > to be the case, I’ll post the cable schematic here. Once I have this working > it will allow for monitoring and control of both the XO and the Rb > simultaneously using RFTG.exe. (right now, I can only look at either one at a > time) > > If I can help you in any way with getting this set up for Lady Heather please > let me know. I’m not a programmer, but will be glad to capture data, test, > or assist in any way I can. > > Thanks, > > Rodger
> On May 23, 2017, at 1:43 PM, Mark Sims <[email protected]> wrote: > > I also got one in. Unfortunately it talks some proprietary, undocumented > command set. I was hoping to be able to sniff what the Lucent code is doing > and eventually add support to Lady Heather. > > How did you connect up to the device to use the Lucent code? The > documentation talks about using some PCMCIA RS-485 card and seems to use a > "Y" cable that has a toggle switch that switches between the two boxes... > that cable is undocumented. > > _______________________________________________ > time-nuts mailing list -- [email protected] > To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts > and follow the instructions there. _______________________________________________ time-nuts mailing list -- [email protected] To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there.
