[amsat-bb] Re: Sat Tracking and SatPC32 w/ICOM rig - CT-17 hardwaremodneeded

[Erich Eichmann]

Hi Bill,
my remark in the last line of the patch description relates to satellite 
operation with a single semi duplex radio, i.e. the IC-706MKIIG.

Of course, the software automatically corrects the uplink and downlink 
frequencies for Doppler correction and for QSY around the passband of SSB 
sats you can use the radio's VFO knob also with these radios.

The remark refers only to manual frequency "corrections" with SSB sats. With 
satellite radios, i.e. the IC-910H, you can fine tune your uplink frequency 
with the "Upl.Calibr." controls or the +/- keys for best audio pitch of your 
own signal and save the correction in Doppler.SQF for future program starts. 
That doesn't work with semi duplex radios, however, since you can't hear 
your downlink signal. But you can assume that a QSO partner will tune his 
radio for best audio pitch of your signal. That will possibly change also 
his uplink frequency. Then you should leave your uplink frequency unchanged 
and correct your downlink frequency for best audio of his signal via the 
"Downl. Corr." controls or the +/- keys. That's the reason why the +/- keys 
with satellite radios correct the uplink frequency but with semi duplex 
radios correct the downlink freqency.

Recently I had several  SSB QSOs via FO-29 and VO-52 with a single 
IC-706MKIIG. That worked very well.

73s, Erich, DK1TB

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bill Dzurilla" <billdz.geo at yahoo.com>
To: "Erich Eichmann" <erich.eichmann at t-online.de>
Cc: <amsat-bb at amsat.org>
Sent: Monday, April 13, 2009 4:18 AM
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Sat Tracking and SatPC32 w/ICOM rig - CT-17 
hardwaremodneeded


>
> Erich,
>
> Wow, thank you so much for the reply.  This is wonderful news.  I was 
> pulling my hair our trying to figure out an easy way to do the hardware 
> mod, and like an angel you give me a much easier solution.  The patch 
> works fine and I am in business.
>
> One question: In the last line of the patch description on your website, 
> it says: "To correct the downlink frequency during a QSO use the "Downl. 
> Corr." controls in menu CAT or the +/- keys of the numerical pad of the 
> keyboard."  I thought that the software automatically corrected the 
> downlink frequency?  Does this mean we should use the "Downl. Corr." 
> controls or the +/- keys and not the VFO dial on the radio to QSY?
>
> 73, Bill NZ5N
>
>
> --- On Sun, 4/12/09, Erich Eichmann <erich.eichmann at t-online.de> wrote:
>
>> From: Erich Eichmann <erich.eichmann at t-online.de>
>> Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Sat Tracking and SatPC32 w/ICOM rig - CT-17 
>> hardware modneeded
>> To: billdz.geo at yahoo.com
>> Cc: amsat-bb at amsat.org
>> Date: Sunday, April 12, 2009, 5:35 PM
>> Hello Bill,
>> the SatPC32.Exe and SatPC32ISS.Exe files that come with the
>> 12.8 setup file
>> require the hardware handshaking  I have described in the
>> Readme(Icom) text
>> (the "normal" SatPC32 only with the semi duplex
>> radios IC-706MKIIG and
>> IC-7000 when used as single radio for satellite operation,
>> SatPC32ISS with
>> the IC-910H for "inband" operation in
>> non-satellite mode).
>>
>> Meanwhile this hardware handshaking is no longer necessary.
>> Some time ago I
>> have uploaded patch files on my website www.dk1tb.de
>> (English page
>> "Downloads", sect. 5 "Patches"). With
>> the IC-910H and IC-7000 the PTT status
>> is now checked via the software (CAT command hex. 1C. I
>> didn't know that
>> command when I released 12.8. My manual doesn't mention
>> it).
>> The IC-706MKGII doesn't provide such command, but Tony
>> Monteiro, AA2TX,
>> found a solution also for that radio and told me the trick
>> - many thanks to
>> him. So, also this radio does no longer  require the extra
>> line between the
>> radio's
>> ACC jacket and the PC's serial port.
>>
>> On my website I have described how to use the patch files.
>>
>> 73s, Erich, DK1TB
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Bill Dzurilla"
>> <billdz.geo at yahoo.com>
>> To: <amsat-bb at amsat.org>
>> Sent: Sunday, April 12, 2009 9:05 PM
>> Subject: [amsat-bb] Sat Tracking and SatPC32 w/ICOM rig -
>> CT-17 hardware
>> modneeded
>>
>>
>> >
>> > This may be old news to many but perhaps will save a
>> few hours of
>> > frustration for newcomers.
>> >
>> > In my prior post about HRD Sat Tracking slowness with
>> my Windows Vista
>> > computer, I reported there that ST was working very
>> slowly with my Lenovo
>> > desktop running Windows Vista, but that it ran at
>> normal speed with a
>> > laptop running Windows XP. However, the frequencies
>> were not tracking
>> > properly -- the transmit frequency would
>> "stick" as the receive frequency
>> > on my IC-7000.
>> >
>> > It seems there is a hardware cause for this issue.
>> After I gave up trying
>> > to get HRD Sat Tracking to work with the laptop, I
>> downloaded SatPC32,
>> > another program that automatically sets transmit and
>> receive frequency to
>> > account for doppler. The same "sticking"
>> problem occurred with that
>> > program.
>> >
>> > The ReadMe(Icom) in SatPC32 provides what appears to
>> be an explanation for
>> > this issue:
>> > **************************
>> > With ICOM half duplex transceivers (IC-706MKIIG,
>> IC-7000) hardware
>> > handshaking must be installed to suspend computer
>> control while the radio
>> > is transmitting. Frequency changes are theoretically
>> possible while the
>> > radio
>> > is transmitting, but frequency errors will occur,
>> i.e., the frequencies
>> > of VFO A and VFO B will be exchanged.
>> >
>> > Unfortunately there is no way to check the PTT state
>> of the radio via
>> > the CAT software. Therefore hardware handshaking is
>> needed to prevent
>> > writing to the radio while it is transmitting. On the
>> radio side pin 7
>> > of the ACC socket can be used for this purpose. The
>> voltage at this pin
>> > is approximately + 8.0 V while the radio is in RX
>> mode. In TX mode the
>> > voltage at pin 7 drops to 0.
>> >
>> > Pin 7 of the ACC socket must be connected with the CTS
>> pin of the
>> > serial port on the PC side (pin 8 of the 9-pin, pin 5
>> of the 25-pin
>> > RS232 cable connector). I have connected these pins
>> via a diode
>> > and a 5K resistor, see Acc_Com.jpg in this sub folder.
>> >
>> > IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT EVERYONE INSTALLS THIS
>> LINE AT HIS OWN RISK!
>> >
>> > When the radio pulls down the voltage at pin 7 to 0,
>> it signals the PC
>> > not to send data. As soon as the radio is back in RX
>> mode the frequencies
>> > are updated by the program.
>> >
>> > ATTENTION! There must be NO bridge between pins 7 and
>> 8 of the 9-pin
>> > (5 and 4 of the 25-pin) cable connector at the PC
>> side! Otherwise the
>> > voltage at Pin 8 (rsp.Pin 5) and therefore also at Pin
>> 7 of the ACC
>> > socket will be pulled down and the radio will be
>> switched into transmit
>> > mode. The sketches in the Icom sub folder provide this
>> bridge. If it is
>> > built in, please, remove it.
>> >
>> > The 25-pin Connector at the ICOM CT-17 also provides a
>> bridge between
>> > pins 4 and 5 and other pins. The CTS pin of the cable
>> connector at the
>> > PC side must be connected only to Pin 7 of the ACC
>> socket.
>> > *************************
>> > Thus, as I appreciate this, a standard ICOM CT-17 CAT
>> cable will not work
>> > properly with SatPC32, and presumably not with HRD Sat
>> Tracking either.
>> >
>> > Can anyone confirm this? Does anyone sell modified
>> CT-17 cables that will
>> > do the job?
>> >
>> > 73, Bill NZ5N
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
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>> those of the author.
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>> >
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
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