[amsat-bb] FT-847 CAT

[Jeff Griffin]

I had this same problem with an 847 that I had loaned out to another ham.
This person somehow pushed in one of the pins in the RS-232 DB9 connector
just enough that it would sometime's work. I was taking the 847 apart to
prepare to replace the 232 chip when I noticed the pushed in pin. I simply
pushed the pin back out and problem went away. I hope your problem
resolution is as simple...

73 Jeff kb2m


-----Original Message-----
From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org] On Behalf Of Jeff
Breitner
Sent: Saturday, June 11, 2016 3:15 PM
To: amsat-bb at amsat.org
Subject: [amsat-bb] FT-847 CAT


I have been troubleshooting CAT control problems of my 847 ahead of Field
Day, and the oddest situation has come to light and wondered if anyone has
seen this situation.

I used to run Gpredict on my Mac, and on a Linux netbook with the 847, and
both worked fine.  In testing the setup in portable operation over Memorial
Day weekend (on one of the XA birds), CAT control stopped working with the
Netbook.  Flatly refused to work.  Before I started transmitting, however it
had been running all day prior to moving to the portable setup.

I moved to the Mac, and it too wasn't working.  Puzzled, I tried a reset of
the CPU in the radio.  Nothing changed.  Tried a different Prolific and FTDI
USB adapter.  Nothing.

The shack computer, a desktop, works fine both Linux and Ham Radio Deluxe
under Windows 10, with all three USB adapters.  I also dragged 
out an ancient Sony laptop with a real RS-232 port.  That works.    I 
made some test scripts on the desktop Linux machine to initiate CAT
commands, they worked at all possible port speeds.  Tried the scripts on the
netbook and Mac, they do not work.  Hamlib reports a communication error.

I also have a 5 year old i5 Windows machine, never ran HRD and that does not
work either.

I am not sure if the radio is on its way out, or if there is just some
strange incompatibility between the USB serial adapters, but the desktop box
works very reliably where the others do not.  And the last thing I want to
do is drag that beast out to FD.

Any input welcome.
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