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On 12/27/2009 2:50 PM, William McKeehan wrote:
<blockquote cite="mid:88a58036bd9bfb2508c6b9748ac522ac.squirrel@mckeehan.homeip.net" type="cite">
<pre wrap="">I have an IOGear USB-to-Serial adapter (GUC232A) that I am using with my
Windows XP laptop. When using it with AGWPE as part of a soundcard interface,
AGWPE will lock-up and keep the radio keyed. I have t use Task Manager to kill
AGWPE when this happens.
Has anyone else had this problem? Any pointers on what I may have setup
incorrectly?
</pre>
</blockquote>
<br>
USB-to-serial dongles are notorious for NOT fully emulating a true
serial port. This is especially true in ham applications that use
them in non-standard ways, such as wiggling the handshaking lines to
key a transmitter without using the actual data TXD/RXD lines to
send/receive data. Some of these devices will work with some programs
but not others, -- or -- will work on some versions of Windows but not
others. You may have to experiment with several makes/models of
USB<-->serial dongles before finding one that works reliably with
your particular program or version of Windows. <br>
<br>
In my experience, they are VERY sensitive to the revision level of
drivers. Try to identify what chipset this device is based on, and
then go the the CHIPSET vender's website (not IO Gear's) for the latest
driver. <br>
<br>
>From comments on various ham mailing lists, the devices based on the
Prolific or FDTI chip sets seem to be least problematic. <br>
<br>
<hr width="100%" size="2"><br>
<br>
Of course, the simplest way around this issue is to use a sound card
interface that DOES NOT USE a serial port for PTT keying. My homebrew
version at:<br>
<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="http://wa8lmf.net/ham/tonekeyer.htm"><http://wa8lmf.net/ham/tonekeyer.htm></a> <br>
<br>
or the TigerTronics "Signalink USB" <br>
<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="http://tigertronics.com"><http://tigertronics.com></a><br>
<br>
are two possibilities. <br>
<br>
My interface is essentially an external VOX system that keys the radio
whenever it hears tones from the computer soundcard. The
TigerTronics is actually an entire second sound system with built-in
interface, in a box at the end of a USB cable. When plugged in, it
"automagically" shows up in WinXP as a "Generic USB Sound System", with
no further drivers required. <br>
<br>
The advantage of this is that OTHER Windows activities that make sound
(boot up music, error messages, streaming media, etc) continue to come
out your original sound system, and don't go out over the air. Further,
you can set the TX and RX audio levels once on the Signalink second
sound system, and NOT have them messed up/reset by other sound-using
programs on the computer. <br>
<br>
<br>
<hr width="100%" size="2"><br>
--<br>
<br>
Stephen H. Smith wa8lmf (at) aol.com <br>
EchoLink Node: WA8LMF or 14400 [Think bottom of the 2M band]<br>
Skype: WA8LMF<br>
Home Page: <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://wa8lmf.net">http://wa8lmf.net</a><br>
<br>
NEW! Universal HF/VHF/UHF Antenna Mounting System<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://wa8lmf.net/mobile/UniversalAntMountSystem.htm">http://wa8lmf.net/mobile/UniversalAntMountSystem.htm</a><br>
<br>
"APRS 101" Explanation of APRS Path Selection & Digipeating <br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://wa8lmf.net/DigiPaths">http://wa8lmf.net/DigiPaths</a> <br>
<br>
Updated "Rev H" APRS <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://wa8lmf.net/aprs">http://wa8lmf.net/aprs</a><br>
Symbols Set for UI-View, <br>
UIpoint and APRSplus:<br>
<br>
<br>
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