RE: [amsat-bb] Sat Programs to USB Interfacing

["Mike Sanders K0AZ" <k0az@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Yes there is a software driver but windows should recognize the new device
and assign
it a port number.
I am using an earlier Toshiba laptop for my main machine. I have 4 port USB
hubs (WalMart)
stacked up to give me 9 USB ports. Most have USB 2.0 adapter cables to
interface with the
rigs, rotors etc. Works very well. The upside of my older machine is that it
has a serial port
and I have it hooked to a manual port switch that feeds 3 separate
RigBlasters. The old
laptop also has a parallel port to use for driving the rotor interface which
will drive the AZ/EL
rotor 5400B. The other two rotors Yaesu G1000SDX use the Idiom press RS232
interface
and that goes to USB to Serial adapter cables as well and is hooked into the
USB hub octopus.
The USB ports also drive my CD burner and my newer model (USB) printer. The
new printer
frees up the Parallel port for the rotor controller. Very complicated but
windows recognizes
all of this stuff and assigns it all a new comport as it is added. Oh yeah I
have a USB cable
in the hubs for downloading my digital camera too. What a mess! SATPC can
run the rigs and
so can LOGIC 7 using the same cable just not at the same time.
Good Luck es 73

K0AZ  Mike Sanders
18169 Highway 174
MT Vernon, Missouri 65712-9171
k0az@k0az.com <mailto:k0az@k0az.com>



-----Original Message-----
From: owner-AMSAT-BB@amsat.org [mailto:owner-AMSAT-BB@amsat.org]On
Behalf Of Keith O'Brien
Sent: Thursday, April 06, 2006 9:22 AM
To: amsat-bb@amsat.org
Subject: [amsat-bb] Sat Programs to USB Interfacing


In the past I have been using an old P2 400MHz computer for all my satellite
business. SatPC and Instant Track for Ft-847 doppler control. The Rigblaster
for radio interfacing for the digital modes on the birds. Like AGW Packet
Engine and PSK31 for use on the ISS and PCSat's.

Well, after many years of faithful service it's about time for a new
machine. But the problem I face, with no experience, is the fact that the
new one computer will only have USB ports and no RS232 ports. So I ask if
there are any pitfalls or issues I should be aware of when ordering a USB to
RS232 adapter cable.

The first question that comes to mind is how do you select which USB ports
becomes which RS232 port number. All of my present sat programs require I
pick a Comm Port number to interface with the radio. Is there a software
driver included with these adapter cables that has to be loaded?  No mention
of any is made in these adapter ads.

http://sewelldirect.com/USBtoDualDB9SerialPort.asp

http://www.ebusinesscables.com/usb_serial_cable.htm


For those of you that have been down this road in the past and can shed some
light on it, I would appreciate hearing from directly to guide me in this.

Thanks... Keith N4ZQ/2
n4zq at hotmail.com
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