Can't connect

[WB0WIE]

Trying to use my icom 718 rig & puter & use HRD but can't figure out why i can't connect . The drop down to hook up says Frequncy = 0. Another says ic 718, com 3 failed to read frequncy . also make sure radio is on & not in memory mode . its not ! Also if using homemade / non standard cable you may need to select RTS and/or DTR. I did load dx lab & comander for software but thats not helping the non hook-up. Any ideas ? OH, i'm not the smartest apple in the basket , and may need to abort this whole idea .

[KE5MC]

You have not given any details of the hardware connection between the 718 and the computer.

718 uses a CI-V interface with a 1/8 phone plug. Data is serial but not RS-232 level (+/-12Volt). Most computers today do not have a serial port, but there are devices that will translate from USB to Serial in both direction. The devices are dependent on having drivers that will work with your operating system software. Additionally not all chip sets in the devices work well even with the correct driver.

I purchase a CI-V to serial converter cable because I already had a USB/Serial conversation hub that works well. The cable was $10. They also make CI-V to USB cable. Found on ebay. I use the cable on a Icom IC-7000, but the CI-V requires the same connector/level conversation.

[WB0WIE]

You have not given any details of the hardware connection between the 718 and the computer.

718 uses a CI-V interface with a 1/8 phone plug. Data is serial but not RS-232 level (+/-12Volt). Most computers today do not have a serial port, but there are devices that will translate from USB to Serial in both direction. The devices are dependent on having drivers that will work with your operating system software. Additionally not all chip sets in the devices work well even with the correct driver.

I purchase a CI-V to serial converter cable because I already had a USB/Serial conversation hub that works well. The cable was $10. They also make CI-V to USB cable. Found on ebay. I use the cable on a Icom IC-7000, but the CI-V requires the same connector/level conversation. I have the ct-17 ci-v level converter. The 1/8th inch from radio to converter . the plus 12 volt line and a double male 25 pin cable that go from converter to a com port on puter.

[KE5MC]

Excellent! Makes working thru the details a little easier.

CI-V uses address on the radio side to distinguish different radios or devices. The 718 uses 5E by default so make sure the radio is still set for the default of 5E and HRD is using the same.

The serial cable should be a straight thru connection from end to end, but it could be a cross-over / null modem. Look at pin 2 and 3; they should be 2 to 2 and 3 to 3. If 2 to 3 it is a cross-over /null modem cable.

Next what is the physical communication port number you have connected to? HRD must be looking at the same port number.

Last is baud rate. The 718 uses an auto setting so it can decipher the baud rate of the commands you are sending. I don’t always trust an auto implementation. Not having a 718 I don’t know how robust it is or what the high end limit is. From the computer side and I am assuming it is in HRD set the baud rate to something like 9600. I am not at home so I am not sure of where the baud rate setting is on the computer side if in HRD or system level.

If it comes up the other parameters you might have to deal with is 8,1,N. That is serial speak for 8 data bits, 1 stop bit, and No Parity. That is the most common setting and usually the defaults.

Work thru the above and report back with your results.

Good Luck!

Mike

[WB0WIE]

Excellent! Makes working thru the details a little easier.

CI-V uses address on the radio side to distinguish different radios or devices. The 718 uses 5E by default so make sure the radio is still set for the default of 5E and HRD is using the same.

The serial cable should be a straight thru connection from end to end, but it could be a cross-over / null modem. Look at pin 2 and 3; they should be 2 to 2 and 3 to 3. If 2 to 3 it is a cross-over /null modem cable.

Next what is the physical communication port number you have connected to? HRD must be looking at the same port number.

Last is baud rate. The 718 uses an auto setting so it can decipher the baud rate of the commands you are sending. I don’t always trust an auto implementation. Not having a 718 I don’t know how robust it is or what the high end limit is. From the computer side and I am assuming it is in HRD set the baud rate to something like 9600. I am not at home so I am not sure of where the baud rate setting is on the computer side if in HRD or system level.

If it comes up the other parameters you might have to deal with is 8,1,N. That is serial speak for 8 data bits, 1 stop bit, and No Parity. That is the most common setting and usually the defaults.

Work thru the above and report back with your results.

Good Luck!

Mike
Mike,i feel like i've not gained much but here's what i got. default adress 5E = yes, serial cable straight thru ? Seems when i bought it, they said it was ! i took it off both ends and switched, after i looked at ends, and all i could say is it has 13 pins in top row and 12 pins on bottom row, on both ends.PORT NUMBER,it hasn't got a number. Some ports do but not this one.The connection tab (hrd ) calls it port com 3. Baud rate i did read about a few days ago but can't find it again,but when i put it in auto-detect it usually trys several, but seems to be 9600. I read results on connect tab and seen device control block, and it read = 300. n. 8. 1, also device control block= 4800.n.8.1,, so i'd guess it was trying all. I still get ic-718,com 3, 9600 failed to read frequency. hope this helps. I wonder if there is anything i missed downloading on hrd ? WADE

[KE5MC]

Wade,

Cable configuration - If you look closely at the face of the connector you should see small numbers next to the contacts. Using an ohmmeter you should find contact 2 at one end connected to contact 2 of the other. That would be straight thru. They said it was straight thru so it most likely is. Something to deal with later if all else fails.

Port Number - Its not so much finding the physical number at the port, but more about what the system thinks the port number is and having HRD pointing to the correct number. I am a little surprised that HRD reports it as 3. This could be the source of the problem, but it hard to tell without the equipment in front of me.

I see that the 718 and HRD have auto detect features. I would suggest setting both to 4800 baud. Then try using the different ports you can select in HRD. I was looking at the Serial Port tab in the connection pane I have several listed because of my setup. What do you have and are they the same in the NEW tab COM Port: select. Another place to look for com ports is the Control Panel, System, Device Manager. That should be all the ports that the computer has knowledge of.

Maybe some information on your computer and operating system would be helpful. Most systems today do not have a serial port so I am thinking it is an older system. If you have every had a PDA on the system the sync software will hog the port in the background until you delete it from you startup configuration and the port is freed.

I have found the downloads for HRD have always been complete for me. Getting serial communication to work is always a struggle. So many pieces have to be lined up correctly. One item out of place and nothing will work.

Just a sanity check. Double check that the CV-I plug is fully setting into the correct jack. The power to the CT-17 is in the correct range and polarity.

Mike

[WB0WIE]

Wade,

Cable configuration - If you look closely at the face of the connector you should see small numbers next to the contacts. Using an ohmmeter you should find contact 2 at one end connected to contact 2 of the other. That would be straight thru. They said it was straight thru so it most likely is. Something to deal with later if all else fails.

Port Number - Its not so much finding the physical number at the port, but more about what the system thinks the port number is and having HRD pointing to the correct number. I am a little surprised that HRD reports it as 3. This could be the source of the problem, but it hard to tell without the equipment in front of me.

I see that the 718 and HRD have auto detect features. I would suggest setting both to 4800 baud. Then try using the different ports you can select in HRD. I was looking at the Serial Port tab in the connection pane I have several listed because of my setup. What do you have and are they the same in the NEW tab COM Port: select. Another place to look for com ports is the Control Panel, System, Device Manager. That should be all the ports that the computer has knowledge of.

Maybe some information on your computer and operating system would be helpful. Most systems today do not have a serial port so I am thinking it is an older system. If you have every had a PDA on the system the sync software will hog the port in the background until you delete it from you startup configuration and the port is freed.

I have found the downloads for HRD have always been complete for me. Getting serial communication to work is always a struggle. So many pieces have to be lined up correctly. One item out of place and nothing will work.

Just a sanity check. Double check that the CV-I plug is fully setting into the correct jack. The power to the CT-17 is in the correct range and polarity.

Mike
Mike,on cable conf, its a yes ( thru & thru ).Untill you tld me i had no idea. # 2,PORTS= COM & lpt.the puter is a compac presario, 2006 model,on downloads i was thinking about all the patches they talk about to correct errors. on , in correct jack, correct range and polarity, its a yes ! ONE other thing i discovered while in device manager i seen four ( 4 ) unknown devices ! says drivers for this device are not installed (code 28 ) click reinstall. i did but it said , hardware not installed because wizard cannot find necessary software. Wondering if its trying to find software for port com 3 ? Again ty for the help Mike, Wade

[KE5MC]

Wade,

At this point I think we are down to issues with the computer and operating system.

On older systems the telephone line modem could be internal hardware and it could be using port 3 for the software to link to. Meaning it is not available for you to use.

Another thing to check is in the BIOS and board jumpers. The serial port that is present could be disabled by the BIOS or jumpers. Entry into the BIOS is an F key press during the 1st few seconds after power on.

There are some step diagnostics steps you can take with a loopback plug on the serial port and starting a terminal window to see if what you type is looped back and displayed on the screen.

Until it is know that the serial port is working and what the port number is I can’t think of anything else.

USB to Serial port converter will not be much help, because of lack of a USB port or software support for an older operating system.

Sorry, I really wished that we could have gotten it going. Maybe a newer used computer is the shortest route to getting things working.

Mike

[WB0WIE]

Wade,

At this point I think we are down to issues with the computer and operating system.

On older systems the telephone line modem could be internal hardware and it could be using port 3 for the software to link to. Meaning it is not available for you to use.

Another thing to check is in the BIOS and board jumpers. The serial port that is present could be disabled by the BIOS or jumpers. Entry into the BIOS is an F key press during the 1st few seconds after power on.

There are some step diagnostics steps you can take with a loopback plug on the serial port and starting a terminal window to see if what you type is looped back and displayed on the screen.
Until it is know that the serial port is working and what the port number is I can’t think of anything else.

USB to Serial port converter will not be much help, because of lack of a USB port or software support for an older operating system.

Sorry, I really wished that we could have gotten it going. Maybe a newer used computer is the shortest route to getting things working.

Mike
OK Mike,thanks again for the try. best 73's wade

[WB0WIE]

Trying to use my icom 718 rig & puter & use HRD but can't figure out why i can't connect . The drop down to hook up says Frequncy = 0. Another says ic 718, com 3 failed to read frequncy . also make sure radio is on & not in memory mode . its not ! Also if using homemade / non standard cable you may need to select RTS and/or DTR. I did load dx lab & comander for software but thats not helping the non hook-up. Any ideas ? OH, i'm not the smartest apple in the basket , and may need to abort this whole idea .
This post is closed, ty

[WB0WIE]

THIS POST IS CLOSED, TY