LVB Tracker / 5500 rotor / USB-Serial Port coversion
I am struggling trying to establish a proper USB - Serial port conversion on my laptop. Can someone tell me which software is best for this conversion and what are the pitfalls. I have tried the FTDI Drivers as described in the LVB Tracker Box Manual without success. With so many LVB Trackers in use I am sure there is a way, but I have not found it yet. I may be doing something wrong during the installation of this software and I can not figure it out. Any suggestion will really be appreciated and tried.
Newbe Knut / N6BNP SoCAL
I didn't see anyone try to assist..sooo... Many questions.. What software both the tracking and the operating system?? What doesn't it do? I have a similar set up with Yaesu rotor, LVB tracker with USB interface and I am using SatPC32. You MUST configure your computer port to work with the tracker. My system also controls my Icom 910. That I set up with a USB port and configured it as noted in the software. I am not a software engineer but have configured many PC's to work with this system. Awaiting your answers and maybe someone else can chime into your query. 73, Dee, NB2F
-----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Knut Sent: Tuesday, September 14, 2010 1:28 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [amsat-bb] LVB Tracker / 5500 rotor / USB-Serial Port coversion
I am struggling trying to establish a proper USB - Serial port conversion on my laptop. Can someone tell me which software is best for this conversion and what are the pitfalls. I have tried the FTDI Drivers as described in the LVB Tracker Box Manual without success. With so many LVB Trackers in use I am sure there is a way, but I have not found it yet. I may be doing something wrong during the installation of this software and I can not figure it out. Any suggestion will really be appreciated and tried.
Newbe Knut / N6BNP SoCAL _______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Knut:
When you say you've tried the FTDI drivers without success, what exactly do you mean? I guess we'd all need a bit more info from you as to exactly where your problem is: what software you are using, like SatPC32 or whatever, what FTDI driver version, what version of Windows you are running, etc. And then explain more about the "no success" part. What does that mean?
I'll take a quick, general stab at where I'm guessing you might be hung up, but it's only a guess w/o more info:
When you install the driver and plug in the LVB Tracker box, you should be able to see it appear as a virtual serial port after the Windows "found new hardware" wizard has its way with you. In Windows XP, you will need to go through several menus to see what virtual serial port (Com Port) it assigned.
I'm doing this from memory, but I think you first select Control Panel, then click on System, then select the Harware tab, then open the Ports by clicking on the little "minus" icon to have a look at all of your ports. You should see a Com port that looks like the FTDI driver (I forget exactly what it ends up being called, but it won't say "LVB Tracker" or anything quite that easy.
You might want to do this before you plug in the LVB Tracker just to see what Com ports are already assigned in your "normal" computer config, write them down, and then look again after you've plugged in the Tracker to see what new Com port popped up.
Anyway, you would then use this new Com port, for example, Com3, in whatever software you are using to command the LVB tracker to turn your rotator (such as SatPC32).
Or...buy a Mac and use MacDoppler--that's what I do and life is easy. I've used my LVB tracker and 5500 rotator with several PC's and Macs over the years, and never had a significant problem. It's a bit tough to get this stuff set up when you're hobbled by Windows, but once you do, I think you'll really enjoy it. I do.
73,
Dave - K7DAA
On Sep 13, 2010, at 10:28 PM, Knut wrote:
I am struggling trying to establish a proper USB - Serial port conversion on my laptop. Can someone tell me which software is best for this conversion and what are the pitfalls. I have tried the FTDI Drivers as described in the LVB Tracker Box Manual without success. With so many LVB Trackers in use I am sure there is a way, but I have not found it yet. I may be doing something wrong during the installation of this software and I can not figure it out. Any suggestion will really be appreciated and tried.
Newbe Knut / N6BNP SoCAL _______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Hi
Sorry I only just saw this thread on the way into work today, these days I only seem to have time to browse the BB on my commute I'm afraid.
I wonder if you have tried erasing the FTDI drivers with their utility and re-installing them?
In addition, to check the FTDI COM port is working, I generally open up a terminal emulator like Hyperterminal or Teraterm, set it to 9600, N, 8, 1 on the appropriate COM port (use Device Manager - devmgmt.msc, Ports (COM & LPT) to determine the COM port number). Once conneted, hit enter a couple of times and you shout get the question mark prompt. That will prove connectivity without the complexity of having to figure out your tracking program too.
Version 0.9 of the tracker firmware is the most up to date version.
http://www.g6lvb.com/Articles/LVBTracker/LVBTrack.hex
When programming, you should use the PICPROG.EXE v0.2 program http://www.g6lvb.com/Articles/LVBTracker/PicProg.exe with the PIC in situ on the board using a hardware (not USB virtual) serial port.
If, for some reason, you choose not to use PICPROG.EXE, you can use MPLAB instead with a compatible programmer. Configure->Select Device as 16F876 or 16F876A device as appropriate, File->Import the hex file, and set Configure->Configuration bits like this:
// Default config bits... // Osc=XT, WDT off, PUT on, BOD off, LVP off, FPW on, DBG off, data EE prot off, CodeProt off au16Data[0x2007]=0x3F31;
73, Howard G6LVB
-----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Knut Sent: 14 September 2010 06:28 To: [email protected] Subject: [amsat-bb] LVB Tracker / 5500 rotor / USB-Serial Port coversion
I am struggling trying to establish a proper USB - Serial port conversion on my laptop. Can someone tell me which software is best for this conversion and what are the pitfalls. I have tried the FTDI Drivers as described in the LVB Tracker Box Manual without success. With so many LVB Trackers in use I am sure there is a way, but I have not found it yet. I may be doing something wrong during the installation of this software and I can not figure it out. Any suggestion will really be appreciated and tried.
Newbe Knut / N6BNP SoCAL _______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
participants (4)
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Dave-K7DAA -
Dee -
Howard Long -
Knut