Hi Jan,

Be sure the baudrate is set correctly in your SatPC32. It's under Setup > Radio Setup then in the dropdown list next to your radio, change "Model" to "Baudrate" and make sure it matches what your radio is using. It's not always obvious that the little drop-down there has a second menu setting.

Also double-check your USB-serial converter settings (Windows Device Manager, right-click each port and choose properties) to be sure the baud rate and stop/start bits are all OK just to be safe.

73 de Dave KB5WIA

On Thu, Sep 15, 2011 at 1:03 PM, PE0SAT pe0sat@vgnet.nl wrote:

Hi,

Thanks for reading this message.

Because I do not have enough serial ports in my computer, I bought a USB to serial converter from StarTech. It is a 4-port version. (ICUSB2324X)

I switched my FT-847 from a buildin serial com1 to com3 (the USB to Serial one.)

Everything seemed okay, until I wanted to use SatPC32. When I start SatPC32 the CAT option lighstup in my FT-847 display and then I get the error message: "Error reading comm device."

I have looked around to see if there is a setup option that can solve this, but I am unable to find one.

Is there anybody out there who knows of a way to solve this? Other programs work fine, for example HRD 5.

Here some hardware information:

• Using a HP Compaq 3GHz P4 HT with 2G memory running Windows XP - EN SP3.
• Yaesu FT-847
• SatPC32 V.12.8a (2009)

73 Jan PE0SAT

---

Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. 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 Jan, does CAT control work correctly if you connect the FT-847 to the physical COM 1, particularly with SSB sats (FO-29, VO-52, AO-07)? The program reads the RX VFO frequency once per second to allow transparent tuning (that means you can tune the radio with the VFO knob). I suppose your FT-847 is not one of the first on the market? These first radios didn't allow to read the VFO. Is there a difference between SSB sats and FM sats?

CAT control of the FT-847 works flawlessly for many years already. I use it with physical ports (built in and via PCI card) and with my 4-Port Keyspan USB-to-serial adapter and it works also with a Prolific and FTDI single port USB-to-serial adapter under Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7, 32- and 64-bit.

My settings in menu "Radio Setup": CAT baudrate 57600 (at the radio menu 37), CAT delay 20, option "Satellite mode" checked, other options unchecked.

My previous mail to you was bounced by the mail delivery system. So, I send it also via AMSAT-BB.

73s, Erich, DK1TB

----- Original Message ----- From: "PE0SAT" pe0sat@vgnet.nl To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Cc: erich.eichmann@t-online.de Sent: Thursday, September 15, 2011 3:03 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] SatPC32 via USB2Serial not working (Error reading commdevice.)

Hi,

Thanks for reading this message.

Because I do not have enough serial ports in my computer, I bought a USB to serial converter from StarTech. It is a 4-port version. (ICUSB2324X)

I switched my FT-847 from a buildin serial com1 to com3 (the USB to Serial one.)

Everything seemed okay, until I wanted to use SatPC32. When I start SatPC32 the CAT option lighstup in my FT-847 display and then I get the error message: "Error reading comm device."

I have looked around to see if there is a setup option that can solve this, but I am unable to find one.

Is there anybody out there who knows of a way to solve this? Other programs work fine, for example HRD 5.

Here some hardware information:

• Using a HP Compaq 3GHz P4 HT with 2G memory running Windows XP - EN SP3.
• Yaesu FT-847
• SatPC32 V.12.8a (2009)

73 Jan PE0SAT

---

Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. 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