They must have fixed the documentation.
I had no difficulty in makeing mine work with Writelog or performing the
calabration.
73
Jim W7RY
----- Original Message -----
From: "Rick Tavan N6XI" <rtavan@gmail.com>
To: <Gary.Stone@med.va.gov>
Cc: <towertalk@contesting.com>
Sent: Wednesday, August 03, 2005 6:07 PM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] M2 2800 rotator questions
> On 8/3/05, Gary.Stone@med.va.gov <Gary.Stone@med.va.gov> wrote:
>>
>> I have two questions about the M2 2800 rotator and hope this is
>> appropriate
>> place to ask. First, I am interested in computer control. I have no
>> RS-232
>> ports left on my computer but I do have USB ports. Will a USB to Serial
>> converter work ok for that application?
>
> It works for me on an IBM T42 running XP Pro and Writelog.
>
>> If so, the program (logging program
>> XMLog) asks for the port number for rotator control. Does a USB port get
>> assigned a port number (like comm1, comm2, etc.)?
>
> Yes. You can often coerce the automatically assigned COM number to
> something else using Device Manager if your logger insists on a
> limited set of numbers.
>
>> I know my comm1 is a
>> RS232 and likewise my second RS232 is comm2 but my USB ports don't seem
>> to
>> have a number?
>
> Device Manager should show some limited information on serial ports
> associated with USB adapters. Select Control Panel | System | Hardware
> | Device Manager and look for Ports and Universal Serial Bus
> Controllers. The info is less than transparent. You can double click
> on a serial port to change many of its properties including, in some
> cases, the COM port number.
>>
>>
>>
>> Lastly, The ads for the m2 states there is "10 presets and 1 flexible
>> pre-set" but I can't find anything in the manual about a 'flexible
>> preset?'
>
> Dunno what that is. In Mode 0 (1?) it turns while you hold buttons. In
> Mode 1 (0?) it changes the display while you hold buttons and then
> turns to the selected heading after you let go for a few seconds. This
> may be what they are calling a "flexible preset." Computer control
> puts it in this mode. In Mode 2 it steps through the presets when you
> push or hold buttons and then turns to the selected preset heading
> after you let go for a few seconds. The Mode is the left-most digit.
> The next digit to the right is the preset number, 0-9.
>
> Welcome to the wild and wacky world of the M2 2800 digital controller.
> For your sanity, I advise against reading the so-called instruction
> manual, at least the one they were shipping three years ago when I
> bought mine. It is more of a Confusion Manual. In fact, it is the
> absolute worst documentation I have ever seen for any piece of
> equipment, worse than the worst Jinglish I've ever had to deal with.
> And I think it was written by a pleasant, clever engineer whose native
> speaking language is English!
>
> The hardest task is recalibration, something you have to do
> occasionally. It is impossible to do it by following instructions in
> the manual. I had to talk to them on the phone for about 20 minutes to
> figure it out. That was three years ago. By now they must have learned
> how to explain it more quickly because everyone has to get help. Who
> knows, maybe they even hired a tech writer to compose a coherent
> explanation. But if not, here's what you do: First you turn the
> antenna to a known heading such as 0, ignoring the readout. There is a
> function mode in which the direction display changes but the rotor
> doesn't turn. I am in the wrong town right now so I can't dig out the
> doc and tell you what that mode is called there or how to get to it,
> but it's less than obvious. You use that to reset the readout to the
> now-known heading of the beam. Then you invoke a magic incantation
> that is mentioned obscurely in the manual to save your work.
>
> Working with that controller and its so-called documentation is
> frustrating beyond belief. But when you get it all set up, the thrill
> of typing a call into a logging program, pushing a button and seeing
> the control and antenna move to the same, correct heading is sublime.
> And the motor is a smooth, powerful brute. Have fun and good luck.
>
> 73,
>
> Rick N6XI
> _______________________________________________
>
> See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless
> Weather Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with
> any questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
>
> _______________________________________________
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> TowerTalk@contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
>
>
_______________________________________________
See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless Weather
Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any questions
and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
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