Thanks to all who offered suggestions. As far as the rig control using a
direct USB to RS232 cable (no RIGblaster connected anywhere) I now have that
working. I should have fallen back to first check the obvious right away.
The problem was with the four USB to RS232 cables that West Mountain Radio
sold me with the RIGblaster. They look good high quality and the driver
installed OK. My computers Device Managers show the drivers installed OK and
the connection working normally but they do not work. I tried all 4 cables
on a desktop PC and also a laptop both with WriteLog and N1MM logging
programs installed. Neither the PC nor laptop saw the FT-2000 connected. My
next step should have been to check continuity of these 4 cables but they
are not straight thru cables. There is the USB to RS232 converter circuit.
After hours of frustration switching cables from laptop to PC and back again
I took a break and remembered purchasing a similar cable at a convention
some time ago. Digging thru my box of various cables I found it. Lo and
behold when using another USB to RS232 cable the freq readings to/from the
FT-2000 to both the PC and laptop work FB on both WriteLog and N1MM. I shot
an email to West Mountain Radio asking if anyone else had problems with
their USB to RS232 cables but they replied it must be my FT-2000. But why
would it work OK using another USB to RS232 cable on two different computers
and not with their cable?
I will be in Visalia for the Intl DX Convention this weekend and will be
purchasing another couple of USB to RS232 cables. I will also be looking at
something to use besides the RIGblaster for my RTTY, PSK, etc. I am looking
at the Tigertronics Signalink as a possibility. I am fully open to any
suggestions for interfaces to a FT-2000 for RTTY, PSK, etc.
73, Alan, K7ACZ
-----Original Message-----
From: WriteLog [mailto:writelog-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of ALAN
ZACK
Sent: Sunday, April 14, 2013 3:25 PM
To: WriteLog@contesting.com
Subject: [WriteLog] WriteLog and FT-2000
I am a brand new user of WriteLog. I used it in the WPX SSB Contest just as
a logger, no connections to the rig or PC just to learn it. Now I want to do
the interfaces for rig control, digital modes, etc.
I purchased a RigBlaster Pro to help me with this but can't get it to work
for me so forget about the RigBlaster for now please.
My PC runs Windows Vista Home Premium Service Pack 2. It has 4 USB ports in
the rear and one USB in the front. The RigBlaster people sold me cables with
USB to Serial adapters built in to use. I installed their drivers and my
Device Manager says they are operating properly. Device Manager assigned
them COM4 and COM5 ports.
As of right now I have the COM5 cable with a gender changer also supplied by
RigBlaster connected to the DB-9 CAT connection on the FT-2000. This is my
only connection between the FT-2000 and PC (no RigBlaster connections at
all). I am assuming with just this cable I can send my frequency reading to
WriteLog. I have gone to the WriteLog port setup window and told it to use
COM5 with a FT-2000 with the default. But it says Port COM5 not available,
access denied.
All I want to do is do this in baby steps starting with rig control. All I
have is a USB to serial cable between the FT-2000 and my PC. The USB to
serial converter appears to be working from the info in the Device Manager
window. But WriteLog does not see the connection.
For you FT-2000 owners, is there something in the rigs menu I have to
activate for it to see the PC to rig connection? I looked at the separate
FT-2000 CAT manual but can't make any sense from it.
So for now ignore the fact I have a RigBlaster for future use. What do I
need for WriteLog to read the FT-2000 frequency?
TIA & 73,
Alan, K7ACZ
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