OK. Thanks for that explanation. I'll take the plunge and get one.
As I understand it, the Omni VI+ doesn't work with HRD or some of the other
software packages, K4PY etc. Any problems like that to avoid?
I'm venturing into new ground here. I don't know how automated I want to
be or need to be.
I saw a Youtube not long ago where a guy had CW Skimmer, and all the rest
of the software running a Kenwood of some sort. He clicked on a call sign
on the skimmer, the computer tuned the radio to that frequency, turned his
antenna, called the station, worked it, and logged it, all untouched by
human hands! I'm not there yet!
73 de W6OGC Jim Allen
On Fri, May 16, 2014 at 10:09 AM, Frank A. Ellis <w3uhf.frank@gmail.com>wrote:
> Hi Jim,
>
> There are two separate issues regarding interfacing. First, the ICOM CI-V
> data (present at the 1/8" jack on ICOM radios, as well as the Ten-Tec Omni
> VI) has a different data voltage level than is required by the computer.
> Therefore, a "level converter" is needed to convert the CI-V voltage levels
> to ones appropriate for the computer. The ICOM CT-17 Level Converter was a
> popular "box in the middle" between the radio and computer that
> accomplished this function. The CT-17 interface port to the computer was
> serial, not USB. If you wanted to use the CT-17 and connect to a USB port
> on the computer, a serial to USB adapter cable would be required. That is
> the second interface issue.
>
> Fortunately, there are single-cable interfaces today that accomplish both
> the voltage level conversion from RS-232 to serial level, as well as the
> physical transformation from the 1/8" CI-V jack to a USB plug, all in one
> simple cable. As TJ stated, the necessary electronics to do this are
> packaged inside the cable-end boot, typically at the USB end. They are
> powered from USB power available from the computer's USB port, and unless
> you knew there was a small PCB inside the connector end, you would swear
> that it was nothing more than a simple cable, with a 1/8 jack on one end,
> and a USB connector on the other.
>
> I bought several of these cables from a seller on eBay named "Kawamall"
> and they work very well. Since the Omni VI uses the ICOM CI-V protocol at
> the rear 1/8" jack, any cable such as this may be used for a simple USB
> computer interface to the Omni VI.
>
> Hope this helps.
>
> 73, Frank W3UHF
>
>
>
>
> On May 16, 2014, at 10:39 AM, Timothy Johnston wrote:
>
> > Jim, most USB to serial "adapters/converters/cables" are made in a
> > all-in-one solution now. I have two of them, both have USB on one end, a
> > few inches of cable and a 9 pin serial connect on the other end. There is
> > no "black box" anymore. With SMT devices, they are literally built-in to
> > the connector housing and you don't see them.
> >
> > Whether you have USB ports or 9/25-pin serial ports, in order to use CIV,
> > the signal levels (voltages) must be converted to match the CIV levels.
> > Again, the converter might be too small to be seen and built into the
> > housing.
> >
> > Hope this helps.
> >
> > 73 de Tj, K4TFJ ...
> >
> >
> > On Fri, May 16, 2014 at 10:25 AM, Jim Allen <jim.allen@longhornband.net
> >wrote:
> >
> >> By "converter" do you mean merely a cable with the appropriate
> connectors
> >> or is there a "black box" device somewhere?
> >>
> >> The terminology is confusing to me, I guess. On the 706 the Icom CIV
> cable
> >> used for HRD was just a cable. Will that work here?
> >>
> >> 73 de W6OGC Jim Allen
> >>
> >>
> >> On Thu, May 15, 2014 at 9:17 PM, n5bi <n5bi@juno.com> wrote:
> >>
> >>> Yes, I also, have a usb to civ converter..works great on omy Omni VI+.
> >>>
> >>> Gary Branch, N5BI
> >>> Macon, GA
> >>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Carl Moreschi" <
> n4py3@earthlink.net>
> >>> To: <Undisclosed-recipients:>
> >>> Cc: "Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment" <tentec@contesting.com>
> >>> Sent: Thursday, May 15, 2014 9:59 PM
> >>> Subject: Re: [TenTec] COmputer hook up to Omni VI+
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> Yes it can if you have a USB to CIV converter. The bottom line is you
> >>>> still connect to a USB port on the computer.
> >>>>
> >>>> Carl Moreschi N4PY
> >>>> 58 Hogwood Rd
> >>>> Louisburg, NC 27549
> >>>> www.n4py.com
> >>>>
> >>>> On 5/15/2014 9:44 PM, Jim Allen wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>>> Can the Icom CIV be used instead of the serial port and routed to a
> USB
> >>>>> port directly?
> >>>>>
> >>>>> TIA
> >>>>>
> >>>>> 73 de W6OGC Jim Allen
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>> On Thu, May 15, 2014 at 8:10 PM, Carl Moreschi <n4py3@earthlink.net
> >>>>> <mailto:n4py3@earthlink.net>> wrote:
> >>>>>
> >>>>> USB to serial converters are what is used now. They are available
> >>>>> for $10 to $40. They take a serial port DB9 and converter it to
> >>>>> connect to a USB port on the computer. Then windows even assigns
> a
> >>>>> comport number to it so you can use it as a normal serial port.
> >> For
> >>>>> a DB25, you need a DB9 to DB25 adapter on the end of the USB to
> >>>>> serial converter.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> The Omni VI also had a 1/8 inch CIV jack which is the Icom method
> >> of
> >>>>> connection. This is because the Omni VI uses the Icom command
> >>>>> protocol.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Carl Moreschi N4PY
> >>>>> 58 Hogwood Rd
> >>>>> Louisburg, NC 27549
> >>>>> www.n4py.com <http://www.n4py.com>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>> On 5/15/2014 8:42 PM, Jim Allen wrote:
> >>>>>
> >>>>> I see that the Omni VI+ has a connection called a "serial
> port"
> >>>>> in the
> >>>>> back, as well as an "Interface Port" which resembles a serial
> >>>>> port DB
> >>>>> connector..
> >>>>>
> >>>>> The description in the manual leads me to believe the
> Interface
> >>>>> Port is to
> >>>>> be used to connect to a computer. Today's computers seldom
> >> have
> >>>>> serial
> >>>>> ports, and I see that cables are offered on eBay for these
> >>>>> radios that are
> >>>>> 1/8th" to USB, similar to the Icom cable.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> What's the story? What should one use? What should one do
> >> with
> >>>>> a computer
> >>>>> having no serial ports?
> >>>>>
> >>>>> 73 de W6OGC Jim Allen
> >>>>> _________________________________________________
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> >>>>>
> >>>>>
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> 73, Frank A. Ellis, W3UHF
>
>
>
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