[amsat-bb] Re: AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 9, Issue 19

2014-01-19 Thread Alan 
I second Frank's comments about FTDI chips.  They are about as bullet proof as 
you will find.  

One of the reasons for problems with the Prolific chips is that they are widely 
cloned.  Prolific
started adding code to their drivers to identify cloned units, and not work 
with them even though they
will install.  A good indication is if your device requires its own proprietary 
drivers, or old
Prolific drivers. In either case, they are likely to have problems under the 
strain of moving large
amounts of data bidirectionally.   I have 2 GPS units and a Baofeng programming 
cable, all cheap ones
from China, which will not work with anything later than 2007 drivers.  Because 
these are low demand
applications, they work fine.

Another solution, and my preferred one for desktops, is to install PCI serial 
ports.  They are as
cheap or cheaper than a good FTDI USB, and they just work.

73s,

Alan
WA4SCA

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[amsat-bb] Re: AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 9, Issue 19

2014-01-18 Thread K4FEG 

Scott,
Frank, K4FEG here, I do not know if this would applicable to your 
situation, but while I was having control issues with my Icom Ic-910H 
and SatPC32, I reached out to Erich (writer of SatPC32) about the issues 
and he told me that some of the cables and other interface modules 
(USB/Serial adapters) need to have the /*FTDI chip set*/ in them, /*I 
had to search for a specific type of USB/Serial adapter that had the 
FTDI chip set in it.*/


Once I got this adapter, and plugged it in on my Windows 8 and 7 PC's, 
both operating systems instantly recognized the device and loaded the 
proper driver to make the adapter work. /*Erich explained that the 
PROLIFIC chip set, which is common in North America seems to have an 
issue with his program.*/


Another note is that there may be a firmware update for you Kenwood. I 
have had others tell me that their TS-2000 would not properly control 
with SatPC and when they got the various firmware updates for their 
specific model radio, it helped to resolve their control issues.


I do not know if this information is of help or not  but I thought that 
it might, you may post your question on my BB, Star-COM.net, if you 
like. My bb tries to cater more to real life situations and operations 
on the satellites and working with operators and rovers to facilitate 
working new grids on the birds you are most welcome to come visit 
there if you wish.

73  best regards,
Frank
K4FEG
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