Re: [Elecraft] K3 firmware upgrade speeds and problems
Dick K8ZTT wrote: I read in the US Interface Navigator Installation Manual was to avoid using COM 3; the manual says; for some reason (known only to the computer gods and maybe Bill Gates) COM 3 can be grabbed by other programs -- Historically (going back to the first PCs - long before the Internet and 99% of the gadgets we hang on our computers today) Com 1 and 2 were for external devices (usually a mouse on 1 and external modem or whatever on 2), Coms 3 and 4 were reserved for internal devices. As internal modems started appearing, they typically used Com 3. Some programs that use a modem default to Com 3, and start talking with whatever device is there assuming it is a modem. Ron AC7AC __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 firmware upgrade speeds and problems
The real rub for USB serial converters is poor drivers and poor individual bios, taken together with an a Windows OS that historically does poorly with critical slow-speed hardware timing. I've watched K3 programs and the K3 be blamed over and over on this reflector, but we are making Aptos responsible for poor code by Microsoft, hardware manufacturers, and bios writers. The only question that can really be aimed at Elecraft is whether Aptos app builders can talk to the very willing K3 *IN SPITE OF* an individual driver, bios, or OS. Every time the OS changes, and with every new motherboard, we get to start over from scratch. And blame Elecraft. Perhaps it's what they get for being the only one of those who can actually be talked to? 73, Guy. On Wed, Nov 25, 2009 at 11:56 AM, Dick Williams k8...@mho.com wrote: I have found it very interesting reading the various reports of firmware upgrade issues when installing new firmware releases to the K3. I am wondering if it has something to do with the interconnect between the computer and the K3; and especially if one is using a USB/RS232 converter. I purchased my K3 at Dayton this year and have done every Beta upgrade and all went flawlessly. That said, I am using a RS-232 port on my computer (Com 1) to connect directly to the radio. My experience with the USB to RS232 converters has not been all that great; and from what I have picked up from third class rumors (similar to ones you might overhear in a men's restroom), not all USB/RS232 converters are created equally (some work all the time, some work some of the time, and other never work any of the time). And one other tidbit of information that I read in the US Interface Navigator Installation Manual was to avoid using COM 3; the manual says; for some reason (known only to the computer gods and maybe Bill Gates) COM 3 can be grabbed by other programs So, to solve that problem, when I upgraded my computer to Windows 7 last week, I also upgraded to seven RS232 ports on the back of the computer. I only need six (K3, two rotor controllers, satellite antenna control, IC-910H control, and last but not least a DSP-2232 data controller), so that gives me a spare for possible future use. Dick K8ZTT __ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 4636 (20091125) __ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 firmware upgrade speeds and problems
It is not a matter of blaming Elecraft, K1EL, Green Heron, the various software authors or any other ham radio vendor or person. It is a matter of trying to find the combination that will work and hoping that someone is smart enough to know how, or lucky enough to stumble on the secret, or that collective wisdom is better than each of us trying to go it alone. It is no use complaining to Microsoft, HP, Dell or any of the other computer vendors who would tell us to forget Ham Radio and spend our time playing World of Warcraft or some other games where they can make multi-bucks. So, we try to get wisdom from some one who might care. Sometimes it works, sometimes it is misunderstood as attacking the hands that feed us. Willis 'Cookie' Cooke K5EWJ From: Guy Olinger K2AV olin...@bellsouth.net To: Dick Williams k8...@mho.com Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Wed, November 25, 2009 5:48:31 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 firmware upgrade speeds and problems The real rub for USB serial converters is poor drivers and poor individual bios, taken together with an a Windows OS that historically does poorly with critical slow-speed hardware timing. I've watched K3 programs and the K3 be blamed over and over on this reflector, but we are making Aptos responsible for poor code by Microsoft, hardware manufacturers, and bios writers. The only question that can really be aimed at Elecraft is whether Aptos app builders can talk to the very willing K3 *IN SPITE OF* an individual driver, bios, or OS. Every time the OS changes, and with every new motherboard, we get to start over from scratch. And blame Elecraft. Perhaps it's what they get for being the only one of those who can actually be talked to? 73, Guy. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
