Will RUMlog work with Yaesu FT-450?

QSO logging software for the Mac
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DL2RUM
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Re: Will RUMlog work with Yaesu FT-450?

Unread post by DL2RUM »

This sounds not good.
A good next starting point could be, when you have a simple terminal program handy.
After sending a AI1;, the TRX should report every mode and frequency change.

What about your TX LED on the CAT interface, when you are sending data to the TRX? After a mouse click into the band map, it should indicate traffic. Even after entering a frequency into the call sign input field.
RTS/CTS: true
Please note, RUMlog does not support this flow control. That's why a terminal program is helpful to test the communication first.

Please email or post the xml file for further testing.
73 and best dx de Tom, DL2RUM
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M0JEK
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Re: Will RUMlog work with Yaesu FT-450? Working?

Unread post by M0JEK »

Hi Tom,

Some good news Tom! I am back to running 4800 8N1, no handshake. I have checked comms with a simple terminal, and it appears to work. However, I just get a

Code: Select all

?;
after I send a

Code: Select all

AI1;
however, comms is working.

The band map works! If I click it changes the frequency and mode. So we are getting there! brilliant. However, QRG and mode in the main RUMLog screen does not change, and one can't change frequency by typing in and pressing enter in the empty call sign box. That is ignored.

Tom, I can say that you are correct, the

Code: Select all

AI1;
must be working, because, when I change anything in the TRX, the light flickers showing data is going to the computer. Also, on an active band, with the S meter moving, the light flickers in time with that. So CAT control is working for the FT-450, just not the with frequency entry in the main screen, nor is QRG or mode updated automatically.

So, to summarize;
  • * Band Maps clicking works as expected, frequency and mode is changed on TRX as it should.
    * Clicking on DX Spot works, TRX does change to appropriate frequency and mode, and RUMLog QRG is updated.
    * The AI1; directive does work, as data is being sent from the radio with every event change.
    * Direct frequency and mode entry in RUMLog screen does not work.
    * QRG and mode in main screen is not updated when radio is changed, either manually or via band map click.
So, actually, RUMLog does work with the Yaesu FT-450, but the QRG is not updated automagically from the rig, or I am doing something wrong ...

I am not sure if you need the FT-450.xml after all, you are doing this correctly, as the clicking in DX Spots and Band Maps work. It is just the updates from the rig that don't appear to be showing up in RUMLog, event though data appears to be sent.

Thanks again for the help! Lets hope we get this nailed once and for all.
73 de André, M0JEK
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M0JEK
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Re: Will RUMlog work with Yaesu FT-450? A bit more ..

Unread post by M0JEK »

It was late when I signed off last night. I think I will add the FT-450.xml file for completeness.

Will I am thinking about it, I did notice that the HAMLib library which is used by Fldigi as an other option doesn't read the data from the FT-450 correctly, I think they are also using AI1; but are not parsing the data correctly, as the frequency displayed in FLdigi is changing numbers as the S meter changes, thus they are reading the wrong fields. It is possible that in RUMLog that this is also happening, and nothing is being displayed as the numbers are not correct for the QRG field etc?
Attachments
FT-450.xml.zip
The RigCAT FT-450 definition file
(813 Bytes) Downloaded 331 times
FT-450.xml.zip
The RigCAT FT-450 definition file
(813 Bytes) Downloaded 331 times
73 de André, M0JEK
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DL2RUM
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Re: Will RUMlog work with Yaesu FT-450?

Unread post by DL2RUM »

Good news so far.
Some good news Tom! I am back to running 4800 8N1, no handshake. I have checked comms with a simple terminal, and it appears to work. However, I just get a
?;
after I send a
AI1;
however, comms is working.
Here we should continue. The question mark means, that the command is not recognized by the TRX. But why? What happen when you just type AI; into the terminal? The answer should be AI0; or AI1;
73 and best dx de Tom, DL2RUM
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Re: Will RUMlog work with Yaesu FT-450?

Unread post by M0JEK »

Well, it seems to differ what terminal I am using.

Using "Serial Tools" from Chen, W7AY, if I type "A" in the console from the keyboard, even before I type "I", it comes back with "?;", and I didn't press enter!
If I paste "AI1;" it goes in but I get "?;" (I am at work now, so I can't access the FT-450 to confirm)

It is not much better if I use ZTerm either. I think there might be extra characters being generated with both. Or something extra going in. I don't think it is the TRX, as MacLoggerDX still works fine. I use that as a sanity test!

I am thinking of building the latest HAMlib distro, as it has debug options so you can trace the comms between TRX and computer.

I may not get a chance tonight, as I have a meeting, so I may only be able to report back tomorrow night.
73 de André, M0JEK
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Re: Will RUMlog work with Yaesu FT-450?

Unread post by DL2RUM »

There are two ways to get the info from the TRX.
1. You can poll frequently the frequency and mode data
2. You switch on the "Auto Information" and the TRX reports immediately every change.

I prefer the second option. I guess your mentioned programs are using the other one, because you can see the steady traffic via the LEDs.

Maybe you can try the Elecraft K3 utility. http://www.elecraft.com/K3/software/K3UtilityOSX.zip
In this program is a command tester integrated, and the command is sent after the trailing ;
73 and best dx de Tom, DL2RUM
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Re: Will RUMlog work with Yaesu FT-450?

Unread post by M0JEK »

Hi Tom,

The K3 Utility works, and the "Command Utility" was a great help. The commands "AI;", "AI1;" and "AI0;" work as expected. Here is a sample of the output, as you can see a lot of info, the SM (S-meter) was churning stuff out! I have hi-lighted the commands in red and the responses green.

AI;AI0;
AI1;RM0099;SM0099;RM0090;SM0090;RM0099;SM0099;RM0090;SM0090;RM0099;SM0099;RM0090;SM0090;RM0099;SM0099;RM0090;SM0099;RM0099;SM0099;RM0090;SM0090;RM0099;SM0090;RM0090;SM0090;RM0099;SM0099;RM0090;SM0090;RM0099;SM0099;RM0090;SM0090;RM0099;SM0099;RM0090;SM0090;RM0099;SM0099;RM0090;SM0090;RM0099;SM0099;RM0090;SM0090;RM0099;SM0099;RM0090;SM0090;RM0148;SM0140;RM0140;SM0140;RM0132;SM0132;RM0123;SM0123;RM0115;SM0115;RM0107;SM0107;RM0099;SM0099;RM0090;SM0090;RM0099;SM0099;RM0090;SM0090;RM0099;SM0099;RM0090;SM0090;RM0099;SM0099;RM0090;SM0090;RM0099;SM0099;RM0090;SM0090;RM0099;SM0099;RM0090;SM0090;RM0099;SM0099;RM0090;SM0090;RM0082;SM0082;RM0090;SM0090;RM0099;SM0099;RM0090;SM0090;RM0099;SM0099;RM0090;SM0090;RM0099;SM0099;RM0090;SM0090;FA07059980;FA07059970;FA07059960;FA07059950;FA07059940;RM0082;SM0082;RM0090;SM0090;RM0082;SM0082;RM0090;SM0090;RM0099;SM0099;RM0090;SM0090;RM0099;SM0099;RM0090;SM0090;RM0099;SM0099;RM0090;SM0090;RM0099;SM0099;RM0090;SM0090;RM0099;SM0099;RM0090;SM0099;RM0099;SM0099;RM0090;SM0090;RM0099;SM0099;RM0090;SM0090;RM0099;SM0090;RM0090;SM0090;RM0099;SM0099;RM0090;SM0090;RM0099;SM0099;RM0090;SM0090;RM0099;SM0099;RM0090;SM0090;RM0099;SM0099;RM0090;SM0090;RM0099;SM0099;RM0090;SM0099;RM0099;SM0090;RM0090;SM0099;RM0099;SM0099;RM0107;SM0107;RM0099;SM0099;RM0090;SM0090;RM0099;SM0099;RM0090;SM0090;RM0099;SM0099;RM0090;SM0090;RM0099;SM0099;RM0090;SM0090;RM0099;SM0099;RM0090;SM0099;RM0099;SM0099;RM0090;SM0090;RM0099;SM0099;RM0090;SM0090;RM0099;SM0090;RM0090;SM0090;RM0099;SM0099;RM0090;SM0090;RM0099;SM0099;RM0090;SM0090;RM0099;SM0090;RM0090;SM0090;RM0099;SM0099;RM0090;SM0090;RM0099;SM0090;RM0090;SM0090;RM0099;SM0099;RM0090;SM0090;RM0099;SM0090;RM0090;SM0090;
AI0;

The frequency changes are in there too. I am attaching a files with all the output. So, AI does work. BTW, it only shows if something has changed. I think initially, RUMLog should read the current frequency and mode, and then do a "AI1;" to monitor any changes after that. It sure chucks out a lot!
Attachments
FT-450_AI1_with_freq+mode.rtf
Captured AI1 ouput plus frequency and mode changes
(4.1 KiB) Downloaded 329 times
FT-450_AI1_with_freq+mode.rtf
Captured AI1 ouput plus frequency and mode changes
(4.1 KiB) Downloaded 329 times
FT-450_AI_example.rtf
Captured AI1 output
(2.03 KiB) Downloaded 321 times
FT-450_AI_example.rtf
Captured AI1 output
(2.03 KiB) Downloaded 321 times
73 de André, M0JEK
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DL2RUM
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Re: Will RUMlog work with Yaesu FT-450?

Unread post by DL2RUM »

Oh, that's interesting. It is not what I have expected to see! As you know, Kenwood and Elecraft are using the same command syntax. These transceivers response with IF frames after AI is switched to on. Yaesu goes another way.
But this should be not a problem. Here is a next try. Please note, only VFO A will be read!

http://dl2rum.de/rumsoft/RUMlogToTest.zip
73 and best dx de Tom, DL2RUM
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Re: Will RUMlog work with Yaesu FT-450?

Unread post by M0JEK »

Thank you Tom, I will test the new version tonight, and let you know.
I see you were either up very early or worked late ;-)
73 de André, M0JEK
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Re: Will RUMlog work with Yaesu FT-450?

Unread post by M0JEK »

Hi Tom,
Good news, I can confirm that RUMLog is now reading and displaying the frequency (VFO A) and mode changes of the FT-450.
Thank you! Now I won't be logging on the wrong frequency :-)

The DX Spots and Band maps clicking is still working, occasionally with the DX Spots it misses, but that might just be finger trouble :-)

Entering a frequency in the QRG box and pressing enter in the empty call sign box doesn't seem to do anything, but that is not a big problem for me. I am just very happy that it is now working keeping track of frequency and mode!

Thank you for taking time out to accommodate me and my rig!
73 de André, M0JEK
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