Ham Radio 2000/Ham Radio 2000.iso/ham2000/vhf/mssof42f/problems.txt

Text File | 1994-08-18 | 6KB | 113 lines

    PROBLEMS & SOLUTIONS FILE FOR VARIOUS COMPUTER AND STATION
    HARDWARE RELATED DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED WITH MS-SOFT.
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The MS-Soft does not work at all?
    I have not heard of any PC-computer so far, that would not be able
    to run the Compact MS-Soft.

P.      I see no clock on the screen!
S.      You have started the program with cmsg.exe and not with the MS.BAT.

P.      I get an error when I try to start the skeds editor.
S.   1  There is no MS_SKED file in the directory. Create MS_SKED file without
    any text in it and retry. You can do it with any text editor.
     2  You are using a russian manufactured compatable clone that either
    is not compatable, or runs out of memory.

P.      The periods drift away from their correct timing, mixing up the
    period sequencing. This does not allow me to use MS-SOFT.
S.      This is a PC internal clock drift problem. The clock crystal
    oscillator usually has a trimmer capasitor to adjust its frequency,
    to make the clock run at correct speed. Calibrate and check drift, or
    run manually with auto sequencer OFF, until problem is resolved.
    The CHECKIT software has a clock test.

P.      Why isn't there a PTT output on the serial port for my PA and antenna
    relays etc.
    I always start the xmit period by turning the PTT on manually to
    prevent preamplifier damage etc.(.."good" reasons....)
S.      This situation resembles to a similar type of question asked on
    packet radio by a newcomer: "I can not afford to buy 10 crystals,
    please tell me how I make a synthesiser for my ex. commercial fm rig?"
    (Ever heard of a cheap, easy to make, good, clean synthesiser? )
    A case of wrong philosophy in station hardware construction!
    You don't have 5 or 6 switches in your car dashboard to make it
    start and stop, but you have an ignition key to do all the switching
    and in right sequence!
    By all this I mean that a relay control (PTT) output should be generated
    by the transceiver, or any other black box and be time sequenced having
    different outputs each controlling their own relays.
    Only such system is safe in all cases.
    This function should not be generated in the computer as it will not
    be available when operating other propagation modes on SSB or FM or
    using hand keying. It is safer too not to hard wire the computer to
    all those cables running down from the tower, in case of "a local
    static discharge" should occur.
    Look at ARRL HANDBOOKs article on T/R TIME DELAY GENERATOR for how to
    make one. It is easy to make and pays off in increased station
    reliability and longer coaxial relay life time.

    On V4.1 & up there is now a software relay saver that is supposed to
    switch the tranceiver to transmit and then wait for about 200ms and
    then start sending DE... or the message. It does it every time when
    the software goes to transmit state!


P.      A half of letter keys on the Chicony notebook PC "changes" to numbers
    and will not change back to letters.
S.      This problem has been encountered only with this type of PC and
    with the V3.2. V4.0 & up was changed not to have a "force capslock on"
    command and it looks like the situation is corrected now.

P.      I have only one RS (com) port where I have connected a serial mouse.
S.      When operating MS, remove MOUSE DRIVER loading commands off from the
    AUTOEXEC.BAT file, disconnect mouse, connect CW interface and boot
    the PC.
    Restore mouse driver when mouse is needed.

P.      I have no time nor skills to make the interface!
S.      You can contact me. I can make one for you, but it won't be for free.
    (working PCB without box and connectors ....abt $25+postage)
    A small run of PCB for sale is under investigation.

P.      I get a lot of interference from the computer to my receiver.
S.  1   Disconnect all the unnecessary cables from the computer, use ferrite
    materials close to the computer side of cable on the ones left connected.
    Use short run of shielded cable between com port and the interface.
    2   Connect the shield to pin 1 on the 25 pin D connector (chassis ground).
    3   Try to reposition the computer, place a wire or mesh between
    computer and antenna to act as a reflector (this helps only a little).
    4   Try another computer!
    5   Find a clear sked frequency with the MS soft
    running on receive period. If the computer leaks noise like my
    486 does, removing all cables does not help any as the noise leaks
    thru the cabinet.

P.      The screen clock TSR (memory resident clock) messes up the screen
    when I use Windows after Ms-Soft.
S.      It should not be there if you have terminated the ms soft.
    V4.1 has a mark/release system in the ms.bat file that removes the
    clock TSR. If it botheres you, use some other clock routine and
    make the ms.bat to run the other clock instead of the one delivered.

P.      I would like to see the gradient curve as I operate cw without
    restarting the program.
S.      One answer to this is the task-switching. (Mr B. Gates says they want
    now multi-tasking. I say let them want....)
    If you have a DOS 5 or newer, you can use the TASK SWAPPER
    available with DOSSHELL. You just put as many as necessary cms*.exe
    on the Active Task List and work cw with one of them and do something
    else with the others.
    Remember to close the applications as DOS warns you to do.
    Disregarding this "might" cause loss of sked data.
    Task swapper is found on dosshell under options menu.
    Read the dosshell help to learn how to use the task swapper.

P.      The program sends now too slow, about 1/5 of the right speed.
S.      Have you started to use EMM386 device driver?
    If you have, re-run PAR.exe and the problem is cured.

    ANY OTHER PROBLEMS?  LET ME KNOW!