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Use of single port laptops
"Alan Wallace" <[email protected]
I am a recent new user of UI-View, and am wildly enthusiastic about this
great work - congratulations Roger. A question, which may have a simple answer - The vast majority of current laptop computers only have one com port available. To use UI-View mobile, one needs a GPS port and a TNC port, so this is not possible. Is there a simple, low-cost answer to this problem? Options of purchasing additional PCMCIA com ports (or similar) are not really practical. I note that APRS allows one to configure both TNC and GPS on the one port, and, using either some steering diodes, or a simple switch, the programme recognises the GPS header, and acts on whatever it receives. Is there a way to set up UI-View in a similar manner? If there is no current, easy answer, maybe Roger is considering this as a future enhancement? Cheers from New Zealand Alan Wallace ZL1AMW Email: alan.wallace@... Talk Around the World - Amateur Radio - |
Andy Pritchard
Hi Alan
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You could try plugging your GPS into the com port and using your soundcard as the TNC using AGW PACKET ENGINE 73 - Andy, G7OCW ----- Original Message -----
From: Alan Wallace <alan.wallace@...> To: <ui-view@...> Sent: Friday, January 07, 2000 11:56 PM Subject: [ui-view] Use of single port laptops I am a recent new user of UI-View, and am wildly enthusiastic about thisway to set up UI-View in a similar manner? |
Jim Moody
The vast majority of current laptop computers only have one com portThe US company PacComm had a com port spliter cable for this very purpose. It makes APRS TNC's, etc. I believe they are accessible on the internet. Jim Moody, NL7C |
"Alan Wallace" <[email protected]
Thanks Jim, but if this is what I think it is, it only works with APRS - as
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it brings together the GPS and TNC to one comport. UI-View does not appear to be able to handle both functions on one port. 73, Alan ZL1AMW -----Original Message-----
From: Jim Moody [mailto:NL7c@...] Sent: Sunday, 9 January 2000 06:30 To: ui-view@... Subject: Re: [ui-view] Use of single port laptops From: "Jim Moody" <NL7c@...> > The vast majority of current laptop computers only have one com port > available. To use UI-View mobile, one needs a GPS port and a TNC port, so > this is not possible. Is there a simple, low-cost answer to this problem? > Options of purchasing additional PCMCIA com ports (or similar) are not > really practical. The US company PacComm had a com port spliter cable for this very purpose. It makes APRS TNC's, etc. I believe they are accessible on the internet. Jim Moody, NL7C ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- Please click above to support our sponsor ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- |
"Alan Wallace" <[email protected]
Thanks Andy - this would be one way to go, but a bit more of a system change
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than I had in mind. Will investigate further if nothing else appears. 73, Alan ZL1AMW -----Original Message-----
From: Andy Pritchard [mailto:apritch@...] Sent: Sunday, 9 January 2000 00:42 To: ui-view@... Subject: Re: [ui-view] Use of single port laptops From: "Andy Pritchard" <apritch@...> Hi Alan You could try plugging your GPS into the com port and using your soundcard as the TNC using AGW PACKET ENGINE 73 - Andy, G7OCW ----- Original Message ----- From: Alan Wallace <alan.wallace@...> To: <ui-view@...> Sent: Friday, January 07, 2000 11:56 PM Subject: [ui-view] Use of single port laptops > I am a recent new user of UI-View, and am wildly enthusiastic about this > great work - congratulations Roger. > > A question, which may have a simple answer - > > The vast majority of current laptop computers only have one com port > available. To use UI-View mobile, one needs a GPS port and a TNC port, so > this is not possible. Is there a simple, low-cost answer to this problem? > Options of purchasing additional PCMCIA com ports (or similar) are not > really practical. > > I note that APRS allows one to configure both TNC and GPS on the one port, > and, using either some steering diodes, or a simple switch, the programme > recognises the GPS header, and acts on whatever it receives. Is there a way > to set up UI-View in a similar manner? > > If there is no current, easy answer, maybe Roger is considering this as a > future enhancement? > > Cheers from New Zealand > > > Alan Wallace ZL1AMW Email: alan.wallace@... > Talk Around the World - Amateur Radio - > > > --------------------------- ONElist Sponsor ---------------------------- > > Get great offers on top-notch products that match your interests! > Sign up for eLerts at: > <a href=" ">Click Here</a> > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- Please click above to support our sponsor ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- |
"R.A. Jenkins" <[email protected]
The vast majority of current laptop computers only have one com portHi, many TNCs now have the option for GPS or NMEA input - all you have to do is configure the TNC, then directly connect a GPS for mobile operation. The current Kantronics ones, for example, also include several additional facilities specifically for APRS style operation. Admittedly, this does not allow monitoring of other stations while mobile, but do you really want to do this???!! 73, Tony, G8TBF. |
Roger Barker <[email protected]
In article <000001bf5a0e$85e6ca40$0600a8c0@alanw>, Alan Wallace
<alan.wallace@...> writes From: "Alan Wallace" <alan.wallace@...>The answer to that is - 1. What trade-offs does DOS APRS make in order to handle both functions on one COM port? 2. If DOS APRS supported KISS TNCs, AGWPE, BPQ, etc, could it handle both functions on one COM port? 3. If DOS APRS was a Windows app, could it handle both functions on one COM port? There's no problem with handling two data streams on one COM port, *if* the streams are properly identified. In the case of the method used with DOS APRS, the data streams aren't identified at all. Any latency in the program seeing the data from the COM port can result in corruption. That is a much bigger problem for a Windows app running in a multitasking environment than it is for a DOS program. -- Roger Barker, G4IDE roger@... Boston Lincolnshire, UK |
Roger Barker <[email protected]
In article <PBDgukAr78d4EwR5@...>, Roger Barker
<roger@...> writes [snip] And someone is now probably going to tell me that WinAPRS does it! ;-) So, I expect the real answer is that if users of WinAPRS are prepared to accept a loss of some data in order to share the COM port, then I should make the same thing possible in UI-View. It can't be made to work with AGWPE or BPQ, because the port is entirely controlled by the host mode software, not by UI-View, but it should work with TNCs in KISS mode and terminal mode. Does anyone know where I can get the PacComm cable in the UK? -- Roger Barker, G4IDE roger@... Boston Lincolnshire, UK |
Carl
A fudge - is to have the GPS connected to a TNC (MYCALL-7) and low power txrx
running into a helical ant (or even dummy load). This TNC in GPS mode beacons your location. This part of the package could easily be made very portable. Then have a second TNC with another radio, and external antenna acting as a digipeater - to which you connect the PC and UIVIEW. Uiview will not know where you are, but if you 'track' the icon coming from the low power tx you will get everything on screen and still be able to send and receive messages? Carl gw0tqm carl_mail@... gw0tqm@... |
The vast majority of current laptop computers only have one com portThe only other solution that I've seen, is if your Laptop PC has USB ports. Bob (G7PAF) bought a USB extension card that gave him a second COM port. Which worked. HTH de Dave (G0DJA) |
Bob
Subject: RE: [ui-view] Use of single port laptops
From: "R.A. Jenkins" <raj@...>soThe vast majority of current laptop computers only have one com port problem?this is not possible. Is there a simple, low-cost answer to this wel in a nutshell yes !!Options of purchasing additional PCMCIA com ports (or similar) are notHi, well i do anyway and i went and bought a usb to serial convertor from maplins for 26 i also got one from pc world for 20 (should have been 70 but there was no win95 driver and the box was tatty) but your laptop must have usb ports if you go down that road. i have run with the gps-tnc-radio since may 99 up till oct 99 when i got the usb convertors and have to say that running ui-view mobile is far better than just sending a beacon and not seeing others aswell. it's gonna be great creeping up on Mike G1ZRN i nearly did it last thursday mike when we were both in near bloxwich. Regards Bob Scaife g7paf@... ax25 g7paf@gb7jem.#19.gbr.eu icq 17945619 |
Roger Barker <[email protected]
In article <or0JUBA6VGe4EwuF@...>, Roger Barker
<roger@...> writes [snip] Wot, no answer? ;-) I think that must mean it isn't available in the UK! Another question then - If I implement support for sharing a COM port between the TNC and the GPS, how many subscribers to this list have got any hardware that can take advantage of it? If anyone has got anything, then I'd be really interested to know what it is, and what *exactly* is required for switching between its two inputs. (You can't simply parallel two devices on one COM port, there has to be some external hardware involved that can select one or the other, usually by using the RTS and DTR lines.) I've now had a good look at sharing the port, and I've got it working, but the big problem is that I have no knowledge of what hardware is available, other than what I have used for testing. I built the two transistor switch as detailed in the DOS APRS GPS.TXT file. However, it didn't work with some TNCs in KISS mode (not a problem for DOS APRS, because it doesn't support KISS), so I had to make a modification. It uses two transistors, three diodes and four resistors, so it's easy enough to build, the only problem is building it in a sufficiently neat and robust format for mobile use. I believe some TNCs have a port for attaching a GPS, but I haven't got one, so any info as to what TNCs have this facility, and technical details from the manufacturers notes as to how you switch between the two inputs would be very useful. -- Roger Barker, G4IDE roger@... Boston Lincolnshire, UK |
ken collins <[email protected]
In message <HYFyIBA56Ff4Ewxh@...>, Roger Barker
<roger@...> writes Hi, Wot, no answer? ;-) I think that must mean it isn't available in the UK!Sorry, forgot to mention this in my previous e-mail. After seeing your request I did a ring round in the UK but with negative results. I also did a search on the Internet. Saw references to it but no details. Will try and get a friend in the US to source it for me. The new Paccom approach is interesting, i.e., having dual RS232 ports on the TNC. This is the approach they have used in the Pico Packet which also has an option for a built in GPS receiver and antenna. Afraid that's not much help but will keep trying. Wonder if Ev has any information on a US source. --- Ken |
"Duncan Bray" <[email protected]
Hi Roger,
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My understanding is that the Kantronics Packet Communicator 3 has inbuilt provision for the attachment of a GPS unit....there is an unused dill socket at the front of the motherboard for that purpose...presumably via a ribbon cable through the joint between the case halves. Unfortunately, I cannot be more specific as I was not given the manual for the TNC by the family of the silent key from whom I purchased it......but at least it will point you in the right direction.....given of course, that I have correctly interpreted your request. 73 de Duncan, G4MKI ----------------------------------------------------- Click here for Free Video!! ----- Original Message -----
From: Roger Barker <roger@...> To: <ui-view@...> Sent: Wednesday, January 12, 2000 11:00 AM Subject: Re: [ui-view] Use of single port laptops From: Roger Barker <roger@...> |
"Alan Morris, G4ENS" <[email protected]
From: Roger Barker <roger@...> Does anyone know where I can get the PacComm cable in the UK?Wot, no answer? ;-) I think that must mean it isn't available in the UK! Recently I telephoned a few UK ham radio dealers regarding upgrading my PacComm TNC. They are generally not interested due to lack of profit margin. An unfortunate stituation as found in many situations today. However their (Pac Comm) USA web site and customer support via e-mail was very good. Another question then - If I implement support for sharing a COM portYou may recall the recent Dutch posting to this list:- From: rdffoxhunting@... Dear Roger, We are a hamradio group inside PA. ..........snip We also have a solution to use one com together with GPS+MODEM att. <<<<<<<<<<<<<< Also the manual for Eskay Packet SP 9.10 ( a DOS packet program ) has a circuit for connecting up to 4 TNCs on a single COM port. However the baud rates must be the same on all TNCs according to the manual. It uses 4 bridge connected sets of 4 diodes, plus 2 more diodes and 2 resistors. A 4-way optical isolator IC is also used. Switching is performed by selecting RTS and DTR lines. The original design was by DB9AP and was developed by DL7WA. The 2-TNC switcher (described above) was developed by DG5FAU and DG6UL. I use a Garmin GPS-75 connected to a Psion 5 or a Psion 3a or a laptop for moving map displays and backingup / editing tracks and waypoints. I am also investigating connecting all 3 computers at the same time to the GPS as it is designed for outputting to multiple devices when used in boating circles. I use mine for land navigation in a Land Rover. Adding a future version of UI-View that could display a moving map showing my moving position, the positions of others and transmit my position using a laptop (mine's a 486) would be ideal. Alan, G4ENS. Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, UK. Where do you want to go today ? Somewhere stable - away from Windows. |
From: Roger Barker <roger@...>I'd be interested in the circuit for that system, to use with a KAM+ and my $20 GPS. I believe that most of the latest Kantronics TNCs support GPS input. I saw a 9612 for sale the other day, but it was a version of the firmware that didn't support GPS input. The replacement EPROM would have cost another $39.00 on top...... Have yet to finish the NMEA/MAX232 mod and the Tiny Tracker, so guess I should do those first. :-) Still it would be interesting to make up a different system for the other $20 GPS as I'm sending my other NMEA chip to someone else. Cheers de Dave (G0DJA) |
From: dave.g0dja@... (David J. Ackrill) I'd be interested in the circuit for that system, to use with a KAM+ and myHow come the sign became a $ sign? Was it 'finger trouble' here? This will prove it, is there a in this line and the 1st line? Sorry for the bandwidth, just seeing if it's me or Onelist :-) Cheers de Dave (G0DJA) |
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