For anyone else out there pulling their hair out trying to make D-Rats key the transmitter, I have (finally) had some success with this hardware: ID-51A (original flavor), RTS-05 cable (orange), Windows 8.1 netbook, latest build of D-Rats.
?As otherwise noted, you have to carefully shut off all the GPS stuff on the radio. Apparently, GPS data and other data are trying to use the same limited slot in DV mode. There are charts on where to shut off GPS (at least 3 settings need to be "off"). Also I saw a note that "power save" has to be "off". Mine was "Auto-short". I turned it off and it works---but not 100% sure this was really necessary.
Now for the new part----using the HT and the RT systems cable, I was very frustrated that the radio seemed to transmit once (when D-Rats connected), then never again. Eventually, I found that for some reason the Comm port was being disconnected on the netbook.?I tried a few different scenarios (different computer, different cable, etc.) and always the same thing using the ID-51. Until I decided to reduce the transmit power on the radio. Only on Mid or High power on the ID-51 did it continue to disconnect the comm port. Lower power worked fine.
What I believe is happening is the HT, using the rubber duck, is pump RF into the RT Systems cable and causing the comm port to shut down (I could unplug and re-plug the cable and it would work again---for one transmission). I am going to put a couple ferrite beads on the RT Systems cable and report back how that works (if it actually does anything positive). Moving the radio or antenna away from the computer seems to help. Reducing the transmit power definitely helps.
I notice the $70 dollar iCom cable has 2 ferrite beads included. I suspect iCom may have seen the same thing.
Just some info if anyone like me was trying to make a "go-kit" with the HT and a netbook or laptop and D-Rats.
73, KC3BLF
