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That ol' Blue DVDongle by InternetLabs...

Ken Winograd
 

Hi... I purchased a D-Star DVDongle about a decade ago (that's the blue USB device by InternetLabs), and honestly haven't used it in years. I just tried to use it (on my current Mac), and it crashes immediately before its window even comes up. I tried to visit the manufacturer's site, and it is no longer available, and I can't find any updated software for it anywhere. My guess is, of course, the company is out of business and the product is no longer supported, but I don't know any of this for a fact. Anyway, I'm hoping someone might have some info on the product. Is it dead? Any hope of finding updated software for it that will work on a Mac? Any info would be appreciated. Thanks! Ken
?
 

I don't have this device but did some internet searches give this a try:

Apr 2, 2024 — DVTool version 2.0 (DVTool.exe) free download, latest version 2.1, The DV Dongle connects to your PC or Apple Mac via a USB port and?...
 Rating: 4.8 · ?5 votes · ?Free · ?Windows · ?Utilities/Tools

Hope this helps.

73

On Sun, Jul 28, 2024 at 11:27?AM Ken Winograd via <subscriptions=[email protected]> wrote:
Hi... I purchased a D-Star DVDongle about a decade ago (that's the blue USB device by InternetLabs), and honestly haven't used it in years. I just tried to use it (on my current Mac), and it crashes immediately before its window even comes up. I tried to visit the manufacturer's site, and it is no longer available, and I can't find any updated software for it anywhere. My guess is, of course, the company is out of business and the product is no longer supported, but I don't know any of this for a fact. Anyway, I'm hoping someone might have some info on the product. Is it dead? Any hope of finding updated software for it that will work on a Mac? Any info would be appreciated. Thanks! Ken
?



--
“One flag, one land, one heart, one hand, one nation evermore.”?Oliver Wendell Holmes?
Paul Frey K9PTF (Really Old Guy With A Beard)
 

Hi Ken

I use the DV Dongle a lot, along with the DV3K that came after it.
I only have Windows 7 and 10 but DVTool 2.1 works perfectly on both
and?the devices are very reliable.


Install FTDI drivers from prior to connecting the DVDongle.?
Once installed, plug in the DV Dongle and download the DVTool distribution at
,
double click the file to open it, and drag DVTool to your Desktop.?
You can then proceed to the Using the DV Dongle page listed at the top of this page.

I'm always on the look out for surplus dongles to pass onto new users.
A little unknown fact that Robin AA4RC passed onto me is that the
Blue dongle uses the AMBE2020 chip and the DV3K uses the AMBE3000.
AMBE2020 displays BER in real time whereas the DV3K doesn't.
AMBE?removed it from the 3000 as Internet Labs had been using that feature.

I use the blue dongle to monitor repeater performance by transmitting a weak
test signal into the repeater while Blue dongle connected to that gateway repeater.
BER can be monitored in real time watching for bursts of QRM, antenna crackle,
duplexer crackle that you would have previously heard if the repeater was FM.

I hope this information helps and thanks for posting your message as it
might uncover a few more of these excellent Internet labs devices.

73 and good DV. John ZL2TWS
Ken Winograd
 

Hi Paul and John...

Thanks so much for getting back to me, very much appreciated.

Unfortunately, I'm still having problems.

I tried to re-install the drivers as you've suggested (which said it was successful when I did it), re-plugged in the DVDongle, but still get a crash before the program even fully opens.

The DVTool 2.1 (and I'm delighted that there's a version above the 2.0 that I originally had) seems to be a ".exe" for PC only. Maybe they never made a 2.1 update for the Mac?

But, I think I have another problem that needs to be fixed. I originally posted here because the DVDongle software crashed AND I couldn't get to their website. It seemed to be gone. If I try to surf to dvdongle.com <> on my Mac, it either says page not found (if I'm looking to download software using the link you included) or it connects me to some beauty supply company website instead if I just surf to dvdongle.com!!! What!!! That makes no sense, I know. If instead I surf to dvdongle.com <> on my iPad, I get to the dvdongle site without a problem. So, it appears I have something wrong with my Mac, or Comcast's name server or something. I'll work on that in the days ahead.

Anyway, thank you both again...it's nice to know that the dvdongle site is actually still available, and that apparently the unit can still work...but just not here, at least not yet.

If I discover anything, I'll certainly let you guys know.

Regards,

Ken N1NEG

On Jul 28, 2024, at 5:07?PM, John M Wysocki <zl2tws@...> wrote:

Hi Ken

I use the DV Dongle a lot, along with the DV3K that came after it.
I only have Windows 7 and 10 but DVTool 2.1 works perfectly on both
and the devices are very reliable.



Install FTDI drivers from prior to connecting the DVDongle.
Once installed, plug in the DV Dongle and download the DVTool distribution at
,
double click the file to open it, and drag DVTool to your Desktop.
You can then proceed to the Using the DV Dongle page listed at the top of this page.

I'm always on the look out for surplus dongles to pass onto new users.
A little unknown fact that Robin AA4RC passed onto me is that the
Blue dongle uses the AMBE2020 chip and the DV3K uses the AMBE3000.
AMBE2020 displays BER in real time whereas the DV3K doesn't.
AMBE removed it from the 3000 as Internet Labs had been using that feature.

I use the blue dongle to monitor repeater performance by transmitting a weak
test signal into the repeater while Blue dongle connected to that gateway repeater.
BER can be monitored in real time watching for bursts of QRM, antenna crackle,
duplexer crackle that you would have previously heard if the repeater was FM.

I hope this information helps and thanks for posting your message as it
might uncover a few more of these excellent Internet labs devices.

73 and good DV. John ZL2TWS
Ken Winograd
 

Just FYI, I have some progress to report but still a problem. My problem surfing to dvdongle.com is resolved. It was a problem involving my Firefox settings and an extension that makes everything HTTPS when it can. No need to go into details, but now, I can surf to dvdongle.com without problems.
?
I reinstalled the required drivers for the Mac as suggested, re-plugged in the DVDongle itself (it's pulsating green as it should) and I was able to download v2.1 of the DVTools (thanks for the link to it). But, as before with my v2.0 version of DVTools, the program still crashes before I even get to the DVTools main window. So, I still have some figuring to do...
?
 

This thread is off-topic. Please move this discussion to another forum.

Patrick (N3TSZ)


On Monday, July 29, 2024 at 09:12:06 AM EDT, Ken Winograd <subscriptions@...> wrote:


Just FYI, I have some progress to report but still a problem. My problem surfing to dvdongle.com is resolved. It was a problem involving my Firefox settings and an extension that makes everything HTTPS when it can. No need to go into details, but now, I can surf to dvdongle.com without problems.
?
I reinstalled the required drivers for the Mac as suggested, re-plugged in the DVDongle itself (it's pulsating green as it should) and I was able to download v2.1 of the DVTools (thanks for the link to it). But, as before with my v2.0 version of DVTools, the program still crashes before I even get to the DVTools main window. So, I still have some figuring to do...
?
Ken Winograd
 

Sorry Patrick. I meant no disrespect to you or the group. I had a problem with a D-Star DVDongle and the DVDongle group has apparently zero activity, and I was looking for a way to get any info at all on a D-Star-related product. So, I tried this group hoping to find some kind soles with some solid info (which I did). Anyway, consider me gone!

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