How to Setup the N1MM Logger v7.0.0 with PowerSDR 1.x

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How to Setup the N1MM Logger v7.0.0 with PowerSDR 1.x

How to Setup the N1MM Logger v7.0.0 with PowerSDR 1.x

System Dependencies
Minimum PowerSDR Version:	1.10.1
Applicable Hardware:	All transceivers

Content provided by: Rob, AB7CF

This procedure has only been tested with N1MM Logger v7.0.0, PowerSDR v1.10.1 and N8VB vCom v1.0.0.4.
It works on a Pentium 3D PC with 1Gbyte of RAM and Windows XP Professional box.

Software Prerequisites:

• N1MM v7.0.0
• PowerSDR v1.10.1
• vCom 1.0.0.4 (build 226)

Step 1. Using the vCom Configurator, establish a virtual com port pair to serve as the PTT and CAT virtual serial port between N1MM and PowerSDR

• For this example PowerSDR uses COM6 and N1MM uses COM7 for the virtual port pair. Any other valid vCom pair may be substituted. See the example below.

Step 2. Setup PowerSDR's end of the PTT Serial port connection.

• In the PowerSDR menu bar, navigate to PowerSDR Setup -> CAT Control and perform the following:
• In the PTT Control Panel, select Port COM6 and leave the RTS and DTR check boxes blank.
• In the CAT Control panel, check the Enable CAT box.
• In the ID as: control, select PowerSDR. (SDR-1000 in older versions)
  

See the example below:

Step 3. Setup N1MM Logger's end of the CAT channel

1. In the Logger menu bar navigate to Config -> Configure Ports, Telnet Address, Other and perform the following:
2. Select the Hardware tab.
3. In the Com7 row, do the following:

• For the Radio select Kenwood
• Put a check in the CW/PTT box
• Click the Set button

See the example below:

Step 4. Setup the com port settings for the Kenwood radio

1. After clicking the Set button and configure the following com port parameters:

• Speed: 9600
• Parity: N
• Data Bits: 8
• Stop Bits: 1
• DTR (pin 4): CW
• RTS (pin 7): PTT
• Radio/VFO: 1
• PTT Delay (msec): 30
• SW/PTT Port Addr: 2E0

The following boxes should be unchecked:

• Radio PTT via command
• Allow exit interrupts
• WinKey

Click on OK when complete. See example below.

Step 5. Now verify communication between Logger and PowerSDR by performing the following test:

1. If still open, click Apply and OK as appropriate to close N1MM Configurer and PowerSDR Setup windows
2. Verify communications by selecting various frequencies in PowerSDR's VFO A window and verifying the same change in Logger's blue Title bar.

Step 6. Assuming basic CAT communications has been established; enable PowerSDR to process "paddle closures" from N1MM Logger.

1. In the PowerSDR menu bar, navigate to PowerSDR Setup -> DSP -> Keyer
2. On this tab make the following changes to your basic setup:
3. In the Connections Panel perform the following changes

In the Secondary control select CAT. PTT Line and Key Line controls will appear.

• For PTT Line select RTS
• For Key Line select DTR
• Leave all other controls unchanged.
• Click Apply and OK to close the window
  

Step 7. You should now be ready to send CW strings from N1MM. To test this, perform the following:

Select an unused portion of a CW band and tune your SDR. (remember to use a dummy load to minimize QRM or very low power)

1. Enter a test string behind one of the Logger function keys say F2
2. Click F2 and observe the CW being sent by your SDR.
3. Check the TX Meter to make sure signal is being sent
4. With MON activated listen to the code quality.

Assuming you can hear the code and appropriate power is being generated you are done.

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To restore control to your normal CAT program for PowerSDR:

In the PowerSDR menu bar, navigate to PowerSDR Setup -> DSP -> Keyer

1. Select "None" in the Keyer Secondary Port box.
2. Terminate N1MM Logger and activate your normal CAT program.

There is one remaining issue. That is insuring smooth CW transmission.

Assuming on contest day there will be several programs running on your machine, application priorities must be set appropriately.

I set mine as follows:

Start with all applications at normal.

• In the PowerSDR menu bar, navigate to Setup -> General -> Options and select a Process Priority of High.
• Press <CTRL>+<ALT>+<DELETE> simultaneously and select Windows Task Manager's Processes Tab
• The processes PowerSDR and taskmgr.exe should have a Base Priority of High
• Right click on the N1MM Logger process and select Set Priority from the pop-up box
• In the drop down window select AboveNormal
• Leave all other tasks at a Base Priority of Normal.

The resulting performance is solid at least through 30wpm. But be forewarned, this configuration has not been tested under the combat conditions of a real CW contest.

NOTE: I've been hearing from a few hams who have the interface working but are still having some problems getting smooth code. All the reports were from people running single processor CPUs.

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This KB article may reference additional files that are available on the FlexRadio Systems web site Downloads page. Please use the URL(s) below to download the referenced materials.

An Adobe Acrobat Reader may be required to open the file. You can download Adobe Acrobat from here.

KB Source Document(s):

None Referenced

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Last Modified:Thursday, July 31, 2008
Last Modified By: Administrator
Type: HOWTO
Rated 5 stars based on 1 vote
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