Re: [Hamlib-developer] More on Rotator serial protocols

[Nate B. <n0...@ne...>]

* Orv Beach <w6...@pa...> [2003 Jan 10 10:53 -0600]:
> In shopping / researching, I found the Rotor EZ add-in control card for
> Ham IV and Tailtwister rotators at Idiom Press  (
> http://www.idiompress.com )  It states that its control protocol is the
> same as the Hy-Gain DCU-1.   Researching the DCU-1 control box, it says
> it "has computer control with RS-232 pass through and is compatible with
> many logging and contest programs as well."

Hi Orv.

We must be on the same wavelength!  I researched this myself this
morning and within the past hour fired off an email to Idiom Press
requesting a complete command listing.  From my research it seems that
the Idiom products may have an additional command or two over the 
Hy-Gain DCU-1.  I hope to get a reply and drop some code into CVS over
the weekend.

I have a Ham IV and I'd like to play with this system on as well, but first
I need to get the rotor off the tower to test it out as something was
non-functional several years ago.  Right now it's too darn cold to do
tower work!

> Can I assume they're referring to Easycomm, or is there some other
> common serial rotator protocol lurking out there?

Looking at the easycomm/easycomm.txt file in Hamlib, the two are
definitely not compatible.  Right now the two most popular protocols for
satellite work appear to be Easycomm and FODtrack.  The DCU-1 is only
supported by Hy-Gain and Idiom Press as near as I can tell.

Also, Idiom has the Rotor Card whihc is a board similar to the Rotor-EZ
but for the Yaesu rotors and uses the DCU-1 type commands.

Hopefully, there will be some code to test in a few days.

73, de Nate >>

-- 
 Wireless | Amateur Radio Station N0NB          | "We have awakened a
 Internet | n0...@ne...               | sleeping giant and
 Location | Bremen, Kansas USA EM19ov           | have instilled in him
  Amateur radio exams; ham radio; Linux info @  | a terrible resolve".
             http://www.qsl.net/n0nb/           | - Admiral Yamamoto