Wind on the Mountain!

Using Virtual COM Ports

This posts shows two applications, NaP3 and HRD, simultaneously communicating with the FTdx3000.  The FTdx3000 "talks" through COM4 which is shared (split) with COM6 and COM7.  This sharing is bi-directional.

The sharing is done by first linking COM4 to a local TCP port (1000).  Then, two additional virtual COM ports are created, COM6 and COM7, which both send and receive from the TCP port (1000).



The three dialog boxes below show the setup of how to split a COM port using a common TCP port.  The left hand dialog box links COM4 with TCP port 1000 on the computer located at LAN network address 192.168.50.33. The two dialog boxes on the right then create two virtual ports which link to this TCP port.

Look closely at the top right dialog box. On the left side of this box is the information setup to establish a virtual COM6. The right side of this dialog box establish the link to TCP address 192.168.50.33 port 1000.

TCP/COM is very easy to configure and provides excellent bidirectional communications between your radio, or any serial device, and multiple applications.  TCP/COM is a product of Taltech.

What is this?

Crescent Moon at Sunset

Operating position

Finish wicking bed

Wicking bed

N1MM+

FTdx3000 Menu Settings for Rear Audio

Joy at last! After a careful review of all the "related" menu items (see below), I have identified the combination that allows one to connect in and out bound audio to the rear of the FTdx3000.  It IS easier than it looks--if you know the answer!  Isn't it always that way.

Settings for back of the radio operations--plus a few others.

K3

IC-7300

Control software plus full band scope!

 RS-BA1 & RC-28

cf

Sent from my iPhone

Look how small it is!

It's a matter of excellence...

I read with interest a New York Times article on the Common Core.  If you follow the link you will encounter a considerable amount of vitriol but, I fear, not too much reason.

If you would like a frame of reference, please read the Second Quarter State of Missouri, 1924-25 exam for 7th and 8th grade.
To see the exam as a pdf click here.

When you finish taking the exam, let's talk about educational standards in American today.

Oh...just in case you missed it...here are the civics questions...you remember civics don't you?

Keep in mind this was an exam that all Missouri 7th and 8th graders had to take and pass--in 1925.

IC-7300

This is a must see!

This is W4PRE's new rig!

FTdx3000 and the Elecraft KPA500

Several fellows have asked about using the FTdx3000 with the Elecraft PKA500.  I think you will find K2WU's observations helpful. These are also available on the Elecraft Reflector. 

I use the 15 pin Linear jack on the back of the FTdx3000 to accomplish a few things. First of all, I use Yaesu pin 2 (TX GND) as the key line for the KPA500, rather than the Elecraft's separate phono cable. Secondly, I used Yaesu pins 4, 5, 6 and 7 to supply the band data to the amplifier rather than rely totally on the KPA500's auto-sense of the frequency. And, of course, pin 3 is the common ground for all of this. At least on the FTdx3000, ignore the KPA500's instructions about Yaesu pin 8 (TX INH)--just just leave it alone.

Also, I use Yaesu pin 11 (TX REQ) and ground out to a separate push-button switch. When pressed, this forces the FTdx3000 into a CW carrier (regardless of current mode), and I've set the menu #178 to let it output only 10 watts.

So in use, I put the KPA500 to operate, press my push-button switch which puts 10 watts out to the KPA500, which then generates about 200 watts into my tuner, which I quickly adjust if necessary. Let go of my push-button switch, and I'm good to go with about 25-30 watts preset on the FTdx3000 power.Jim, K2WU 

New Stone at Boxwood

Virtual Com Ports

Remote Ops

Sent from my iPad

IPro

Comparison

Blue Ghost of Mentone

Carl Sr Obit

Obituary of Carl E Ferguson Sr

Carl Edwin Ferguson, Sr, age 99, of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, formerly of Springfield, Missouri and Washington, D.C. died April 22, 2016 following a brief illness at his residence at Capstone Village, Tuscaloosa, Alabama.  Interment will be at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, May 10, 2016 in Springfield Veterans Cemetery, Springfield, Missouri.  A memorial service to be followed by a reception will be held at 1:30 p.m., Friday, June 10, 2016 at Capstone Village, Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

He is survived by his son, Carl E Ferguson, Jr and wife Katie of Mentone, Alabama; two grandchildren, Susan Ferguson Sluser of Nashville, Tennessee and Joshua William Ferguson and wife Meredith of New York, New York; four great-granddaughters, Elizabeth and Catherine Sluser of Nashville, Tennessee, and Ella and Evelyn Ferguson of New York, New York; his brother, Burl Glen Ferguson of Titusville, Florida; numerous nieces and nephews; and his Capstone Village family.

He was preceded in death by his parents Flora Hankins Ferguson and William Horace Ferguson of Butterfield, Missouri; his wife of 60 years, Faye Westmoreland Ferguson; and two of his brothers James Rex Ferguson and William Eugene Ferguson.

He was born on September 18, 1916 on a small rural farm in Butterfield, Missouri. He graduated in 1941 from the University of Missouri—Columbia with a Ph.D. in Soils Science. He loved the University of Missouri and credited the university and his professors with whatever success he enjoyed throughout his career. Following graduation, he worked briefly for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. From July 1942 to February 1946 he was a survey officer with the 75th Division Artillery serving with distinction in the Battle of the Bulge.  Immediately after the war, he taught for six years at Texas A&M College of Agriculture.  From 1949 to 1950, he was asked to serve as an agronomist with the Marshall Plan.  Based in Paris, France he worked with the U.S. Economic Cooperation Administration to help restore agriculture across the European continent—and so began a 30 year career of government service.

Over the next thirty years he and his wife Faye traveled the world in an effort to help build and foster agricultural programs in developing countries.  His work took him to Baghdad, Iraq (1954-1956); Port-au-Prince, Haiti (1956-1959);  Rabat, Morocco (1959-1962); Dakar, Senegal (1962-1964); AID African Bureau, Washington, D.C. (1964-1969); back to Rabat, Morocco (1969-1974); Tunis, Tunisia (1974-1978); and finally, Washington, D.C. (1978-1979).  In each country he worked with local agricultural specialists to establish and manage experiment stations whose goal was to increase the quality and quantity of the country’s food production—essential to the economic development and wellbeing of the nation.  Though a very modest man, he was justifiably proud that America, his country, cared enough for those less fortunate nation states of the world to invest time and treasure to help them grow and prosper.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Ferguson Graduate Student Award, University of Missouri, Office of Advancement, 2-4 Agriculture Building, Columbia, MO 65211. 

KPA500 Theory of Operation

First Run from Feedpoint

Is this safe?

Ladder Line Restrainer

Balanced Line Restraining Collar

IC-7300

Click for Hi-Res Image

220' Center Support Guys in Place

Thanks to everyone for all your good ideas. Especially great thanks to W4BXI and KE4ID who keep asking me "what are you trying to accomplish." There is no better way to focus the mind than to see if you can answer this simple question to your satisfaction.

Oh, and a very special thanks to W4BXI for teaching me how to use the bow system without which none of the Cottage or Boxwood antennas would have been possible in their present form.

As we say in the South...

Well done y'all!

Legs, Skyhooks, and Feedline

Can you identify each?

First Skyhook in Place

New Yorkers Missing their Playground!

What I see...

Flag Pole Approach

Snap link

220' Dipole

Dipole is up.  W4BXI will visit tomorrow and advise on installing a skyhook and other changes are appropriate...assuming it survives the current winds.  I'm also looking forward to his estimate of the average height above ground. I have drawn in the line to help you visualize its location in the trees. 

Ready to Go

Dipole center connections