Serial Issues

Generic Serial Setup for the Contest Software

The various contest software offerings provide a simple interface to a TNC. Usage of a TNC will allow for the creation of macros to send the exchange and other items. Received data is also displayed on the Logger window.

At the end of this document are some possible solutions to common problems.

Some information about the serial connection to your TNC is needed before successfully having the logging software, computer and TNC communicate. Since your TNC is used with other software it has probably had various parameters set at some time. The main parameters are:

Port - which port or interface is the TNC attached to on the computer or USB adapter
Baud or Speed - the speed which the TNC and computer exchange data.
Data Bits - the number of data bits in each character.
Stop Bits - (10 = 1 stop bit, 15 = 1.5 stop bits, 20 = 2 stop bits)
Parity
Flow Control

These parameters AS SET IN YOUR TNC must be known to properly communicate with this or any other serial type of software!

To set the parameters in the software, use the pull down menus or check boxes on the "TNC Setup" window. To set the port, click on the port field and the possible settings will be displayed. Click on the port desired. If no ports appear, press the "Rebuild Ports" button.

To set the Baud (speed), click on the Speed field and the possible settings will be displayed. Click on the speed desired.

Continue and set the parameters for the Databits, Stopbits and Parity.
Flow Control is the method used to start and stop the data transfer between the computer and serial device. If you normally use a terminal software package with your TNC, it would most likely be using XON and XOFF. If you have problems with the data flow, try unchecking all the checkboxes which would turn off any flow control.
If you have a true serial cable you can try using one or both of the other options (DtrDsr and/or Rts/Cts).

For the software to control the TNC, various commands must be sent. These are defined on the right top of the window. Displayed here are the commands for the Kantronics TNCs. Pressing the "AEA" button will change the various commands to those appropriate to AEA. These are only suggestions and for the AEA and other TNCs, you will need to refer to your instruction manual.
As examples for the Kantronics, the "command" character is the Control-C. This will put the TNC into the command mode if in converse. To set the Kantronics TNC to the CW mode, the characters "CW" must be sent while in command mode. To transmit, the command character (Control-C) followed by the character "T" is sent to the TNC.

Again, pop down lists used to make your selection. If nothing is required, use the top blank space.

Once all the settings are made, make sure the "Check this box to use a TNC for the contest" checked and then press the "Logger" button. The next window will be the logging window for a digital mode.

Once in the logger window, you must press the "Start Receive" button to open the port to the TNC.

... and then put the TNC into the proper digital mode. Press the "Enter CW Mode" or "Enter RTTY Mode" button.

Some common problems.

No data received from the TNC - the most common problem. Possibilities include:

Wrong baud setting. What speed does your TNC expect?
Other parameter settings such as Databits, Parity, etc.
TNC in HOST mode - Some software packages will set the TNC to HOST mode and will not return to TERM mode on exit. Solution is to use some communications software such as ZTerm to set into TERM mode. The logging software uses the simple TERM mode.
TNC in KISS mode - same comments as above for HOST mode.

Screen flashes.

The software uses an available serial plug-in which triggers screen updates at various times. This is more evident on slower Macs.