Signals Configuration - microHAM DXP Manual

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5 – SIGNALS CONFIGURATION
In order to get DXP to operate properly with your logger or digital mode software, it is necessary to
make the correct port assignments and configure the output signals. Logger or digital mode programs
communicate with your transceiver thru serial ports and audio ports created by DXP.
The basic rule is that the port selected in your logger or digital mode software must match the respective
DXP port for that function. CAT interface port in logger must be set to the port number or name of the
CAT port in DXP; the FSK port in your RTTY program to the port number or name of the FSK port of
DXP; and the WinKey interface port (if your logger supports WinKey) must be set to the port number or
name of the WinKey port in DXP.
Feedback to operator
DXP uses the front panel lights and display to provide feedback to operator for all port data.
CAT communication is indicated on top left corner of the display by two arrows. The arrow pointing to
the right indicates data flow from the computer to the transceiver and the arrow pointing to the left
indicates data flow from the radio to the computer. Normally you should see both arrows indicating
proper communication.
FSK data is indicated by the green FSK light on the front panel of DXP. If the data is meaningful it is
also shown as scrolling text on display.
WinKey data is not shown but if data are correct outgoing CW output is indicated by the CW light on
front panel as well as by scrolling text on display.
If your digital mode application has opened the receive audio input, that is indicated by the red AUDIO
RX light on the front panel. To receive audio you always need to set DXP LINE, DXP RX, or DXP Audio
Input as the receive (input) audio device in your digital mode software. If you do not see this light during
receive, your application is not set for the correct RX audio source.
If your digital mode application has opened the transmit audio output, that is indicated by yellow AUDIO
TX light on the DXP front panel. To transmit audio, you must set the transmit audio device (output) in
your digital mode software to left channel of DXP, DXP TX, or DXP Audio Output. If you do not see this
light during transmit the TX audio is not set correctly in your digital mode program.
In addition to the audio, CAT, FSK and WinKey ports whose functionality is fixed, you can use
additional, user controlled signals. These signals can be individually enabled or disabled in DXP Setup
Menu.
Right audio channel can be used as source for CW or RTTY (FSK) operation if such functionality is
supported by your program (e.g. Fldigi, cocoamodem, etc.).
Each serial port has a configurable DTR signal (RTS signals are not used because Windows limits them
to handshake use). These DTR signals on each port can be individually set as PTT, on/off CW keying,
or on/off FSK keying sources. The use of PTT keying is recommended and provides much more
predictable and timely performance than PTT over CAT (transceiver CAT commands). However, on/off
keying for CW and FSK should be used only if your favorite logger does not support real (UART) FSK
keying and has no support for WinKey.
The diagram on the next page provides a self explanatory overview of all signals available on computer
and their relationship to the user settings defined in the DXP Setup Menu.
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