Ports: Cat & 2 Ports: Cw; Ports: Ptt - microHAM CW KEYER Manual

By its very nature, USB is not well suited to transfer the real time events required for CW keying. In addition to
the latency inherent in the USB protocol, delays due to CPU load, internal Windows message processing (inter-
process communication) and data flow from another peripherals sharing same the USB root hub can result in
transmitted characters that are garbled. To minimize these unwanted operating system effects Router uses a
specially developed oversampling and prediction algorithm to assure the smoothest possible transfer of control
signal events over USB. Using these techniques, CW keying in the Router is, in most cases, usable up to 50
WPM if the application generates keying signals accurately and does not consume 100% of CPU time at the
highest priority class.
Router allows assigning a virtual port for software CW using DTR or RTS signals. DTR* and RTS* are identical
to DTR/RTS except that the output is inhibited for one second after the COM port is opened. RTS*/DTR* should
only be used with programs that cause unwanted key-ups during startup.
TIP: More applications use DTR for CW than RTS.
When an application opens the COM port (usually at start-up), Router will indicate the channel is open.
The state of the CW channel is indicated by a red arrow.
If port is opened, it does not mean that it is properly
configured. The red arrow will light in time with the
transmitted CW when the port is properly configured.
To test CW operation, click on the Test button with no port assigned or the port closed.
The PTT channel is used for T/R switching of the transceiver.
Router allows assigning a virtual serial port to the PTT channel and supports PTT via DTR or RTS. DTR* and
RTS* are identical to DTR/RTS except that the output is inhibited for one second after the COM port is opened.
RTS*/DTR* should only be used with programs that cause unwanted key-ups during startup.
TIP: More applications use RTS for PTT than DTR.
When a COM port is assigned in the Router but not in the
application (or the application is not running), Router
shows the channel as closed.
When an application opens the COM port (usually at start-up), Router shows the channel as open.
Activity and the state of PTT channel is indicated by arrow. If port is opened, it does not mean that is properly
configured for PTT keying. The arrow will light during the entire transmission when port is properly configured.
Operation of the PTT outputs is described in chapter 15.3
TIP: Always use serial PTT instead of PTT by CAT. CAT PTT can be unreliable due to RFI and timing
issues.
To test operation of the PTT, click on the Test button with no port assigned or the port closed.
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CW PORT
PTT PORT
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