[Xastir] D700 with Mac

[Jason Winningham]

> startup and shutdown are for the .d700

good.

> TNC w/AUX GPS

If you have a GPS on the D700, use this.  If you want to keep it simple 
(or you have no GPS) use "Serial TNC".

> TNC port -- well thats the question isn't it... lol

That is the name of the device special file.   for my Keyspan, it's 
"/dev/tty.USA28X822P2.2". (Note there's no "usb" in this device special 
file name.)

> Now what procedure do you use to start up, i.e. how is the D700 set
> when you first bring up Xastir, on .. off... in TNC APRS mode or TNC
> PKT mode or not in either.

I think with the latest startup files it doesn't matter - xastir will 
put it in packet mode for you.  Just make sure it's tuned to 144.390 
(or your preferred testing frequency) on the data band.

>  What brand of usb/serial adapter are you
> using, I have three choices.. I have the Keyspay, I have an I/O Gear
> and I have a Micro Innovations, but only the Keyspan and I/O Gear seem
> to register with the iBook.

It doesn't matter as long as there are working drivers.  Here are some 
common RS232 pitfalls:

No driver (or broken driver) for your USB/RS232 device.  For a quick 
sanity check of your device and driver, use some terminal software (I 
use Kermit) to connect to this serial device, then short pins 2 and 3 
together (on the 9 pin serial connector) to perform a loopback test.  
Any key you type should be echoed back.  If you don't see your typing, 
something is wrong.  Note that if this does work, there still could be 
issues with handshaking, etc, but it's a pretty decent test and fairly 
easy to execute.

Bad cable: Make sure the cable is right.  The D700 connected to a 
standard DB9 serial connector needs a straight through cable with at 
least pins 2 3 and 5 connected.  This means that pin 2 on one end goes 
to pin 2 on the other end, same for 3 and 5.  Just because the 
connectors are such that the cable will plug in does _not_ mean that 
the cable is wired correctly!  Note that the quick and dirty "short 
pins 2 & 3 echo test" will _not_ tell you if the cable is right, since 
the cable could be a null modem cable that swaps pins 2 and 3 and still 
pass the loopback test.  If the cable says "APC" somewhere, it probably 
won't work.  APC has some seriously screwball pinouts for their UPS 
cables.


xastir to d700 is a fairly long chain (xastir, usb, usb/rs232 device, 
usb/rs232 device driver, serial cable, d700).  If you're having 
problems and the problem isn't obvious, I suggest some simpler tests 
for the individual parts between xastir and the d700.

-Jason
kg4wsv