apache-labs.com

I configured Thetis with my G2 and everything works very well. The only problem is the lack of CAT for cooperation between the logging program and OmniRig. I use 4 CAT ports to connect the automatic antenna box, amplifier, logging program and T-mate. I installed VSPE and my logging program cannot work together with OmniRig on the same VSPE port. Is it a big problem to add a 5th CAT port to the setup in Thetis?
Happy New Year,
Slawomir

qst wrote:I configured Thetis with my G2 and everything works very well. The only problem is the lack of CAT for cooperation between the logging program and OmniRig. I use 4 CAT ports to connect the automatic antenna box, amplifier, logging program and T-mate. I installed VSPE and my logging program cannot work together with OmniRig on the same VSPE port. Is it a big problem to add a 5th CAT port to the setup in Thetis?
Happy New Year,
Slawomir

Which logging program?

Hi, I use German Turbolog. I am using one of the VSPE ports. Turbolog has the ability to enable Band Master, which needs the OmniRig port. When I turn on Band Master on the same CAT port as Turbolog, Band Master works together with Turbolog for several hundred seconds. After several seconds, Turbolog does not read the radio frequency. Turbolog and Band Master must work on different CAT ports, which is not possible because I have 4 CAT ports occupied.
Slawomir

qst wrote:Hi, I use German Turbolog. I am using one of the VSPE ports. Turbolog has the ability to enable Band Master, which needs the OmniRig port. When I turn on Band Master on the same CAT port as Turbolog, Band Master works together with Turbolog for several hundred seconds. After several seconds, Turbolog does not read the radio frequency. Turbolog and Band Master must work on different CAT ports, which is not possible because I have 4 CAT ports occupied.
Slawomir

Ok, It seems like Turbolog isn't using hamlib or one of the latest versions. Consider changing to another Logger (LogHX3, Log4OM,...)?

Maybe the amplifier or the antenna switch box can use alternative connections? Which models do you use?

The Turbolog uses one of the four CAT ports on Thetis. The CAT ports for the Flexradio PGXL amplifier and the PA0LL automatic antenna box are connected via RS232 cables via a USB/RS232 interface. I use the last free CAT port for T-mate. Turbolog works flawlessly. But it has an external Band Master module, which must have an additional port with OmniRig. It cannot be the same port as Turbolog because Turbolog turns off after a few seconds and does not read the G2 frequency. I can work without Band Master but I am looking for a solution to make Band Master work. that's why I asked if it is possible to add a CAT port to Thetis 5 in the future. Maybe there is another solution?
Slawomir

You can use rigctlcom in Hamlib to connect to another VSPE port and Thetis. It was specifically designed to allow non-Hamlib programs to talk to other rigs. Hamlib support virtually all rigs in existence (I only have 1 request for a new Rhode&Schwartz rig outstanding).

rigctlcom is a TS-2000 emulator that can translate to any rig supported in Hamlib.
Given VSPE ports COM10 & COM11 you connect rigctlcom to the CAT network server on Thetis and one of the VSPE ports

rigctlcom -m 2054 -r 192.168.1.1:13013 -R COM10 -S 115200

Then connect your other program to COM11 as a TS-2000 at 115,200.

The latest hamlib has the new Thetis model 2054
https://n0nb.users.sourceforge.net/


Mike W9MDB

Hi Mike,
Thank you for your answer. I'm wondering how I can use hamlib to solve my problem. I specifically need one more CAT port in Thetis, but I have already used 4 ports. Could you explain more clearly what I can do to solve my problem? I will try to install Hamlib soon.
Slawomir

Great idea, Mike!

Thetis TCP/IP <--> rigctlcom <--> VSPE port pair <--> Some other application

Not sure I can make the directions much clearer -- maybe I can create a youtube video.
It does require a cmd prompt or a batch file to start rigctlcom.

Mike

Never thought about use TCP on VSPE....cool beans...

Mike W9MDB

Also in the latest Hamlib you'll now find a "Thetis" entry by itself.
Future improvements to Thetis will be in there and may deprecate the old entry eventually.

https://n0nb.users.sourceforge.net/

Mike W9MDB

Damn! I totally forgot about that feature of VSPE, and I'm a long time proponent and user of VSPE

Well done!

Dear colleagues,
Your help turned out to be invaluable. I created a port connected to TCPIP in VSPE according to Richie's video. Everything worked and now I have BandMaster in Turbolog. It's great that there is a solution that I didn't know about. Does this solution only involve creating one CAT port for Thetis to work with another application? I'm asking because one day there may be a need for Thetis to work with another additional application (JTDX, etc.).
Happy New Year,
Slawomir

For WSJT-X and JTDX you can also use the TCP/IP port.

Just put this in the COM port area

192.168.1.1:13013

Or whatever IP:Port you have set up.

See also this topic: https://community.apache-labs.com/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=4249

Thanks Richie for the short video explaining the server connection setup in Thetis. I've not used TCP before, however have been running VSPE (paid version) for some time.

Scott, I read your post, you linked to here for addition information, very interesting.

Richie,
The TCPiP configuration you showed in the film works unstable. Everything worked normally, but after restarting the computer I have a VSPE message "Cannot Connection Establish" probably VSPE turns on as the first and does not see the configuration of TCPiP Thetis. VSPE starts automatically because I did the script. After restarting VSPe everything returns to normal.
Slawomir

Richie can't fix that problem. It could be fixed in VSPE if Eterlogic implemented a retry process on that type of port.

Create a script that starts things in the correct order and with any necessary delays

I understand what's going on but I don't know how to do it. Has anyone already made such a script?
Slawomir

How are you starting VSPE right now? Does it load as a service, is it launched as a startup item, or is it launched from a script?

vspe will re-connect/auto-connect no problem as long as it is running and has the correct config. Thetis needs to be configured to start the tcpip cat server obviously. You can save out the vspe config, then use it in the startup config, shown below.

and a quick vid of that being tested....

Good morning,
Thank you very much for the next video. I had an older version of VSPE that worked unstable. Today I installed the latest version and TCPIP in VSPE. After starting Thetis, it connects and works properly.
Happy New Year,
Slawomir