RRC 1258 Support in English > Configuration, RRC 1258
SO2R config - USB COM port confusion
vk4iu:
G'Day,
I am getting very frustrated with the allocation of real PC COM port numbers to the USB serial devices in the RemoteRig boxes.
I know this is a Windows issue, and are looking for advice on how to retain the COM PORT configuration after initial setup of the RemoteRig devices and system.
I have yet to understand the process, but if I have occasion to reboot the my PC, especially after the RemoteRig devices have been disconnected or powered off - Windows 7 seems to have a mind of its own, allocating new port numbers to the 4 devices in the USB connection - eight in my configuration. Usually only four change, but the change can be to either RemoteRig USB connection.
I have an MicroHam MK2R+, Station Master SO2R configuration, with two Elecraft K3/100s driven remotely by two K3/0s, both RemoteRig sets are running in TWIN mode. After correct configuration, the system works very well for hour after hour - all on a private local area network. No "Internet" is involved.
But, if I do other things with the "control" PC, and ultimately reboot for example, Windows 7 may allocate a new set of com ports for one of the RemoteRig devices. When the "re-config" is finished, I usually finish up with four new com ports, and the original ports are listed as "hidden devices" in Device manager.
I have experience setting up com ports. So before initial setup, I moved all other devices - Bluetooth serial ports for my Nokia phone, other USB serial ports, to numbers higher than 8, that is 20 through 30. Before I started with the RemoteRigs - all COM ports below 8 are free and unused - and any hidden devices below 8 uninstalled/deleted.
The PC is an i7 based Dell notebook with NO hardware serial ports.
When the Remote Rig Management software is installed, and the RemoteRig USB connection made, one at a time, the first device is usually allocated ports 5 to 8. The second device usually gets ports around 8 to 13, which I then reconfigure to ports 1 to 4. I then usually reboot the PC, turn the radios on/off and verify correct PC operation and configure the software in the control PC - N1MM, Logic, TRX Manager, OmniRig etc etc.
The complete system then functions correctly - the Microham gear follows along with the normal operation of the K3/0-K3, and any software I run on the control PC against the USB based com ports to the control RemoteRig device functions as I expect. I can power the K3/0 off and on, and it all works as expected.
I understood that each USB device has some sort of identifying number to allow consistency of allocation.
What triggers a need to reallocate the COM ports in the Control PC when I later reboot the Dell notebook?
What procedure is recommended to minimise - perhaps eliminate - this problem? See also another topic "Correct procedure - remote operation."
Peter VK4IU
vk4iu:
... Windows 7 did it again.
WIN 7 reconfigured the coms ports, so I was prompted to write the first item in this topic.
After writing the topic, I then went back to my system, deleted the "hidden devices" Win 7 ignored, and reallocated the com ports as I wanted - that is used "Properities, Port Settings, Advanced" and changed the port number to "my" port selection.
I then rebooted the PC to ensure I would be consistent over time. All devices remained powered.
On reboot, Win 7 reallocated the port numbers, of the second RemoteRig devices, turning my selections again into "hidden devices".
Why don't I just leave Windows set the port numbers? Good question.
N1MM will not use ports above 8 - legacy software. TRX Manager limits one to 1 to 16. OmniRig limits one to 1 to 20. MMTTY allows 1 to 16 for FSK.
I want the RemoteRig ports to use 1 to 3, and 4 to 6, with FSK devices above 8. That leaves some flexibility below 8 for other devices - a WinKey link, a link to the MK2R+ for N1MM.
Attached is a snap of the latest confusion - notice that Win 7 has allocated the FSK port to COM9 already allocated to the phone.
Peter VK4IU
Jan (Microbit):
Peter,
I did some tests on my Win 7 64-bits system:
1/
Attached one RRC and got four COM ports -> 12,13,14 and 15
2/
Attached another RRC and got the "installing drivers balloon". Four new ports appeared -> 21,23,24 and 25
3/
Rebooted the PC and the ports kept their allocated numbers.
4/
Reallocated COM13 to COM2
5/
Rebooted once again and still the numbers remained the same.
6/
Plugged out and in several times and still the numbers were ok.
So I am not able to see the behavior you describe and also I do not understand why Windows reinstalls/renumbers the ports in your case.
dj0qn:
Peter,
As long as you:
a) Use the same USB ports for each device
b) The port was not already used previously
You will always get the same port upon reboot. The problem probably lies with the b) above:
at some point this serial port was used and is "blocked" within Windows. Clicking on "show all
devices" will NOT show all old devices no longer used. That is what is probably confusing you.
To solve that, do the following: make a batch file containing the following two lines, or else
enter then into a DOS box in order:
set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1
\windows\system32\devmgmt.msc
Then when the Device Manager comes up, click on "show all devices". These older no longer
used ports will magically show-up. Then you can delete them. I hope this solves your problem.
If things really are nasty, one can easily completely delete all USB devices from the Device
Manager and reset Windows. In this case, you need to make-up a batch file containing
the following lines:
devcon.exe remove =USB
devcon.exe rescan =USB
Be very careful if you use this, since all devices will be reallocated new ports from scratch.
73,
Mitch DJ0QN / K7DX
vk4iu:
Thank you Jan.
I notice your systems gives nice neat four sequential numbers for the ports - all high numbers. It confirms for me the problem lies with Win 7, previous use of the com ports, and the "left overs" of the USB system as a whole. But a method to get consistency is escaping me.
Thanks for your imput Mitch.
I have already set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1 and made numerous attempts at removal, moving com ports and rebooting. Sometimes it all works as one wants - but other times re-allocation occurs.
I note that one of the two RemoteRig devices seems to re-allocate more often than the other., and the numbers follow odd sequences - rarely 4,5,6,7 more likely 4,9,6,7 and I never see numbers like 16,17,18,19.
So, as I search for a solution, my strategy will be to reset with "devcon remove=USB", avoid all the other USB devices, and work with the RemoteRig devices until I have a stable solution. I will also try with a "clean-skin" Compaq Notebook I have to check the potential of the 64bit Win 7 Dell as a problem.
In Win7 I see no "show all devices", but there is "View, Show Hidden Devices", which with "devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1" does show what I expect.
I have a GPS attached to my Faros system - another Win XP system. Windows was insisting that the GPS was a serial mouse. I am familiar with the "re-enumeration" process that occurs on a Windows reboot count with Plug and Play devices. I suspect that that process on my Win 7 64 bit system might be having some affect as well.
Peter VK4IU
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