Echolink link radio keys down when Echolink is closed

[timkilbride]

When I close Echolink or my computer restarts, my echolink link radio will just stay keyed down. Is there a setting somewhere to prevent this?

Thanks,

Tim

[trsundstrom]

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Err, Echolink doesn't use a radio??? What am I missing?

[n9mxq]

It does if it's in Link or Repeater mode. How are you keying the radio?

[timkilbride]

Originally Posted by n9mxq

It does if it's in Link or Repeater mode. How are you keying the radio?

I'm using a Rigblaster M8. My echolink setup is for repeater mode.

Tim

[n9mxq]

And the Rigblaster uses serial port keying to accomplish transmit? I'm thinking something on the serial port is getting left high (or low) whether it's RTS or CTS when the software exits.. I'm not familiar with the Rigblaster so I'm only guessing.

[timkilbride]

Originally Posted by n9mxq

And the Rigblaster uses serial port keying to accomplish transmit? I'm thinking something on the serial port is getting left high (or low) whether it's RTS or CTS when the software exits.. I'm not familiar with the Rigblaster so I'm only guessing.

Yes, the serial port is hooked to the rigblaster which in turns keys the radio.

Tim

[n9mxq]

can you switch from RTS to CTS to key the radio (or visa versa)? It may be what you need. Check the manual for the Rigblaster.

[timkilbride]

Originally Posted by n9mxq

can you switch from RTS to CTS to key the radio (or visa versa)? It may be what you need. Check the manual for the Rigblaster.

I have tried both settings. Both will still key the radio up upon exiting the program.

Tim

[n9mxq]

That would be the only thing I could think of, unless you're using a USB-Serial adapter instead of a hardware serial port.

[Al42]

Two things come to mind:

1) When the computer reboots, the state of the serial port is undetermined, so you have to accept the key-down or disconnect the repeater or Rigblaster during boot.

2) It sounds as if the idle state of the lines is set to key down, and the program is set to keep them active for key up - which would have the Rigblaster key down when the program stops running. I've never used Echolink with a rig, but I suspect that you can reverse the keying sense in the software and in Rigblaster. A voltmeter would tell you what's going on here. Active is around -10v to -12v for an RS-232 pin. The pins should sit at a slightly positive voltage when the transmitter shouldn't be keyed. (Computers rarely meed RS-232 specs, which call for +12 idle and -12v active. But the Rigblaster should work with -10v active and a couple of volts positive for idle.)