New: Alinco DJ-X11T

[molay]

Verify you are using the correct procedure to copy data from memory management software.

While holding down the［ MONI］ CLONE 57600bps key, press the ［POWER］key to turn ON the Slave. “CLONE” appears on the LCD. When the data transfer is complete, the DJ-X11 automatically returns to VFO mode.

 

[gcopter1]

Thanks, molay. Figured it out by now.I wasn't enabling the "comm" feature, among other things such as selecting the "T", at the top of the software window, which Alinco doesn't mention at all, anywhere. It has been very frustrating and time consuming, from installing the software and using it to understanding and getting the radio to work the way you want. I now managed to program both VFO with my favorite VHF aero frequencies and scan them.

 

[sibbley]

I bought a DJ-XS11 last week and received it on Monday. I don't know if I received a bad unit or what, but, I couldn't receive much of anything with it. Never could get it to program through the software either. The firmware on the unit I received was 2.80T. Anyone else have this firmware? Latest on the Alinco website is 2.60T.

 

[MarkWestin]

I've had mine since July 2010. Firmware has been updated a couple of times to the now "current" 2.60T. The current versions apparently come with 2.80T (like yours) but I don't know what the difference is. The stock antenna is basically useless for what I use mine for. Mine receives almost as good as my AR-8200 Mk3 and is much easier to program. The Alinco software is quite awful. I do use it to update my radio but it has very basic functions (like no cut and paste or insert a channel) I didn't buy the "USB" cable and am using the Yaesu/RT Systems serial cable that I use for just about everything.

Mark

 

[sibbley]

I have a cable from RT Systems for the FT60. I'll give that a try. I had my DJ-X11 connected to my out door ST-2 and still had receive issues. Tried messing with the squelch and gain, turned off the internal bar antenna thinking that may have caused some issues and tried several other antennas.

I was really excited about this receiver. I thought the IF out would be good for DSD+, not so. I wonder if the 2.80 firmware is part of the problem.

 

[MarkWestin]

I don't think that I would do anything with the firmware until finding out what the version change is. Perhaps contacting Alinco or their US distributor REMTRONIX could help. Don't overlook the RF Gain and Attenuator settings P48-49 of the OM. Also look at P88 Remote Com Port setting. This should only be enabled when using the ERW-8 "USB" cable which is actually a level converter so a standard USB cable can't be used. I dropped mine and the right lower rotary encoder broke (big pain), so it will have to be fixed sooner or later.

 

[sibbley]

On the gain, 10 is lowest and 1 highest? I tried going both ways and neither way seemed to help. Also did try the Attenuator on both high and low. As far as the remote com port, I only enabled that while trying to read or write to the radio. Then back to disable. I was using the ERW-8 cable. When I try the RT Systems cable, should I go by the Alinco instructions for the ERW-7 cable?

Can you program memory channels in the 500-505 Mhz range? My radio skips from 499. something and goes right to 505.

 

[sibbley]

I think I figured out the problem oddly enough. The ear phone jack cover attaches to the antenna post and seems to have not allowed the antenna to seat as far as it needed to. I removed the cover completely and am now hearing all kinds of coms I'm not getting on a scanner. I'm using the Watson 881 at the moment.

Still can't get the programming software to read or write, even with the RT Systems cable. Just keep getting a box pop up that says error with no other explanation. I've tried on a windows 7 and windows 8 machine.

 

[MarkWestin]

I am able to enter 503 Mhz into the memory of my radio with no problem. If you can't, you might try a hard reset before anything else. There's a little gotcha in the software. Near the top below the line with File(F) etc there is " J E/EGR T K". If you have a USA Model you can do everything including saving and loading a file, but before you can transfer to the radio you have to choose "T". That one has caught me several times.

Mark

 

[sibbley]

Yes, after I removed the earphone cover and got receive, I did a hard reset and now I can enter my 500Mhz frequencies. I found that I can adjust the step size and it actually makes a difference too since the reset. Ticking the "T" is hard to remember to do, but even when it is ticked It still won't write or read. I'll keep working on it.

 

[FrankNY]

I have a "K" model. It came with 2.40 pre-installed but I updated it to 2.60. I know nothing about the 2.80 firmware except for what I've read in this thread on RR.

Radio works great. I use the ERW-8 cable. I have all of the relevant Alinco software, plus some third-party programs as well, but use the Alinco Clone Utility Version 2.03 for programming the unit.

Frank.

 

[sibbley]

I can't find the 2.03 software. I have the 3.04 downloaded from Alinco.

 

[FrankNY]

sibbley, in my opinion, if you're using 3.04 then you should stick with it, since it is the latest. I do have an original copy of the version 2.03 .zip file download, but Alinco sort of frowns upon people sharing/redistributing their software, else I'd offer you a copy. Oh the other hand, you're probably better off with the current version 3.04 program anyway. In your case, I wouldn't bother with 2.03 at all.

If you're still experiencing problems getting your computer to communicate with the radio, however, my humble suggestion would be to try the Alinco ERW-8 cable (which connects to the EDC-174 charger/base that you already have).

Universal Radio has the ERW-8 for $44.95, although I'm sure that some other dealers have it as well.

Frank.

 

[sibbley]

Thanks Frank, I do have the ERW-8 cable. Nothing I have tried thus far has worked to get the radio to communicate with the software. I've been able to program by hand so I'm not too worried about the software. Just bugs me when things don't work.

Has anyone used the DJ-X11 for DSD+? I'm getting awful decode rates.

 

[FrankNY]

It bugs me, too, when things don't work (I'm like that. )

I assume that you've got the proper driver for your particular flavor of Windows correctly installed? No errors showing in Device Manager.

Have you tried using the Alinco DJ-X11 Control Panel 0.9.4 program, and does it connect with the radio? If it doesn't, then I would suspect a driver problem - or maybe just try a different USB port on your computer.

Good luck!

Frank.

 

[sibbley]

That's correct, I'm using the FTDI driver downloaded from the link on Alinco website. No errors in device manager. I have not tried the control software. Really wasn't on my radar, but, you make a good point. I'll try that sometime today and see what happens.

I'll tell you. Since I figured out the receive issue, I'm pretty happy with this radio. I'm picking up coms I never knew were there. I had the BCT15X hooked to my ST-2 antenna last night and the DJ-X11 using my Watson 881. Both scanning the same 150-160Mhz and the DJ-X11 stopped on hits the 15X never knew was there.

One other thing I'm having issue with. Gain. I've never had a radio with gain setting before. I'm not quite sure I understand how to use it. I imagine I want more gain for weaker signals and less gain for stronger signals?

Thanks,

Tony

 

[FrankNY]

No errors in Device Manager is good. It would be interesting if the Control Panel program works but the Clone Utility still fails to connect to the radio.

It's been a while since I've programmed my DJ-X11, something which I always do using the Clone Utility and never via the radio's front panel, but I seem to recall that there are a series of radio buttons at the top of the screen in the Clone Utility where it's necessary to choose the particular model of the radio (E, T, J, K, etc.) that you've got connected to the computer. I don't think that the computer will be able to talk to the radio unless the correct model is selected. Selecting the correct model is probably the first thing that you should do after launching the program. In my old 2.03 version of the program, the setting is not remembered (retained) across launchings of the program and must be selected each time the program is run.

As I recall, you'll also have to select the COM port number that has been assigned to the ERW-8. In my case it's COM4, but yours may be different. If an incorrect COM port number has been selected in the program, even if just by default, the computer will fail to communicate with the radio.

In Device Manager, I've got settings of 9600 bps, 8 data bits, no parity, 1 stop bit, and no flow control. I'm not sure if it matters, but you might want to check your COM port settings in Device Manager.

I applaud your ability to program the radio through the front panel. For me, I'll stick to the Clone Utility.

As to the RF Gain setting, my radio is set to a value of 1, which I believe is the factory setting. I've never tried changing it.

Again, good luck with this, and do try the Control Panel program.

Regards,

Frank.

 

[FrankNY]

Tony, if you haven't gotten this working yet, here's one more thing to check if you haven't already: As per Section 10-4-11 "Remote COM port setting" on page 88 of the Instruction Manual, this particular item must be set to 'Enable'.

I don't know what the factory default is, but if you're using the ERW-8 cable and your radio is set to 'Disable', it's not going to be able to talk to your computer, and vice versa.

Frank.

 

[sibbley]

Yup, I have remote com port set to enabled. I'm going to contact Alinco today and see if I can get the 2.03 software to try. Also tried the control software, no happiness there either. I also read on a blog I found thanks to Google that you need to press down on the main VFO knob to connect the radio to the computer. Ever heard of this? I tried that too and the radio shows connecting on the screen but ends with a timeout error.

 

[FrankNY]

If you can't get the Alinco DJ-X11 Control Panel v0.9.4 program working, then I don't think that you're going to get any joy using any version of the Clone Utility program, 2.03 or 3.04. Besides, if your radio is really running firmware version 2.80, then it would make sense, at least to me, to only use the latest version 3.04 Clone Utility program, although it's interesting that the Control Panel program remains at v0.9.4 and hasn't been updated in quite some time. I also find it interesting that firmware 2.80 isn't available for public download.

As far as pressing down on the main VFO knob to connect the radio to the computer, I believe that I've also read that somewhere, but I've ignored that advice because it isn't documented by Alinco and my radio connects just fine to the host computer without doing so.

By the way, if you're connecting your ERW-8 through a USB hub, may I suggest instead connecting it directly into a USB port on your computer. Some devices just don't like being connected through a hub. I don't know whether this applies to the ERW-8, as I've always connected mine directly to the computer's USB port - and have never experienced any problem whatsoever.

Just curious, but which COM port number is being assigned to your ERW-8?

Frank.