T4Win 0.94.0.8 and data slicers

[joepaigejr]

I've searched the forums and didn't find the answers I was seeking, so here goes:

I have a Compaq Armada 7400 laptop (64 MB RAM, Pentium II, 300 Mhz, Win2k SP4) that I just upgraded from Win98SE. For the life of me I cannot get T4Win to receive data on Com 1 DSR. I have a dataslicers.com data slicer. I got T4Win to work with the sound card, but even then I could not control my BC 796D. I am using a tapped BC 780 XLT for my signal source. I get slicer to work fine. I could not get Trunker to see data unless I rebooted into DOS (before I "not thinking" converted my FAT32 to NFTS )

Questions:
1. Do I need 2 serial ports to use a dataslicer and control a scanner?
2. Is there a list of T4Win controllable scanners?
3. Is the receiver name in T4Win for the data source scanner or the controlled scanner?

And lastly, is there some version of DOS that will run on an NTFS file structure or a "way" to convert NTFS back to FAT32 so I can boot into DOS again to run Trunker

 

[SCPD]

1. Do I need 2 serial ports to use a dataslicer and control a scanner?

Yes.

2. Is there a list of T4Win controllable scanners?

Most Uniden models that support computer control like '895, '245, and '780.

3. Is the receiver name in T4Win for the data source scanner or the controlled scanner?

You can define as many receivers as you like. A receiver can act as a signal source or as a computer controller tuner for listening (or both). Using the wizard (under the tools menu) is probably the easiest way to go. Once a receiver is defined you can edit the label to be anything you like.

-rick

 

[SCPD]

And lastly, is there some version of DOS that will run on an NTFS file structure or a "way" to convert NTFS back to FAT32 so I can boot into DOS again to run Trunker

Your best bet is to create a separate partition. However, this comment from the FreeDOS forum may be of help ...

http://www.freedos.org/news/news/news.cgi?q=f&a=html.archive/1208.html

-rick

 

[pro92b]

I made a boot floppy that unzips to a ramdrive and that works well. The image is about 900K, probably too big to attach here.

 

[joepaigejr]

Thanks, both of you. I think I will just reinstall Win98, then upgrade to Win2k, keeping FATS32. This way I can use all of my 2GB harddrive for the DOS "boot" (MSDOS7) or Win2k. Or at least that's what I think

 

[crayon]

Thanks, both of you. I think I will just reinstall Win98, then upgrade to Win2k, keeping FATS32. This way I can use all of my 2GB harddrive for the DOS "boot" (MSDOS7) or Win2k. Or at least that's what I think

Personally, I strongly discourge anyone from installing windows via the "upgrade" method.

Fresh, clean installs are the best. Setting up a workstation to dual boot Windows and another OS is really easy to do. There are many websites that provide instruction on how to do this, here is just one:

http://www.duxcw.com/digest/Howto/software/windows/dual/

 

[joepaigejr]

Crayon,

The laptop only has a 6GB hard drive and is not my "main" laptop. It is only used for Trunker/T4Win for now. Do you think the hard drive is big enough for a Win98/2k dual boot? I had been using only Win98 on it, but decided to upgrade to Win2k to use my dataslicer with T4Win. My original idea was to be able to switch between Trunker and T4Win by just booting to DOS or Win2k (without having to mess with cables on my 1 com port). (Now I realize I have to add another com port in order to use T4Win with a dataslicer and a controlled scanner.)

 

[wbertram]

1. Do I need 2 serial ports to use a dataslicer and control a scanner?

Yes.

snip

-rick

In trunker you can run a data channel receiver and a voice channel receiver, using a data slicer connected to a computer with a single comm port. The trunker instructions show how to patch the SD and RD wires to the voice receiver. The data slicer does not connect to these wires. Is this not possible in t4win?

Walt

 

[pro92b]

The hard drive is big enough but it would be so much simpler to use the bootdisk for DOS. I can attach the image if you want to try it. There is a 1 MB limit here so it will fit although I will have to zip it since exe files are not accepted.

I don't understand why two serial ports are required for T4win. If a breakout cable is used it seems like one should be sufficient.

 

[joepaigejr]

I can attach the image if you want to try it. There is a 1 MB limit here so it will fit although I will have to zip it since exe files are not accepted.

Thanks, I will try it, Re the dual boot, how would I split the drive? Would I have to put Trunker/T4Win on both partitions?

I don't understand why two serial ports are required for T4win. If a breakout cable is used it seems like one should be sufficient.

I forget the reason, but I remember running across this in Jan when I was researching T4Win.

 

[pro92b]

You can install win98 or dos to a logical partition and use the win2000 boot loader to control start up. See KB217210 on the Microsoft site.

The image is attached. Unzip it and run the exe with a floppy in the drive. Boot the PC with the floppy and it should create a ramdisk. Type menu to see what programs are available or get help. Copy your trunker files to a floppy and load them to the trunker folder on the ramdrive. Run Trunker to make sure it works and then put your boot disk back in the drive. Type save to put your system files on the boot floppy. To save space you can delete my trunker system files from the ramdisk before saving. Read the text file for further info.

 

[crayon]

Do you think the hard drive is big enough for a Win98/2k dual boot?

The hard drive is big enough but it would be so much simpler to use the bootdisk for DOS.

I agree, your hard drive is more that large enough to handle what you are wanting to do.

Personally, I cannot stand the wait while DOS is booted, and then wait some more while Trunker is loaded. But that is just me.

Give both solutions a try and see what works best for you.

 

[SCPD]

Is this not possible in t4win?

Hi Walt,

The code to load the device driver and activate the RTS and DTR pins opens a handle on the specific COM port.

The code to control a scanner also attempts to open a handle on the specific COM port.

Whichever gets there first wins. It's an issue of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is up to. Some extra effort could make this work - by sharing the same handle - but I've got bigger fish to fry right now.

-rick

 

[joescanner]

Rick,

I know you're busy with a real job and projects related to that, but any idea when logging to disk might become a reality with T4WIN?