tk8500 problems & my R8500

[Bill41]

Hi Bob (and anyone who can assist)

I'm really trying to get your tk8500 to work, but it's a no no.

Installed Tcl to C:\Tcl - no problems.
Created a folder C:\tk8500.
Moved the tk85-09.zip (The windows version - I'm running Win 7 64-bit) to this C:\tk8500\tk85-09 folder and extracted the 10 files.

Restarted the PC.

Switched on my R8500, & fired up tk8500.bat (with its "C:\tcl\bin\wish86.exe" "C:\tk8500\tk8500.tcl"
mod as per your note to another user).

Got the black DOS box with 'C:\tk8500\tk85-09>C:' line, and an 'untitled.csv - tk8500' small blank dialog
box with a grey fill.

Got the following additional dialog - with whatever COM port I'm attempting to use:

Couldn't open "COM1(or 2,3,4):":no such file or directory
while executing "open $GlobalParam(Device) RDWR"
("windows" arm line 2)
invoked from within
"switch -glob $platform {
{unix} {
set Sid [open
$GlobalParam(Device) "r+"]
}
{macintosh} {
set Sid [open
$GlobalParam(Device) "r+"]
..."
(procedure "OpenDevice" line 9)
invoked from within
"OpenDevice"
(procedure "MakeGUI" line 11)
invoked from within
"MakeGUI"
(file "C:\tk8500\tk8500.tcl" line 129)

..with the 'OK' button at the bottom.

The program exits after I hit the 'Ok' button.

What am I doing wrong ?

I've been using COM1 or COM4 with no problems with the demo version of Ham Radio Deluxe, and 'Commander v5.8.7' - I can update the frequency/banks/memories etc.

One minor problem with Ham Radio Deluxe - I need a reboot to gain access to the COM port after it hangs.
I have made numerous cold & warm restarts, and I get the same result.

Can you assist ?

Thanks
Bill Cusick
Formby, UK

 

[FrankNY]

Hello Bill, I'm Frank, not Bob, but I've got tk8500 working just fine with an Icom IC-R8500 under a 32-bit version of Windows using a batch (.bat) file with the following contents.

C:
@ECHO OFF
SET tk8500=C:\tk8500
"C:\Tcl\bin\wish85.exe" "C:\tk8500\tk8500.tcl"]

Just wondering, but do you have a SET command in your batch file?

Not that it should really matter, but in my case the radio happens to be directly attached to the computer using a physical RS-232 port assigned to COM1. I'm not using an Icom CT-17 Level Converter or a USB-to-serial converter/adapter of any sort. It's an old machine, but I keep it because it's got a real COM port.

As you can see from the batch file above, I've got TCL installed into C:\Tcl and tk8500 is installed into C:\tk8500.

I'm using tk8500 version 0.9 with ActiveTcl version 8.5.15.0.

Frank.

 

[rogress]

For me, I had to select 'Other' for the COM Port, then I typed in COM1 (or whatever the COM port is). Don't know why, but it never works when I select the COM port directly - I always have to select Other, then type it in.

 

[FrankNY]

Just noticed, the right bracket at the very end of my batch file shouldn't be there.

It's extraneous BBCode.

Sorry for the error.

Frank.

 

[Bill41]

Hi Frank...

Thanks much for your reply.

Yes, I've got the 'Set' command included - I'm using Bob's original batch file:

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

C:
@ECHO OFF
rem ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
rem + copyright 2002 - 2003 Bob Parnass
rem +
rem + tk8500.bat batch file
rem +
rem + Run this file to start the tk8500 program
rem ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

SET tk8500=C:\tk8500\
"C:\tcl\bin\wish86.exe" "C:\tk8500\tk8500.tcl"

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I've done all the necessary, "initial set mode" vars etc. Tried each COM port,
(Set via Device Manager/Prolific USB-to-Serial Comm Port (ComX), with the
same result, except of course that the COM port quoted in the error dialog
is that specified COM port I'm currently attempting to use.

I get the impression that it is not my end - simply because I'm successfully
using these ports with Ham Radio Deluxe/Commander, which are working,
but obviously are not dedicated R8500 utils - they are too limited for me.

Being an avid SWL (I passed the RAE in Feb 1957 - but have been using
radio comms all my working life - so I never got to applying for my call
letters).

Commander, for example, will happily transfer banks/channels, but is
limited to 10 entries.

I'm also using the RS-232 port assigned to COM1, but via the USB-Serial
adapter. (My i7-3770K PC doesn't have a serial port). It is working perfectly
with my AR8600, transferring freqs/banks with no problems.

This leads me to believe that is is the 'ActiveTcl' end that my machine doesn't like....
I've also tried your 'Wish85' line, but the batch file just flashes.

A 'pause' command gets me:

C:\tk8500>C:
' "C:\tcl\bin\wish85.exe" is not recognised as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file"
Press any key to continue...'

Here's the batch file I'm using...:

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

C:
@ECHO OFF
rem ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
rem + copyright 2002 - 2003 Bob Parnass
rem +
rem + tk8500.bat batch file
rem +
rem + Run this file to start the tk8500 program
rem ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

SET tk8500=C:\tk8500\
rem "C:\tcl\bin\wish83.exe" "C:\tk8500\tk8500.tcl"
"C:\tcl\bin\wish86.exe" "C:\tk8500\tk85-09\tk8500.tcl"

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm open to suggestions.

Later...
An interesting development....

Rogress, did as you suggested...I now get four small dialogs:

1. The black 'tk8500.bat' DOS dialog with 'C:\tk8500>C:
2. 'untitled.csv - tk8500' small blank dialog box.
3. The blank dialog 'wish86' with the globe top left title bar
4. The 'Console' dialog with the legend '(system32) 1%' and
nothing else.

Oh yuk.
I'll keep trying.

...and my sincere appreciation to the RadioReference Team for such a great site.

Regards
Bill

 

[Bill41]

Hi Guys...

Got it working, finally.

For some reason the original batch file was not accessing the correct sub
folder:

The working batch file is:

C:
@ECHO OFF
SET tk8500=C:\tk8500
"C:\Tcl\bin\wish86.exe" "C:\tk8500\tk85-09\tk8500.tcl"

and not

C:
@ECHO OFF
SET tk8500=C:\tk8500
"C:\tcl\bin\wish83.exe" "C:\tk8500\tk8500.tcl"

I'm just curious re the COM1 selection only works when using Rogress'
Selection tip. Thanks again.

I had tried the path mod to access the correct tk85-09 folder, but due to
that COM1 selection problem above that didn't work at the time.

Thanks again.
Now for some exploring....

Regards
Bill

 

[FrankNY]

Bill, sorry that I couldn't get back to you sooner, but was extremely busy with a couple of work (non-radio related) projects.

I'm pleased to know that you've got it working, but unfortunately can't offer any words of wisdom regarding the COM port selection issue. I don't know what's going on with that.

Regards,

Frank.

 

[Bill41]

Bill, sorry that I couldn't get back to you sooner, but was extremely busy with a couple of work (non-radio related) projects.

I'm pleased to know that you've got it working, but unfortunately can't offer any words of wisdom regarding the COM port selection issue. I don't know what's going on with that.

Regards,

Frank.

Hi Frank....

Not a problem.

Thanks for your program.

Regards
Bill