Microham digikeyer II CAT conflict with Flex CAT?

Carl N8VZ

Would using a Microham Digikeyer II to control an OMNI VII conflict with the Flex CAT ports if the Flex 6X00 and the Digikeyer II were connected to the same computer?  The issue is that they both can create virtual serial ports. Will those ports or the setup of those ports necessarily conflict if care is taken to not create the same pair on the two different systems?   I know that this probably sounds crazy, but I still like to switch between the two rigs for digital modes depending on various circumstances.  73 de Carl, N8VZ

DH2ID

Hello Carl, no problems there. I have both running side-by-side here on my
VAIO notebook.


You must be very careful not to assign the same port number twice.
Windows is shamefully lacking in this way. I use a batch file to
show all COM ports, even those not used:

set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1
set devmgr_show_details=1
start DEVMGMT.MSC

Carl N8VZ

Thanks, Alex. This is very helpful information!

DH2ID

Carl, after starting the batch file, you should open
View in the device manager and then Show Hidden Devices.

These are all my ports:





This is what happens if a crazy guy like me is using one notebook to
steer a multi-digital station ;-) The greyed out ports are not in use and
therefore harmless, if assigned twice. This happens sometimes,
because some USB devices get assigned a new port when changing the
hardware USB port on the notebook. Some USB devices don't.

I occasionally - and after installing an new USB device - look at the port
list and change port numbers, if necessary. Be careful to do that before
shutting down Windows, because you can get a crash and a BSOD
otherwise at the next startup!

You can easily delete a port or reassign new numbers, if free for the
non-virtual ports. The virtual ports have to be managed by SmartSDR CAT
or the microHAM device router.

If you have further questions or problems you can post here or mail
me. You'll find my email address on QRZ.com.

73, Alex DH2ID

Carl N8VZ

Thanks, again, Alex.  I will be setting this up over the weekend, and I'll email you if I run into a problem, but you've explained things very well. 73 de Carl, N8VZ

DH2ID

My pleasure, Carl.