Steppir SDA 100 AutoTrack - Erratic Readings

Hunter - K3IE

Setup:

Flex 6300
SmartSDR v1.10.16
UGreen 2.0 USB to RS232 DB9 Serial Cable FTDI chip set
Steppir S12 Transceiver Interface Cable (SDA 100 Data In Port)
SmartSDR USB Cable Interface Feature

SDA100 Transceiver setting = "Kenwood"  9600 8 N 1
SmartSDR USB Cable Interface settings - CAT TX Slice 9600 8 N 1

Problem

Autotrack engages - SDA 100 and SmartSDR frequencies are initially in sync

After 15 seconds or so, the SDA 100 Autotrack frequency readout becomes erratic - the frequency changes independently from SmartSDR/6300.  The SDA 100 then retunes my DB18 to the erroneous frequency readouts. 

I have tried swapping USB cables and rebooting 6300 but to no avail.

I have not tried DDUTIL approach.

Hoping someone may have a suggestion - this is driving me nuts.

Thank you - Hunter K3IE

Mike va3mw

Hunter Can you go into the USB menu in SSDR and turn on logging for that device. See if you can see the frequency jumping in the log file. Mike

Hunter - K3IE

Mike,

I turned on logging and the freq does change in the log file.

Hunter.

Jim Gilliam

You might try reducing the baud rate to 1200 and see if you have the same problem.

Hunter - K3IE

Jim - I changed the Baud to 1200 on SDA 100 Data In and Data Out along with SmartSDR USB Cable and now it is not tracking at all.

Jim Gilliam

Mine tracks at all Baud rates. Must be a hardware problem.

Hunter - K3IE

Thanks Jim - I will give Steppir a call tomorrow.  Thank you both for your responses. 

Mike va3mw

Hi Hunter

Steppir isn't going to be much help.  They are going to say that it works fine without the radio, so it isn't our problem.

A few things come to mind.

• Unplug the USB device, delete the entry and re-install it and do the configuration again (SSDR)
• Could something else be commanding a frequency change?  Just for the test, make sure all CAT linked programs are not running.  You can tell this by reviewing the CAT window and see if anything is connected (or, just **** CAT for the test)
• Paste in some log entries so I can see if the Steppir is sending the new frequency or the radio is
• What do you have your 'source to trigger' set to?
• Just for yucks, I assume you have rebooted your computer lately? (just a thought)

Mike