Remote Footswitch - How to (LAN/ VPN solution)

Mike-VA3MW

First, I want to thank Al, K0VM for this solution.  He provided it just as I needed it.

I operate remotely 99% of the time, however, when I don't have my Maestro handy, I still want my foot switch.  

This works for SmartSDR CAT both with and without SmartLink running (updated since previously written).  mkw - 03/2019

Using CAT and SSDR, it is very simple to make a remote footswitch.

Take any RS232/USB adapter that is recognized by windows.  Check in Control Panel to make sure you can see it.  In  my case, it was Com80 (I need to clean up some ports ).




Now, with that running, head over to CAT and Create a New PTT entry.

• Serial Port - Existing - this means you are using a physically installed port on your computer (RS232/USB adapter)
• CAT COM: - the same port you set up above
• RTS is selected
• Polarity - Active Low

Lastly, you need to know make up an adapter for your foot switch (or hand switch).  

Wire your foot switch to:

Pins 7-8 if you select RTS above
Pins 4-6 if you select DTR above.

If you can't solder, these are a quick solution.



There you go.  Now, when you push the footswitch, the radio will go into TX while running SSDR remote from the radio.

Again, thanks to Al for the idea.

Mike va3mw

WX7Y

CAT does work through SmartLink. 
DAX doesn't work!

WX7Y

Mike va3mw

Thanks!  I stand corrected.  I should have know that.    

Marc Lalonde

This is also a solution  ,i use it trough  SoftEther VPN   ,this way DAX work for my USB mike

https://community.flexradio.com/flexradio/topics/usb-ptt-foot-switch

Marc  VE2PN

John WA7UAR

Just documenting that DAX now does work through SmartLink after its recent update (also xDax and xCat work too on the Mac side of things)

rgracer

I have run into the same problem using my USB mic. I’m not sure what type of cables to use for the above mentioned fix. Do I need another RS-232 type plug to plug into the end of the USB to serial adapter? I’m assuming that this plug then goes into the accessory plug on the back of the flex. In the documentation it says that pins 7 and 8 are both grounded. I’m quite confused. Any step-by-step help would be appreciated. Thank you, Richard W6RIG

Mike-VA3MW

Richard

You need a USB/RS232 cable to plug into your laptop.  The foot switch would connect to this device.  

No hardware plugs into the radio as this is for remote operating and you  use our CAT control to send the PTT command to the radio.

Have a look at the instructions above for the step by step layout.

Mike

rgracer

Thank you.

Larry _ NY8T

Dudley WA5QPZ

Make sure you connected SmartCAT to your remote PC , in the selection window at the top.

Larry _ NY8T

Yes that has been done, I run remote 100% of the time in the living room. i can go back to v 2.49 and all is good again. Something seems to be unstable now with v 3.

Mike-VA3MW

Let me open a support case on this for you.

WX7Y

Same here Michael 2.49 works fine
Bret

Goran Andric

Hi! I would like to use my primary PTT input connected to radio as PTT sliceA and when using "this external USB ptt input" to set TX on sliceB. Would this work?

WX7Y

Should work but not sure if the USB foot switch can produce a DTR / RTS closure because the USB foot switch is made mainly for music applications I think.
At present version 2.5.1 and 3.0.27 CAT port PTT has a bug that sometimes causes problems. Flex seems to think and makes sense that there needs to be a debouncer put on the PTT switch in software.
I use FRSTACK for the Remote serial port PTT which works perfect, Not sure it will work with a USB Foot switch but it sure works great with the USB adapter Serial port so there you go.
Good luck and hope it works 

Bret
WX7Y

Mike-VA3MW

Hang on Bret.  Yes, this does work as described (not a USB musical foot switch) but a simple mechanical foot switch like we use for radios.    Yes, FRStack works great. 

The debouncer bug is not related to everyone.  I tried for hours to recreate it, but I could. not.  And, this was on 2 different computer and multiple FTDI and non-FTDI USB serial devices that were connected to the foot switch.

Goran

In CAT, when you create the PTT Serial port on an Existing serial port, you have to specify which VFO slice it is attached to.  You then may or may  not want to turn Auto Switch TX Slice on or off.  You will have to test it to see if it works the way you wish.

For the actually 'real' PTT lead on the radio, it will always key the radio slice that has the active TX focus.   

I hope that makes sense.

Mike

Goran Andric

Gary W9GD

Larry,

I ran remote just fine with 3 different PC'S , since ver 3 upgrade non of them work with the remote cat port . I keep looking for a post of a solution. Just using the MOX button and mouse to get bye for now.

Mark_WS7M

Mike-VA3MW

Mark_WS7M

I haven't had time to check going back to 3.1.8.  I might take a look at FRStack but it would probably take me 5 minutes to make this work in FRLogger.

Joel Lobão

Hi have the same problem with V2.61. Please let me know if you find some solution

Mike-VA3MW

Joel Lobão

I tested with FRStack and work fine. Could be some problem with SmartSDR CAT. Thank you Mike.

Richard - W1RW

Mark_WS7M

I went to using FRStack because it is reliable.  I do feel this is a bug in SmartCat or its linkage to SmartSDR however.

Mike-VA3MW

I find it interesting that some people have an issue and some it works without issue.   Odds are that if it was a problem in SmartSDR CAT, then everyone would see this failure.  This is why I am looking elsewhere for the solution.

If you check in your advanced settings on the physical COM port (in Device Manager) and under Flow Control see if you have it set to Hardware, after all, that is the RS232 levels we are using.    I can't test mine at the moment.  

Also, for those that are having an issue, what is the Chipset of the physical COM port you have the foot switch connected to?

Thanks in advance.

Mike

Joel Lobão

I also have this problem. My desktop have a rs232 port. With FRStack work good. I set flow control to hardware and the problem continue. It work sometimes, but other time fails.

Joel Lobão

Another curiosity, in FRStack only work with CTS High, but in the SmartCAT is with Active Low.

Mike-VA3MW

What Chipset is your device?  Prolific?  FTDI?

Joel Lobão

Where can i see that? The chipset is on motherboard.