[WT-support] RE: WinKey not working

Tue Apr 10 03:31:01 CEST 2007

Fabio,

I need help.  I have tried everything I can think of and I cannot get the
internal keyer in EZM to work.  The unit is not useable like this.  The only
other solution is to hook up separate keyers to each radio, but doing that
defeats the purpose of having a two radio controller.  Not a good solution!

I have not heard from you in a week and I have been asking for help for
almost a month.  Is there anyone else at Ham Radio Solutions who can help me
fix this problem?  I really need to get this working so I move on to other
projects before the WPX CW contest begins.

Steve

  _____  

From: K5MR [mailto:taylor at texoma.net] 
Sent: Sunday, April 08, 2007 10:18 PM
To: 'G3BJ - EZMaster support'; 'HRS I4UFH'; 'staylor at photronics.com'
Cc: 'support at win-test.com'
Subject: RE: WinKey not working

Don and Fabio,

I did some more testing on the EZM WinKey problem.  Whenever WinKey is
enabled in WinTest the following occurs:

The dits work fine.

As soon as a dah is generated from the keyboard function keys (F1-F7), the
external paddle, or the keyboard (while in Keyboard mode) the transmitter
goes key down and the PTT line locks up.  The only way to stop the
transmitter from keying is to press the ESC key multiple times.  This only
occurs on the dah side.  The dits work okay from the F1-F7 keys, the
external paddle and the keyboard while in Keyboard mode.  This problem
occurs when the manual keyer paddle is plugged into the EZM and also
whenever the keyer paddle is unplugged from EZM.  There is no difference if
the paddle is plugged in or not.

Any ideas why the dah side of WinKey does not work?  Could this be a serial
port issue?  

73,

Steve - K5MR

  _____  

From: K5MR [mailto:taylor at texoma.net] 
Sent: Saturday, April 07, 2007 1:55 PM
To: 'G3BJ - EZMaster support'; 'HRS I4UFH'
Subject: RE: WinKey not working

Hi Don,

Thanks for the suggestion.  I noticed the same thing about the cw key plug
previously, but I just checked it again to be sure that is not the cause of
my problem.  Unfortunately this makes no difference.  In fact, even if I
unplug the cw key EZM still locks up as soon as WinKey in enabled in
WinTest.  So, the problem does not appear to be associated with the cw key,
cw key cable or plug.

I tried using another USB port on the same computer with a different virtual
COM port but this made no difference.  I also installed the EZM software on
another computer and tried running EZM on a different PC - WinKey still did
not work.

I am asking Fabio for assistance now since you and I have exhausted all
known possibilities.

Thanks again and 73,

Steve - K5MR

  _____  

From: G3BJ - EZMaster support [mailto:ezmaster at btinternet.com] 
Sent: Friday, April 06, 2007 5:16 PM
To: taylor at texoma.net; 'HRS I4UFH'
Subject: Re: WinKey not working

Steve,

There is just one thought I have had.

When I first got my EZM, I found that the cw key jack did not seat into the
socket properly. Could you just check that the shoulder of the plug is not
fouling the case back panel. I'm sure you will have checked this, but just
in case.....

For the rest, I'll leave it to you and Fabio.

73

Don, G3BJ

----- Original Message ----- 

From: K5MR <mailto:taylor at texoma.net>  

To: 'HRS <mailto:i4ufh at hamradiosolutions.com>  I4UFH' ; 'G3BJ - EZMaster
support' <mailto:ezmaster at btinternet.com>  

Sent: Thursday, April 05, 2007 5:29 AM

Subject: RE: WinKey not working

Hi Fabio,

Hope you had a good contest from D4.  I was only part time 40m single band,
but condx sounded pretty good from this end.  Tried out EZM and WinTest and
both worked very well during WPX Phone.  

Here is a summary of my EZM WinKey problem.  I am using EZM with WinTest
V3.10.0 and a FT1000MP and IC-765.  My PC is a 2.6 GHz Pentium 4 and is
dedicated to contesting.  The only software loaded is Windows XP, Internet
Explorer and WinTest.

WinKey Not Working

Everything is working okay except for the WinKey keyer.  Both radio
interfaces are working and my virtual Com port works well.  Below is a
description of the WinKey symptoms:

I can see the CW speed indication in the WinTest Rate window and it changes
as the pot on the EZM front panel is turned, but no CW is generated when I
close the keyer paddle.  (Actually, I can get a continuous string of dits
when the dit side of the paddle is closed but then it goes key down and
locks up the PTT line.  I have to press ESC many times or push the foot
switch several times to make the PTT unlock.)  Whenever I press the dah side
of the paddle EZM immediately generates a continuous carrier (key down)
which is hard to stop and never generates any dahs.  

Whenever I select WinKey under EZ Master Configuration (properties) the
WinTest F1 - F7 CW function keys stop working.  When I turn off WinKey in EZ
Master properties the F1 - F7 CW messages and PTT work perfectly.  WinKey
does not work if WinTest is running or not.

Also, I do not have an OFF/ON button inside the WinKey frame in EZ Manager.
I can see the WPM indicator, but that is the only thing appearing inside the
WinKey frame no matter if CW or SSB is selected.  I am not sure if this is a
problem or not.  My EZM has firmware V 1.40.  I backed up to V1.37 but that
made no difference.

Not sure where to look next.  Can you offer any ideas?

Thanks and 73,

Steve - K5MR

  _____  

From: HRS I4UFH [mailto:i4ufh at hamradiosolutions.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, April 03, 2007 4:08 PM
To: G3BJ - EZMaster support; taylor at texoma.net
Subject: Re: WinKey not working

Hi Guys,

back from a long 2 weeks trip to D4 for WPX and bussines in EU, I got your
email now, I didi't get previous email, can you please detail again the
issue ??

Thank's and apologies for delay, mo email access in the last 10 days !!

73 de Fabio I4UFH

----- Original Message ----- 

From: G3BJ - <mailto:ezmaster at btinternet.com>  EZMaster support 

To: taylor at texoma.net 

Cc: I4UFH <mailto:i4ufh at hamradiosolutions.com>  

Sent: Tuesday, April 03, 2007 11:02 PM

Subject: Re: WinKey not working

Steve,

I think you must have a faulty unit.

I have tried to get an response from Fabio, but he seems unavaulable at the
moment. I'm copying this to him.

Don

----- Original Message ----- 

From: K5MR <mailto:taylor at texoma.net>  

To: 'Taylor, <mailto:staylor at photronics.com>  Steve' ; 'G3BJ - EZMaster
support' <mailto:ezmaster at btinternet.com>  

Sent: Tuesday, April 03, 2007 5:27 AM

Subject: WinKey not working

Don,

I received a new K12 WInKey IC from K1EL and installed it today.  This did
not resolve my WinKey problem.  It must not be the correct WinKey IC because
the CW keying stopped working entirely, so I removed the new IC and
reinstalled the original WinKey chip.  PTT and CW generated by WinTest are
working again but not keying by WinKey from the paddle.

I have run out of troubleshooting ideas.  I have the exact same symptoms as
described below.  Is there anything else I can check?  If not, can I return
my EZ Master to HRS in exchange for another unit that works correctly? 

73,

Steve - K5MR

  _____  

From: Taylor, Steve [mailto:staylor at photronics.com] 
Sent: Friday, March 30, 2007 8:57 AM
To: G3BJ - EZMaster support
Cc: taylor at texoma.net
Subject: RE: WinTest and EZ Master 

Hi Don,

Thank you very much for the info and support.  I am able to get everything
working within EZMaster with the exception of the WinKey keyer.  Both radio
interfaces are working and my virtual Com port works okay.  Below is a
description of the WinKey symptoms:

I can see the CW speed indication in the WinTest Rate window and it changes
as the pot is turned on the EZM front panel, but nothing happens when I
close the keyer paddle.  (Actually, I can get a continuous string of dits
and then it goes key down and locks up the PTT line.  I have to press ESC
many times or push the foot switch several times to make the PTT unlock.)
When I select WinKey under EZ Master Configuration (properties) the WinTest
F1 - F7 CW function keys stop working.  When I turn off WinKey in EZ Master
properties the F1 - F7 CW messages and PTT work perfectly.  WinKey does not
work whether WinTest is running or not.

Also, I do not have a OFF/ON button inside the WinKey frame in EZ Manager.
I can see the WPM indicator, but that is the only thing appearing inside the
WinKey frame whether either CW or SSB is selected.  I am not sure if this is
a problem or not.

I removed the EZM top cover and am guessing IC 37 is the WinKey chip.  I do
not know which WinKey IC version EZM uses, but I guessed it is the K1EL K12
Keyer and have ordered a replacement K12 IC from K1EL.  I do not know if
this is the problem with my WinKey, but I do not know what else to try at
the moment.  My EZM has firmware V 1.40.  I backed up to V1.37 but that made
no difference.

Can you please confirm if IC 37 is indeed the WinKey chip and tell me which
WinKey IC version EZMaster uses?  If replacement of the WinKey IC does not
resolve the problem do you have any other suggestions to try?

Thank very much and 73,

Steve - K5MR

  _____  

From: G3BJ - EZMaster support [mailto:ezmaster at btinternet.com] 
Sent: Friday, March 30, 2007 4:47 AM
To: Taylor, Steve
Subject: Re: WinTest and EZ Master 

Steve,

Apologies for the delay in the reply - I have been very busy with other
matters.

I am simply a first-line support resource to Fabio, but let me try and help.

1) Install all the EZM driver software, and test bed software (EZ Console
and EZ Manager) on your computer

2) Connect EZM to your computer by USB cable and also connect all the
rig-EZM cables (see manual).

3) Once the computer has recognised the EZM, go to "Control Panel - Systems
- Hardware - Device Manager" and find out what the designation of the com
port is assigned to EZM - COM1, 2 etc 

4) Go to EZ Console, and try to open EZM using the comport number from (3)
above.

5) If this opens OK, close EZ Console.

6) Open Wintest, and set up your contest.

7) On Options select configure interfaces

8) Check the Comport box that has EZM attached, and select EZM from the
drop-down menu

9) On options select EZmaster configuration

10) Enter the rig data and keying speend for the CAT(s), enable WinKey and
polling - click OK

11) Check that the rig(s) are polling and the frequency data is on the
WinTest screen

12) This should now enable the whole thing. If you have a problem, please
let me know what is not working.

BTW, I have had problems with EZM when there were already drivers loaded for
USB:COM ports. If you have previously loaded some drivers for this, it would
be safer to uninstall them.

73

Don, G3BJ (and G5W in contests)

----- Original Message ----- 

From: Taylor, <mailto:staylor at photronics.com>  Steve 

To: ezmaster at btinternet.com 

Sent: Monday, March 19, 2007 8:11 PM

Subject: WinTest and EZ Master 

Hello,

I am setting up EZ Master to operate with WinTest.  Can you provide
configuration instructions and wiring info for using EZ Master with WinTest?
I did not find this info in the User Manual.

Thanks and 73,

Steve - K5MR

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