Does CQRlog (and FLDigi) support USB based CI-V rig control? For example something like HamLinkUSB (Timewave) or RIGtalk (West Mountain Radio).
I am starting consider moving most of the radio control over to native USB given that most PCs/laptops come with a limited number of serial ports and that most of the Linux distros only natively support 4 ports. It seems like the days of DB9 base serial are numbered and maybe it is time to make the move.
I am getting ready to build a new PC for the shack and am considering not putting in a second serial card. For the price of the legacy card I can move a couple of the radios to USB based CI-V control. Under Windows this looks pretty simple. I don't have a good feel for how Linux will handle the drivers for this or if it is an issue at all.
73, John NG0R
I guess that I will find out the hard way. I just ordered several USB--> CI-V cables. It appears that it is less expensive to order it as a one piece cable from eBay compared to either the West Mountain or Timewave products.
This should be interesting.
John Hoaglun
http://www.hoaglun.com
NG0R - EN25ue
If the USB adapter contains one of the USB to serial chips that the Linux kernel supports, then there should be no problem. If, however, it is something special and isn't a generic USB to serial converter chip inside, then things will get a bit more sketchy. I've not tried either of the adapters as I never got a satisfactory answer about Linux support. However that was at Dayton back in '05 when I bought a RigBlaster Plus. Linux support for USB devices has advanced a few light years since then.
Earlier this year I bought a SignalLink USB with its USB sound card that worked "out of the box" on my laptop running Debian Unstable. I didn't have to do a thing except select the correct sound device in Fldigi.
I know that some network adapters have MS Windows drivers only where a utility called ndiswrapper is used to provide a Linux device driver from the Windows driver. I don't know is such a method would be required or even work with one of those devices.
Please keep us informed as we've gotten some questions about them on the Hamlib Developer mailing list.