I am trying to setup Dirwolf, Digirig and FT-8100
No CAT connection to the FT-8100
Digirig on Com10 on the Windows computer
Startup text from Direwolf:
Dire Wolf version 1.7
Includes optional support for: cm108-ptt
Reading config file direwolf.conf
Available audio input devices for receive (*=selected):
0: TS-590SG to Computer (4- USB Au
1: X6100 to Computer (3- USB Audio
2: DigiRig5v to Computer (5- USB A (channel 0)
Available audio output devices for transmit (*=selected):
0: Computer to TS-590SG (4- USB Au
1: Computer to X6100 (3- USB Audio
2: Computer to DigiRig5v (5- USB A (channel 0)
Channel 0: 1200 baud, AFSK 1200 & 2200 Hz, A+, 44100 sample rate.
Ready to accept AGW client application 0 on port 8000 …
Ready to accept KISS TCP client application 0 on port 8001 …
Configuration for Direwolf:
PTT COM10 RTS
If i short the terminals R2 and S on the cable from Digirig to FT-8100 the radio switches to TX, red diode lights, so HW seems OK from Digirig out to radio
How to go forward with troubleshooting?
I use PinPoint APRS to try to send APRS beacons, is there some other software I can use to try to trigger the PTT in Direwolf?
I do not use Direwolf, but I think you will not use cm108-ptt (from the audio device) when Digirig has hardware PTT available. Have you installed the drivers for the CP210x UART USB device?
With pinpoint, I use soundmodem, rather than Direwolf, as the software TNC. In your case, do you set the COM port to COM10 in the Pinpoint Options as below:
I will continue to look for a pinout diagram for the connectors. Do you happen to have a manual with pinouts? Do you happen to have a manual with pinouts?
I have managed to get the TX PTT to work on this radio, with one of my two digirigs, but I seem to have other issues, maybe unrelated.
I start a separate thread on that.
Hi Tobias,
Would you be able to share your successful settings on your app? I’m trying to use WSJTX and may be able to compare few things to make it work.
Thank you.
C your text made me look at the pinouts more carefully and only then did I realise that pin 2 and pin 3 are swapped between the two schematics I shared.
I can get the FT-8100 to PTT using wsjt-x byt with Direwolf/PinPoint, I do not PTT for long enough that the led turns from green to red, but long enough to triger the fan speed increase of the radio.
I haven’t swapped the pins and am I tight in assuming that that is what you suggest, Constrainted?
How to do that? Inside the radio? The cable connector itself seems moulded in plastic.
A 3.5mm TRRS female to male adapter with R2 and S swapped?
The two cable schematics are equivalent, just using different pin numbering.
MiniDin6 is one of the few industry standard connections and I wouldn’t overthink it. Also, if the problem was with the cable, it would manifest itself every time regardless of the software you are using. The issue is likely with the software configuration.
You can always confirm the PTT functionality of the cable by simulating it from Digirig’s side of the cable as shown here:
Thank you guys,
I’ve checked and the PTT does work as expected. Though I don’t have communication with the radio.
I’ll keep digging into it as it must be with the radio itself.
Thank you again.
Digirig uses a transistor, but if that is the problem this will be the first reported case in all the years on the market. Not impossible, but improbable.
Are you testing with Digirig Mobile? The revisions up to and including 1.5 didn’t have 4th pin in the connector that is used for PTT.
I understand that this is not a common problem, otherwise the solution would be mentioned in the knowledge base, hence I am forced to clutch at straws and explore the more unlikely possibilities, but I share your frustration with repeatedly solving common problems because people tend to not search before asking.
If the PTT wasn’t working when short circuiting between ptt and ground on the cable at the Digirig end, it would have been easy, but since it does that, and at the same time, same computer, setting and digirig unit works with the icom, only difference being radio and cable digirig-radio, it point to something between the PTT output from the Digirig and PTT logic in the radio.
It’s a normal Digirig Mobile, purchased 6 January this year (2024)
I will repeat my testing, back to back between icom and yaesu, digirig and shorting on the TRRS plug on the digirig end of the digirig-radio cable just to make sure I didn’t confuse myself and then return here.
I don’t tend to get frustrated remembering that very few people are lucky enough to make a decent living by enjoying their hobby.
I asked about Digirig model because Digirig Lite has a current limiting resistor in the PTT circuit which I needed to adjust down from the initial revision. One HT model didn’t like that in combination with resistor inside of the cable. This doesn’t look to be the case with no resistance in switching circuitry of Digirig nor cable.
The linked article voices concerns about the PTT switch not being able to handle the voltage or current in PTT circuit rather than the nature of the conductive medium. This shouldn’t be an issue with Digirig as I spec’d ungodly margins on both (160V and 600mA continuous).
Let’s re-run the tests. See if applying lateral forces to the connectors make any difference. Maybe there is some contact issue in cable or in Digirig’s socket.
connected to the FT-8100R and the sound volume in Windows turned down to 2 of 100, I get PTT to work.
There must have been some sort of overload in the audio circuit or something.
