DigiRig Mobile with FT857D cables w/ CAT cable connected to MIC (menu No - 59 = CAT, No - 20 = CAT, No - 19 = 4800bps. WSJT-X used to be my go to for checking config and tuning radio but suddenly not working. VARA HF through the same DigiRig audio device works just fine and dandy.
I go into WSJT-X config and test CAT, tests just fine. PTT turns on and off radio (no audio xmit as expected).
Config set to Rig Yaesu FT-857, Serial Port COM3, Baud Rate 4800 DataBits Default Stop Bits Default Handshake None Force Control Lines (blank) PTT Method RTS, Transmit audio source Front/Mic Mode None Split None
When I press TUNE it starts transmitting then stops very quickly. Decodes FT-8 signals just fine, but when I call a station, it goes into transmit for maybe a second, then stops. I press ENABLE TX a second time and it craps out (I get a Rig Control Error) with the following diagnostic info:
Hamlib error: rig_get_ptt: cache hit age=450ms
1:rig_get_ptt: elapsed=0ms
1:rig.c(3309):rig_get_ptt returning(0)
1:rig.c(2884):rig_get_vfo entered
rig_get_vfo: cache check age=971ms
rig_get_vfo: cache miss age=971ms
rig.c(2926) trace
ft857_get_vfo: called
ft857_read_eeprom: called
write_block(): TX 5 bytes, method=2
0000 00 68 00 00 bb .h…
read_block_generic called, direct=1
read_block_generic(): Timed out 0.216582 seconds after 0 chars, direct=1
Protocol error
)
1:rig_get_vfo: elapsed=218ms
1:rig.c(2947):rig_get_vfo returning(-8) Protocol error
Protocol error
Protocol error
while getting current VFO
Timestamp: 2025-04-21T00:17:31.616Z
This doesn’t mean a whole lot to me, nor does it even seem to explain why it works on VARA-HF, but suddenly has stopped working on WSJT-X.
Quite possibly. I didn’t see a similar Hamlib error post when I searched earlier. Must not have had the right incantation as I did find one related to RFI after original posting. WRT to dropping power, I’m only putting out about 8W at the moment. Need to do some driver calibration (when I replace my 2M/440 final, which is toast).
HOWEVER, I realized this morning that this was the first time I used WSJT-X on 40M…always before, it was on 20M. Don’t know if that’s relevant or not.
HOWEVER, it’s quite possible I have RF banging around the cables and the computer. I’m using an ACEMAGIC Mini-PC that is less than 2 inches from the rig. Attaching the configuration to this reply. I need to get a shorter USB-C cable. First thing I will do is slap some ferrite on the cables close to the PC. I MAY also have to build a Faraday cage for it.
Appreciate the quick response and will get back as soon as I can.
We have a winner. It is truly unfortunate that Yeasu located located the data port RIGHT next to the HF SO-239; as if they were daring the owner to not get RFI. So even though my differential tuner gave the rig 50 ohms resistive, the small ferrite(s) on the DigiRig data cable just couldn’t cut it.
I took the belt and suspenders approach. Had an old Tandy snap on choke that I put as close to the port as physically possible and then wrapped as many turns of the coiled DigiRig cable through a -1” ferrite core of unknown type material. The run is so short, I may make up a shielded cable in its stead.
I “inherited” a hamshack full of parts from my Elmer, W3IRZ/SK. I could figure out the permeability, but I got out of building for ~10 yrs—was editor of QRP Quarterly and ARES SEC of GA at the same time (during Katrina, no less). Got burned out for a while…
