USB-Serial

Here is something every ham shack should have. As you all know there are many rigs which needs a connection to the computer's serial port for software control. And these days the number of serial ports available on most of the main board is limited to just one. This is simply not enough for the needs of an amateur or any electronics enthusiast. Yes there are several el cheapo USB/RS232 adapters available. But I have always wanted an industrial quality serial port adapter to go with my shack. Here is something I came across recently and found it does the job very nicely in controlling my rigs / id-o-matic and a PIC burner. I don't have to fiddle around the cables anymore.

Check out their line of products.
http://www.usbgear.com/USB-Serial.html

Or, If you wanna do it like an average electronics - computers geek, here is what you need.

Four USB to serial Adapters, they cost you like $5 USD a piece.
One 4 port USB Hub - $3
Some high quality ribbon cables (Cables from your old IDE hard drive cables is great).
An enclosure where you can fix all these stuff. Make proper holes on the front panel for RS232 connectors and a single USB port connector on the back of the enclosure.

1. Remove the casing of these adapters and remove the USB connectors from each of those adapters, and wire a 4 wire ribbon cable to where the connectors of socket were.

2. Remove the female sockets from the hub after taking off its cover and solder the 4 wire cable to the socket connections directly. Make sure the connections are correctly done as we are dealing with built in power supply.

3. Do the above 2 steps for each of the other 3 USB serial adapters.

4. Now , connect all these adapters to the back of the front panel, and tighten the screws on the RS232 connector in the adapter so that they don't move.

5. Fix the USB hub board on the base of the enclosure using a couple of spacers.

Connect a USB cable to the hub and see if everything is working properly. In some hubs with LEDs on each of the USB connectors, you can extend them using a simple 2 wire cable to the front panel, or you can extend the LED on the adapter itself to the front panel.

6. You don't need to provide additional power source for these ports, USB cable supplies enough voltage to drive these 4 ports.

Pack everything and enjoy. Total cost of this project will be lesser than $25.

Cheers!!

Labels: cable, computers, electronics, hardware, RS232, serial, USB

Dealing with RF interference

Here is a guide that deals extensively into RF interference.

Here you go.

RADIO FREQUENCY INTERFERENCE (RFI) Notes
M.D.Lowell, N1LO October, 1998

Progress: Through July 1999 archive

Check http://www.qsl.net/n1lo.


Another very well documented guide here.

http://www.kyes.com/antenna/interference/tvibook.html

Make sure you make good use of these guides.

Labels: amateur radio, cable, computers, electronics, ham radio, hardware, HF, interference, radio, RF

Making Round IDE cables

This guide is written by archer_456 of overclock.net. Whatever follows is his work. The original post is available here.

--- BEGIN ---
Well its part 2 to my sleeving guides, LOL. After doing my PSU sleeving guide I decided the flat IDE cables had to go to improve the airflow inside my case.
I had some left over sleeving material from the PSU guide so I decided to round my IDE cables. You can buy round IDE cables pretty cheap, but if you’re like me (Cheap)
or just like to do things yourself, you round the flat ones you already have. Let the fun begin!

I do not take any responsibility if you get hurt or your cables are damaged. I do not guarantee your cables will be useable afterwards
(Mine work and I haven’t had any problems out of them). DO AT YOUR OWN RISK!

Here is what you’re going to need:

• An IDE cable of course!
• A razor blade or some kind of utility knife.
• ½” sleeving material
• ½” heat shrink
• A lighter or heat gun.
• According to OSHA, you need cut resistant gloves, LMAO!

Now the fun part!!

Tip: I would practice on a couple cables before attempting to round some more expensive cables.

If you notice the cable is made up of a lot of little wires coated in insulation.


The object of this step is to take the utility knife and separate the wires. The number of wires you separate is up to you. I separated the wires in 5 wire sections,
but I found 3 wires roll up better when you sleeve them. Count over 3 or 5 wires, take the utility knife and cut between the wires being careful not to cut into
one of the wires just the insulation.

Note: If you accidentally cut into the wire, you can wrap that section with electrical tape.


Only make a small enough incision (cut) to get your pinky finger threw. Now take the cable in one hand and pull apart the section you just cut. Don’t worry the
insulation will separate just like it was cut. Keep pulling the sections apart until you get about ¾” - ½” from the connector.


Now count over 3-5 wires and repeat the cutting procedure above. After you have all the sections separated it should look like this.


Now measure out the length of sleeving material you are going to need. I cut mine so that the ends of the sleeving would be about 1 ¼” from the ends of the connectors.
Take the connector and roll the wires along side of it. Take the sleeving and slide over the connector.



Once you have the sleeving on, go ahead and cut two 1” pieces of the ½” heat shrink, and slide it over the connector and wires.


You want the heat shrink to cover ½” of the sleeving and ½” of the wires. +After getting the heat shrink where you want them, use the lighter or heat gun and shrink it down.
Be careful to not melt the insulation or the sleeving. Once you have it done it should look something like this, but better than mine. LOL


Now if you have a multiple section IDE cable like I have, go ahead and do the other section just like you did the previous section.


Here are some before and after pictures.



Here are some other variations of the round IDE cable.

Using Wire loom: Use the same procedures as above to prepare the cable. Instead of using the sleeving material, use wire loom.
Apply the loom around the cable and then wrap the ends of the loom in electrical tape.


Another variation, my least favorite, wrap the cable in electrical tape: Use the same procedures as above to prepare the cable.
Instead of using the sleeving material, wrap the cable in electrical tape.


Thanks, for checking out my cable rounding guide!! If you have any questions, suggestions, or if you notice anything wrong, feel free to email me at archer_456@yahoo.com or stop by the forums at Overclock.net. And post it

--- END ---

Labels: cable, IDE, round, Sleeving