RigExpert TI-5
RigExpert Interfaces and a Mac
Once you connect your RigExpert Standard or TI-5 to your Mac OS X - based computer, several devices appear in the system. Please open the Applications – Utilities – System Profiler and select USB at the left.
If everything is installed fine, you will see the following USB devices:
USB Audio CODEC
In you software, you will then be able to choose the USB Audio CODEC as both input and output audio devices. As for serial ports to control CAT system, PTT and CW outputs, as well as other functions of your rig, the names of four serial ports look like greetings from 1970s, such as:
/dev/tty.usbserial-0000123DA
HERE IS THE SECRET: The first serial port in the list is for the CAT, the second one is for the CW/PTT outputs.
As for other serial ports, the following text is some technical background about virtual serial ports. You may skip it and proceed with setting up your software.
You may check serial port names by typing ls /dev/tty.usb* in the terminal window.
2. Setting up your software
cocoaPtt
After starting the program, go to cocoaPTT – Preferences menu.
Select the Serial Port tab and choose a serial port which is a PTT/CW port of your interface (usually, this is a second port in the list; the digit/letter combination is 2B). Select RTS and Active High for the proper operation of the PTT output.
If everything is installed fine, you will see the following USB devices:
USB Audio CODEC
RigExpert Standard (CAT+PTT/CW)
RigExpert Standard (SERIAL+FSK)
RigExpert Standard (SERIAL+FSK)
– or –
USB Audio CODEC
RigExpert TI-5 (CAT+PTT/CW/SOFTFSK)
RigExpert TI-5 (WINKEY+FSK)
THE GOLDEN RULE: If you do not see these lines in the System Profiler, do not even try to set up your software – it will not work.RigExpert TI-5 (CAT+PTT/CW/SOFTFSK)
RigExpert TI-5 (WINKEY+FSK)
In you software, you will then be able to choose the USB Audio CODEC as both input and output audio devices. As for serial ports to control CAT system, PTT and CW outputs, as well as other functions of your rig, the names of four serial ports look like greetings from 1970s, such as:
/dev/tty.usbserial-0000123DA
/dev/tty.usbserial-0000123DB
/dev/tty.usbserial-0000133DA
/dev/tty.usbserial-0000133DB
And, yes – you will need to choose (or type) these port names in your software. /dev/tty.usbserial-0000133DA
/dev/tty.usbserial-0000133DB
HERE IS THE SECRET: The first serial port in the list is for the CAT, the second one is for the CW/PTT outputs.
As for other serial ports, the following text is some technical background about virtual serial ports. You may skip it and proceed with setting up your software.
You may check serial port names by typing ls /dev/tty.usb* in the terminal window.
For instance, with RigExpert Standard connected you will see the following output:
ls /dev/tty.usb*
/dev/tty.usbserial-0000123DA /dev/tty.usbserial-0000133DA
/dev/tty.usbserial-0000123DB /dev/tty.usbserial-0000133DB
The port functions are as follows:
ls /dev/tty.usb*
/dev/tty.usbserial-0000123DA /dev/tty.usbserial-0000133DA
/dev/tty.usbserial-0000123DB /dev/tty.usbserial-0000133DB
The port functions are as follows:
| Port name | Digit/letter combination | Function in RigExpert Standard | Function in RigExpert TI-5 |
| /dev/tty.usbserial-xxxxx2xxA | 2A | CAT | CAT |
| /dev/tty.usbserial-xxxxx2xxB | 2B | PTT/CW | PTT/CW/SOFTFSK |
| /dev/tty.usbserial-xxxxx3xxA | 3A | Additional serial port | WinKey |
| /dev/tty.usbserial-xxxxx3xxB | 3B | FSK | FSK |
The virtual serial port names may differ depending on a USB port your RigExpert interface is connected to. Please watch the bold digits (2 and 3) and letters (A and B) – knowing the digit/letter combination, it is easy to find the function of the corresponding virtual serial port.
It may happen then the ls /dev/tty.usb* command will list nothing:
ls /dev/tty.usb*
ls: /dev/tty.usb*: No such file or directory
In this case, please check a USB connection to your interface. Although USB serial port drivers are built into modern versions of the Mac OS, you may always install the latest version of the driver by downloading it from the USB chip manufacturer's website, www.ftdichip.com (please see the VCP section).
It may happen then the ls /dev/tty.usb* command will list nothing:
ls /dev/tty.usb*
ls: /dev/tty.usb*: No such file or directory
In this case, please check a USB connection to your interface. Although USB serial port drivers are built into modern versions of the Mac OS, you may always install the latest version of the driver by downloading it from the USB chip manufacturer's website, www.ftdichip.com (please see the VCP section).
2. Setting up your software
cocoaPtt
After starting the program, go to cocoaPTT – Preferences menu.
Select the Serial Port tab and choose a serial port which is a PTT/CW port of your interface (usually, this is a second port in the list; the digit/letter combination is 2B). Select RTS and Active High for the proper operation of the PTT output.
Close the cocoaPTT Preferences window and check your PTT output by pressing the Key button, watching the red PTT LED at the front panel of your interface.
cocoaModem
To set up the program, go to Window – Config menu.
Select the Receiver tab and make sure USB Audio CODEC is selected as an Input.
Select the Receiver tab and make sure USB Audio CODEC is selected as an Input.
Switch to the Transmitter tab and select USB Audio CODEC as an Output. To be able to use the cocoaPTT software to control the PTT output of your interface, select CocoaPTT in the PTT drop-down box.
Fldigi
Once the program is started for the first time, the configuration wizard will show up. In the Audio deviceswindow, check PortAudio and then select USB Audio CODEC for both Capture and Playback.
In the next Transceiver Control window, switch to the Hardware PTT tab. Check Use separate serial port PTT and choose the serial port from the drop-down box which corresponds to the PTT port of your interface (usually, this is a second port in the list; the digit/letter combination is 2B) in the Device drop-down box. Check Use RTS and then press Initialize.
To set up your transceiver CAT control,
1) Switch to the RigCAT tab. Refer to the Fldigi website to obtain an XML file describing your rig, then pressOpen... and select this file. Choose a serial port corresponding to the CAT port of your interface (usually, this is a first port in the list; the digit/letter combination is 2A) in the Device drop-down box, then select Baud rateand Stopbits values according to the manual for your transceiver. All check-boxes at the bottom of the window should normally be unchecked. Press Initialize to open the CAT port and check Use RigCAT to use this method to communicate to the rig.
2) Alternatively, switch to the Hamlib tab and select your transceiver type in the Rig drop-down box, your serial port name and parameters (see above). Also, uncheck all check-boxes. Press Initialize to open the CAT port and check Use Hamlib to use this method to communicate to the rig.In the next Transceiver Control window, switch to the Hardware PTT tab. Check Use separate serial port PTT and choose the serial port from the drop-down box which corresponds to the PTT port of your interface (usually, this is a second port in the list; the digit/letter combination is 2B) in the Device drop-down box. Check Use RTS and then press Initialize.To set up your transceiver CAT control, 1) Switch to the RigCAT tab. Refer to the Fldigi website to obtain an XML file describing your rig, then pressOpen... and select this file. Choose a serial port corresponding to the CAT port of your interface (usually, this is a first port in the list; the digit/letter combination is 2A) in the Device drop-down box, then select Baud rateand Stopbits values according to the manual for your transceiver. All check-boxes at the bottom of the window should normally be unchecked. Press Initialize to open the CAT port and check Use RigCAT to use this method to communicate to the rig.
Once the program is running, you may change audio, PTT and CAT settings via the Configure menu.Aether
To set up the transceiver CAT system, go to Aether – Preferences menu.
Select the Rig Control tab, then select Radio Brand and Radio Model. In the Serial Port drop-down box, select a serial port name which corresponds to the CAT port of your interface (usually, this is a first port in the list; the digit/letter combination is 2A), then select Baud Rate according to your transceiver's manual. Do not forget to check Enable Rig Control.
RUMlog
After starting the program, go to the RUMlog – Preferences menu. Select the TRX 1 tab and select a type of your rig in the TRCVR drop-down box. In the Port drop-down box, select a serial port name which corresponds to the CAT port in your interface (usually, this is a first port in the list; the digit/letter combination is2A). Select the baudrate and other parameters according to your transceiver's manual. All check boxes are usually unchecked.
Select the Rig Control tab, then select Radio Brand and Radio Model. In the Serial Port drop-down box, select a serial port name which corresponds to the CAT port of your interface (usually, this is a first port in the list; the digit/letter combination is 2A), then select Baud Rate according to your transceiver's manual. Do not forget to check Enable Rig Control.
RUMlog
After starting the program, go to the RUMlog – Preferences menu. Select the TRX 1 tab and select a type of your rig in the TRCVR drop-down box. In the Port drop-down box, select a serial port name which corresponds to the CAT port in your interface (usually, this is a first port in the list; the digit/letter combination is2A). Select the baudrate and other parameters according to your transceiver's manual. All check boxes are usually unchecked.