This page provides a brief overview of the new high speed USB modem.
Thomas, HB9JNX (idea, design, FPGA programming) and Johannes, DG3RBU (hardware and mechanical design) have cooperated to get a cheap high speed modem out that can be operated under the actual windows operating systems (Win 98, ME, 2000). Backward compatibility to 1200bd AFSK was also an issue.
The USB modem is an FPGA based design,
which makes use of the AN2131Q USB bridge. Most of the components are
in
SMD due to space and cost reasons, so only assembled modems are
available.
The modem requires an external power supply (8-18V AC or DC) and is
connected
to the PC via the USB bus. For the radio, there is a 9p. Sub-D Jack.
The modem is especially suitable for
DF2FQ's
T7F 70cm transceiver. It contains a 10p pinhead connector for the T7F
modulation
and PTT control and also the 14p pinhead control connector. This allows
full control over the T7F (e.g. frequency and offset settings) via a
graphical
window on the Windows desktop.
The USB modem is usally operated under
FlexNet32. Linux drivers are also available but only recommended for
users
who do have experience with packet under Linux.
The FlexNet package serves as an interface
between the low level driver and the terminal program (we recommend
using
PAXON, which is distributed with the modem).
Full technical information:
Download Manual GERMAN language (includes schematic; pdf, 120kbyte)
An english manual is not yet available,
but we are working hard on the translation.
Drivers and
Operating
System support:
There is a new
driver set for Windows by Hans Schlecht, DL8MCG, curing a number of
stability issues of the original drivers by Tom, HB9JNX.
This driver set
is Version 0.10b.
Download new
Windows drivers Version 0.10b
If you
want to upgrade to the 0.10b driver from the original driver set,
do the following:
- Replace the baycmusb.sys
and baycmusb.inf files in the .wdm folder of the driver package
- When using PAXON, remove the
modem from the modem list ion PAXON and add the modem again.
For reference the old HB9JNX
drivers are still available:
Download
original HB9JNX
Windows drivers Version 0.10
A) Operating the USB Modem with FlexNet32 on Windows 98, ME and 2000.
Please note that DOS, NT and XP are not supported.
1. Install your terminal program first. This software is available from: www.paxon.de. Of course also other FlexNet32 compatible applications can be used. Install the terminal according to the PAXON documentation, before proceeding with the driver installation. Paxon is available from www.paxon.de.
2. Download FlexNet32 for windows. The
actual version is available from:
http://www.afthd.tu-darmstadt.de/~flexnet/
3. Extract the FlexNet package into any suitable directory on your hard disk. Copy the USB drivers from the WIN32 directory of the CD-ROM or from your download archive into the same (!!!) directory. If you cannot see these files in your windows explorer, you need to select “Show System Files” in your EXPLORER options.
4. Power up the USB modem and connect it to the PC via the USB cable.
5. Your operating system should acknowledge the new hardware immediately. Do not let the operating system search for the best driver, but click on "Select driver" and then "search". Select the WDM directory on the CD and click ok. Driver is installed then.
6. Start the program „BAYCOMUSBTRX“ to
initialize the modem (and a T7F, if connected). For details see printed
manual here.
You can check the principal function of
the modem here easily. Just activate the PTT by clicking on the PTT
button
and the red PTT LED on the modem should be on. If this works, the main
functionality is given and driver is installed correctly. The modem
parameters
need to be set in the BAYCOMUSBTRX program.
7. Start the Flexnet control Center FLEXCTRL.
6. Select sub menue TOOLs and entry PARAMETER. Select the first available channel by double clicking and select “NEW DRIVER” by clicking with the right mouse button. A new window appears. Select “USB Modem” by doubleclicking. If this entry is not present, the drivers were not copied correctly on item 3. (Remind that the drivers need to be in the same directory as the flexnet software). The USB channel is now added to the driver window.
6. The TXDELAY parameters are now being configured by highlighting a channel with the left mouse button and then selecting EDIT with the right button. When all settings are correct, the channel is displayed as “activated” in the parameter window (instead of being crossed out).
7. Start the PAXON terminal. Packet
operation
may begin now.
B) Operating the USBMODEM under Linux
For Linux, HB9JNX has developed a
driver
that can be downloaded here.
Download
actual
Linux drivers Version 0.10
Note: This driver should only be used
for
experienced Linux users who are used to USB operation and AX25 kernel
operation.
BayCom cannot provide support on problems
with the Linux drivers, the support possibilities of HB9JNX are highly
limited!
Modem availability
The USB Modem is available now. It
costs
199.- DM / 102.- EURO.
For more infos on ordering/contact, please
look here.
The modem is either available for 76k8
FSK or 9k6 FSK (both versions can do 1200Bd AFSK by just setting the
right
configuration parameters)
Baudrates can be altered to any value
by changing seven 0805-SMD capacitors.
Uper limit for the modem is around
300kbit/s
The modem is delivered completely
assembled,
with aluminum case, USB cable, driver disk and (german) manual. English
translation will be available soon.
