Trouble Tx'ing APRS packets/mgs with FTM-400 ??

VK3DQS

New member
Hello,
Here is the message on screen i receive when trying to transmit a message/packet thru my pc to FTM-400
Any suggestions how to fix?
...........Could not send !
3626.14S/14525.88E-/A=000394PinPointv2.1 to TNC.Error. The write time out

7/03/25 10.05PM Could not send l to TNC.Error:the write timed out

Cheers
Colin Jones VK3DQS
 

vk3vsm

Administrator
Staff member
I don't have an ftm-400 but it is a communication error

Verify COM Port (check Device Manager if unsure)
Baud Rate: 9600 or 1200 depending on settings (check what baud is being used on the radio)
Ensure KISS mode is enabled if needed.
 

VK3DQS

New member
I don't have an ftm-400 but it is a communication error

Verify COM Port (check Device Manager if unsure)
Baud Rate: 9600 or 1200 depending on settings (check what baud is being used on the radio)
Ensure KISS mode is enabled if needed.
baud rate was incorrect
 

VK3YNV

Administrator
Staff member
Serial comms can be one of the most frustrating things to debug

I assume this is something that has never worked previously?
Check cable connections, make sure Rx and Tx aren't reversed, check voltages is it TTL or +-12V RS232?
 

VK3DQS

New member
Serial comms can be one of the most frustrating things to debug

I assume this is something that has never worked previously?
Check cable connections, make sure Rx and Tx aren't reversed, check voltages is it TTL or +-12V RS232?
Yes, new connection,hasn't worked before..Can receive from APRSdroid but not from radio to HH.
will check your suggestions Ray thankyou.
 

VK3YNV

Administrator
Staff member
Something weird, there are different cables for 1200 baud and 9600 baud. Connects to different pins?
Might be worth checking which cable you have and set baud rates accordingly.

Some more info on this forum might be helpful in identifying which cable.
 

VK3DQS

New member
Something weird, there are different cables for 1200 baud and 9600 baud. Connects to different pins?
Might be worth checking which cable you have and set baud rates accordingly.

Some more info on this forum might be helpful in identifying which cable.
Ray, you would assume that the 10 pin cable in the box on purchase would suit either baud rate but anyway l will check tonight and let you know
 

VK3YNV

Administrator
Staff member
Ray ,FYI ...have changed the baud rate in Pinpoint and on radio with no change..
I still think it's weird that they have different cables for different baudrates, I can only imagine that they are wired different internally, maybe feeding the 9600 baud higher speed data direct into the discriminator direct and bypassing any audio filtering, that might not affect the 1200 baud data.

Do you have an Oscilloscope? Something to look at the Rx Tx lines and see if the data is actually being sent correctly.
Alternatively you could hook if the Tx Line to the Rx line of a serial port on a PC running a terminal program like Terraterm or Hyperterm, or even Putty in serial mode.
 
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