Rig Port Setup

XMLog provides two ways to control your rig using a serial COM port on your PC, XMLog's built-in rig control interface or OmniRig.

Once you've configured your rig using Options/Rig Port Select you can set your rig's frequency and mode by:

Note that frequency/mode changes are always applied to VFO A.

You can also have the current frequency and mode values used in new log entries (see Adding New Log Entries).

Check your rig's manual and see what's required to set up a PC-to-rig connection. Some rigs require an optional interface box for this connection. Other rigs can be connected directly to one of your PC's communications ports with the appropriate cable.

Configuring the XMLog Interface

To enable rig control choose Options/Rig Port Select and set options as described below.

Port Type

If you are going to be using OmniRig to control your rig set the Port Type to OmniRig and skip down to the OmniRig options section below.

If you are going to be using XMLog to control your rig set the Port Type to XMLog and use the Set defaults for XMLog Port: list to select your rig type. Choosing an entry from this list will set default values for Baud Rate, Parity, Data Bits and Stop Bits (as well as the Rig Address for Icom rigs).

To disable the rig control feature select "None" from the Set defaults for XMLog Port: list and then select the Save button.

Comm Port

Select the communications port you're using to connect your PC and rig.

Since XMLog can also use COM ports for your TNC, rotor controller, and CW keying you may receive a message about port conflicts. If you see this message choose Options/Packet Port Select, Options/CW Port Select or Options/Rotor Port Select and resolve the conflicts - be sure each feature uses a different port.

Baud Rate

Most rigs communicate to a PC using a preset baud rate. A default value is automatically set when you choose a rig from the Set defaults for: list. Since some rigs allow you to change the baud rate be sure the rate you select agrees with the current value selected by the rig.

Parity, Data Bits and Stop Bits

Most rigs use values of "None" for Parity, "1" for Stop Bits and "8" for Data Bits. Yaesu rigs require Stop Bits to be set to "2". The appropriate values are automatically set when you choose a rig from the Set defaults for: list.

Flow Control

Some rigs use "flow control" to keep programs from sending the next command before the previous command has been completed. The appropriate value is automatically set when you choose a rig from the Set defaults for: list.

Data Mode

When you double-click on a PacketCluster spot displayed in the Packet Window XMLog checks the comment in the spot to see if it's marked as a "Data" mode (RTTY, PSK, etc). In this case XMLog sets the rig mode to FSK or DATA if possible. You can override this feature by selecting options in the Data Mode frame: "Always USB", "Always LSB" or "LSB or USB" (selects LSB or USB depending on the band).

RTS Always On

The RTS (Request to Send) line of a COM port is normally used for Flow Control but some interfaces may use this line for power or for PTT control, etc. Check the documentation.

Rig Address

Most ICOM (and some TenTec) rigs require a "rig address" that uniquely specifies the model of the rig. This address will automatically be set if you choose a rig from the "Set defaults for" pulldown menu.

Non-Standard Options Settings

Some rigs allow you to use COM port settings other than the "default" settings. After you select your rig type using Set defaults for: you can manually change any default settings to their appropriate values.

Configuring the OmniRig Interface

OmniRig is a freeware product from VE3NEA that allows multiple applications to share a COM port connection to your rig. If you have installed an application that uses OmniRig to access your rig this means that using this application will not prevent XMLog from accessing the rig (and vice versa).

One side effect of using OmniRig is that it periodically polls your rig to get the current frequency/mode (XMLog's native support doesn't do any polling). If your station setup relies on the rig periodically sending frequency/mode information then OmniRig is the way to go.

Before you can use this feature you must go to www.dxatlas.com and download and install OmniRig. After OmniRig has been installed choose Options/Rig Port Select and set options as described below.

OmniRig - Rig Select

OmniRig allows you to configure two rigs, pick OmniRig - Rig #1 or OmniRig - Rig #2 to select the appropriate rig.

OmniRig - Configuration

Choose the OmnRig Setup button to display the OmniRig configuration dialog. This dialog will let you select the rig types and COM port settings for each OmniRig port.