virtually Read Me Document
virtuallY
Abroham Neal Software
virtuallY is similar to a USB hub, in that it has one connection (in the hub analogy) to your main data
source (the computer’s integrated USB port) and provides similar ports to other users of the main data
source.
So virtuallY needs a data source. It usually will be a program (but could be a physical comm. Port
which we will examine in a moment). The users of this main port will either be other programs on the
same computer or devices that are attached to real comm ports
For using programs on your computer, you will need one of the many virtual comm. Port programs,
available on the internet. The most popular free virtual comm. Port program is Phil Covington’s vCom
available at his website (www.philcovington.com). The programmers at MixW also provide a virtual
comm. Port program (www.mixw.net). The most popular commercial virtual comm. Port program is a
suite of programs by Eltima (www.eltima.com). virtuallY has been tested with vCom and the Eltima
software but should work with any of the programs.
I will show you how to use virtually by example, my own configuration. At my shack, I have a Flex
Radio Flex5000a which is a software defined radio. The “black box” (the physical part of the
transceiver) connects to my computer via a firewire connection. A software program, PowerSDR,
provides all of the radio control functions (as well as the processing duties of the transceiver.
My objective is to have PowerSDR send and receive CAT information to my logging program
(DX4WIN, see it at www.dx4win.com) and my Steppir controller box (which is connected to physical
comm port 6).
My Steppir controller cannot communicate faster than 2400 baud (your mileage may vary), so I have
to: 1. either run all of the CAT communications at 2400 baud, or somehow slow down the speed so that
the Steppir controller can talk at 2400 baud while PowerSDR and DX4WIN speak at a faster rate. In
this exercise, I am running 57600 baud from PowerSDR and DX4WIN, while running 2400 baud to the
Steppir box.
virtually Read Me Document
The first thing to do is to download and install virtually. You can download it from
http:www.abrohamnealsoftware.com/files/virtuallymsi.msi (this link might change in the future so
check back on the www.abrohamnealsoftware.com website for the link when its updated).
After downloading it, run the program to install virtuallY.
virtually Read Me Document
Then the usual “installation location” dialog box. Due to the fact that I am dual-booting between
windows XP and Vista, the path reflects D: drive but your path should be the default Program Folder on
your root drive.
Okay, now you should have a desktop icon for virtuallY plus in your programs Start Menu you should
see virtuallY.
virtually Read Me Document
Next step is to use the vComconfigurator from Phil Covington to define 2 null modem cables, which is
represented by virtual comm port “pairs (one to connect to each program so it appears as a cable). In
the diagram below, I have defined two comm port cable pairs, one uses virtual comm ports 1 and 2, the
second virtual cable includes comm ports 3 and 4. You can see from the device manager in the diagram
that I also have 2 real comm ports, 5 and 6. My Steppir controller is connected to comm port 6.
Make sure to click both the “Save Configuration” and the “Update Drivers” buttons to activate the two
virtual null modem cables.
Using vComConfigurator we now have defined, two virtual port pairs. I have shown the device
manager on the left to show I have 2 physical ports on my computer, comm 5 and 6. In the
vcomconfigurator, I have defined 2 pairs of virtual null cables, comm 1 and comm 2 make one virtual
cable, comm 3 and comm 4 make the second cable.
Okay, so we know what we want to connect, how do we do it with virtually?
If you haven’t done so yet, start PowerSDR. In the Setup menu, select CAT Control tab. If the “Enable
Cat” checkbox is clicked, turn it off so we can change the values. Since I want to use one of my virtual
null cables, we will define one “end” of it to PowerSDR. So, select comm 1 in the Port dropdown. You
can set the speed to whatever you want (just remember what it is because you need to tell virtuallY
what the speed is!). I use 57600 baud, My Cat control tab looks as below.
virtually Read Me Document
Click the Enable CAT checkbox, hit OK down at the bottom to return to the PowerSDR main screen.
Then start the radio.
Double-click the virtuallY icon on your desktop (or click on the virtuallY program in your Start menu).
In the port configuration dialog box, we will set the input port for the CAT virtual cable, the virtual
cable port for DX4WIN and the physical comm port that talks with my Steppir controller.
virtually Read Me Document
Since the virtual null cable I used to define to PowerSDR was comm port 1, the other “end” of it
should be defined as the Cat Input port to virtuallY. Hence, we defined comm 2 as the input port.
To talk with my Steppir controller, it is connected to physical port 6, so I just define that port as Cat
Output2. My controller seems to only work at 2400 baud, so I select that speed in the Cat 1 Output
section. virtuallY will allow you to have a 57600 baud speed coming into it and talk at 2400 baud to the
Steppir controller.
To talk with DX4WIN, I will need to use the second virtual null modem cable (since both powerSDR
and DX4WIN are running in the same computer and only use comm ports for communication).
Therefore, we will define one end of the second virtual cable to Cat Output 2, so we use comm3 at
whatever speed we wish DX4WIN to use. In this example I am showing that we can use the maximum
speed which is 57600.
virtually Read Me Document
Okay, now everything seems setup, next step is to click the Open Ports button on the virtuallY
configuration screen. At that point, everything should be working. If not, you will get a dialog box
telling you there is an error with a comm port and which comm port isn’t working.
If no error messages appear, click the minimize button and the program will go to the system tray area
of your task bar (bottom right of your screen).
If you right click (or double-click) on the systray icon, you can quit virtually or re-open the
configuration window.
virtually Read Me Document
That’s should put you in business! If you see problems or have suggestions please let me know at
[email protected].
Thanks!