Responses to my Kenwood D7 question

Responses to my Kenwood D7 question

[John Ackermann N8UR]

I've had a couple of responses to my posting about using the Kenwood TH-D7 
in KISS mode.  Unfortunately, they both confirm that the radio just doesn't 
work properly in KISS.  That's a real bummer.

Cees, by the way -- my D7 is a relatively early one, but I had it upgraded 
by Kenwood to the (g) version at Dayton Hamvention a couple of years ago, 
so I think I have the latest firmware and that apparently doesn't touch 
this problem.

My goal is a portable demo station to show off Linux AX25 (and Xastir in 
particular).  I guess my options are to use the soundcard drivers, or my 
ancient Heathkit cigarette-sized TNC (made by Tasco) which does have a 
firmware upgrade that includes KISS.

----
John Ackermann   N8UR      jra@febo.com              http://www.febo.com
President, TAPR            n8ur@tapr.org             http://www.tapr.org

Re: Responses to my Kenwood D7 question

[M Taylor]

On Sat, Aug 03, 2002 at 08:47:47AM -0400, John Ackermann N8UR wrote:
> I've had a couple of responses to my posting about using the Kenwood TH-D7 
> in KISS mode.  Unfortunately, they both confirm that the radio just doesn't 
> work properly in KISS.  That's a real bummer.
> 
> Cees, by the way -- my D7 is a relatively early one, but I had it upgraded 
> by Kenwood to the (g) version at Dayton Hamvention a couple of years ago, 
> so I think I have the latest firmware and that apparently doesn't touch 
> this problem.

From linux-hams
<http://www.mctaylor.com/ve1mct/0119.html>
It has been explained that a proper KISS mode won't fit in the single ROM
that is in the TH-D7.


> My goal is a portable demo station to show off Linux AX25 (and Xastir in 
> particular).  I guess my options are to use the soundcard drivers, or my 
> ancient Heathkit cigarette-sized TNC (made by Tasco) which does have a 
> firmware upgrade that includes KISS.

It's been a couple of years since I played with Xastir, but you can use
a "serial TNC" mode rather than "AX.25 TNC". I suspect this might work well 
enough with the TH-D7 if the APRS traffic is 7-bit clean.

I bought the TH-D7e MkII expressly for it's built-in TNC with KISS support,
so I know how bad you feel.

Re: Responses to my Kenwood D7 question

[Riley Williams]

Hi.

>> I've had a couple of responses to my posting about using the Kenwood
>> TH-D7 in KISS mode.  Unfortunately, they both confirm that the radio
>> just doesn't work properly in KISS.  That's a real bummer.
>>
>> Cees, by the way -- my D7 is a relatively early one, but I had it
>> upgraded by Kenwood to the (g) version at Dayton Hamvention a couple
>> of years ago, so I think I have the latest firmware and that
>> apparently doesn't touch this problem.

> It has been explained that a proper KISS mode won't fit in the
> single ROM that is in the TH-D7.

Does anybody have details of precicely what sort of functions are
implemented in the KISS mode that is implemented in the TH-D7 ???
If so, perhaps somebody can write code for the Linux kernel that
works around whatever limitations it has.

Best wishes from Riley G7GOD / KB8PPG.

Re: Responses to my Kenwood D7 question

[Jason Flynn G7OCD]

Riley Williams wrote:
> Does anybody have details of precicely what sort of functions are
> implemented in the KISS mode that is implemented in the TH-D7 ???
> If so, perhaps somebody can write code for the Linux kernel that
> works around whatever limitations it has.

Basically, it's not 8bit clean. I can't see a workaround for this.

This is the story:

In the D7E (note E) mark 1 the TX didn't work. I complained a bit
about this and after a while Kenwood UK told me there would be a
mark 2 because alot of people wanted to use DAMA in Europe (and
most DAMA slaves were PC based?) so they would 'fix' KISS.
So I got on a trial with them.. After a few revisions they got
to this:

1) TX in KISS mode fixed. Good.
2) Note arrives with beta handset from Kenwood JP something like
this :

" To 'make room' for this in the ROM, we had to remove Transparent
Mode from non-KISS mode. Also while in KISS mode can't send binary"

So I told them, that unless it was KISS as in they proper spec then
there was no point in releasing it. They told me they already commited
to a mask for new PROMS. So now I had a handy with a built in TNC
that
1) STILL can't do KISS
2) Can't send binary when not in KISS mode... so I was stuck with
7+/YAPP/UUE etc :-(

After that, I sold mine.

	J

Re: Responses to my Kenwood D7 question

[Riley Williams]

Hi Jason.

>> Does anybody have details of precicely what sort of functions are
>> implemented in the KISS mode that is implemented in the TH-D7 ???
>> If so, perhaps somebody can write code for the Linux kernel that
>> works around whatever limitations it has.

> Basically, it's not 8bit clean. I can't see a workaround for this.

That basically makes it useless if true...

> This is the story: In the D7E (note E) mark 1 the TX didn't work. I
> complained a bit about this and after a while Kenwood UK told me
> there would be a mark 2 because alot of people wanted to use DAMA in
> Europe (and most DAMA slaves were PC based?) so they would 'fix'
> KISS. So I got on a trial with them.. After a few revisions they got
> to this:
>
> 1) TX in KISS mode fixed. Good.
>
> 2) Note arrives with beta handset from Kenwood JP something like
>    this: "To 'make room' for this in the ROM, we had to remove
>    Transparent Mode from non-KISS mode. Also while in KISS mode
>    can't send binary"
>
> So I told them, that unless it was KISS as in they proper spec then
> there was no point in releasing it. They told me they already
> committed to a mask for new PROMS.

At that point, I would've told them "Bad luck, you need to develop it
further before you release the update" and advised them that if they
didn't, they'd see that producct advertised as being a pile of junk
in the packet radio lists where it matters.

> So now I had a handy with a built in TNC that
>
> 1) STILL can't do KISS
>
> 2) Can't send binary when not in KISS mode... so I was stuck with
>    7+/YAPP/UUE etc :-(
>
> After that, I sold mine.

I don't blame you. If that's the best they can do, I'd've done just the
same.

Best wishes from Riley.