I can't configure CAT on the FT897.

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Sergej Beresteckij

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Oct 30, 2025, 6:57:36 AM (3 days ago) Oct 30
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I can't configure CAT on the FT897. Is this even possible? CAT ports are emulated by Microham hardware https://www.microham.com/ I don't understand the general logic of how to proceed.

Alex VE3NEA

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Oct 30, 2025, 7:42:18 AM (3 days ago) Oct 30
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Start by reading this section in User's Guide:


FT-897 is not yet supported by SkyCAT, the default CAT control engine, so you have to use  rigctld.exe as described in this section. If you cannot make it work, let me know which step fails, and provide the details, such as log files and screenshots.

Sergej Beresteckij

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Oct 30, 2025, 1:06:21 PM (3 days ago) Oct 30
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-r--rig-file=device

Use device as the file name of the port connected to the radio.

Often a serial port, but could be a USB to serial adapter. Typically /dev/ttyS0/dev/ttyS1/dev/ttyUSB0, etc. on Linux, COM1COM2, etc. on MS Windows. The BSD flavors and Mac OS/X have their own designations. See your system’s documentation.

The special string “uh-rig” may be given to enable micro-ham device support??? 

"C:\Program Files\hamlib-w64-4.5.5\bin\rigctld.exe" -m 1023  --rig-file=COM6  -s 9600

I tried different lines with micro-ham

But nothing happens

skyroof.jpg


четверг, 30 октября 2025 г. в 14:42:18 UTC+3, Alex VE3NEA:

Alex VE3NEA

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Oct 30, 2025, 1:11:22 PM (3 days ago) Oct 30
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find out the correct port number using Device Manager in Windows. Disconnect and re-connect Microham and see which port disappears and appears in the device list. On Windows the only valid port names are COMxxx where xxx is a number. Once you find the correct port number, enable logging in rigctld.exe using the -vvvvv command line parameter and see what happens there

Sergej Beresteckij

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Oct 30, 2025, 1:30:24 PM (2 days ago) Oct 30
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ft897_open: called
rig.c(1308) trace
rig_open: vfo_curr=currVFO, tx_vfo=TX
vfo_fixup:(from rig_open:1340) vfo=VFOA, vfo_curr=currVFO, split=0
rig_open: No set_vfo function rig so default vfo = VFOA
rig_get_freq(2034) called vfo=VFOA
vfo_fixup:(from rig_get_freq:2040) vfo=VFOA, vfo_curr=VFOA, split=0
rig.c(2043) vfo=VFOA, curr_vfo=VFOA
rig_get_freq: cache miss age=1000000ms, cached_vfo=VFOA, asked_vfo=VFOA, use_cached_freq=0
rig_get_freq(2130): vfo_opt=0, model=1023
ft897_get_freq: called
check_cache_timeout: cache invalid
ft897_get_status: called
rig_flush: called for serial device
read_string_generic called, rxmax=4095 direct=1, expected_len=1
tcflush
write_block(): TX 5 bytes, method=1
0000    00 00 00 00 03                                      .....
read_block_generic called, direct=1
read_block_generic(): Timed out 0.328809 seconds after 0 chars, direct=1
 1:rig_get_freq: elapsed=454ms
 1:rig.c(1403):rig_open returning(0)
Opened rig model 1023, 'FT-897'
Backend version: 20220404.0, Status: Stable
main: Using IPV6
 1:network.c(977):network_multicast_publisher_start entered
network.c(981):multicast address=0.0.0.0, port=4532
network.c(986): not starting multicast publisher
main: rigctld listening on port 4532

четверг, 30 октября 2025 г. в 20:11:22 UTC+3, Alex VE3NEA:

Alex VE3NEA

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Oct 30, 2025, 1:41:59 PM (2 days ago) Oct 30
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reading from the COM port times out. Maybe you are using a wrong Baud rate. Check the rate selected in radio's menu

Sergej Beresteckij

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Oct 30, 2025, 2:45:16 PM (2 days ago) Oct 30
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rigctl_parse: return#1 RPRT -11
mutex_rigctld: client lock disengaged
handle_socket: rigctl_parse retcode=-11
mutex_rigctld: client lock engaged
mutex_rigctld: client lock disengaged
handle_socket: doing rigctl_parse vfo_mode=0, secure=0
rigctl_parse: called, interactive=1
scanfc: ret=-1
rigctl_parse: nothing to scan#1? retcode=-1, last_cmd=
handle_socket: rigctl_parse retcode=2
Connection closed from ::ffff:127.0.0.1:58862

четверг, 30 октября 2025 г. в 20:41:59 UTC+3, Alex VE3NEA:

Alex VE3NEA

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Oct 30, 2025, 3:13:47 PM (2 days ago) Oct 30
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Is there anything else in the log?

Sergej Beresteckij

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Oct 30, 2025, 4:57:47 PM (2 days ago) Oct 30
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Hi Alex 
This same *.bat file works well in the gpredict program.

четверг, 30 октября 2025 г. в 22:13:47 UTC+3, Alex VE3NEA:
sku.txt

Gert de Haan

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Oct 30, 2025, 5:15:40 PM (2 days ago) Oct 30
to Sergej Beresteckij, SkyRoof
Hi all, 

SkyRoof 1.22 final is not working with Yaesu 897 in combination with skycat. 
SkyRoof 1.20b works ok with Yaesu 897 in combination with rigctld. 

I'm still finding out where things go wrong with SkyRoof icw Yaesu 897/818 and Skycat. 

Regards 

Gert 

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Alex VE3NEA

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Oct 30, 2025, 7:53:21 PM (2 days ago) Oct 30
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It looks like FT-897 does not understand the "U DUAL_WATCH 0" command that disables the dual watch mode during the initialization, This is not surprising since this radio does not have the dual watch mode. I will see if I can fix this.
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