[chirp_users] Comm orts on the Dell XPS 13

[Stuart Longland VK4MSL]

On 16/5/23 11:02, Archie Miller wrote:
> My question dad been on the comm ports on the Dell XPS 13.  After
> being demeaned, I contacted Dell Tech support.

Dell Tech Support probably think a serial port is where sailor's drop 
anchor for breakfast.

The challenge we have is the concept of a "COM port" today is 
abstracted.  You might have a cable with a USB serial IC that implements 
a UART serial port with some purpose-specific connector and pin-out, or 
you might have a plain USB cable that plugs into a port on a device that 
embeds said IC.

CHIRP can't really help this because radio programming interfaces can 
take many wide and varied forms, from physical serial ports (yes, you 
can buy industrial laptops that have RS-232 serial ports as well as PCIe 
RS-232 serial cards for desktops in 2023) and generic USB serial dongles 
combined with a homebrew cable; purpose-made radio programming cables, 
and built-in USB interfaces on radios.  They all look the same to CHIRP.

The operating system will see this when you plug it in, assign an 
identifier (on Linux it'll be something like /dev/ttyUSB${n} or 
/dev/ttyACM${n}; on Windows it'll be COM${n}:, MacOS X is 
/dev/tty.usbserial${something}).

Then the fun is working out what device identifier got assigned to your 
widget.  My only thought is to watch the system when you plug it in:

- on Windows NT-based systems (Windows 2000, XP, Vista, 7 …) → look for 
the Device Manager.  In years gone by, you could access this by 
right-clicking on "My Computer" and selecting "Manage"
- on Linux and some Unix variants (maybe Apple too) → run `dmesg`after 
you plug it in, and look for messages that pertain to your new USB 
device.  OR watch for a new node appearing in `/dev`.

I can't comment really on Windows 10 and newer, I don't use that stuff, 
but I am told behind the "new look UI" it is similar to 7 and earlier.
-- 
Stuart Longland (aka Redhatter, VK4MSL)

I haven't lost my mind...
   ...it's backed up on a tape somewhere.