6



Vista Compatibility

I tested SatPC32 Vers. 12.6 on my Desktop PC under Windows Vista 32-bit and Vista 64-bit.

With Vista 64-bit I used a modified 12.6 version. This version comes with a newer Installshield setup tool. Also, I removed the 32-bit kernel driver IOPort.SYS which doesn't work on 64-bit systems.

The modified program version can be downloaded from my website with the following link:



Here my  experience as yet:

In general all SatPC32 functions work flawlessly. Some third-party hardware drivers need to be updated for Vista, however.

Details:

Vista 32-bit:

SatPC32 works correctly under Vista 32.  No changes of V.12.6 for Vista 32-bit were necessary.

a. The present Installshield setup program works.

b. The "Download Keps" function works.

c. The "Speech" function works, too.

d. Rotor steering:

aa. For steering of the IF-100 and FODTrack interfaces the program uses the IOPort.SYS driver. I tested this driver successfully with the IF-100. So, rotor steering with the FODTrack parallel port interface will also work. The driver is also used with the KCT and the RifPC interfaces. These interfaces can't be used with Vista PCs, however, since they require ISA slots.

bb. Also, rotor steering via the PC's genuine COM port(s) works. I could test that with the W0LMD Tracker Mini. So, all  rotor controllers for the serial port (GS-232 and Easycomm1 compatible and EGIS devices) will work.

cc. Steering of the serial devices via a USB-to-Serial adapter will also work, provided a Vista compatible driver is available.

I tested successfully the Vivanco 10752 USB-to-Serial adapter.

For the newer Keyspan 4-Port USB-to-Serial adapter USB 2.0 USA-49WG a Vista 32-bit driver can be downloaded. Meanwhile (May 2007) Keyspan announces a driver update also for their older models USA-49W and USA-49WLC.

I have no experience with other USB-to-Serial adapters. I suppose the Windows XP drivers of these adapters will not work.

dd. Rotor steering with the Labjack USB controller U12 works. No driver update is needed since this controller uses a Windows HID driver.

ee. For the U3 Labjack has uploaded a Vista 32-bit compatible driver (beta version).

ff. HalloRotorUSB: I  tested the HalloRotor USB controller and it works.

gg. WinRotorUSB: I didn't get the WinRotor software installed, maybe I need a software update.

hh. With other USB controllers (i.e.G6LVB) I have no experience.

e. CAT control:

aa. CAT steering via the PC's genuine COM port(s) works.

bb. CAT steering with USB-to-Serial adapters: See the remarks regarding rotor steering (sect. d, cc above).

Vista 64-bit:

a. The special version for Vista 64-bit comes with a newer version of the Installshield setup tool which works also under Vista 64-bit.

b. The "Download Keps" function works.

c. The "Speech" function works, too.

d. Rotor steering:

aa. Rotor steering with the IF-100 and the FODTrack interfaces doesn't work because there is no 64-bit version of the IOPort.SYS driver available as yet.

bb. Also, rotor steering via the PC's genuine COM port(s) works. So, all  rotor controllers for the serial port (GS-232 and Easycomm1 compatible and EGIS devices) can be used.

cc. Steering of the serial devices via a USB-to-Serial adapter will also work, provided a Vista 64-bit compatible driver is available. As yet (May 2007) I don't know 64-bit drivers for these devices, however.

dd. Rotor steering with the Labjack U12 works. No driver update is needed since this controller uses the Windows HID driver.

ee. For the U3 Labjack has no 64-bit driver as yet.

ff. With other USB controllers (i.e. HalloRotor, WinRotorUSB, G6LVB) I have no experience, but probably they have no 64-bit drivers as yet.

e. CAT control:

aa. CAT steering via the PC's genuine COM port(s) works.

bb. CAT steering with USB-to-Serial adapters: See the remarks regarding rotor steering (sect. d. cc. above).

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