VSPE

Virtual Serial Port

A 'virtual serial port' is needed to allow the Condor 2 software and the XCSoar software to 'talk' to each other.

The Condor User guide suggests the use of the ‘HW VSP’ Virtual Serial port software.

This works ok most of the time. It has been noticed that this software seems to stop XCSoar closing down when you try to close its window. It is also a bit temperamental when making the connections when you start Condor and XCSoar.

An alternative VSP that seems very reliable, and doesn’t have the above closing problem, is “VSPE”.

You can get it from: http://www.eterlogic.com/Downloads.html .

A helpful Condor user has written a very comprehensive guide to how to use VSPE to connect Condor to just about anything. It’s here.

This is, admittedly, rather beyond the scope of what we need for a basic connection to XCSoar on the same PC, so the required steps are summarised here.

All you actually need to do is:

1. Install the software

2. Create a ‘pair’ and a ‘splitter’

It’s actually very quick.

Download the software (to your Downloads folder or wherever you prefer) and install it - let it go to it's default installed location.

There will be a licence reminder - it's not neccessary.

Open VSPE after it’s installed.

Select the icon to ‘Create new device’.

Select ‘Pair’ from the dropdown list.

Select COM2 and COM4 respectively.

Now repeat the process, this time selecting ‘Splitter’.

Then select the source (on the right) as COM4, and the virtual port (on the left) as COM5.

When you are done you should have this (it may show OK and Ready):

Select File, Save to save the resulting settings (it's suggested to your Documents folder as ‘VSPE Config1.vspe’).

Double clicking the settings file (you can put a shortcut on the desktop) will launch the app with these settings.

Then you need to go back to Condor, Settings, NMEA output and specify 'Enable' and port 'COM2'.

Then in XCSoar double click on the map area and select ‘Config’, page 1.

Then select ‘Devices’.

Click on ‘A:’ and then ‘Edit’.

Then specify ‘COM5’ and ‘Condor Soaring Simulator’ respectively, and ensure the Baud rate is 4800.

When all the setup is done, start VSPE (double click on the shortcut).

Then start Condor, then start XCSoar.

When you have a flight in progress, the NMEA GPS position from Condor should pass to XCSoar, and you have a moving map display.

Automatic start of VPSE - in the correct sequence - is included in the AutoHotkey script 'Condor2GO' in the Pre-flight Setup page. This saves a lot of button pressing.

(Note the script assumes you have placed the above-named settings file in your Documents folder - if not the script will need editing.)

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