HAM Radio 1

home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search

/ HAM Radio 1 / HamRadio.cdr / control / 44spl200 / 44spl200.doc < prev next >

Wrap

Text File | 1990-10-14 | 95KB | 1,711 lines

▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ ▄▄ ████████ ▄█▀ ████████ ▄█▀ ████████ ▄█▀ ████████ ▄█▀ ████████ ▄█▀ ████████ ▄█▀ ████████ ▄█▀ ███████████▀ ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ ███████████ 4 4 0 ████████ ██▄ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ████████ ██▄ ████████ ███ ████████ ███▄ ████████ ████▄ ████████ █████▄ ████████ ██████▄ ████████ ███████▄ ████████ ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄████████▄▄▄▄▄▄ ████████ S p o i l e r ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ THE 440 SPOILER: VERSION 2.00 USER'S MANUAL The 440 Spoiler provides you with the full operating capability of the Kenwood TS-440S amateur radio transceiver in the easiest and most convenient manner possible. It also provides you with a way to control the transceiver from across the room, across the house, down the tower, and across the nation. The 440 Spoiler is provided to you through shareware marketing, a method which gives you the finest software available at a minimum price by providing you a means to try out what you might find useful enough to support its maintenance and further development. You are invited to use the 440 Spoiler for a period of up to one month. If you decide to use the 440 Spoiler thereafter, you must obtain a license for the software by registering it with the QSO2000 Project, 5518 12th Street, Lubbock, TX, 79416 for a nominal fee of $39. A convenient registration form is included at on the last page of this manual and in the file REGISTER.TXT. Registering your software provides you with significant benefits. You receive a diskette copy of the most-recent revision of the Spoiler. Registered copies of the package contain the latest enhancements, latest maintenance revisions, and no shareware notices. They also include enhancements not included in shareware examination copies. Your period of registration is one year, and enhancements which are made to the package within that year are yours for merely a copying and mailing charge $3.00). OVERVIEW The 440 Spoiler provides you with the computing power that will help you to make better and more enjoyable use of the Kenwood TS-440S amateur radio transceiver in two ways: (1) by overcoming operating difficulties inherent in a very capable radio with a very restrictive front panel, and (2) by permitting you to control the radio remotely from wherever you can establish two duplex voice channels. OVERCOMING OPERATING DIFFICULTIES The Kenwood TS-440S is by itself one of the most sophisticated high- frequency transceivers available for amateur-radio use. It contains 100 memories (110 counting the separate transmit and receive memories for the upper 10 memory channels). It contains a general-coverage receiver and transmitter and a unique receive and transmit increment-tuning system. The operating potential of the transceiver is unfathomable. Because of the operating capabilities of the transceiver, however, operation from the front panel is of necessity complex. Storing, altering, and using all of the information into TS-440S memories through the front panel is time-consuming and often confusing. In addition, TS-440S keypads present operating problems. It is easy to forget the sequence of keystrokes required by the keypads on the front panel if you don't use them very often. Also, infrequent use of the keypads leads to key bounce; you can press the keys many times before you condition them to switch only once for each time you press them. There is an additional limitation on front-panel operation: all storage and control from the front panel is performed on the current memory or VFO. You cannot prepare a memory or a VFO for your switching to it while you are operating on another memory or VFO. TS-440S display limitations also present operating problems. You cannot see the frequency and mode of a memory or VFO unless you select it and therefore cease to receive or transmit on your current frequency and mode. Moreover, you cannot see both your transmit frequency and your receive frequency at the same time. If you are using increment tuning on either transmit or receive, the display shows you the result of your using it but it does not show you the actual frequency of the VFO or memory that is currently selected. The 440 Spoiler overcomes the problems presented by the front panel switches and the display. Your MSDOS computer keyboard provides considerably more convenient and logical control of the transceiver. With a minimal number of keystrokes, you can select any of the operating parameters (frequency, mode, etc.) stored in the TS-440S, and you can conveniently alter the operating parameters stored in the transceiver. Display The Spoiler displays all operating frequencies, modes, frequency splits, tuning increments, and other operating information on the screen of your computer in one of two ways that you select by keyboard toggle. In a standard operating screen, half of the memories stored in the TS-440S are displayed on the screen at all times; you can toggle between the lower half and the upper half at any time with a single keystroke. In a high-density operating screen, all memories are displayed. The Spoiler screens always display the current operating conditions of the TS-440S, regardless of whether you have used the front panel or the computer keyboard to change them. If you change frequency, mode, split, increment tuning, or memories from the front panel, the Spoiler updates its display to show the remotely entered data. Function key 9 toggles between the standard and high-density screens; when the standard screen is being displayed, the Page Up key toggles between the top and bottom halves of the 110 memories. Control The Spoiler makes transceiver control extremely simple, convenient, and fast as prompts on the screen direct you through a minimum of key strokes. Memory Management The 440 Spoiler contains a complete memory-management system that enables you to store up to tens of thousands of frequency and mode memories on computer disk. Stored in files of 100 memories, the memories may be loaded into your TS- 440S with a few key strokes. You may customize individual memory files for different modes of operation, for different bands, for DX or traffic-net operation, for monitoring broadcasts, for monitoring citizens band transmissions, or for whatever your specialized interests include. Moreover, the Spoiler manages VFOs and memories in a way that does not disturb your current operation. You can enter new frequencies and modes into unselected memories or VFOs without missing a word on a net or a calling frequency you are currently monitoring. Simplicity of operation is the most important design feature of the 440 Spoiler. From your screen, you see prompts to lead you through any operation you care to perform. If you want to change the operating mode of a vfo or a memory, you press the MODE function key; you press SOURCE, FREQUENCY, INCREMENT TUNING, and MEMORY MANAGEMENT keys with similar ease to instantaneously control every feature of your transceiver. Keypad Operating Control The numeric keypad (or the corresponding enhanced arrow and other function keys) provides for truly real-time remote operation. Arrow keys let you instantaneously alter the main operating frequency or receive and transmit increment tuning. Keypad tuning of the main operating frequency is effective for all memories as well as both VFOs. In effect, when you control tuning from the keypad, you have 102 VFOs to work with rather than two VFOs and 100 memories. When you have finished tuning, you have the choice of leaving your new frequency in the VFO or selected memory or reverting to the frequency which was in effect before you began tuning. Arrow keys do the same work as front-panel knobs. Press a key in one of the two pairs of arrow keys to begin incrementing or decrementing the frequency; the keys in the other pair serve as accelerator and decelerator to control the rate of frequency change. Pressing one of the original keys pauses tuning, and pressing the home key while tuning is in process reduces the rate to its slowest value. While tuning is paused, pressing one of the opposite pairs of arrow keys halts the tuning process. Of course, changes in main tuning are instantaneously shown on the Spoiler display so that you know your frequency to 10-Hz accuracy at all times. Transmit can be activated and terminated from the keypad with the Page Down key (a feature that can be disabled on installation). Note: Shareware examination copies of the 440 Spoiler do not provide accelerator, deceleratior, and transmit functions. These are features reserved for registered copies. Scanning The Spoiler will continuously cycle the transceiver through six groups of contiguous memories and six ranges of frequencies specified by pairs of memories. Groups or ranges may be locked out, just as any single memory may be locked. Pause length is set independently for each of the six groups, and scanning speed independently for each of the six ranges. Note: Shareware examination copies of the 440 Spoiler are provided with a "standard" set of scan specifications (memory groups, ranges, pause lengths, and speeds) which may be altered while the program is running. The changes, however, are not saved for use after the program is exited. Between-session editing is a feature reserved for registered copies. Shelling to Another Program The 440 Spoiler also contains provisions for accessing a log-maintenance program, a digital-controller program, or other software while you maintain the 440 Spoiler resident in memory for quick access. You may shell out of the Spoiler and re-enter it instantaneously. OPERATING REMOTELY With two duplex voice channels connecting your transceiver location and your (and your computer's) location, the Spoiler will help you with complete remote operation of the TS-440S. The simplest case is at a single QTH where you run rs-232 cable from one room of your house to another to connect the serial port of your computer to the serial input of your TS-440S. Another cable carries audio between the transceiver and a speaker and microphone at your computer desk (a cordless telephone link is easier to implement, if you have the equipment already available). For longer links via telephone channels, a modem is required at each end of the computer-to-transceiver line. The modems, for simplest lashup, must operate at 4800 baud with 8N1 or 8N2 byte setup, and the modem at the transceiver site must be initialized for auto answer with no result codes to be issued to the TS-440S. A simple telephone patch activated by ring-detect circuitry can provide the remote transmit/receive audio link on the second line. The QSO2000 Project does not recommend such lashups except at the beginning stages of experimenting with remote operation. An interface computer at the remote site provides many advantages in convenience and security in your exclusive control of the transceiver. The interface computer can convert any telephone-line data rate to the 4800-baud rate required by the TS-440S, and with minor programming effort provide for password-screened access to control of the transceiver. Although the data rate for standard copies of the 440 Spoiler, version 2, is fixed at 4800 baud, a special copy that incorporates selectable data rates (300-19200 baud) and a 40-character modem-initialization string is available to previously registered users at a minimal $3.00 copy charge. (Such a special copy is available only after operators have received and familiarized themselves with the standard 4800-baud version). It is, of course, possible with standard copies of the Spoiler to fix the rate of transfer between the computer and modem at 4800-baud while setting the telephone-line data rate to a different speed. Such preliminary setup operations must be carried out before running the Spoiler. Note: Responsibility for failure or abuse over such long remote links lies totally with those of us who use the Spoiler within the wider context of establishing and maintaining the links. Spoiler software provides you with the opportunity to engineer long links within which the software may be of use to you, but the responsibility for establishing and maintaining the integrity and fail-safe operation of the links is entirely your own. In no event will the QSO2000 project be responsible for material damages, operational failure, or improper or illegal operation (equipment used is the responsibility of its owners and procedures used are the responsibility of amateur radio operators whose licenses attest to their having the knowledge and care to operate within the limits of the licenses they have obtained). In other words, remote-control operation is always full of complexities that amateur operators must understand before they commit their equipment and licenses to supporting it. HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS The 440 Spoiler requires an MSDOS or PCDOS computer with at least 256K of memory, one diskette drive, and one serial (COM) port. Performance of the program is improved, of course, with your running it from hard disk rather than floppy. The faster your CPU speed the more responsive the program. Your TS-440S must be equipped for serial (RS-232C) communications. You must have the two interface chips such as the ones Kenwood sells as a kit designated as the IC-10 kit as well as a TTL/RS-232C level converter such as Kenwood sells as the IF-232C adapter. It is not necessary for you to use the parts that Kenwood markets. The necessary interface chips are common ones, and if you are experienced in digital-circuit design you might build your own level converter. Kenwood prices are high, but Kenwood is a convenient source for ready-made components that are guaranteed to work with your transceiver. OPERATION The opening screen of a shareware examination copy of the Spoiler contains a reminder that the software depends on user registration. The screen, shown in figure 1, is displayed for 10 seconds: after the initial period, you may bring up the standard operating screen by pressing any key. ▄▄▄▄▄▄ ▄▄ ╒══════════════════════════════════════════════╕ ██████ ▄█▀ │ THE 440 SPOILER │ ██████ ▄█▀ │ Shareware Version 1.02 │ ██████ ▄█▀ │ │ ██████ ▄█▀ │ We hope that you enjoy this examination copy │ ██████ ▄█▀ │ of the 440 Spoiler, a program that lets you │ ██████ ▄█▀ │ control your Kenwood TS-440S conveniently, │ ██████ ▄█▀ │ rapidly, and completely. │ █████████▀ ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ │ │ █████████ 4 4 0 │ You may support your use of this program by │ ██████ ██▄ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ │ registering your copy with a contribution of │ ██████ ██▄ │ $39 to support further development and main- │ ██████ ███ │ tenence. Your registration will provide you │ ██████ ███▄ │ with a diskette copy of the full-featured │ ██████ ████▄ │ 440 Spoiler package as well as free upgrade │ ██████ █████▄ │ privilege. Type or print the accompanying │ ██████ ██████▄ │ file REGISTER.TXT for further information. │ ██████ ███████▄ │ │ ██████ ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄████████▄▄▄▄▄▄ │ >Bill Brewer, K5KNC, QSO2000 Project< │ ██████ S p o i l e r ╘══════════════════════════════════════════════╛ ██████ ██████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████ ╔════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║ ****************** Press any key to continue to run ******************** ║ ║ ***************** your examination copy of the Spoiler. ****************** ║ ╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ Figure 1.- Examination copy opening screen Registered copies of the Spoiler display an opening screen for only the length of time it takes you to press a key. The opening screen contains no shareware notice: instead, it contains the name and amateur-radio call sign of its licensed owner. OPERATING SCREEN The operating screen shows every parameter that enters into transceiver operation, regardless of whether changes in operation occur from the front panel or from the computer keyboard. It also shows commands which make computer-keyboard control of the TS-440S incredibly easy and fast. The Spoiler always displays the standard operating screen upon startup. The display may be toggled to the high-density operating screen anytime thereafter. THE STANDARD OPERATING SCREEN The standard screen consists of four display areas for each of the following: (1) current operating sources, (2) command options, (3) 55 memories, and (4) commands. Figure 2 shows a typical operating screen (which has been shortened horizontally to fit within the margins of this documentation file. Current operating sources are shown in the box in the upper left. Command options are shown in the box which contains the program logo when no command has been issued. Transceiver memory contents are shown in the large, J-shaped box to the right and bottom of the screen. Commands are shown on the bottom line. ╔════════════════════╦═══════════════════╗ ╔══════════════════════════════════╗ ║ RECEIVE ║TR 3.933.01 LSB VA║ ║11f 7.005.00 CW │33f 2.500.00 AM ║ ║ 3.933.01 LSB ║───────────────────║ ║12f 7.010.00 CW │34f 5.000.00 AM ║ ║ VA ║TR 7.213.00 LSB VB║ ║13f 7.015.00 CW │35f 10.000.00 AM ║ ╠════════════════════╣TR 3.935.00 LSB 09║ ║14f 7.020.00 CW │36f 15.000.00 AM ║ ║ TRANSMIT ║───────────────────║ ║15f 7.025.00 CW │37f 20.000.00 AM ║ ║ 3.933.01 LSB ║No Increment -0.04K║ ║16f 7.030.00 CW │38f 14.005.00 CW ║ ║ VA ║ ║ ║17f 7.045.00 CW │39f 14.010.00 CW ║ ╠═════════════╦══════╩═════╦═════════════╣ ║18f 7.060.00 CW │40f 14.015.00 CW ║ ║Time 22:02:38║DEFAULT.MRY ║Date 05-23-90║ ║19f 7.075.00 CW │41f 14.020.00 CW ║ ╚═════════════╩════════════╩═════════════╝ ║20f 7.155.00 LSB│42f 14.030.00 CW ║ ╔═══════════════════════╗╔═════════════════╝21f 7.165.00 LSB│43f 14.050.00 CW ║ ║ ▄▄▄▄ ▄ ║║00f 3.900.00 LSB│22f 7.185.00 LSB│44f 14.070.00 CW ║ ║ ████ ▄▀ ║║01f 14.005.00 CW │23f 7.195.00 LSB│45f 14.151.00 USB║ ║ ████ ▄▀ ║║02f 3.525.00 CW │24f 7.205.00 LSB│46f 14.155.00 USB║ ║ ████ ▄▀ ▄▄▄▄▄ ║║03f 3.780.00 LSB│25f 7.213.00 LSB│47f 21.153.39 USB║ ║ ██████ TS440 ║║04f 3.790.00 LSB│26f 7.221.00 LSB│48f 14.175.00 USB║ ║ ████ █▄ ▀▀▀▀▀ ║║05f 3.905.00 LSB│27f 7.225.00 LSB│49f 14.190.00 USB║ ║ ████ █▄ ║║06f 3.910.00 LSB│28f 7.235.00 LSB│50f 14.205.00 USB║ ║ ████ ██▄ ║║07f 3.928.00 LSB│29f 7.240.00 LSB│51f 14.220.00 USB║ ║ ████ ▄▄▄███▄▄▄ ║║08f 3.933.00 LSB│30f 7.245.00 LSB│52f 14.240.00 USB║ ║ ████ Spoiler ║║09f 3.935.00 LSB│31f 7.249.00 LSB│53f 14.250.00 USB║ ║ ▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ║║10f 3.940.00 LSB│32f 7.290.00 LSB│54f 14.270.00 USB║ ╚═══════════════════════╝╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ 1)Select 2)Freq 3)Mode 4)Incrmt 5)Copy 6)Files 7)Scan 8)Shell 9)Display 10)Quit Figure 2.- Standard operating screen CURRENT-SOURCES DISPLAY BOX The display box in the upper left of the operating screen displays current sources: the two VFOs, the memory selected by the TS-440S, and the increment tuning. This box shows every detail about the current operation of the transceiver. An example of the current-sources box is shown in figure 3. ╔════════════════════╦═══════════════════╗ ║ RECEIVE ║TR 21.005.00 CW 61║ ║ 21.005.00 CW ║───────────────────║ ║ 61 ║TR 27.285.00 AM VA║ ╠════════════════════╣TR 3.921.44 LSB VB║ ║ TRANSMIT ║───────────────────║ ║ 21.005.00 CW ║No Increment..-0.05║ ║ 61 ║ ║ ╠═════════════╦══════╩═════╦═════════════╣ ║Time:14:30:11║ZEROS1.MRY ║Date:01-01-90║ ╚═════════════╩════════════╩═════════════╝ Figure 3.- Current-sources display The box contains areas for receiving and transmitting frequency, for detailed source information, and for current Spoiler operation. Receive and Transmit Areas Overall transceiver operation is summarized in the receive and transmit areas to the left of the box. These areas show, irrespective of operating components that go into transceiver operation, the current receiving and transmitting frequencies, and modes. The frequency and mode that you are hearing on the transceiver, as well as the frequency and mode you are transmitting on, are displayed to an accuracy of 10 KHz in these two areas. Receive and transmit areas show the combined effects of VFO or memory frequency selection, split-frequency sources, and currently active increment tuning. The displayed frequencies are the actual frequencies of transmission and reception. The receiving frequency accounts for any receive increment tuning (RIT), and the transmit frequency accounts for any transmit increment tuning (XIT). When your are receiving, the receive area is highlighted; when you are receiving, the transmit area is highlighted. When you use keypad tuning, an additional symbol appears in these areas. The tuning symbol, unless you are operating split frequency, appears in both areas to indicate that other Spoiler functions are locked out until you are finished with keypad tuning. The actual direction of tuning is shown by an arrow symbol in the top line of the source-detail area These tuning symbols also appear when keypad increment tuning is in progress, and the arrow symbol indicating the direction of tuning appears in the increment-tuning line of the source-detail area. The symbols appear as shown in figure 4. ╔════════════════════╦═══════════════════╗ ║ RECEIVE ║TR21.005.00 CW 61║ ║ 21.005.00 CW ║───────────────────║ ║ 61 ║TR 27.285.00 AM VA║ ╠════════════════════╣TR 3.921.44 LSB VB║ ║ TRANSMIT ║───────────────────║ ║ 21.005.00 CW ║No Increment..-0.05║ ║ 61 ║ ║ ╠═════════════╦══════╩═════╦═════════════╣ ║Time:14:30:11║ZEROS1.MRY ║Date:01-01-90║ ╚═════════════╩════════════╩═════════════╝ Figure 4.- Current-sources during keypad tuning Source-Detail Area To the right of the receive and transmit areas is an area containing detailed information about the components of the current sources: frequencies and modes of the two VFOs and the selected memory, the split-frequency operating status, and the status of increment tuning. In the source-detail box to the right, the upper partition identifies the currently active source(s) and shows frequency and mode. The middle partition shows the sources "on reserve" for your use at the press of the TS-440S VFO/M and A/B switches. The lower partition shows current increment-tuning frequency and status Unlike the receive and transmit areas to the left or the TS-440S display, the detail-area source display does not reflect the effect of increment turning on the currently-selected source. If you turn on increment tuning for transmit or receive, for example, the area to the left will show the result of the increment tuning, but the detail area will continue to show the exact frequency of the source without the effect by increment tuning. The last two characters of the line identify the source with VA for VFO A, VB for VFO B, and a number between 00 and 99 for the selected memory. The first two characters of the line identifies the role that the source contributes to split-frequency operation. The upper partition of the detail-source display may contain one line to indicate a non-split source operating on both transmit and receive (therefore prefaced by TR), as it does in figure 2, or it may contain two lines, as in the display of split-VFO operation shown in figure 5. ╔════════════════════╦═══════════════════╗ ║ RECEIVE ║RX 7.209.04 CW VA║ ║ 7.209.04 CW ║TX 3.959.23 LSB VB║ ║ VA ║───────────────────║ ╠════════════════════╣TR 3.525.00 CW 02║ ║ TRANSMIT ║───────────────────║ ║ 3.959.23 LSB ║No Increment..-0.03║ ║ VB ║ ║ ╠═════════════╦══════╩═════╦═════════════╣ ║Time:14:43:54║GENPUR1.MRY ║Date:01-07-90║ ╚═════════════╩════════════╩═════════════╝ Figure 5.- Split VFO display During split-frequency operation, there are always two lines in the upper partition. The receiving-frequency source is always identified in the top line with the designation RX, and the transmitting-frequency source is always identified in the second line with the designation TX. Split-frequency memory operation is displayed as shown in figure 6. ╔════════════════════╦═══════════════════╗ ║ RECEIVE ║RX 7.154.00 LSB 99║ ║ 7.154.00 LSB ║TX 7.131.02 LSB 99║ ║ 99 ║───────────────────║ ╠════════════════════╣RX 7.209.04 CW VA║ ║ TRANSMIT ║TX 3.959.23 LSB VB║ ║ 7.131.02 LSB ║───────────────────║ ║ 99 ║No Increment..-0.03║ ╠═════════════╦══════╩═════╦═════════════╣ ║Time:14:47:11║DEFAULT.MRY ║Date:01-07-90║ ╚═════════════╩════════════╩═════════════╝ Figure 6.- Split memory display When the upper area contains two lines, the source is split so that the top line shows the receiving-source frequency and mode and the bottom line shows the transmitting frequency and mode. With a VFO selected, the frequency and mode of either VFO A or VFO B appears in the top line prefaced by an RX designation indicating a receiving source. The frequency and mode of the transmitting VFO appears in the lower line prefaced by TX. If keypad tuning is active, an up or down arrow appears beside the current-source receive designation (RX or TR). The currently active source is highlighted. For split operation, both the receive line and the transmit line are highlighted. The middle partition of the detailed display area shows alternate sources that are currently selected: these are the sources that you can use by toggling between VFO A and VFO B or between VFO and memory. The lower partition shows the frequency and status of increment tuning. The frequency is shown to the right of the line, and the status is shown to the left. Status may be No Increment, RX Increment (receive only), TX Increment (transmit only), or TR Increment (both transmit and receive). You should notice carefully that if you toggle between VFO A and VFO B any increment tuning that is in effect remains in effect. If you toggle between either VFO and memory, however, any increment turning loses its effect. If you have receive increment tuning, transmit increment tuning, or both applied, the increment-tuning line is highlighted. If neither is applied the "No Increment" shows the frequency increment that will be in effect if you choose to use it. If you have keypad increment tuning in effect, an up or down arrow appears beside the designations RX, TX, TR, or No. During keypad tuning other Spoiler functions are disabled. Current Spoiler Operation The current time, the active file of memories stored in your computer, and the current date are displayed in the area across the bottom of the current- sources box. Both the time and date are set with the DOS level TIME and DATE commands MEMORY DISPLAY The contents of TS-440S memory sources are displayed in the largest box on the screen. Figure 7 shows a full-width memory-display box. ╔═══════════════════════════════════╗ ║11f 7.005.00 CW │33f 2.500.00 AM ║ ║12f 7.010.00 CW │34f 5.000.00 AM ║ ║13f 7.015.00 CW │35f 10.000.00 AM ║ ║14f 7.020.00 CW │36f 15.000.00 AM ║ ║15f 7.025.00 CW │37f 20.000.00 AM ║ ║16f 7.030.00 CW │38f 14.005.00 CW ║ ║17f 7.045.00 CW │39f 14.010.00 CW ║ ║18f 7.060.00 CW │40f 14.015.00 CW ║ ║19f 7.075.00 CW │41f 14.020.00 CW ║ ║20f 7.155.00 LSB│42f 14.030.00 CW ║ ╔═════════════════╝21f 7.165.00 LSB│43f 14.050.00 CW ║ ║00f 3.900.00 LSB│22f 7.185.00 LSB│44f 14.070.00 CW ║ ║01f 14.005.00 CW │23f 7.195.00 LSB│45f 14.151.00 USB║ ║02f 3.525.00 CW │24f 7.205.00 LSB│46f 14.155.00 USB║ ║03f 3.780.00 LSB│25f 7.213.00 LSB│47f 21.153.39 USB║ ║04f 3.790.00 LSB│26f 7.221.00 LSB│48f 14.175.00 USB║ ║05f 3.905.00 LSB│27f 7.225.00 LSB│49f 14.190.00 USB║ ║06f 3.910.00 LSB│28f 7.235.00 LSB│50f 14.205.00 USB║ ║07f 3.928.00 LSB│29f 7.240.00 LSB│51f 14.220.00 USB║ ║08f 3.933.00 LSB│30f 7.245.00 LSB│52f 14.240.00 USB║ ║09f 3.935.00 LSB│31f 7.249.00 LSB│53f 14.250.00 USB║ ║10f 3.940.00 LSB│32f 7.290.00 LSB│54f 14.270.00 USB║ ╚═════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ Figure 7.- Memory display box The box, at any particular time, shows the frequencies and modes stored in half of the transceiver's 100 memories. When the Spoiler is initially loaded, the box shows the contents of memories 0 through 54. When you press F9 (function key F9), the upper 45 memories (including the 10 split memories) are displayed, as shown in figure 8. ╔═══════════════════════════════════╗ ║66f 21.040.00 CW │88f 24.933.00 USB║ ║67f 21.050.00 CW │89f 24.987.00 USB║ ║68f 21.070.00 CW │90r 3.505.00 CW ║ ║69f 21.203.00 USB│90t 3.515.00 CW ║ ║70f 21.210.00 USB│91r 7.195.00 LSB║ ║71f 21.235.00 FSK│91t 7.213.00 LSB║ ║72f 21.253.00 USB│92r 14.240.00 USB║ ║73f 21.270.00 USB│92t 14.240.00 USB║ ║74f 21.300.00 USB│93r 28.500.00 USB║ ║75f 21.320.00 USB│93t 28.700.00 USB║ ╔═════════════════╝76f 28.003.00 CW │94r 21.270.00 USB║ ║55f 14.300.00 USB│77f 28.020.00 CW │94t 21.253.00 USB║ ║56f 14.310.00 USB│78f 28.050.00 CW │95r 1.843.00 USB║ ║57f 14.230.00 USB│79f 28.090.00 CW │95t 21.174.00 USB║ ║58f 14.233.00 USB│80f 28.303.00 USB│96r 7.000.00 CW ║ ║59f 14.340.00 USB│81f 28.400.00 USB│96t 14.000.00 USB║ ║60f 14.345.00 USB│82f 28.454.00 USB│97r 14.136.00 USB║ ║61f 21.005.00 CW │83f 28.500.00 USB│97t 7.146.00 CW ║ ║62f 21.010.00 CW │84f 28.700.00 USB│98r 14.270.00 USB║ ║63f 21.015.00 CW │85f 10.102.00 CW │98t 14.300.00 USB║ ║64f 21.020.00 CW │86f 10.148.00 CW │99r 7.213.00 LSB║ ║65f 21.030.00 CW │87f 24.892.00 CW │99t 7.213.00 LSB║ ╚═════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ Figure 8.- Display of memories 55 through 99 Within the memory box, memories 0 through 89 are identified by the designations 00f through 89f. The lower 90 memory channels of the TS-440S are capable of operating on only a single, non-split frequency and mode. The upper 10 memory channels consist of two memories apiece: one memory for receive and one memory for transmit. Beginning with memory 90, memory channels are, therefore, identified by a channel number with either an "r" (receive) or a "t" (transmit) suffix. Channel 97 is therefore represented in the memory display box by both 97r and 97t. SPOILER COMMAND LINE The bottom line of the Spoiler display is a prompt for command entry. Figure 9 shows this line. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1)Select 2)Freq 3)Mode 4)Incrmt 5)Copy 6)Files 7)Scan 8)Shell 9)Display 10)Quit ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Figure 9.- Spoiler command line HIGH DENSITY SCREEN The high-density screen displays all TS-440S parameters on a single screen without any necessity to toggle the memory display. The screen takes advantage of less-elaborate graphic layout and shorter abbreviations to make tasks such as memory management considerably easier. Figure 10 shows the high-density screen. VA 3.933.01 LS│14 7.020.00 CW│38 14.005.00 CW│62 21.010.00 CW│86 10.148.00 CW VB 7.213.00 LS│15 7.025.00 CW│39 14.010.00 CW│63 21.015.00 CW│87 24.892.00 CW 09 3.935.00 LS│16 7.030.00 CW│40 14.015.00 CW│64 21.020.00 CW│88 24.933.00 US No INCR -0.04K│17 7.045.00 CW│41 14.020.00 CW│65 21.030.00 CW│89 24.987.00 US │18 7.060.00 CW│42 14.030.00 CW│66 21.040.00 CW│90 3.505.00 CW ═══════════════╡19 7.075.00 CW│43 14.050.00 CW│67 21.050.00 CW│90 3.515.00.CW RX 3.933.01 LS│20 7.155.00 LS│44 14.070.00 CW│68 21.070.00 CW│91 7.195.00 LS TX 3.933.01 LS│21 7.165.00 LS│45 14.151.00 US│69 21.203.00 US│91 7.213.00.LS Time: 22:03:03│22 7.185.00 LS│46 14.155.00 US│70 21.210.00 US│92 14.240.00 US ═══════════════╡23 7.195.00 LS│47 21.153.39 US│71 21.235.00 FS│92 14.240.00.US 00 3.900.00 LS│24 7.205.00 LS│48 14.175.00 US│72 21.253.00 US│93 28.500.00 US 01 14.005.00 CW│25 7.213.00 LS│49 14.190.00 US│73 21.270.00 US│93 28.700.00.US 02 3.525.00 CW│26 7.221.00 LS│50 14.205.00 US│74 21.300.00 US│94 21.270.00 US 03 3.780.00 LS│27 7.225.00 LS│51 14.220.00 US│75 21.320.00 US│94 21.253.00.US 04 3.790.00 LS│28 7.235.00 LS│52 14.240.00 US│76 28.003.00 CW│95 1.843.00 US 05 3.905.00 LS│29 7.240.00 LS│53 14.250.00 US│77 28.020.00 CW│95 21.174.00.US 06 3.910.00 LS│30 7.245.00 LS│54 14.270.00 US│78 28.050.00 CW│96 7.000.00 CW 07 3.928.00 LS│31 7.249.00 LS│55 14.300.00 US│79 28.090.00 CW│96 14.000.00.US 08 3.933.00 LS│32 7.290.00 LS│56 14.310.00 US│80 28.303.00 US│97 14.136.00 US 09 3.935.00 LS│33 2.500.00 AM│57 14.230.00 US│81 28.400.00 US│97 7.146.00.CW 10 3.940.00 LS│34 5.000.00 AM│58 14.233.00 US│82 28.454.00 US│98 14.270.00 US 11 7.005.00 CW│35 10.000.00 AM│59 14.340.00 US│83 28.500.00 US│98 14.300.00.US 12 7.010.00 CW│36 15.000.00 AM│60 14.345.00 US│84 28.700.00 US│99 7.213.00 LS 13 7.015.00 CW│37 20.000.00 AM│61 21.005.00 CW│85 10.102.00 CW│99 7.213.00.LS 1)Select 2)Freq 3)Mode 4)Incrmt 5)Copy 6)n/a 7)n/a 8)Shell 9)Display 10)Quit Figure 10.- The high-density screen Only two pieces of information from the standard screen do not appear on the high-density screen: the memory-file name and the date. Highlighting in the high-density screen shows currently selected parameters in exactly the same manner that it does in the standard screen. The command line, with two exceptions (memory files and scan), lists the same options that the command line for the standard screen does. There is, however, no command box to explain commands; therefore you should use the high- density display only after you have familiarized yourself with Spoiler operation with the standard display. SPOILER COMMANDS The Kenwood TS-440S is a completely self-contained transceiver, and the front panel, although sometimes cumbersomely, provides ways to control its operation. Your MSDOS computer provides you with an alternative to the front panel. (The Spoiler displays provide current information about transceiver operating parameters, regardless of whether you change the parameters at the front panel or at the keyboard. ) Spoiler commands are represented by function keys 1 through 10. Command number 10, labeled QUIT on the command line, causes the Spoiler to cease operation and control of the computer to return to the disk operating system (DOS). The commands are listed on the command line by abbreviation. The abbreviations correspond to the PC function keys and the brief descriptions shown in table 1. Source selection (F1)....................Select a VFO, VFO split, or a memory Frequency selection (F2)............Change the frequency of a VFO or a memory Mode selection (F3)......................Change the mode of a VFO or a memory Increment Tuning (F4)...Add frequency increment to transmit of receive source Copy sources (F5)..................Copy or exchange between VFOs and memories Memory management (F6)..................Use computer files for memory storage Scan frequencies (F7)..........Cycle through groups and ranges of frequencies Shell (F8).................Run another program while the Spoiler is in memory Display toggle (F9).........Toggle between standard and high-density displays Quit (F10)...........................Quit Spoiler operation and return to DOS TABLE 1.- Brief descriptions of Spoiler commands When you press a function key to invoke a Spoiler command, you open a window behind the Spoiler logo in the box at the lower left of the operating screen. The window prompts you for information that you need to provide to complete any control operation for the transceiver. Arrow keys and the Home, Pg Up, and Pg Dn also control Spoiler functions. The Pg Up key works in standard display mode to toggle between the lower and upper half of the 110 memories. The arrow and Home keys provide for frequency control for both main tuning and increment tuning. The following sections of this documentation file describe each of the Spoiler commands in detail. Each command option is also described. SOURCE SELECTION The source-select command invoked by F1 determines the primary frequency and mode source for TS-440S reception and transmission. The frequency and mode of your reception and transmission are always from a certain source, the VFOs or the memories, as you determine by issuing a source-select command. Figure 11 shows the options you are presented with in the command-options box for the source-select command. ╔═══════════════════════╗ ║ Source Selection ║ ║ VFO A...............A ║ ║ VFO B...............B ║ ║ Memory..............M ║ ║ Split...............S ║ ║ Mem Num............## ║ ║ Quit................Q ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ╚═══════════════════════╝ Figure 11.- Source-select command options As figure 11 shows, you may choose VFO A, VFO B, or the current memory to be your current reception and transmission source. You may choose transmission and reception to be split, with one VFO being used on receive and the other being used on transmit. Additionally, you may also choose any other memory channel in the transceiver to be your reception and transmission source, with channels 0 through 89 providing for only non-split operation and channels 90 through 99 providing for split transmit/receive operation. The option box is a simple reflection of this powerful command. You may press A, B, or M to select the VFO A, VFO B, or current memory. You may enter the number of any other memory to cause it to become both the current memory and the selected source. And you may toggle the VFOs between split and non- split operation. Your pressing a single key (A, B, or M) causes VFO A, VFO B, or the current memory to become the current source. If the source is a VFO and the VFOs were last used in split-source operation, your reselecting them will bring them up for split operation (regardless of which of them you select for your primary (receive) VFO. If the source is a memory, memories 0 through 89 always provide you with a non-split source, while memories 90 through 99 can provide you with either split frequencies and modes or non-split frequencies and modes, depending on what you have placed in them before. Your pressing the S key while either VFO is selected toggles between split and non-split operation. Pressing the S key while a memory is selected has no effect. For the VFOs, the status of split-frequency operation remains constant until your change it. If you switch from a VFO to a memory source, while the VFOs are linked for split-frequency operation, you'll find the VFOs still linked when you switch back from memory to VFO operation. You do have an alternative to pressing alphabetic keys to change the current sources for your transceiver. While the source-selection box is displayed, the command letters are displayed across the last line of the screen. Pressing a function key accomplishes the same result as pressing an alphabetic key. Pressing F2, for example, selects VFO B as your current source. Figure 12 shows the last-line display of source-selection command options. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1)VFO A 2)VFO B 3)Memory 4)Split Toggle 5)Quit ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Figure 12.- Source-selection command options Response to your pressing the A, B, M, Q, or function keys is immediate. The Spoiler does not wait for you to press enter. If you mistakenly enter an unrecognized command character, the Spoiler will prompt you again for a good command option. If you want to abort the source-selection operation, simply press either Q or the enter key at the prompt. FREQUENCY SELECTION You have two methods of frequency selection available to you. Your primary method is using a frequency-selection command to change the frequency of any source. An alternate method permits you to tune your currently selected source from the numeric keypad. Frequency-Selection Command The frequency-selection command invoked by F2 provides you with the same basic options that you have with current-source selection. You can choose to enter a frequency for VFO A, VFO B, the current memory, or any memory stored in the transceiver. Figure 13 shows the options you are presented with in the command-options box for the frequency-selection command. ╔═══════════════════════╗ ║ Source Frequency ║ ║ VFO A...............A ║ ║ VFO B...............B ║ ║ Memory..............M ║ ║ Mem Num............## ║ ║ Quit................Q ║ ║ Freq of (ABM##Q): ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ╚═══════════════════════╝ Figure 13.- Frequency-selection source options A powerful feature of the Spoiler is that your entry of information into an unselected source does not require you to select the source before you enter it. If you choose to enter a new frequency into an unselected VFO or memory, you do so without interrupting your listening to and transmitting from your currently selected source. If you are operating with VFO A or VFO B, for example, you can change the contents of all memories and the alternate VFO without missing a single word of a net or a single baud of your CW DX monitoring. You may select the source sources with the function keys as well as with the alphabetic keys. Pressing F3, as figure 9 shows, selects the current memory for frequency entry, just as pressing M does. Memories other than the current one may be selected by number. Memories above 89, however, must have a "T" or an "R" suffix to distinguish between the transmit and receive memories in each pair designated by a single number. After you have selected the source that you want to change the frequency of, the command-option box prompts you for the new frequency, as shown in figure 10. The prompt verifies the source you have selected (VFO A, for example, in figure 14). ╔═══════════════════════╗ ║ Source Frequency ║ ║ VFO A...............A ║ ║ VFO B...............B ║ ║ Memory..............M ║ ║ Mem Num............## ║ ║ Quit................Q ║ ║ Freq of (ABM##Q): B ║ ║ (KHz/MHz): 14.336 ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ╚═══════════════════════╝ Figure 14.- Frequency-selection prompt If you want to abort the frequency-selection command at the prompt, simply press enter. Frequency may be entered in either MegaHertz or KiloHertz units. MegaHertz is the default. KiloHertz values must be suffixed with a "K," as in "3515K" for an entry that is equivalent to 3.515 MegaHertz. The entry shown in the figure above is equivalent to "14336K" (should anyone care for abstruse expression). A special circumstance occurs when a TS-440S memory is completely empty (with no previous frequency or mode stored in it). One of the characteristic of the TS-440S memories is that they can store into an empty memory neither frequency nor mode without storing the other parameter. Because the Spoiler stores frequency and mode in separate operations, the program must store a "boilerplate" mode into a memory whenever you store a frequency. This mode is LSB. If you enter a frequency into an empty memory, the USB mode is stored simultaneously in memory. If you want some other mode for the memory, you can change it quite conveniently from the keyboard with the mode-selection command invoked by F3. Tuning with the Keypad You may tune the frequency of your currently selected source, VFO or memory, by pressing your UP and DOWN arrow keys. Tuning is inhibited while you are entering command options, and command options are inhibited while tuning is in progress. When you use the arrow keys to tune your currently selected VFO, the resulting change in frequency is always applied to your current receive frequency. If you have not selected split-frequency operation, it will also alter your transmit frequency. If split-frequency operation is selected, the transmit frequency remains unchanged. Left and right arrow keys function, respectively, as decelerator and accelerator keys. Pressing the right arrow key after you have initiated tuning with a vertical arrow key increases the rate of frequency change; pressing the left arrow key subsequently decreases the rate to its original value. At any time that tuning is in progress, pressing the Home key restores the rate to its lowest value. Note: Acceleration and deceleration of keypad tuning rate is a feature available only in registered copies of the 440 Spoiler. It is not available in shareware examination copies. While tuning is in progress, either vertical arrow key may be used to pause it. Pressing a vertical key subsequently resumes tuning in the direction indicated by the key. To exit keypad tuning, you must pause it with a vertical arrow key. Then you have two choices. When you subsequently press one of the horizontal arrow keys, you exit with the source frequency retaining its new value. When you press the Home key, the source frequency reverts to the value it had before you began tuning. In summary, the vertical arrow keys initiate tuning and pause it. Horizontal arrow keys, when tuning is not paused, control tuning rate. When tuning is paused, horizontal keys cancel the tuning process while retaining the current frequency. The Home key, when tuning is not paused, reduces tuning rate to a minimum. When tuning is paused, the Home key cancels tuning and restores the frequency to the value it had before tuning began. Proficiency in keypad tuning is easy to acquire. It takes little more practice than proficiency in the use of the variable-speed front-panel tuning knob does. MODE SELECTION The mode-selection command invoked by F3 provides convenient selection of one of the six operating modes for either VFO, the current memory, or any unselected memory. All of these sources can receive and transmit in the following modes. Lower sideband (LSB) Upper sideband (USB) Continuous wave (CW) Frequency modulation (FM) Amplitude modulation (AM) Frequency-shift keying (for RTTY) To select a mode for a source, you first select the source within the command options box, as shown in figure 15. ╔═══════════════════════╗ ║ Source Mode ║ ║ VFO A...............A ║ ║ VFO B...............B ║ ║ Memory..............M ║ ║ Mem Num............## ║ ║ Quit................Q ║ ║ Mode of (ABM##Q): A ║ ║ Mode (LUCFAR): ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ╚═══════════════════════╝ Figure 15.- Mode-selection source options The prompt for mode selection shown in figure 12 indicates that you are selecting the mode for VFO A. If you want to abort the selection, simply back- space and press enter at the source prompt. As in frequency entry for split memory pairs numbered 90 to 99, you must enter a "T" or an "R" suffix to completely specify the memory you want to change. To finish selecting the mode, press "L" for LSB, and so on. A special circumstance occurs when a TS-440S memory is completely empty (with no previous mode or frequency stored in it). Because the Spoiler stores mode and frequency in separate operations, the program must store a "boilerplate" frequency into an empty memory whenever you store a frequency. This frequency 14.250 MHz. You may change the frequency conveniently with the Frequency Selection command invoked by the F2 key. INCREMENT TUNING You may use TS-440S increment tuning to alter the receive or transmit frequency of your selected VFOs or memories. You may tune above or below your primary source frequency by only 1270 Hz (1.27 KHz). You may invoke increment tuning with the F4 key, or you may alter the increment tuning frequency from the keyboard. The Increment-Tuning Command The increment-tuning command, invoked by F4, provides you with options to apply a tuning increment to your current receive frequency, transmit frequency, or both frequencies. You may set the increment frequency to any value between -1.27 KHz and 1.27 KHz, or you may clear the increment (set it to 0). Figure 15 shows the options box for the increment-tuning command. ╔═══════════════════════╗ ║ Increment Tune ║ ║ RX..................R ║ ║ TX..................T ║ ║ Clear...............C ║ ║ Frequency......±#.##K ║ ║ Quit................Q ║ ║ Change (RTCQ): ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ╚═══════════════════════╝ Figure 16.- Increment-tuning command options The results of toggling receive and transmit increment tuning is displayed in the lowest partition of the source-detail area of the screen. The possibilities are No Increment, RX increment, TX increment, and TR Increment. The source-detail area of the screen shows the frequency of increment tuning even when it is not applied to receive and transmit frequencies. You may alter this frequency from the keyboard or the front panel at any time, regardless of whether it is being applied to a current frequency. You will notice that when you alter increment frequency from the keyboard, the position of the RIT knob on the TS-440S no longer corresponds to the increment frequency; when you next alter increment tuning from the front panel, the position of the control will once more correspond to the increment frequency. Whenever you enter an increment frequency at the command-options prompt, you will notice that the response to your entry is not immediate. The Spoiler must, in fact, send discrete commands to the TS-440S for each 10 Hz of the increment, so full-range excursions may take up to 5 seconds (depending on the speed of your computer). Clearing the increment (setting it to 0) occurs, however, instantaneously. Increment frequency entry has a default of Hertz, and a "K" suffix is used to indicate KiloHertz. For example, the entries "1200" and "1.2K" are functionally identical. Keypad Increment Tuning You may use the right and left arrow keys to alter the frequency of your increment tuning. Pressing the keys, however, while a command option box is displayed, has no effect. The command options have no effect while increment tuning is in progress. After you initiate increment tuning with the right or left arrow key, you may use the up and down arrow keys as accelerator and decelerator keys. The home key returns the rate of frequency change to its lowest value. When increment tuning is active (either running or paused), an arrow symbol which indicates the direction of tuning appears in both displays to the immediate right of application expression (No, RX, TX, TR). In the standard operating screen, the tuning symbol () appears in the lower right corner of the receive source box, the transmit source box, or both as appropriate. Pressing either horizontal arrow key pauses increment tuning. When increment tuning is paused, it may be exited by your pressing either vertical arrow key. COPYING SOURCES You may, by using the source-copy command, copy the contents of any source into any other source. You may also exchange the contents of any two sources. This command, invoked by F5, provides you with a convenient way to reorganize the frequencies and modes stored in your VFOs and memories. The option box for the source-copy command is shown in figure 17. ╔═══════════════════════╗ ║ Source Copy ║ ║ Copy................C ║ ║ Xchange.............X ║ ║ Quit................Q ║ ║ Choose (CXQ): C ║ ║ From (ABM##): A ║ ║ To (ABM##): ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ╚═══════════════════════╝ Figure 17.- Source-copy command options If you select the copy option, you are prompted for origin and destination sources, as shown in figure 18. ╔═══════════════════════╗ ║ Source Copy ║ ║ Copy................C ║ ║ Xchange.............X ║ ║ Quit................Q ║ ║ Choose (CXQ): C ║ ║ From (ABM##): A ║ ║ To (ABM##): ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ╚═══════════════════════╝ Figure 18.- Copy option You abort the copy operation if you press enter at either prompt. If you select the Exchange option, you are provide similar prompts, as shown in figure 19. ╔═══════════════════════╗ ║ Copy Sources ║ ║ Copy................C ║ ║ Exchange............E ║ ║ Quit................Q ║ ║ Choose (CXQ): C ║ ║ Src 1 (A,B,M,##): 32 ║ ║ Src 2 (A,B,M,##): _ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ╚═══════════════════════╝ Figure 19.- Exchange option Both the copy and exchange options handle the contents of single (non- split) sources. Your entering memory number 99 as an origin or destination, therefore, indicates the receive memory of channel 99. If you want to indicate the transmit memory of channel 99 you must append a T to the memory number, as in figure 20. ╔═══════════════════════╗ ║ Copy Sources ║ ║ Copy................C ║ ║ Exchange............E ║ ║ Quit................Q ║ ║ C ║ ║ From (A,B,M,##): 99T ║ ║ To (A,B,M,##): _ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ╚═══════════════════════╝ Figure 20.- Transmit memory entry MEMORY FILE MANAGEMENT The 100 memory channels in the TS-440S provide for a great deal of flexibility for most applications, but they may be insufficient for the varied uses that a single transceiver may be put to. They are probably sufficient for most people's use in traffic-net participation, DX monitoring, SW broadcast monitoring, CB monitoring, and the like, but they are likely insufficient for combinations of these activities. Reorganizing and altering 100 memory channels is a tedious task that no one wants to do unnecessarily. To help you with memory management, the Spoiler lets you store TS-440S memories in computer disk files. With the file-management command, invoked with the F6 key, you can store all 100 memory channels to disk, restore all 100 channels from disk, and clear all 100 channels (setting them off). Figure 21 shows the memory-management command option box. ╔═══════════════════════╗ ║ Memory Files ║ ║ List................L ║ ║ Open................O ║ ║ Save As.............S ║ ║ New As..............N ║ ║ Clear XCVR..........C ║ ║ Quit................Q ║ ║ Choose (LOSNCQ): ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ╚═══════════════════════╝ Figure 21.- Memory management options The LIST option displays the names of all TS-440S memory files stored on disk (in the current drive and directory). On disk, these files always have an MRY extension; the list, however shows the file names without the extension. The list is displayed in the command-option box. When the number of files on disk exceeds the number of lines in the box, the display is paused for your reading a partial list until you press any key. Figure 22 shows the beginning and end of a list that is too long to fit into the option box. ╔═══════════════════════╗ ╔═══════════════════════╗ ║ List of Files ║ ║ List of Files ║ ║ CBRADIO ║ ║ DEFAULT ║ ║ TRAFFIC ║ ║ SKEDS ║ ║ CWNETS ║ ║ End of MRY file list ║ ║ DXFONE ║ ║ Press a key . . . ║ ║ SWL ║ ║ ║ ║ JACKS ║ ║ ║ ║ 40CONTIN ║ ║ ║ ║ 75CONTIN ║ ║ ║ ║ 10SCAN ║ ║ ║ ║ Press a key . . . ║ ║ ║ ╚═══════════════════════╝ ╚═══════════════════════╝ Figure 22.- Initial and terminal displays of a file list The OPEN option reads a file from disk into both Spoiler memory and the memories of the TS-440S. The option box prompts you for the name of your file. Note that when you initialize the Spoiler for your TS-440S it reads the contents of the transceiver memories into a file called DEFAULT in order to preserve the memories for you. This prevents you from losing the data that you already have stored in the transceiver when you download other files into the transceiver. Note: Shareware examination copies of the Spoiler will not open files other than the one opened automatically by its being specified during installation. Opening files other than the file that is initially specified is a feature reserved for registered copies of the Spoiler. The file that is open is continuously updated by the Spoiler as you change the memories of your transceiver. New memory sources are automatically saved as you enter them. Also, when you leave the Spoiler to run any other program, you will find when you again run the Spoiler that it automatically opens the file you last opened before quitting. The Save As option writes the currently selected file to disk under a another name and then opens the new file. This option provides you with a convenient way to edit the contents of an old file without automatically storing the changes in the file. The changes are stored only in the new file. The New As option reads all TS-440S memories into a disk file with a name you provide, and then it opens the file for current use. This is an option that comes in handy when you have changed the contents of transceiver memories external to Spoiler operation. Note: The option name "New" was used in version 1.01 of the 440 Spoiler to initiate exactly the same function now initiated by the "Save As" option. The revised nomenclature is more standard and therefore less confusing. The CLEAR XCVR option lets you erase all of the memories in your TS-440S. You may want to use this option whenever you wish to begin a new memory file from scratch or you wish to maintain security about your operating frequencies while other operators are using your transceiver. The option requires you to enter a new file name; after the transceiver is cleared, new file by that name containing zeroed sources is opened and maintained on disk. Of course, thereafter you may by using the OPEN command load your transceiver with sources from any other file you have saved. SCANNING Scanning is controlled directly by the Spoiler and your PC. It does not rely on the scanning methods used with the TS-440S front panel in order to achieve more versatility. You may program scanning to step through groups of memories you select, through memory-bounded frequency ranges, or through both groups and ranges simultaneously. Step rate for groups and tuning rate for ranges are yours to choose, and you can select downward or upward stepping and scanning. The scanning menu, shown in figure 23, provides access to the individual (groups or ranges) or combined (both) scanning methods. It also provides for editing the group and range data, as well as for toggling memory lockout for group scanning. ╔═══════════════════════╗ ║ SCAN ║ ║ Groups..............G ║ ║ Ranges..............R ║ ║ Both................B ║ ║ Mod groups..........M ║ ║ Altr ranges.........A ║ ║ Tog Lock............T ║ ║ Quit................Q ║ ║ Choose (GRBMATQ): ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ╚═══════════════════════╝ Figure 23.- Scan command box When group scan is selected, the command box is replaced by a box displaying group information as well as instantaneous scan parameters. Each group is defined by a number (0 through 5), a group-lockout function (Locked or Unlocked), a beginning memory number, an ending memory number, and a delay (in seconds). Figure 24 shows the group-information box. ╔═══════════════════════╗ ║ Scan Groups ║ ║Grp Begin End Dly║ ║ 0L 00 05 03 ║ ║ 1L 06 06 02 ║ ║ 2U 08 09 05 ║ ║ 3L 22 26 02 ║ ║ 4L 35 37 15 ║ ║ 5L 50 54 03 ║ ║───────────────────────║ ║ Memory: 00f ║ ║ 3.905.06 LSB ║ ╚═══════════════════════╝ Figure 24.- Group-information box A similar range-information box appears when range scan is selected. The parameters for each scan range are identical to those for each scan group except for the specification of a scan speed rather than a scan delay. The scan-speed number range is 0 (slowest) through 99 (fastest). Figure 25 shows a range-information box. ╔═══════════════════════╗ ║ Scan Ranges ║ ║Rng Begin End Spd║ ║ 0U 08 09 05 ║ ║ 1L 09 08 50 ║ ║ 2L 05 06 99 ║ ║ 3L 52 54 00 ║ ║ 4L 96 96 40 ║ ║ 5L 25 26 70 ║ ║───────────────────────║ ║Scan range [08] to [09]║ ║ 3.933.05 LSB ║ ╚═══════════════════════╝ Figure 25.- Range-information box When combined (Both) scanning is selected, the group and range boxes are displayed during the respective times that each method is in effect. The invariable scan sequence begins with scanning group 0, followed by range 0, followed by group and range 1, and so on through group and range 5. A group or a range will not be scanned if it is locked out, just as a particular memory that is locked out will not be scanned during group scan. Scanning may be paused at any time with the Escape key. Subsequently pressing Escape again ends scanning and brings back up the scan menu with transceiver parameters unaltered. Pressing Enter while scanning is paused causes the current scan parameter to become the active source of transceiver operation. Pressing any other key after scanning begins causes scanning to resume at the point at which it left off. The command line provides prompts for these operations during scanning. The group and range parameters are edited by selection of the Modify Groups and Alter Ranges commands in the scan menu. Selecting Modify Groups, for example, brings group information into the box and prompts you for the group you want to edit information about, as shown in figure 26. ╔═══════════════════════╗ ║ Edit Groups ║ ║Grp Begin End Dly║ ║ 0L 00 05 03 ║ ║ 1L 06 06 02 ║ ║ 2U 08 09 05 ║ ║ 3L 22 26 02 ║ ║ 4L 35 37 15 ║ ║ 5L 50 54 03 ║ ║ ║ ║ Group #: ║ ║ ║ ╚═══════════════════════╝ Figure 26.- Edit-groups selection box Once you have selected the group number, you are prompted for the parameter in that group which you want to edit (lockout, beginning memory, ending memory, and delay), as shown in figure 27. You are subsequently prompted for the letter or number you want to replace the current parameter with. ╔═══════════════════════╗ ║ Edit Groups ║ ║Grp Begin End Dly║ ║ 0L 00 05 03 ║ ║ 1L 06 06 02 ║ ║ 2U 08 09 05 ║ ║ 3L 22 26 02 ║ ║ 4L 35 37 15 ║ ║ 5L 50 54 03 ║ ║ ║ ║ Group 3 selected ║ ║ L)ck,B)gn,E)nd,D)ly: ║ ╚═══════════════════════╝ Figure 27.- Edit-groups options Editing ranges involves an identical procedure, with the exception that a speed value, rather than a delay value, may be replaced. Figure 28 shows the Edit-ranges selection box. ╔═══════════════════════╗ ║ Edit Ranges ║ ║Rng Begin End Spd║ ║ 0U 08 09 01 ║ ║ 1L 09 08 10 ║ ║ 2L 05 06 30 ║ ║ 3L 52 54 20 ║ ║ 4L 96 96 15 ║ ║ 5L 25 26 05 ║ ║ ║ ║ Range #: ║ ║ ║ ╚═══════════════════════╝ Figure 26.- Edit-ranges selection box Note: In the shareware examination copies of the 440 Spoiler, changes to the group and range parameters are effective only during a single session. The parameters are saved between sessions, however, in registered copies. Individual memories may be locked out and unlocked from the scan menu through the use of the Toggle Lock option. You are prompted for a memory number. If the memory is unlocked, it will become locked out; if it is already locked out, it will become locked. Individual memory lockout is indicated in the memory windows of both screens by a dot between the memory number and the frequency. Memory lockout affects only group scanning. A locked out memory may still be used to specify the beginning frequency and mode or the ending frequency of a range. RUNNING ANOTHER PROGRAM The F8 key provides you with a convenient way to run another program while the 440 Spoiler remains in memory for instantaneous use after you exit the other program. The program that F8 will cause the Spoiler to "shell to" is the one you've named during installation. If you have installed the name "COMMAND.COM" (the default offered by the installation program), you will drop to the DOS command prompt, and from there you may run any program that you have enough memory to run while the Spoiler is resident. After you exit the program run from the command prompt and the prompt once again appears, your entering EXIT will return you immediately to the Spoiler as you left it. TOGGLING THE MEMORY DISPLAY For the standard display, the memories shown by are toggled between numbers 0 through 54 and 55 through 99t by your pressing Page Up. When you initially run the Spoiler, the lower numbered memories appear in the memory display box. Your pressing Page Up displays the higher numbered memories, and your pressing Page UP again displays the lower numbers once more, and so on. Function key 9 toggles between the standard display and the high-density display. F9 is active except during tuning and transmit. QUITTING THE SPOILER Pressing F10 causes you to exit the Spoiler program, unload it from memory, and return to DOS control of your computer. TOGGLING TRANSMIT If you have enabled the feature during installation, you may toggle the TS-440S transmitter on and off by pressing the Page Down key. Note: Transmit toggling is unavailable in shareware examination copies of the 440 Spoiler. It is a feature reserved for registered copies. USING THE 440 SPOILER There is only one task that you have to undertake to get the 440 Spoiler working for your radio-operating pleasure. You must connect your MSDOS computer to your TS-440S. After your transceiver and computer are connected, you are at your leisure to learn how to use the Spoiler by trial and error, by reading, or by a most-efficient combination of both activities. COMPUTER/TRANSCEIVER CONNECTION The simplest way to physically connect your transceiver and your computer is for you to obtain an RS-232 interface box and integrated-circuit chip set marketed by Kenwood. You will also need a serial cable to connect an RS-232 output of your computer to the interface box. The interface box, chip set, and cabling will cost you approximately $135 retail from any Kenwood dealer. Phil Whitehouse, W1GEE, offers a much more economical alternative in a kit that includes both the TS-440S chip set and an RS-232/TTL level converter for $50 (assembled price $60). Phil's level converter draws power from the transceiver in order to minimize wiring clutter. You may contact Phil at the following address. Mr. Phil Whithouse, W1GEE P. O. Box 527 Hampden, Maine 04444 Lawrence Anderson, KA6FQN, offers a chip set and level converter in a small package in assembled form for $59. The level converter, cables, and instructions alone (without the internal chip set) is priced at $49. You may contact Lawrence at the following address Mr. Lawrence R. Anderson, KA6FQN 35615 Avenue D Aucaipa, CA 92399 The QSO2000 project has tested both Phil's and Lawrence's assembled level converters and found found them both to be extremely reliable, easy-to-install, and attractive. Optionally, you might also want to obtain a switch box so that your RS-232 port for devices other than control of your TS-440S at the flip of a switch. Connectors and people can stand only so much plugging and unplugging, but a simple AB (two-position) or ABCD (four-position) switch box solves both problems. When you have your internal chip set and have your level converter and cables in hand, plug them up. Turn on your transceiver and your computer, and run the Spoiler. If something is amiss in the hardware (the transceiver, the cabling, the interface box, or the computer), the Spoiler will tell you upon installation. Caution: The 440 Spoiler is an interrupt-driven program that maintains the highest-possible RS-232 transfer speeds between your PC and your TS- 440S. All four of the lines maintained by the Kenwood transceiver interface may be necessary: RD (receive data), TD (transmit data), CTS (clear to send), and RTS (ready to send). Failure to have the last pair of lines connected may, depending on computer speed, result in transmission of erroneous data between your PC and the transceiver. INSTALLING THE 440 SPOILER You should copy 44SPL200.EXE and 44INS200.EXE onto a blank, formatted working diskette or a newly created, empty directory on your hard disk. Your directory should have no other files but these two. This diskette or directory must be the currently selected one for you to properly install the 440 Spoiler. The file named 44INS200.EXE is an installation program that must be run before the Spoiler program will itself run. If you try to run 44SPL200.EXE before running the installation program, the Spoiler will automatically run the installation program before it continues to run. 44INS200.EXE must be present in the current directory with 44SPL200.EXE for automatic installation to succeed. Otherwise, the Spoiler ships you back to DOS so that your can place 44INS200.EXE and 44INS200.EXE both in your current directory. The function of the 440INS20B.EXE is twofold. It permits you to install Spoiler features, and it permits you to read the initial information from your TS-440 memories into a disk file. If you have any doubt about which of these functions to use, use them both. Install both features and memories. Note: Before you begin any installation or reinstallation, reinitialize your TS-440S communications interface by turning the transceiver off for a few seconds prior to turning it back on. The Spoiler will automatically perform the installation procedure by automatically running 44INS200.EXE whenever it does not find a file named SPOILER.DEF and a currently specified memory file (*.MRY) in the current directory. After you install both features and memories, 44INS200.EXE passes control back to 44SPL200.EXE so that you can continue running the 440 Spoiler. While 440INS20B.EXE is running, the program asks you whether you want to perform feature installation, memory-file installation, or both. You should not attempt to install a memory file until you have your TS-440S connected to your computer. The Spoiler itself will not run until you have installed both features and memories. FEATURE INSTALLATION The program asks you a number of questions about hardware, desired features, and your initial memory file. You need to provide number of the serial port (1 or 2) that you have connected your TS-440S to. It then asks you to provide a name for the file that will store information from your initial TS-440S memories. If you press [ENTER], the program selects the name "DEFAULT" for the file. You need to provide information about your display type (color or monochrome), and you need to provide color preferences from the several selections offered you. Note: Shareware examination copies of the Spoiler permit opening only the file name chosen in the installation program, although other files may be created with the Save As and New As commands. The full-feature option to open files so saved (without going through the installation program again) is reserved to registered copies of the Spoiler. You may, of course, at any time reinstall Spoiler features so that the name of another file of memories is the one that the Spoiler works from (provided that memories in your transceiver have not been altered since you have issued a Save As or New As command when you run 44INS200.EXE. Note: Most LCD displays show "the reverse" of CRT displays. A color choice of "White on Black," for example, will provide an LCD display of black on white. You are asked for a highlighting preference, and you may select either intensity highlighting or reverse-video highlighting. If you are using an LCD display, intensity highlighting has no effect, and for some of the Spoiler's display features to be available to you must select the reverse-video method of highlighting. Your preferences are summarized, and you are asked whether you want to save them, redo them, or exit the installation. When you save them, the file SPOILER.DEF is written to your current directory. If you have not chosen to perform a memory-file installation, the program will terminate MEMORY-FILE INSTALLATION Memory-file installation can be performed all by itself or along with feature installation. You are asked for a file name for storing TS-440S memory information into a disk file. The default is the name "DEFAULT," but you may choose to use the same name you have already placed into your SPOILER.DEF file during feature installation, or you may choose to enter another file name. You may, of course, once you have an initial memory-file installed, create subsequent memory files from within the Spoiler itself with the New As command from the Memory File menu. Note: Shareware examination copies of the Spoiler permit opening only the file name chosen in the installation program, although other files may be created with the Save As and New As commands. The full-feature option to open files so saved (without going through the installation program again) is reserved to registered copies of the Spoiler. You may, of course, at any time reinstall Spoiler features so that the name of another file of memories is the one that the Spoiler works from (provided that memories in your transceiver have not been altered since you have issued a Save As or New As command when you run 44INS200.EXE. FAMILIARIZING YOURSELF WITH THE SPOILER You should initially consider the Spoiler a display window into the operation of your TS-440S. All operating parameters are displayed in the box to the upper-left of your screen, and all memory information is presented in the J-shaped (largest) box to the right and bottom of your screen. When you change any operating parameter (frequency, mode, split, RIT, XIT, source, or memory) from the TS-440S front panel, the Spoiler updates its display and current memory file immediately to reflect the change. The updates occur regardless of whether the change is initiated from the front panel or the keyboard. Later, you should work with the Spoiler commands that are initiated by your pressing the function keys listed at the bottom of the Spoiler operating screen. Using the Spoiler, you'll find that you have little use for the front panel of your TS-440S except for such "analog" functions as your controlling volume, passband tuning, antenna tuning (if your transceiver has an antenna tuner installed), and the like. The 440 Spoiler, combined with the operating capability of the TS-440S, provides you with a quantum leap in radio communications ability. You'll be able to operate many traffic nets simultaneously, and you'll quickly find your DX tallies among only those possessed by other operators who are using the Spoiler. If you are looking for world news from international shortwave broadcasts during whatever international crisis the future brings, you'll find it much faster with the Spoiler. If you're looking for music broadcast throughout the world, you'll find your selection to be both wide and quick. If you want to know what the CB citizenry has further devolved into, the Spoiler will help you find out with convenience that rewards your curiosity. REGISTERING THE 440 SPOILER As with all shareware, the 440 Spoiler is supported by those who obtain registered copies of the software and documentation. The QSO2000 project is not Microsoft Corporation, and nobody in the project wants it to become more than a cooperative endeavor among the avant garde communicators of the world so that the world of amateur-radio communications can more rapidly become better. Several hundreds of hours of research, trial-and-error, and software development have gone into development of the 440 Spoiler, and before the useful life of the program is over several hundreds of additional hours will go into its maintenance and enhancement. We urge you to consider the value that the 440 Spoiler represents to you and to appropriately register your copy of the software by your printing the form provided below and mailing it with your remittance to the QSO2000 Project. Your registration of the 440 Spoiler brings you by return mail a full- featured registered copy the latest version of the 440 Spoiler on diskette. It also entitles you to free upgrades of the 440 Spoiler software for a year after your registration. You will be notified of the upgrades by mail for the entire year following your registration. Registered copies include your name and call sign on the opening screen, no shareware notice with its attendant delay, no closing-screen reminder of unregistered-use limitations, and the following reserved features. Keypad tuning acceleration and deceleration Keypad control of transmit function Automatic saving of edited scan paramaters Memory-file opening while the Spoiler is running Shareware examination copies of versions of the 440 Spoiler will be maintained and enhanced throughout the life of the package to a lesser extent than registered copies are. Rewards for sharing in the resources expended by further development of the package will be significant. Please distribute shareware examination copies of the latest version of the 440 Spoiler to other operators as widely as you care to so that they are invited to share in our progress. Please include all of the files in the 440 Spoiler package. If you charge a fee for distributing shareware examination copies on diskette, you must charge no more then $3.00. You may not, of course, distribute copies of your registered version of the 440 Spoiler in accordance with the licensing agreement in the file RGSTR440.TXT. Licensees of registered versions of the Spoiler are welcome to write the QSO2000 Project with comments and questions. Licensees are also welcome to communicate directly with the authors of the 440 Spoiler on the bulletin board listed below. Bulletin Board ECHO (Education) 806-741-1570 1200-2400 baud, 19200 baud USR-HST Please view of print the file RGSTR440.TXT for further information and a printable registration form.