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Text File
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1995-10-07
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17KB
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386 lines
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FOR THE
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Required equipment:
IBM (or compatible) computer, the faster, the better!
Math co-processor not necessary, but also is nice, as the pictures
display faster.
VGA display, capable of 640 x 480 - 256 colors. This requires a VGA
card with at least 512K memory.
Sound Blaster (or compatible) sound card. The program has been
tested with the Sound Blaster V1.5, V2.0, and Pro, as well as Media
Visions Pro Audio Spectrum 16 and Fusion 16 (let me know of others
as you try them!).
This program is designed to send and receive Scottie 1 Slow Scan
pictures that you can find on the ham radio bands. The
frequencies that you will normally find slow scan are:
3.845 MHZ
7.171 MHZ
14.230 MHZ and 14.233 MHZ
21.340 MHZ
28.680 MHZ
The most popular frequency is on 20 meters at 14.230 MHZ, with
14.233 MHZ being used on weekends when there are too many on
14.230.
The following diagrams might help with the electrical hookup. For
receive, the audio from your receiver needs to be connected to the
microphone input on the Sound Blaster. The audio from your receiver
may come from the speaker output. In my case, I used an audio
output from the back of the radio (Icom 730) that is to be used for
RTTY, Slow Scan, packet, etc. The audio out of the back does not
vary with the volume control, so I can keep the audio at a
reasonable level and still copy pictures.
For transmit, take the audio out (one channel, left or right) to
the microphone on your transmitter. Again, I went into the back of
my radio. With the IC730, you have to use an amplified microphone.
Mine just happens to have a level control under the base so the
level into the microphone can be adjusted down to keep the room
noise from interfering with the picture. Use your microphone button
or VOX to key up the transmitter.
Sound Blaster Board V1.5 and V2.0
________________
|
|<---- Sound in from receiver
|
Volume -->|
Control |
|----> Sound out to your microphone input
|
|
|<---> Midi input/output (not used for this
| project)
________________|
Sound Blaster Pro
________________
|
|<---- Line in (not used for this project)
|<---- Microphone in - Sound in from receiver
Volume -->|
Control |
|----> Sound out to your microphone input
| for transmitting Slow Scan
|
|<---> Midi input/output (not used for this
| project)
________________|
I did the development on the Sound Blaster, Sound Blaster Pro,
Sound Blaster 16, Galaxy Sound, and even one called the Oki Dokey
Sound Card. Even though most of those cards were capible of
higher sampling rates, I kept the sample rate at 12 KHZ
(the top speed for the Sound Blaster V1.5 and V2.0) so all
Sound Blasters could be used. It gives very acceptable results
at this speed.
Now that the program has been out for a short while, I've received
feedback from others who inform me that it also works on the PAS16
(Pro Audio Vision from Media Vision) and the Fusion 16 (also from
Media Vision) and many other sound cards.
Copy the program to your hard disk (preferably make a separate
subdirectory called SS). Your computer should have several meg
of free space as the .VOC files will take up about 1.5 Meg for each
Scottie picture. You will want to save some of your favorite
pictures in .PCX files so you can recall them later. The reason I
chose the .PCX format is that it takes a lot less space than
.VOC files. The display on your computer needs to be a VGA display
that will work in 640 x 480 - 256 color mode. Some VGA cards do not
have enough memory to do this. If it doesn't work on your system,
I need to know so I can make the necessary changes. When reporting
problems, please make sure to include as much information about
your computer system as possible (autoexec.bat, config.sys, path,
etc), so I can be of help.
The first time that you run the program type "ss". The program will
ask several questions as you start it for the first time.
1. What directory do you want to store the voice files in? I suggest
something like C:\VOC. You MUST create this directory before running
the program.
2. What directory do you want to store the picture files in? I suggest
something like C:\PCX. You MUST create this directory before running
the program.
3. Then it will ask for your callsign or name. If you use your
callsign, it will insert it at the top of the pictures that you
send automatically.
4. It will then ask whether you want to set up the Sound card
automatically or manually. I recommend automatic and only use manual
if auto does not work.
If you choose manual, you will have to choose from a list of sound
cards. If yours is not listed, first try Sound Blaster 8 bit. If that
does not work, try the others one at a time until you find the one
that does. You will also need to specify the sound card address,
interrupt, and DMA channel. Each time, after doing the setup, you
will need to check it by pressing F2 to record a voice file with
sound comming in the mike input. Even if it is static or noise, you
should get speckels on the screen after you press ESC to stop the recording.
The selections that you make are saved in a file called "SS.CFG".
The next time that you run the program, you will not be given the
choices as it knows from the file "SS.CFG" what you selected the
first time. If you need to make changes, you can:
1. Erase the "SS.CFG" file from your hard drive, or
2. Type "ss v" instead of "ss" to start the program. This will
automatically erase "SS.CFG" so you can make your
selections again.
A220 is the base address that you may have set your Sound Blaster
at. Other choices could be A210, A230, A240, A250, and A260. The
Pro only has two choices, A220 and A240.
I7 is the default interrupt of the card. Other choices could be I2, I3,
I5, or I10. I would guess that if you already have the card up and
running with other applications, you only need to find out what
you are using.
D1 is the default DMA channel. I believe that in the Sound Blaster
V1.5 and V2.0, you can only use DMA 1. However, on the PRO you can
use DMA 0, 1, or 3. DMA 1 is the default.
To start the program after it is loaded type "SS" ("SS V" to reselect
the configuration).
Once you have the audio connected, and a station ready to transmit,
pressing F2 will start the receiving process. The sound is stored
in a disk file named "TEMP.VOC". This file is overwritten every
time you press F2. You will not see anything happen until you press
ESC which should be pressed as soon as the audio for the picture
stops. The "TEMP.VOC" file will be a minimum of 1.5 Meg. in size for
one Scottie picture, so you will need to make sure that you have at
least several megabytes free on your hard disk where ss.exe is loaded.
You will learn after using the program that it takes a little bit before
it starts recording, so you need to anticipate the start of the picture
just a little.
If you anticipate too much, you can do the following:
Pressing ESC will stop the recording & start to display whatever
there was to that point
- Pressing ESC again will stop the display
- Pressing F2 will restart the recording.
Once you have a picture on the screen, if you Press F2 again you
will loose the one you have. Menu item F7 allows you to save the
picture as a .PCX file, or you can rename the "TEMP.VOC" file to
another name so when you press F2 again, you do not lose the
picture.
Transmit has been added with the following options.
1. To load a .PCX image that you have created, press F7
followed by F2. Your picture should be previously stored
in C:\PCX (or whatever directory name you specified). Select
the name of the .PCX file of your choice from the menu. The
image will show on the screen. Press ESC to get back to the
main menu. Pressing F8 will convert the picture into a
SEND.VOC file complete with the sync pulses necessary to send
the picture.
2. Pressing F4 will transmit "SEND.VOC", the last picture
converted.
3. Pressing F5 will give you a menu of ".VOC" files that
you have saved. By saving the "TEMP.VOC" file to other
names, you can later re-transmit the pictures you have
received. It's just like a tape recorder!
4. You can see what the SEND.VOC file would look like if
you were to send it by pressing F7 after doing the conversion
in step 1 above. Then press F3 and select SEND.VOC. The
picture will display on the screen, one line at a time as
it would on the receiving end.
Help is built into the program and accessed by pressing F1. This
will give you a second menu of help items. Just press the F key
that will give you the information that you want.
When you send Scottie 1 pictures, it should work fine if the
person on the receiving end will put their unit in SYNC mode.
I have tried it on a ViewPort and with the JVFAX here and it
works fine with the ViewPort without doing anything special, but
with the JVFAX, I have to turn on SYNC MODE to get a straight
picture. I am still doing testing to find out and fine tune
to get it to work with the Robot and Pasokon. The band conditions
have not been the best for testing recently. Hopefully things
will get better.
I hope this program will give you some enjoyment. If it does, I
would also hope that you will register the program for $30.00. I
have spent over 5 years writing this (not every day mind you) and
it was an exercise for me in learning to program in "C". Well, I
guess something must have worked! Anyway, if I get enough response,
I will get to work and enhance the program with the other modes.
Also, I am interested in any ideas you may have to improve the
program or ideas for other programs for the Sound Blaster. I bought
their development kit, and might as well put it to work. So please
send your $30.00 and ideas for enhancement and other programs you
would like to see (how about copying RTTY or PACKET RADIO with the
Sound Blaster ???). Also, anyone sending in the registration with
$30.00 will receive credit towards any major upgrade to the next
higher level.
Speaking of UPGRADES!!!
SLOW SCAN COLOR has also been released as of April 1994 (at the
Dayton Hamvention). Many features were added including:
-The ability to import your own .PCX files and convert to a voice
file for sending
-ZOOM mode to expand the pictures to full screen
-AUTO FREQUENCY TRACKING +/- 150 Hz, a must for the COLOR modes
-SEND and RECEIVE Robot 8,12,24,36 second B&W, Robot 36 & 72 second
COLOR, and SCOTTIE 1 & SCOTTIE 2 COLOR modes and NEW for
October 1995, MARTIN 1 and MARTIN 2 COLOR modes!*
-Larger display area for picture
-Adds callsign to the pictures that you send
-More than 4 times the resolution of Slow Scan II
-SLIDE SHOW for .PCX images that you've saved
-AUTOMATIC MODE CONVERSION for .PCX pictures
-Ability to keep .VOC and .PCX files in seperate directories
-SNOOPER - look at the RBG levels in the picture in waveform format.
You can view Red, Blue, or Green seperately or in combination.
COLOR SLOW SCAN can be purchased for only $99.95!
*Scottie 1 & 2 and Martin 1 & 2 TRANSMIT modes are still being
refined. They do work, but require the receiving end to use the
SYNC mode. Band conditions have not been good (as mentioned above)
so I have not been able to do the testing I would like.
COLOR SLOW SCAN - RECEIVE ONLY
This version has all of the features above with transmit removed.
For the Shortwave Listener, this program will allow you to see
what is going on. It is a lot of fun listening and receiving the
pictures on the Saturday nets (10 a.m. and 12 noon C.S.T).
The RECEIVE ONLY version is available for only $79.95.
Audio Analyzer - Another NEW PROGRAM!
Now you can view the audio signals that you hear on the air! Audio
Analyzer will display the change in frequency in relation to time
so you can "SEE" what Slow Scan, RTTY, Packet Radio, Weather Fax,
and other audio signals 'look like'. The waveforms can be saved to
voice files or viewed REAL TIME! Waveforms saved to .VOC files
can be viewed over and over. If you want finer detail, you can EXPAND
the image or you can SHRINK the image to view more at one time.
The vertical frequency range can be adjusted up or down as needed.
This utility was useful in developing the SLOW SCAN programs and
understanding what is going on. A TIME MEASUREMENT feature allows you
to measure sync pulses, ect., in milliseconds.
AUDIO ANALYZER is available for only $39.95.
Comments or questions can be left for me on Compuserve. Make sure
that you address to Gene Harlan 75211,3622. I am also on
America on Line as well (GeneHarlan).
Questions can be answered evenings at (815) 398-2683. I'm usually
home by 6:00 pm (CST) unless I have meetings, etc. I have enjoyed
helping those that have called to date. All the comments and
compliments were appreciated!!! Compuserve is probably easier and
I try to check it once a day when I'm in town.
We have also installed a FAX line (815) 398-2688. This can be used
as a BBS if you call ahead and give me a few minutes to change it over.
Ads for the COLOR SLOW SCAN are found in most of the major magazines.
You may place an order from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. CST for credit card
or C.O.D. orders (C.O.D. charge $5.00).
VISA & MASTERCARD and AMERICAN EXPRESS ACCEPTED! Call Today!
Please send the following registration form to:
Harlan Technologies
5931 Alma Dr.
Rockford, Illinois 61108
Registration Information
_________________________________________________________________
______ I have enclosed $30.00 and would like to register the Slow
Scan program. I understand that if I upgrade in the future,
I will get credit towards the upgrade.
______ I have enclosed $79.95 for the Color receive only version.
Please include $5.00 shipping (overseas $10). Illinois
residents include $5.00 tax.
______ I am enclosing $99.95 for the Color transmit and receive
version. Please include $5.00 for shipping (overseas $10).
Illinois residents include $6.25 tax.
_______Audio Analyzer - View the waveforms that you hear for
Slow Scan, RTTY, Amtor, Packet, ect. See the sync pulses and
be able to measure the time in milliseconds. This program
is only $39.95 plus $5.00 shipping ($10 overseas). Illinois
residents include $2.50 tax. Real time samples can be taken
or recorded and played back from .VOC file.
VISA & MASTERCARD and AMERICAN EXPRESS ACCEPTED! Call Today!
Name_________________________________________
Call Sign______________________
Street_________________________________
City___________________________________ State __________
Zip__________ Phone_____________________________
Type/speed of computer __________________________________
Size of hard drive ______________________________________
Type of display card ____________________________________
PLEASE BE SPECIFIC ABOUT YOUR DISPLAY CARD - THIS WILL HELP ME!
Ram - how much do you have ______________________________
Sound Blaster _____ Sound Blaster Pro _____ SB20 _____ SB16______
PRO AUDIO SPECTRUM 16_____ FUSION 16 _____ OTHER __________________
3 1/2 disk _____ 5 1/4 disk _____
Other information - ideas - suggestions
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________