The World of Computer Software/The World of Computer Software.iso/ktwin300.zip/KENTROL.TXT

Text File | 1992-11-28 | 11KB | 249 lines

                KENTROL for WINDOWS
                Copyright 1991, 1992
                    by
                       Brian Gilhuly  VE3BGB
                    Version 3.0

WHAT KENTROL IS

Kentrol is shareware.  Please read and respect the terms of licence explained
in the Registration section of this document.

Kentrol is a Windows 3x control program for Kenwood HF transceivers and the
R-5000 receiver, which has built-in logging and memory management
capabilities.  Kentrol auto-detects the TS-940/440/140/680S, the R-5000, and
the TS-950/850/450/690S and will also work with any other radio which uses the
Kenwood control language.

WHAT KENTROL DOES

The TOOLBAR is constantly in view.  It shows the active frequency and mode and
provides buttons for all key functions, including keyboard frequency entry.
Toolbar buttons are accessible regardless of which of the specific windows is
in use.  The active source can be selected and copied to any other.
Registered users can click a button to transmit. Split operation, including
cross-band,cross-mode splits is provided both for the vfo's and for the split
memories in each transceiver (Registered users only).  Automatically logs UTC
date and time, frequency, mode and band, along with your choice of text
fields, to a pure ASCII log file.  View and edit the log file in Kentrol or
load it into a spreadsheet or database program to sort and categorize your
loggings.

The TUNING Window tunes both VFOs and selects memory channels using a scroll
bar interface.  You can tune any source at any time, independent of which you
are listening to or transmitting on.  Enter frequencies directly from the
keyboard or via the tuning scroll bar.  BANDSPREAD of scroll bar can be full
range, a single Megahertz, a single ham, broadcast, maritime mobile,
aeronautical mobile or utility band, or one of up to 11 user-defined bands. In
a band, the SUB button automatically sets mode and tuning step according to
frequency, following US, Canadian and international band plans.  Other
pushbuttons allow you to jump up and down a band or megahertz at a time. Jumps
when SUB is selected are to the next correct sub-band so, for example, it
skips 30m in Phone mode, and steps through the standard time station
frequencies.  The AutoScroll feature moves the bar along through the range you
have selected, at a selectable speed. Jump bands or change sources while
autoscrolling. In memory mode empty channels are skipped automatically.

Simultaneously, the AVAILABLE CHANNELS Window displays the contents of your
radio's memories so you can select any memory with a single click.  Gives the
TS-940S 40 consecutively numbered memories to replace the normal 4-bank
system.  Select any combination of 1 to 100 memory channels (1-40 on the
TS-940S, 1-31 on the TS-140S) and scan the group, at a selectable speed with a
constantly updated display.

Memory sets can be annotated (up to 50 char per memory), are fully editable
and can be saved to files and loaded into the radio's memories as you wish.
Open files can also be scanned directly, without uploading them to the radio.
Multiple memory files can be opened simultaneously so you can copy and paste
between them.  Or copy from the log to a memory set.  Sample memory files are
included.  Kentrol uses the same memory file format for all radios, so files
are fully transferable between rigs.

Keep multiple memory files open in document windows or as icons on the
desktop.  Any Kentrol window, including the tuner, can be shrunk to a 'live'
icon.

Kentrol's MONITOR ICON mode displays constantly-updated frequency and mode
information at the bottom of your screen while other applications run in the
foreground and you control your radio from its front panel.  Double click on
the icon and Kentrol instantly takes charge again.


HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS

An 80286, 80386 or 80486-based ibm-compatible pc with at least one serial
port, running Windows 3.0 or 3.1 in standard or enhanced mode.  (Although
Kentrol 3 will not run on XT-class machines, earlier versions of the program
will, and they are still available.) Basic functions are accessible from the
keyboard, but some operations require a mouse.  Display resolution should be
svga or better, but vga will work, though somewhat awkwardly.

Any Kenwood transceiver with a serial port. Please note that the TS-440S,
TS-940S, TS-140S and the R-5000 receiver require that you install two $4 ICs
to enable the serial port.  The RADIOS.TXT file outlines features specific to
particular models.

A level translator to match the TTL-level serial port in the radio with the
RS232C-level port in the computer. The Kenwood IF-232C is such a translator,
but plans are readily available to build your own.  If you build, you will
need a cable to connect to the radio and even if you buy, you will need a
serial cable to your computer.

If your translator and cables don't connect the CTS and DSR lines, you must
use the Windows Control Panel to disable hardware flow control. An IF-232C
with 8-conductor cable DOES connect them, which is preferable.

If running Norton Desktop for Windows v1.0 as your Windows shell, the launch list
and task list must be disabled, or operation will be erratic.  There is no
problem with ver 2.0 of Norton Desktop.

GETTING STARTED WITH KENTROL

No installation is required, though you will probably want to add Kentrol to a
Program Manager Group in the usual way.  Just copy KENTROL.EXE, KENTROL.HLP,
KENTROL.LOG and (optionally) the supplied *.KTS files to any directory in your
DOS path, switch on your radio and IF-232C interface, then run Kentrol.

The first time it is run Kentrol will open a dialog box to get configuration
info.  Apart from the Comm port and difference between local time and UTC,
which have to be set correctly, you can safely accept all the default
settings.   Then it will read your radio's memories into a file; all before
opening the main window.  This takes a minute or two; subsequent start-ups are
almost instant.

Most of the program documentation is in the Help system, so you have to be
running Kentrol to read it.  BROWSE THE HELP INDEX THE FIRST TIME YOU RUN
KENTROL for all the details, but don't worry; the Tuning window which is in
the foreground when the program starts is very easy to use.  Open the sample
file BRIANS.KTS to see how annotated memories look.

TROUBLESHOOTING

If Kentrol doesn't connect with the radio at start-up with everything
connected and turned on; exit, switch the radio off and on, and try again.

If that doesn't work or if you get a UAE (in Win 3.0), exit Windows, re-boot
or run a port-resetting utility, then switch the radio off and on, then
retry.  It is advisable to quit Windows 3.1 after a GPF to tidy up memory, but
there should be no need to re-boot.

If Kentrol hangs at start-up, it is probably a serial port conflict in
Windows.  Although Windows 3.0 allows 4 serial ports, it only lets you USE 2
in a session.  If you use COM1, then you CAN'T use COM3 and if you use COM4,
you can't use COM2, and so on. To switch from the 1/2 set to the 3/4 set you
have to exit Windows and either run a port-resetting utility or re-boot.
Windows 3.1 proudly advertises that multiple ports are possible, but that is
true ONLY if your serial port can be set to interrupts other than IRQ3 or 4.
Such ports do exist, but they are exceedingly rare and somewhat expensive.  If
you have one, you already know about it. What Win 3.1 does do for the rest of
us is permit switching from COM1 to 3 or 2 to 4 at will, so long as only one
of each pair is in use at any time.

If Kentrol gets out of synch with your radio while it's running, select RESET
(on the Options Menu).

If your radio beeps so much while running Kentrol that it's driving you mad,
read NOBEEP.TXT, then turn it off.

VERSION HISTORY

Ver 1.00 -- first shareware release (Sept. 91)

Ver 1.01 -- keyboard interface introduced

Ver 1.10 -- support for TS-940S banked memories added
     -- band logging introduced

Ver 1.20 -- standard keyboard interface (ctrl-key combos)
     -- default settings for models not specifically supported

Ver 1.30 -- built-in bandspread for aeronautical and marine SSB bands
     -- default US ham sub-bands, Canadian option
     -- revamped Sub-Band Mode tuning features

Ver 1.40 -- Service Menu instantly tunes band set of your choice
     -- dynamic menus adjust choices for active window

Ver 2.00 -- new look Tuner, with new Bandspread features (Jan. 92)
     -- hypertext Help system
     -- Monitor Icon introduced
     -- TS-140S added to supported radios
     -- improvements, fixes for the TS-940S

Ver 2.01 -- corrects .INI bug in 2.0

Ver 2.10 -- Transmit button added (registered copies)
         -- Split operation introduced (registered copies)
         -- variable bandwidth support on the 940/850 (registered copies)
     -- handier controls on transceiver tuners

Ver 2.20 -- User-defined bands introduced.
     -- provides software AFSK mode for the TS-140S

Ver 2.30 -- Loads Programmed Band Markers (140/850) into User bands
     -- tuning step shown in Tuner window

Ver 2.40 -- Windows 3.1 compatible (Apr. 92)
     -- Keyboard tuning added

Ver 2.50 -- corrects Windows 3.1 compatibility problems

Ver 3.00 -- Toolbar
     -- new look Tuner
     -- full '50-series support, includes S-meter
     -- "Hot Spot" buttons provide instant recall


REGISTRATION

As pointed out at the top of this note, Kentrol is shareware.  That means it
is not public domain software, not free.  Users are required to register and
obtain a licence to use the software.

You are welcome, indeed encouraged, to try Kentrol out for a reasonable period
of time to decide whether you like it.  If you don't, I thank you for your
interest and wish you well; if you could find the time to tell me why you
don't find Kentrol useful, I would be extravagantly grateful.

If you do go on using Kentrol, you are legally and morally obliged to obtain a
user licence.  You can register on-line via Compuserve, using your credit
card.  For full details, see the REGISTER.TXT file.  To register by mail,
please send your name, address, callsign, diskette size and radio model, along
with a cheque or money order for $49 (US funds) or $64 (Canadian), including
$4 postage, to:

            Brian Gilhuly,
            490 Concord Avenue,
            Toronto, ON,
            M6H 2P8,
            Canada

Registered users will receive:

 -- a diskette copy of the latest version of Kentrol, customised with your
    callsign and/or name

 -- full transmit and split operation capability

 -- variable bandwidth on the 940/950/850

 -- lots of additional memory files

 -- a 40 page printed manual

 -- access to telephone support.

New versions which correct bugs or are specific to your radio model will be
free, and upgrades will be available at low cost.

Questions and bug reports are welcome, to the above address or via Compuserve
or GEnie.

73 -- VE3BGB,
      Nov. 23, 1992

    Brian Gilhuly
    Compuserve ID: 73257,3131
    GEnie: B.Gilhuly