home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
Tech Arsenal 1
/
Tech Arsenal (Arsenal Computer).ISO
/
tek-20
/
ktwin10.zip
/
KENTROL.TXT
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1991-09-13
|
6KB
|
149 lines
KENTROL for WINDOWS
Copyright 1991
by
Brian Gilhuly VE3BGB
Beta version 0.95
What It Is
Kentrol is a Windows 3 control program for Kenwood HF transceivers and
the R5000 receiver. This version auto-detects the TS-440S, R5000, and
TS-940S, but does not support the banked memories on the 940. Interfaces
for other models are easily possible, and will be created on demand.
What It Does
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. The tuned source can be copied to any other.
Bandspread of scroll bar can be full range, a single Megahertz, or a single
ham or broadcast band. In a band, the SUB button automatically sets mode
and tuning step according to frequency. 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. The AutoScroll feature moves the bar along through the range you
have selected, at a selectable speed. Jump bands while autoscrolling.
Simultaneously, the ACTIVE CHANNELS Window displays the contents of your
radio's memories so you can select any memory with a single click.
Select any combination of 1 to 100 memory channels and scan the group,
at a selectable speed with a constantly updated display.
Automatically logs UTC date and time, frequency and mode, along with your
text up to 50 char., to a pure ASCII log file. View and edit the log file.
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.
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.
And Soon Will Do...
Support for split memories and RIT/XIT for the 440 and for the clock and
antenna functions of the R5000 will in ver 1.0 VERY soon. A 940 version will
follow shortly. Importing data from database file formats and DDE links to,
for example, Excel will come later.
The Help will be extended, then converted to the Windows Help system.
Hardware/Software Requirements
Any ibm-compatible pc with at least one serial port, running Windows 3.0.
Display resolution should be vga or better, preferably svga. If running
Norton Desktop for Windows, the launch list and task list should be
disabled, or operation will be erratic.
Any Kenwood transceiver with a serial port, though the current version of
Kentrol is fully usable only with the TS-440S and the R5000 receiver.
Please note that the TS-440S, R5000 and TS-940S require that you install
two $4 ICs to enable the serial port.
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.
Getting Started
No installation is required, though you will probably want to add it to
a Program Manager Group in the usual way. Just copy KENTROL.EXE,
KENTROL.LOG and the (optional) supplied *.KTM 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 it will ask you to specify the correct comm
port (1-4), ask to specify the time zone offset from utc and give you the
chance to rename the default memory file. Then it will read your radio's
memories into that file; all before opening the main window. This takes a
minute or two; subsequent start-ups are almost instant.
All the program documentation is in the Help system, so you have to
be running Kentrol to read it. READ 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.KTM to see how annotated memories look.
Trouble?
If it 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 it 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. Microsoft promises this stupidity will end with Windows 3.1.
Select RESET (on the Setup Menu) if the program gets out of synch
with the radio while it's running.
Version History
1991-07-31 0.6 first beta version
1991-08-15 0.7 second beta version
editable annotated memory files introduced
1991-08-25 0.8 third beta version
UTC logging to ascii file, log edit window added
window captions now cua-compatible
1991-08-30 0.9 fourth beta version
memory scanning added
1991-09-12 0.95 final beta version
autoscroll, sub-bands, copy to memory added
FEEDBACK, please
Having begun Kentrol to meet my own needs, I hope it will also be useful to
others. Please try it and let me know what you think. This beta version
is being distributed as copyrighted freeware. A finished shareware release
will be very shortly.
If you have comments or suggestions or just think you would be interested in
the complete shareware release, contact me by any of the means below.
Questions and bug reports are also welcome.
73 -- VE3BGB,
Sept 12, 1991
Brian Gilhuly
490 Concord Ave.
Toronto, ON
M6H 2P8
Canada
416-516-4146
VE3BGB@VE3OY
Compuserve ID: 73257,3131