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1990-11-15
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████████ S p o i l e r
▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀
THE 940 SPOILER: VERSION 2.00
USER'S MANUAL
The 940 Spoiler provides you with the full operating capability of the
Kenwood TS-940S 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 940 Spoiler will also operate (within the limits of the 40 memories that
the TS-940S contains) the Kenwood TS-440S transceiver.
The 940 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 940 Spoiler
for a period of up to one month. If you decide to use the 940 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 which are
unavailable 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 940 Spoiler provides you with the computing power that will help you
to make better and more enjoyable use of the Kenwood TS-940S 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-940S is by itself a very sophisticated high-frequency
transceiver. It contains 40 memories. It contains a general-coverage receiver
and transmitter and a unique receive and transmit increment-tuning system. The
operating potential of the transceiver is tremendous.
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-940S memories through the front panel is
time-consuming and often confusing. In addition, in some operating
environments, the 40-memory capacity of the transceiver is insufficient.
Memory management is difficult with the TS-940S in two important respects.
Use of more than 10 memories requires that you slide open a door on top of the
transceiver and select another of four "banks" of 10 memories. Also, you
cannot enter new values into any memory while it (or any other) memory is
selected.
Limitations TS-940S display 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 940 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-940S, and you can conveniently alter the operating
parameters stored in the transceiver. From your keyboard, you can select or
update any of the TS-940S memories (numbered 0 to 40) regardless of bank-switch
position, even when it (or another memory) is selected.
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, all of the memories stored in the TS-940S
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, the memories of the 940 are displayed along with 40
additional "virtual" memories, frequency and mode sources that may be used
almost as easily at the 40 memories which are internal to the TS-940S.
The Spoiler screens always display the current operating conditions of the
TS-940S, 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.
Control
The Spoiler makes transceiver control extremely simple, convenient, and
fast as prompts direct you through a minimum of key strokes.
Memory Management
The 940 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 40 memories, the memories may be loaded into your TS-
940S with a few key strokes. Two of these files may be loaded at once to
provide you instantaneous access to eighty memoriies. 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.
While you may load and store an unlimited number of memory files for
active use with the 940 Spoiler, you also have use of a reserve file that
effectively gives you a second group of 80 memories to work with. You may
exchange this file with the active file with a couple of keystrokes, and you
can copy and exchange individual memory contents between the active and reserve
memories with another couple of keystrokes.
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.
With the 940 Spoiler, you never have to worry about memory-bank switching
with the toggle switch inside the sliding door on top of the TS-940S. The
Spoiler renumbers all memories, for the sake of convenient program operation,
from 0 through 39 and disables the memory-bank switch while the program is
running.
Simplicity of operation is the most important design feature of the 940
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, COPY, and FILES 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 42 VFOs to work with rather than two VFOs and 40 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 940 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 940 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 940 Spoiler also contains provisions for accessing a log-maintenance
program, a digital-controller program, or other software while you maintain the
940 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-940S.
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-940S. 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-940S. 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-940S, and
with minor programming effort provide for password-screened access to control
of the transceiver. Although the data rate for standard copies of the 940
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 940 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-940S must be equipped for serial digital communications. You must
have an interface kit such as the ones Kenwood sells, designated as the IC-10B,
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,
although duplicating the IC-10B kit is likely not a worthwhile project even for
the most experienced and well-equipped operator. If you are experienced in
digital-circuit design, you might build your own level converter, or you might
purchase one from an alternate source (see Hardware Requirements, below).
The serial interface in your computer, your cable, and your level
converter must support control of transmit-data, receive-data, clear-to-send,
and ready-to-send signals.
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 940 SPOILER │
██████ ▄█▀ │ Shareware Version 1.00 │
██████ ▄█▀ │ │
██████ ▄█▀ │ We hope that you enjoy this examination copy │
██████ ▄█▀ │ of the 940 Spoiler, a program that lets you │
██████ ▄█▀ │ control your Kenwood TS-940S conveniently, │
██████ ▄█▀ │ rapidly, and completely. │
█████████▀ ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ │ │
█████████ 9 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 │
██████ ████▄ │ 940 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 registered owneras shown in figure 2.
▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ ▄▄
█████████ ▄█▀
██████ ▄█▀
Q ██████ ▄█▀
S ██████ ▄█▀
O ██████ ▄█▀
2 ██████ ▄█▀
0 ██████ ▄█▀
0 █████████▀ ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ This Registered Copy of the 940 Spoiler
0 █████████ 9 4 0 Version 1.00
██████ ██▄ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ belongs to
P ██████ ██▄
R ██████ ███ Bill Brewer
O ██████ ███▄ K5KNC
J ██████ ████▄
E ██████ █████▄
C ██████ ██████▄
T ██████ ███████▄
██████ ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄████████▄▄▄▄▄▄
█████████ S p o i l e r
█████████ ████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████
╔═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ ****************** Press any key to continue to run ********************* ║
║ ***************** your registered copy of the Spoiler. ******************* ║
╚═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
Figure 2.- Registered copy opening screen
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-940S 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, shown in figure 3, consists of five display areas for
each of the following: (1) current operating sources, (2) command options, (3)
slope and variable-bandpass tuning, (4) 40 memories, and (5) 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. Slope and
variable-bandpass tuning are shown to the right of the command box.
Transceiver memory contents are shown in the large box to the right of the
screen. Commands are shown on the bottom line.
╔════════════════════╦═══════════════════╗╔═══════════════════════════════════╗
║ RECEIVE ║RX 3.971.80 LSB VA║║ MEMORIES ║
║ 3.971.80 LSB ║TX 3.934.64 LSB VB║╟─────────────────┬─────────────────╢
║ VA ║───────────────────║║00 7.012.00 CW │20 7.156.00 USB║
╠════════════════════╣TR 7.030.00 CW 16║║01 7.012.00 CW │21 7.165.00 LSB║
║ TRANSMIT ║───────────────────║║02 7.012.00 CW │22 7.185.00 LSB║
║ 3.934.64 LSB ║No Increment -0.08K║║03 3.779.93 LSB│23 7.195.00 LSB║
║ VB ║ ║║04 3.790.00 LSB│24 7.205.00 LSB║
╠═════════════╦══════╩═════╦═════════════╣║05 3.905.00 LSB│25 7.213.00 LSB║
║Time 10:02:46║DEFAULT.MRY ║Date 07-27-90║║06 3.910.00 LSB│26 7.221.00 LSB║
╚═════════════╩════════════╩═════════════╝║07 3.928.00 LSB│27 7.225.00 LSB║
╔═══════════════════════╗╔═══════════════╗║08 3.933.00 LSB│28 7.235.00 LSB║
║ ▄▄▄▄ ▄ ║║ VBT ║║09 3.936.60 LSB│29 7.240.00 LSB║
║ ████ ▄▀ ║╟───────┬───────╢║10 3.940.00 LSB│30 7.245.00 LSB║
║ ████ ▄▀ ║║▄█████████████▄║║11 14.234.56 CW │31 7.249.00 LSB║
║ ████ ▄▀ ▄▄▄ ║║███████████████║║12 7.012.00 CW │32 7.290.00 LSB║
║ ██████ 940 ║║███████████████║║13 7.015.00 CW │33 2.500.00 AM ║
║ ████ █▄ ▀▀▀ ║╠╧╧╧╧╧╧╧╧╧╧╧╧╧╧╧╣║14 7.020.00 CW │34 5.000.00 AM ║
║ ████ █▄ ║║ SLOPE ║║15 7.025.00 CW │35 10.000.00 AM ║
║ ████ ██▄ ║╟───────┬───────╢║16 7.030.00 CW │36 20.000.00 AM ║
║ ████ ▄▄▄███▄▄▄ ║║▄█████████████▄║║17 7.045.00 CW │37 20.000.00 AM ║
║ ████ Spoiler ║║███████████████║║18 7.060.00 CW │38 14.005.00 CW ║
║ ▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ║║███████████████║║19 7.075.00 CW │39 14.010.00 CW ║
╚═══════════════════════╝╚╧╧╧╧╧╧╧╧╧╧╧╧╧╧╧╝╚═════════════════╧═════════════════╝
1)Select 2)Freq 3)Mode 4)Incrmt 5)Copy 6)Files 7)Scan 8)Shell 9)Display 10)Quit
Figure 3.- 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-940S, 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 4.
╔════════════════════╦═══════════════════╗
║ RECEIVE ║TR 21.005.00 CW 13║
║ 21.005.00 CW ║───────────────────║
║ 13 ║TR 27.285.00 AM VA║
╠════════════════════╣TR 3.921.44 LSB VB║
║ TRANSMIT ║───────────────────║
║ 21.005.00 CW ║No Increment..-0.05║
║ 13 ║ ║
╠═════════════╦══════╩═════╦═════════════╣
║Time:14:30:11║ZEROS1.MRY ║Date:05-01-90║
╚═════════════╩════════════╩═════════════╝
Figure 4.- 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 5.
╔════════════════════╦═══════════════════╗
║ RECEIVE ║TR21.005.00 CW 13║
║ 21.005.00 CW ║───────────────────║
║ 13 ║TR 27.285.00 AM VA║
╠════════════════════╣TR 3.921.44 LSB VB║
║ TRANSMIT ║───────────────────║
║ 21.005.00 CW ║No Increment..-0.05║
║ 13 ║ ║
╠═════════════╦══════╩═════╦═════════════╣
║Time:14:30:11║ZEROS1.MRY ║Date:06-01-90║
╚═════════════╩════════════╩═════════════╝
Figure 5.- 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-940S 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-940S 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 39 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 6.
╔════════════════════╦═══════════════════╗
║ 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:06-07-90║
╚═════════════╩════════════╩═════════════╝
Figure 6.- Split VFO display
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-940S memory sources are displayed in the largest box on
the screen. Figure 7 shows the memory-display box.
╔═══════════════════════════════════╗
║ MEMORIES ║
╟─────────────────┬─────────────────╢
║00 7.012.00 CW │20 7.156.00 USB║
║01 7.012.00 CW │21 7.165.00 LSB║
║02 7.012.00 CW │22 7.185.00 LSB║
║03 3.779.93 LSB│23 7.195.00 LSB║
║04 3.790.00 LSB│24 7.205.00 LSB║
║05 3.905.00 LSB│25 7.213.00 LSB║
║06 3.910.00 LSB│26 7.221.00 LSB║
║07 3.928.00 LSB│27 7.225.00 LSB║
║08 3.933.00 LSB│28 7.235.00 LSB║
║09 3.936.60 LSB│29 7.240.00 LSB║
║10 3.940.00 LSB│30 7.245.00 LSB║
║11 14.234.56 CW │31 7.249.00 LSB║
║12 7.012.00 CW │32 7.290.00 LSB║
║13 7.015.00 CW │33 2.500.00 AM ║
║14 7.020.00 CW │34 5.000.00 AM ║
║15 7.025.00 CW │35 10.000.00 AM ║
║16 7.030.00 CW │36 20.000.00 AM ║
║17 7.045.00 CW │37 20.000.00 AM ║
║18 7.060.00 CW │38 14.005.00 CW ║
║19 7.075.00 CW │39 14.010.00 CW ║
╚═════════════════╧═════════════════╝
Figure 7.- Memory display box
For 940 Spoiler operation, TS-940S memories are numbered from 0 to 39.
Memory 0 is transceiver memory 0 of bank 1, memory 10 is transceiver memory 0
of bank 2, memory 39 is transceiver memory 9 of bank 4, and so on. With the
940 Spoiler in opertion, you can conveniently forget about bank selection.
SPOILER COMMAND LINE
The bottom line of the Spoiler display is a prompt for command entry.
Figure 8 shows this line.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1)Select 2)Freq 3)Mode 4)Incrmt 5)Copy 6)Files 7)Scan 8)Shell 9)Display 10)Quit
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Figure 8.- Spoiler command line
HIGH DENSITY SCREEN
The high-density screen displays all TS-940S parameters on a single screen
in addition to 40 virtual memories from a memory file. Figure 9 shows the
high-density screen.
╔═════════════╗╔═══════════════════════════════╦══════════════════════════════╗
║ RX VA ║║ CURRENT MEMORY FILE DEFAULT ║ RESERVE MEMORY FILE DEFAUT1 ║
║ 3.971.80 LSB║╟───────────────┬───────────────╫───────────────┬──────────────╢
╟─────────────╢║00 7.012.00 CW│20 7.156.00 US║00 7.290.00 LS│20 7.156.0 US║
║ TX VB ║║01 7.012.00 CW│21 7.165.00 LS║01 7.290.00 LS│21 7.165.0 LS║
║ 3.934.64 LSB║║02 7.012.00 CW│22 7.185.00 LS║02 7.249.00 LS│22 7.185.0 LS║
╟─────────────╢║03 3.779.93 LS│23 7.195.00 LS║03 7.012.00 CW│23 7.195.0 LS║
║Time 10:03:06║║04 3.790.00 LS│24 7.205.00 LS║04 5.000.00 AM│24 7.205.0 LS║
╟─────────────╢║05 3.905.00 LS│25 7.213.00 LS║05 10.000.00 AM│25 7.213.0 LS║
║Date 07-27-90║║06 3.910.00 LS│26 7.221.00 LS║06 15.000.00 AM│26 7.221.0 LS║
╚═════════════╝║07 3.928.00 LS│27 7.225.00 LS║07 20.000.00 AM│27 7.225.0 LS║
╔═════════════╗║08 3.933.00 LS│28 7.235.00 LS║08 14.005.00 CW│28 7.235.0 LS║
║ VA ║║09 3.936.60 LS│29 7.240.00 LS║09 14.010.00 CW│29 7.240.0 LS║
║ 3.971.80rLSB║║10 3.940.00 LS│30 7.245.00 LS║10 3.940.00 LS│30 7.245.0 LS║
╟─────────────╢║11 14.234.56 CW│31 7.249.00 LS║11 14.234.56 CW│31 7.249.0 LS║
║ VB ║║12 7.012.00 CW│32 7.290.00 LS║12 7.012.00 CW│32 7.290.0 LS║
║ 3.934.64tLSB║║13 7.015.00 CW│33 2.500.00 AM║13 7.015.00 CW│33 2.500.0 AM║
╟─────────────╢║14 7.020.00 CW│34 5.000.00 AM║14 7.020.00 CW│34 5.000.0 AM║
║ 16 ║║15 7.025.00 CW│35 10.000.00 AM║15 7.025.00 CW│35 10.000.0 AM║
║ 7.030.00 CW ║║16 7.030.00 CW│36 20.000.00 AM║16 7.030.00 CW│36 20.000.0 AM║
╟─────────────╢║17 7.045.00 CW│37 20.000.00 AM║17 7.045.00 CW│37 20.000.0 AM║
║ INCR ║║18 7.060.00 CW│38 14.005.00 CW║18 7.060.00 CW│38 14.005.0 CW║
║ No-0.08K ║║19 7.075.00 CW│39 14.010.00 CW║19 7.075.00 CW│39 14.010.0 CW║
╚═════════════╝╚═══════════════╧═══════════════╩═══════════════╧══════════════╝
1)Select 2)Freq 3)Mode 4)Incrmt 5)Copy 6)Files 7)n/a 8)Shell 9)Display 10)Qiit
Figure 9.- The high-density screen
The command line, with one exception (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-940S 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 invoked 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,a memory, or passband
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-940S 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
10 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 10.- 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 thhe currently selected VFO being used on
receive and the alternate VFO being used on transmit.
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.
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 11 shows the last-line display of source-selection command options.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1)VFO A 2)VFO B 3)Memory 4)Split Toggle 5)Quit
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Figure 11.- Source-selection command options
Response to your pressing the A, B, M, 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.
The "Q" entry represents the Quit command. It appears in prompt lines,
but it does not appear in the command-help tables. It is always equivalent to
pressing enter when you have no character entered.
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, and any memory stored
in the transceiver. Three other options permit you to select upper and lower
passband slope frequencies for SSB operation and select variable bandwidth
tuning for CW operation.
Figure 12 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............## ║
║ Slope High..........H ║
║ Slope Low...........L ║
║ VBT.................V ║
║ Freq of (ABM##Q): ║
║ ║
║ ║
╚═══════════════════════╝
Figure 12.- 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.
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 13).
╔═══════════════════════╗
║ Source Frequency ║
║ VFO A...............A ║
║ VFO B...............B ║
║ Memory..............M ║
║ Mem Num............## ║
║ Slope...............Q ║
║ VBT.................Q ║
║ Freq of (ABM##Q): B ║
║ (KHz/MHz): 14.336 ║
║ ║
║ ║
╚═══════════════════════╝
Figure 13.- 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-940S memory is completely empty
(with no previous frequency or mode stored in it).
One of the characteristic of the TS-940S 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 VFO 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 940 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.
Passband Tuning and Selectivity Choices
You may control both slope tuning and variable-bandwidth tuning from the
frequency-selection command-option box.
For upper and lower slope tuning (active on SSB modes only), you provide a
number ranging from 0 to 10, with lower numbers specifying a narrower passband
on each side of the center frequency. Entering the number 0 for both upper and
lower slopes brings both skirts in as close as possible to the center
frequency, and entering 10 for both values provides you with maximum
symmertrical bandwidth.
The effects of slope tuning are displayed graphically inside the SLOPE
TUNING box. Within the graph, the upper and lower tic marks indicate the
center frequency.
For variable-bandwidth tuning (VBT) on all modes except SSB, the
bandwidth-selection process is similar; the number entered ranges from 0 to 10,
with 0 representing the narrowest bandwidth and 10 representing the widest
bandwidth. The graphic display for VBT, located just above the slope-tuning
display, shows relative selectivity about a center line.
When the 940 Spoiler is used with a TS-440S, slope and variable-bandwidth
tuning commands have no effect.
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 13.
╔═══════════════════════╗
║ Source Mode ║
║ VFO A...............A ║
║ VFO B...............B ║
║ Memory..............M ║
║ Mem Num............## ║
║ Quit................Q ║
║ Mode of (ABM##Q): A ║
║ Mode (LUCFAR): ║
║ ║
║ ║
║ ║
╚═══════════════════════╝
Figure 13.- Mode-selection source options
The prompt for mode selection shown in figure 15 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.
To finish selecting the mode, press "L" for LSB, and so on.
A special circumstance occurs when a TS-940S 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-940S 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 up to 9.99 MHz. (When used with a TS-440S
transceiver, the 940 Spoiler limits increment tuning to the 1.27 KHz range of
the TS-440S.)
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 15.- 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-940S 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-940S 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 16.
╔═══════════════════════╗
║ Source Copy ║
║ Copy................C ║
║ Xchange.............X ║
║ Quit................Q ║
║ Choose (CXQ): C ║
║ From (ABM##): A ║
║ To (ABM##): ║
║ ║
║ ║
║ ║
║ ║
╚═══════════════════════╝
Figure 16.- Source-copy command options
If you select the copy option, you are prompted for origin and destination
sources, as shown in figure 17.
╔═══════════════════════╗
║ Source Copy ║
║ Copy................C ║
║ Xchange.............X ║
║ Quit................Q ║
║ Choose (CXQ): C ║
║ From (ABM##): A ║
║ To (ABM##): ║
║ ║
║ ║
║ ║
║ ║
╚═══════════════════════╝
Figure 17.- 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
18.
╔═══════════════════════╗
║ Copy Sources ║
║ Copy................C ║
║ Exchange............E ║
║ Quit................Q ║
║ Choose (CXQ): C ║
║ Src 1 (A,B,M,##): 32 ║
║ Src 2 (A,B,M,##): _ ║
║ ║
║ ║
║ ║
║ ║
╚═══════════════════════╝
Figure 18.- Exchange option
You may exchange or copy memories within the current-memory box, within
the reserve memory box, or between both boxes. When you exchange or copy into
the active group of memories, the transceiver memory is, of course, immediately
changed.
MEMORY FILE MANAGEMENT
The 40 memory channels in the TS-940S 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 40 memory channels
is a tedious task that no one undertakes with relish.
To help you with memory management, the Spoiler lets you store TS-940S
memories in computer disk files. With the file-management command, invoked
with the F6 key, you can store all 40 memory channels to disk, restore all 40
channels from disk, and clear all 40 channels (setting them off). In addition,
the Spoiler provides you with the ability to maintain a file of 40 reserve
memories which you may exchange with the active memories with a couple of
keystrokes; you may also exchange and copy single memories from one file to the
other.
Figure 19 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): ║
║ ║
║ redo to show reserve
║ ║
╚═══════════════════════╝
Figure 19.- Memory management options
The LIST option displays the names of all TS-940S 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 20 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 20.- 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-940S. The option box prompts you for the name of your file.
Note that when you initialize the Spoiler for your TS-940S 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 Reserve option opens a reserve-memory file of your choice. The 40
additional memories appear in the high-definition screen and may be exchanged
either as a group or individually with the active memories, effectively
providing you with access to 80 memories for the TS-940S.
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-940S 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 940 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-940S.
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-940S front panel in order to
achieve more versatility. You may program scanning to step through groups of
memories you select ("memory scan"), through memory-bounded frequency ranges
("programmed scan"), 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 21, 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 21.- 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 22 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 20 10 03 ║
║───────────────────────║
║ Memory: 00f ║
║ 3.905.06 LSB ║
╚═══════════════════════╝
Figure 22.- 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 23 shows a
range-information box.
╔═══════════════════════╗
║ Scan Ranges ║
║Rng Begin End Spd║
║ 0U 08 09 05 ║
║ 1L 09 08 50 ║
║ 2L 05 06 99 ║
║ 3L 35 38 00 ║
║ 4L 10 19 40 ║
║ 5L 25 26 70 ║
║───────────────────────║
║Scan range [08] to [09]║
║ 3.933.05 LSB ║
╚═══════════════════════╝
Figure 23.- 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. Individual
memories in the TS-940S may be locked out during Spoiler operation, (although
the lockout will not be effective during subsequent scanning with the
tranceiver's built-in basic scan capability).
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 24.
╔═══════════════════════╗
║ 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 17 18 03 ║
║ ║
║ Group #: ║
║ ║
╚═══════════════════════╝
Figure 24.- 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 25. 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 13 19 03 ║
║ ║
║ Group 3 selected ║
║ L)ck,B)gn,E)nd,D)ly: ║
╚═══════════════════════╝
Figure 25.- 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 26 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 22 24 20 ║
║ 4L 16 16 15 ║
║ 5L 25 26 05 ║
║ ║
║ Range #: ║
║ ║
╚═══════════════════════╝
Figure 26.- Edit-ranges selection box
Note: In the shareware examination copies of the 940 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.
For the TS-440S only, 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 940 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 SCREENS
Function key 9 toggles between the standard operating screen and the the
display high-density screen. 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. Your TS-940S is restored
to normal operation with the memory-bank switch controlling the currently
selected group of 10 memories.
TOGGLING TRANSMIT
If you have enabled the feature during installation, you may toggle the
TS-940S transmitter on and off by pressing the Page Down key. If you use the
Page Down key on the numeric keypad, be certain that the Num Lock key is not
toggled on.
Note: Transmit toggling is unavailable in shareware examination copies of the
940 Spoiler. It is a feature reserved for registered copies.
USING THE 940 SPOILER
There is only one task that you have to undertake to get the 940 Spoiler
working for your radio-operating pleasure. You must connect your MSDOS
computer to your TS-940S. 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 easiest way to physically connect your TS-940S transceiver and your
computer is for you to obtain an RS-232 level converter, an interface kit for
installation inside the TS-940S, and cables to connect your transceiver, your
level converter, and a serial port in your computer. The sole practical source
for the internal interface kit (IC-10B) for the TS-940S is your Kenwood dealer.
Your dealer also has the IF-232C level converter, which includes a cable for
connecting the converter to your transceiver (but not a standard serial-
communications cable for connecting your computer to the converter).
Phil Whitehouse, W1GEE, offers a much more economical alternative in both
kit and assembled form that includes an RS-232/TTL level converter and cables
for under $50. 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
Larry Anderson, KA6FQN, offers a level converter and cables in a small
package in assembled form. The level converter, cables, and instructions alone
are priced at $49. You may contact Larry at the following address
Mr. Lawrence R. Anderson, KA6FQN
35615 Avenue D
Aucaipa, CA 92399
Optionally, you might also want to obtain a switch so that your RS-232
port for devices other than control of your TS-940S at the flip of a switch.
Connectors and people can stand only so much plugging and unplugging, but a
simple switch solves both problems.
When you have installed the chip and the connector in your transceiver and
have the interface box 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 940 Spoiler is an interrupt-driven program that maintains the
highest-possible RS-232 transfer speeds between your PC and your TS-
940S. All four of the lines maintained by the Kenwood transceiver
interface must be maintained: 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 result in transmission of erroneous
data between your PC and the transceiver.
INSTALLING THE 940 SPOILER
You should copy 94SPL200.EXE and 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 940 Spoiler.
The file named is an installation program that must be run before the
Spoiler program will itself run. If you try to run 94SPL200.EXE before running
the installation program, the Spoiler will automatically run the installation
program before it continues to run. must be present in the current directory
with 94SPL200.EXE for automatic installation to succeed. Otherwise, the
Spoiler ships you back to DOS so that your can place and both in your current
directory.
The function of the 940INS100.EXE is twofold. It permits you to install
Spoiler features, and it permits you to read the initial information from your
TS-940 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-940S 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 whenever it does not find a file named 94SPL200.DEF and
a currently specified memory file (*.MRY) in the current directory. After you
install both features and memories, passes control back to 94SPL200.EXE so
that you can continue running the 940 Spoiler.
While 940INS20B.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-940S 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-940S to.
It then asks you to provide a name for the file that will store
information from your initial TS-940S 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.
If you select the monochrome display adapter and black and white screens,
the Spoiler will automatically avoid attempting to switch pages of adapter
memory. This means that screens will be painted within your view rather than
painted on an alternate page of adapter for instantaneous switching into the
display. Do not install the 940 Spoiler for any colors other than black and
white if you are using a monochrome adapter.
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 may have 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
94SPL200.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-940S 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 94SPL200.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 .
FAMILIARIZING YOURSELF WITH THE 940 SPOILER
You should initially consider the Spoiler a display window into the
operation of your TS-940S. 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-940S 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-940S 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 940 Spoiler, combined with the operating capability of the TS-940S,
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 940 SPOILER
As with all shareware, the 940 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 940 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 940 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 940 Spoiler brings you by return mail a full-
featured registered copy the latest version of the 940 Spoiler on diskette. It
also entitles you to free upgrades of the 940 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 940 Spoiler will be
maintained and enhanced throughout the like 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 940 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 940
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 940 Spoiler in
accordance with the licensing agreement on the form provided in the
accompanying file RGSTR940.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 940 Spoiler on the bulletin board
listed below.
Bulletin Board ECHO (Education)
806-741-1570
1200-2400 baud, 19200 baud USR-HST
For further information, please view or print the file RGSTR940.TXT.