home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
World of Ham Radio 1997
/
WOHR97_AmSoft_(1997-02-01).iso
/
windows
/
win_40
/
prog
/
k_read.me_
/
k_read.me
Wrap
Text File
|
1997-02-01
|
42KB
|
847 lines
++++++++++++++++++++++++
RigMaster v 5.03 by I0JX
++++++++++++++++++++++++
1. GENERAL
=======
RigMaster is a Windows 3.1 program intended to remotely display the status
and to control the operation of new-generation Kenwood amateur radio
transceivers namely TS-950SDX, TS-950S/SD, TS-850S, TS-690S and TS-450S. It
may also work, perhaps partially, with other Kenwood equipment having a
computer interface.
RigMaster permits to graphically visualize the current transceiver parameters
(such as frequency, mode, filters, etc.) and to change them as desired.
RigMaster supports the Windows Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE, see sect. 11.)
facility, allowing it to exchange frequency and mode information with
ClusterMaster (ver. 3.00 or higher), a communications program for
PacketCluster management (PacketCluster is a registered mark of Pavillion
Software). This combination allows a fully automatic PacketCluster operation
(see ClusterMaster help for further details). ClusterMaster must run together
with RigMaster, while the booting sequence is irrelevant.
If you have an ICOM rig, use the program RigMate instead of RigMaster.
Three additional operational modes ("Features") are also offered:
- "Antenna plot": you get a plot showing the gain response of your antenna,
by measuring the received level of a steady carrier, as indicated
by the S-meter, while the antenna is being manually turned. Print and
save/retrieve facilities are also available (see sect. 12.2);
- "SWL": the possibility is offered to readily set frequency and mode by
selecting the desired station in a data base. Stations are subdivided in
"groups" (such as Broadcast, WEFAX, RTTY, etc.), with the possibility to
update the data base in real time. Automatic selection of the strongest
station is possible, by means of a procedure which scans the data base
frequencies and takes the one giving maximum S-meter indication. Signal
strength are visualized on a bar-graph (see sect. 12.3.);
- "SWR plot": you can fairly quickly plot the SWR response of your antenna,
on the basis of SWR measurements performed by the meter incorporated in the
transceiver. Print and save/retrieve facilities are also offered (see par.
12.4.).
2. WHAT'S NEW
==========
Several program versions were released in the past. Differences among the
various versions are summarized in file K_EXPLA.TXT, bundled to RigMaster.
3. FILES
=====
The files constituting RigMaster 5.03 (after installation) are indicated in
file K_EXPLA.TXT.
4. DISTRIBUTION
============
This program may be freely used, copied and distributed, as long as the
following conditions are met:
(1) KEN_I0JX.EXE is distributed in its original, unmodified form;
(2) Files K_READ.ME and K_LEGGI.MI are included with the executable files
without modifications;
(3) KEN_I0JX.EXE may not be sold or licensed. Nor it may be bundled with, or
transferred as part of, any software package or radio equipment which is
sold or for which any licensing fee is charged.
5. WARRANTY
========
Note: KEN_I0JX.EXE has been tested on 80386DX/80486DX 33/50/66 MHz computers
with ET4000 SVGA. Operation has been verified on a TS-950SD, a TS-950SDX, a
TS-850S and a TS-690S. Program operation has been checked in the 640x480
(VGA), 800x600 (SVGA) and 1024x768 (SVGA) modes, with 256 colors in all
cases. SWR plots has been exclusively printed on an Epson LX-400 printer.
KEN_I0JX.EXE is provided "AS IS" without warranty of any kind, either
expressed or implied that any specific feature will work on any particular
machine or in conjunction with any radio equipment. I cannot commit myself to
support this software in the future.
The author as no affilition with Kenwood or any other amateur radio equipment
manufacturer / reseller or software developer.
6. DISCLAIMER
==========
The author accepts no responsibility whatsoever, he not being in particular
liable for any damage or loss resulting from unexpected radio equipment
operation as a consequence of software bugs or wrong design.
7. HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS
=====================
You need an MS-DOS PC equipped with a 256-color VGA/SVGA board, a matching
color monitor, a mouse and enough RAM to run Windows 3.1 comfortably. If you
wish to operate RigMaster in support to a communications program, by means
of the DDE feature, you will need at least an 80386SX-based PC.
In addition, you must have a Kenwood IF-232C interface (or equivalent) and an
RS-232 cable. The cable interconnecting the IF-232C with the transceiver is
provided by Kenwood, bundled with the IF-232C.
Additional notes on hardware requirements (including serial ports) are
presented in file K_EXPLA.TXT.
8. SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS
=====================
There are no special software requirements, other than a complete Windows 3.1
installation. Please check that you have installed True Type fonts, in
particular Arial. Without theis font, labels may result to be misaligned.
Font Symbol is also required to be installed in Windows.
The executable file was created with Microsoft Visual Basic 3.0, which
requires some support files in directory \WINDOWS\SYSTEM (copied by the
installation program). They are listed in file K_EXPLA.TXT.
9. INSTALLATION
============
9.1. Procedure
---------
Put the distribution diskette in a floppy drive. Then select "Run" in the
Windows Program Manager "File" menu. Finally type A:\SETUP.EXE (if A: is the
drive where you put the installation disk).
After designating RigMaster as the program to be installed, follow the
instructions until the RigMaster icon will appear in a new group called "I0JX
ham radio". You can then start the program by clicking twice on the icon.
If you own a rig other than the TS-950S/SD/SDX, you may want to use an icon
bearing its name. To do this:
1) Highlight the RigMaster icon
2) Select "Properties" in the Program Manager "Files" menu
3) Select "Change icon"
4) Fill field "File name": \XXX\YYY.ICO (where XXX is the RigMaster directory
and YYY is either 850, or 690 or or 450).
9.2. Command line syntax
-------------------
Still in the "Properties" menu, you can edit the "Command line" field such
that the program will start pre-configured in your preferred mode. This is
explained in file K_EXPLA.TXT.
10. OPERATION
=========
10.1. Program start
-------------
General warning: commands may take some time before completion; please wait
before entering a new command, otherwise you may get unpredictable results.
After booting the program, unless you have chosen an automatic start mode
(see command line syntax above), you will still have a chance to change the
serial port, by means of the "Port" menu. Normally this should not be
required.
Then, in the "Action" menu select the "Start COMn" (n = 1, 2, 3 or 4) option
to actually open the serial port. At this point, all controls are disabled,
the transceiver having not yet been recognized.
Once the selected COM port is started, unless you have chosen the wrong COM
port or there are communications problems with your transceiver, one of the
six labels "950SDX", "TS-950S", "TS-850S", "TS-690S", "TS-450S" or "Other"
should shortly get highlighted to witness equipment identification ("Other"
means other Kenwood transceivers). Note: no other transceiver has been
tested, so I am not aware whether the program works with other Kenwood
transceivers.
An initial update of the transceiver status will then take place and you will
be prompted waiting while the screen updating occurs, reflecting the current
transceiver configuration. At the end of the initial update, all controls
will become enabled.
Several operational differences exist among the various transceivers.
RigMaster gets self-configured to best match the specific characteristics
od each equipment. More details are given in file K_EXPLA.TXT.
I have here to report TS-450S and TS-690S owners that they will not be able
to utilize the automatic SWR plot facility, because of a bug in the
transceiver software (at least in the TS-690S I have tested). As a matter of
fact the message which should indicate the meter lit bars count does not
operate properly just (!) when the meter is in the SWR position (the message
always indicates zero). Nevertheless, the SWR plot facility has not been
inhibited when a TS-450S or TS-690S is recognized, hoping that Kenwood will
eventually cure the problem.
Due to another software bug, I was forced to make the program setting the
meter into the SWR position every time the COM is started (TS-450S and
TS-690S only). This is not expected to be a nuisance.
10.2. Operational modes description
-----------------------------
Two are the basic ways of program operation:
- DISPLAY: the screen shows the transceiver parameters (e.g. frequency, mode,
filters, etc.) reflecting the status of the front panel;
- CONTROL: the program allows you to remotely change the transceiver
parameters from the computer.
10.2.1. DISPLAY mode
As already mentioned, when you start the program the computer screen will
be automatically updated. Before going on, please take note that parameters
have been grouped into two distinct categories:
- frequently used parameters indicated in blue on the screen;
- less frequently used parameters marked in red.
Let us set the "Auto" label to "ON", by clicking on it. This will not
actually be possible if you have previously made the "Freq. set" selection
on the grey panel below the four large displays or if you have selected one
of the facilities of the "Feature" menu.
Once "Auto" is "ON", you are in the automatic mode, whereby if you change
any of the following parameters on the transceiver front panel:
- frequency;
- mode;
- RIT/XIT frequency;
- RIT/XIT ON/OFF;
- RIT/XIT clear;
- status (RX/TX);
- current VFO (A/B/Memory);
- current memory channel;
the transceiver generates an message, which updates all the blue parameters
on the computer screen. Among these are the RIT/XIT frequency (little blue-
on-white display at the bottom) and the Current Frequency (blue-on-yellow
display above the RIT/XIT frequency display).
If you change other parameters on the front panel (such as AIP, meter
selection, etc.), the screen will not be automatically be updated and you
will have to press the "Update" button, adjourning the status of all
parameters on the screen ("Update" does the same kind of updating performed
when the COM port is initially started).
However, if you only change a filter, you don't need, although you can,
pressing "Update". You can instead press "Current", which takes less time.
"Current" is a command which only updates the blue parameters and forces the
transceiver to generate the same updating message which is automatically
delivered when you make manual changes directly on the front panel.
Finally, note that there is an even faster way to update the meter and the
S-meter reading, by simply clicking on the red meter label.
If you instead set the "Auto" label to "OFF", you will have to update
manually the screen, by means of either the "Update" button (total update) or
the "Current" button (blue parameters update) or by clicking on the meter
labels (meters update).
"Auto" is set automatically to "OFF" every time you start the COM port or you
close it, to ensure that you will never forget the transceiver with "Auto"
set to "ON".
With the "Auto" selection set to "OFF", you will also have the possibility to
selectively update the displays of:
- the VFO A frequency (press the "VFO A " button);
- the VFO B frequency (press the "VFO B " button);
- the SUB frequency (press the "SUB" button);
- the Memory channel frequency (press the "MEM" button);
(note that the corresponding frequencies are shown on the red-on-yellow
displays at the immediate right-end side of the relevant buttons).
To do this, firstly verify that "Read" is selected (default) on the grey
panel below the displays. Then, pressing a button (e.g. "VFO A") will update
the relevant frequency display (of course updating could also be achieved by
pressing "Update"). The same applies to "VFO B" and "SUB". Pressing "MEM",
its display will indicate the frequency of the actually selected memory
channel (shown below the "MEM" button as "actual: nn"). In the upper right
corner of the memory display, a little red label always indicates the memory
channel corresponding to the frequency display: this now clearly coincides
with the actual memory channel. Try now pressing the "Select" button: the
"actual nn" label is replaced by a memory channel indicator which can cover
the whole memory channels range 00 .. 99 by clicking on the small up/down
arrows at the left-end side of the indicator. Once the desired memory channel
is selected, pressing "MEM" will show the relevant frequency. Important note:
this operation will only show the desired memory channel frequency, but it
will not cause this memory channel becoming the actual one (which remains the
same as before). This will be evident by clicking on the "Actual" button,
which will restore the original actual memory channel indication: this has
not changed, despite the frequency display still shows the other memory
channel frequency (look to the small red square indication). If you now
press again "MEM", you will again get the actual memory channel frequency.
10.2.2. CONTROL mode
This is actually the simplest mode: just click on the desired label and the
transceiver will obey you. The program screen is automatically updated with a
closed-loop logic: for instance, assuming that you are currently in a mode
other than CW, click on the "CW" button. The "CW" button shall become violet
to acknowledge your mode change request, then the transceiver shall switch
into CW and, after a short while, the "CW" button will become light blue to
confirm that the equipment has actually switched to CW. You will notice that
the filters configuration may also have been updated to reflect the filters
selection currently associated to the CW mode.
Please note that:
- changes made with all UP/DOWN buttons are not immediately reflected on the
display unless "Auto" is set to "ON" (press "Current" or even "Update" to
update displays);
- the following controls can be used in CONTROL mode:
> "Slope High" (LSB/USB)
> "Slope Low" (LSB/USB)
> "Pitch" (CW)
> "VBT" (CW/FSK)
> "AIP"
> "Data"
> "Lock"
> "Meter" selection
> "8.83 MHz filters"
> "455 KHz filters"
> "Mode"
> "Status" (RX/TX)
> "XIT/RIT" ON/OFF
> RIT/XIT UP/DOWN control
> "XIT/RIT clear"
> Current frequency UP/DOWN control
> "Voice"
> "VFO A" Frequency
> "VFO B" Frequency
> "SUB" Frequency
> "MEM" Memory Frequency
The last four buttons operate in CONTROL mode except when the "Read"
selection is made (see DISPLAY mode). With different selections, the
following will occur:
- Selection "Set" (not available for VFOA and VFOB)
This selection is only available when "Auto" set to "OFF". Pressing MEM
will cause any selected channel (00 ... 99) to become the actual memory
channel. The display is also automatically updated. Pressing "SUB" will
activate the SUB display on the transceiver, with TF-W set to OFF. This
works in toggle mode: next time the SUB display will be deactivated. The
status of both SUB and TF-W appear in the bottom grey panel. Note that SUB
cannot be activated in all equipment configurations.
- Selection "TX/RX" (not available for SUB)
Pressing "VFO A", this will become the VFO operating in both the TX and
the RX modes. The same applies to "VFO B" and "MEM". The current RX VFO
is displayed on the bottom grey panel.
- Selection "TX"
Pressing "VFO A" will cause this VFO becoming the one operating in TX mode.
If another VFO is operating in RX mode, the transceiver will automatically
enter the split mode, as shown on the bottom grey panel. It works with
"VFO B" and "MEM" too, with the same limitations as for the RX/TX
selection. Finally, it works with "SUB", by activating the TF-W feature.
It also works in toggle mode, as for the selection "Set". If SUB was not
active, it will be activated together with TF-W. The TF-W status is also
displayed in the bottom grey panel.
- Selection "Freq. set"
This selection is only available when "Auto" set to "OFF" and if none of
the facilities provided as part of the "Features" menu is currently being
used. Once "Freq. set" selection has been made, a new panel will replace
the bottom one, allowing you to select the desired frequency, either by
means of UP/DOWN keys or by manual keyboard typing. At this point you can
press any of the four buttons ("VFO A", "VFO B", "SUB", "MEM") to set the
VFOs on the selected frequency. In the "SUB" case the command may not be
accepted if the selected frequency is on a band different from the one
currently being used (transceiver limitation). As far as "MEM" is
concerned, the entered frequency will be set on the actual memory channel
or on any other memory channel depending on whether or not you press
"Select" before pressing "MEM". Note that in both cases the frequency
display is updated after just a while.
10.2.3. Exiting program
In the "Action" menu, you can either simply close the port ("Close COMn"
selection) or exit the program directly ("Close COMn and quit" selection).
When the port is closed, you can exit the program with the "Quit" selection.
11. DYNAMIC DATA EXCHANGE (DDE)
11.1. General
-------
DDE is a built-in Windows feature which allows data exchange between programs
operating concurrently (Windows supports multitasking). In the RigMaster
case, DDE allows to exchange frequency and mode data with ClusterMaster, a
communications program for PacketCluster operations.
DDE works even if RigMaster is minimized (i.e. reduced to an icon), thus
allowing to spare Windows desktop space, for instance showing ClusterMaster
and not RigMaster or viceversa. For this reason, the command line syntax (see
sect. 9.2.) has been designed such as to allow the possibility of starting
RigMaster directly as a background utility, i.e. minimized and with DDE
already set to ON.
Please note that DDE only operates on VFO A.
11.2. DDE activation
--------------
With RigMaster, DDE can be activated in two ways, i.e.:
* at boot time: by setting the command line as described in sect. 9.2.;
* after boot: in the "DDE" menu, you can switch from the "Disabled" selection
(default) to either the "Frequency only" or the "Frequency + mode"
selection.
Once DDE is active ClusterMaster can control (through RigMaster) the
transceiver frequency ("Frequency only" option) or also its mode (Frequency
+ mode" option). In addition, RigMaster delivers frequency and mode data to
ClusterMaster (you shall keep "Auto" to ON to transfer current data).
The way the above features are exploited is explained in the ClusterMaster
help file.
The "Status" selection in the "DDE" menu shows the current link status.
The "DDE" menu will be disabled when you are using one of the facilities
offered by the "Features" menu.
12. FEATURES
========
12.1. General
-------
Three facilities are offered as part of the "Features" menu, as anticipated
in sect. 1.
Please note that the "Features" menu is only enabled if "Auto" is set to
"OFF", if you have not selected "Freq. set", and if DDE is currently
disabled.
The structure of files used by Antenna plot, SWL and SWR plot are detailed in
file K_EXPLA.TXT.
Clicking once on a graph, this is re-drawn. Double-clicking on a graph,
causes the graph to be copied to the Windows Clipboard, in metafile format.
12.2. "Antenna plot" feature description
----------------------------------
12.2.1. General
The Antenna plot feature allows you to plot the gain response of your
antenna. The antenna relative gain is determined on the basis of S-meter
readings, while the antenna is being manually rotated.
To obtain the plot, you must tune steady non-fading carrier. The program
shows a normalized plot, independent of the absolute level of the received
carrier. Obviously, the accuracy and resolution of the plot cannot be higher
than those of the S-meter.
12.2.2. Operations
Firstly select "Antenna plot" in the "Feature" menu, causing your transceiver
to switch into USB mode and to set VFO A on both RX and TX. After this, a
graphic panel will appear.
Unless you decide to abort the procedure ("Exit" button), you will have the
possibility to set the operating frequency, by writing the desired frequency
into the small window adjacent to the "Set" button and then pressing this
button.
Once you are ready, you can press the "Start" button. You will then be
invited to turn your antenna to South (i.e. 180 deg); you may indifferently
turn the antenna ClockWise (CW) or CounterClockWise (CCW) at your leisure,
but you will next be asked to specify the rotation sense (CW or CCW) that you
followed to reach South, this information being necessary for program
operation.
Finally, you will be invited to turn the antenna by 360 deg (i.e. to make a
complete turn, reaching again South at the other extreme) and to press "OK"
at the very moment in which you start turning the antenna.
At the very moment the antenna has reached the other extreme, you shall press
the "Break" button: at this point a polar plot of the antenna gain appears.
This is a relative plot, where the strongest signal always appears on the
outer circle, independently of its absolute value. The step (i.e. the gain
difference between two adjacent circles) and the absolute antenna gain are
displayed on a label at the bottom of the plot (see file K_EXPLA.TXT for
further details).
Pressing the "Expand" button, you will get and expanded plot, in which the
weakest signal always appears as a point at the center of the plot. The
difference between two circles will obviously change to reflect the plot
expansion. Pressing "Normal" you will restore the unexpanded plot.
You can print the currently shown plot by pressing the "Print" button. The
printed graph includes the date and time of the measurement.
You can also save the measurement results on file ("File" button and then
"Save as" button), after entering a file name in the appropriate text box.
At any time you will be able to retrieve ("File" button and then "Load from"
button) a previously saved file and to display ("Show" button) the relevant
plot.
When saving/loading to/from file, only the extension .PLT is allowed. You can
either select the name of a previous .PLT file from the relevant list, to
load or to overwrite it, or you can type the name you wish. In this last case
you shall only type the file name without the extension .PLT, otherwise you
will get an error message.
12.3. "SWL" feature description
-------------------------
12.3.1. General
The SWL feature consists in a database of HF stations, allowing you to freely
select the station of your interest. This feature provides a tremendous
operational enhancement with respect to simply using the built-in transceiver
memories, in that:
- the number of selectable stations is very large (196,608);
- each frequency bears a corresponding station name;
- stations are subdivided in groups for easier search;
- an operating mode (e.g. AM, USB) and a pair of IF filters (8.83 MHz and 455
KHz) are also set upon station selection;
- the signal strength of all frequencies associated to a given station are
graphically visualized, such as to allow readily selecting the frequency
yielding maximum signal;
- overall operation (.e.g. data loading, changing and sorting) is made
easier.
The database is organized in the following manner:
- "STATIONS" are grouped in categories called "GROUPS", e.g. BC (broadcast),
WEFAX, RTTY bullettins, etc.;
- a maximum of 256 groups is envisaged, each group comprising a maximum of
64 stations;
- a maximum of 12 "FREQUENCIES" are associated to each station;
- an operating mode and a filter pair (8.83 MHz and 455 KHz) are associated
to each station (note: not to a frequency or to a group !).
Please note that the data base supplied with the program is fairly limited;
however it provides a good basis upon which you can generate your personal
data base. BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) and VOA (Voice of America)
have been classified as groups, because of the large number of frequencies
they use to communicate with every part of the world. In the bundled data
base, only English (E) and French (F) transmissions have been considered.
WEFAX, RTTY and BCs (other than BBC/VOA) are the other groups in the data
base. In total, five .GRO files are provided with the program.
12.3.2. Normal operation
Please remember that the SWL feature was designed to operate on VFO A.
For normal operation, you will proceed as follows:
- in the "Feature" menu select "SWL". At this point:
* the transceiver gets appropriately pre-configured ("Lock" is set to OFF
and "VFO A" is set as current VFO, on both RX and TX);
* two new panels appears at the right-hand side of the program window, an
upper light-yellow-coloured one (smaller) and a lower blue-coloured one
(larger). Groups and stations are managed in the upper panel, whilst
frequencies are managed in the lower one.
- in the upper panel:
* you will find the selector located at panel top already set in the
"Group" position, this signifying that all commands you give are
interpreted as commands concerning groups;
* select the desired group among the available ones with the "Select
group" list-selector;
* make the selected group active with the "Set" button. The group name
will then appear in the "Active group" window. At this point the
selector will shift to "Station", this signifying that commands you give
will now concern stations;
* select the desired station among the available ones with the "Select
station" list-selector;
* make the selected station active with the "Set" button. The station
name will then appear in the "Active station" window;
* the transceiver then gets set on the mode and on the filters pair
associated to the active station.
At this point please shift your attention to the lower panel, for managing
the active station frequencies.
- in the lower panel:
* you will see that some of the 12 buttons placed below the bar-graph bear
a frequency indication. These are the frequencies currently associated
to the active station. Clicking on any of these buttons will set the
transceiver on the indicated frequency. Note that, although the buttons
always show rounded frequency figures (i.e. without decimals), the
transceiver will be set on the precise frequency specified by the user
(i.e. with up to two decimal digits);
* each bar of the bar-graph shows the signal strength corresponding to the
frequency shown on the button immediately below the bar itself. Only
the 6 red buttons (upper row) have a corresponding strength indication,
while the 6 green ones (lower row) have not;
* signal strength is expressed in microvolts (S9 corresponds to 100
microvolts, while one S-unit is equivalent to 6 dB, i.e. a factor of
nearly 2 in terms of antenna voltage);
* frequencies always appear sorted according to decreasing signal
strength. Frequencies shown on green buttons, which have no strength
indication, are those yielding signal strengths lower than those of the
red buttons;
* the displayed strength indications are derived from data stored on disk
file. If you want to update strength figures, use the "Scan" button (see
instructions below), which will cause the transceiver to scan all
frequencies of the active station, to record the relevant signal
strengths, to accordingly update the bar-graph and to store them on disk
file for future use.
To terminate SWL operation, press the "Exit" button on the upper panel.
12.3.3. Advanced operation
You will occasionally want to update your database, adding/deleting/changing
groups, stations, frequencies, modes and filters. The way to achieve this is
explained below.
- Groups management (upper panel) -
To manage groups, firstly click on the "Group" selector. At this point, you
have three possibilities, i.e.:
- to delete an existing group ("Delete" button);
- to change the name of an existing group ("Change" button);
- to add a new group ("Add" button).
Please note that the above buttons always operate on the group shown in the
"Select group" list-selector (i.e. the selected group) and not on the group
shown on the "Active group" window (i.e. the active group).
To delete a group, select it with the "Select group" list-selector, then
press button "Delete". After a user confirmation request, the selected group
is removed from the list and the disk file is correspondingly updated. If the
group being deleted is currently active, it is also removed from the "Active
group" window and all station/frequency indications disappear.
To change the name of a group, select the group name to be changed with the
"Select group" list-selector, then edit it as you prefer by writing directly
into the list-selector window. As you start editing, the "Change" button
becomes enabled and pressing it causes, after a user confirmation request,
the new group name to become effective and the disk file to be updated. If
the group being changed is currently active, the new name will also appear in
the "Active group" window.
To add a new group, type the new group name directly into the "Select group"
list-selector window. As you start writing, the "Add" button becomes enabled
and pressing it causes, after a user confirmation request, the new group name
to be added to the list and the disk file to be updated.
- Stations management (upper panel) -
To manage stations, firstly click on the "Station" selector. At this point,
you have three possibilities, i.e.:
- to delete an existing station ("Delete" button);
- to change the name/mode/filters of an existing station ("Change" button);
- to add a new station ("Add" button).
Please note that the above buttons always operate on the station shown in the
"Select station" list-selector (i.e. the selected station) and not on the
station shown on the "Active station" window (i.e. the active station).
To delete a station, select it with the "Select station" list-selector, then
press button "Delete". After a user confirmation request, the selected
station is removed from the list and from the disk file. If the selected
station is currently active, it is also removed from the "Active station"
window and all frequency indications disappear.
Before changing the attributes of a station with the "Change" button, first
select it with the "Select station" list-selector, then decide whether you
want to change the station name or mode or filters or any combination of the
above.
Should if you not want to change the station name, but only the mode and/or
the filters associated to the selected station, you must firstly set the
desired mode/filters (setting must be made by clicking the appropriate
command on the program, and not directly on the transceiver front panel) and
then press the "Change" button. At this point you will be sequentially
prompted whether you want to change the mode and the filters of the selected
station with the current ones. New data are stored on disk, whilst, in case
of negative answer, the existing mode and/or filters associations remain
unaltered.
Should instead you want to also change the station name, write first the new
name directly into the list-selector window. Pressing "Change", causes the
program sequentially to prompt you to confirm whether you want to change the
name and, in case of positive answer, also mode and filters. New data are
then stored on disk.
To add a new station, set first the desired mode and filter pair to be asso-
ciated to the new station (do this by the program as already suggested for
the Change option). Then type the new station name directly in the "Select
station" list-selector window. At this point, the "Add" button becomes
enabled and pressing it causes, after a user confirmation request, the new
group name to be added to the list and on disk file.
- Frequency management (bottom panel) -
When working with frequencies, you have the following possibilities:
- to update signal strengths, by scanning all frequencies associated to the
active station ("Scan" button);
- to add a new frequency to the active station ("Add" button);
- to delete a frequency of the active station ("Delete" button);
- to change a frequency of the active station ("Change" button);
- to set the transceiver on any desired frequency ("Set" button).
The signal strengths shown on the bar-graph are those associated to the
six (max.) active station frequencies, as currently stored on disk file. If
you wish to update signal strengths, you shall press the "Scan" button. After
a user confirmation request, this causes the transceiver to be sequentially
set on all frequencies of the active station and the program to record the
relevant signal strengths. At the end of the scan cycle, the bar-graph shows
the updated signal strengths values and the disk file is also updated. You
can interrupt the scan operation at any time by simply pressing the "Stop"
button (in this the graphic presentation and disk data stay unchanged).
Due to fading affecting HF signals, you may prefer to perform multiple signal
strength measurements on each frequency and to derive an averaged strength
figure. This is possible by setting the "Averaging" factor to a value higher
than 1 (default) up to a maximum of 4 (click the up/down command close to the
averaging factor indicator). Clearly, the overall time required to complete
the scan operation will increase proportionally to the averaging factor.
The scan operation will anyway be not terribly fast, especially in the AM
mode; as a matter of fact the procedure had to be intentionally slowed down
to allow the AGC setting itself on the steady-state gain corresponding to the
signal strength on to the new frequency. Otherwise the weak-signal strength
reading would result to be inaccurate, insufficient time being given to the
S-meter to settle on the new level.
To add a new frequency, write the desired frequency on the "Frequency" window
and then press the "Add" button. After a user confirmation request, the tran-
sceiver is set on the specified frequency and the relevant signal strength is
recorded. After this, the new frequency appears on one of the unused buttons,
and both the bar-graph and the disk file are updated.
Alternatively, should the current transceiver frequency be the one you wish
to add, instead of writing a frequency value into the "Frequency" window you
can just ckick the very "Frequency" label, causing the window to display
the current frequency.
To delete a frequency, press the "Delete" button. At this point, unless you
decide to abort the operation by pressing the "Cancel" button, you shall
press the button bearing the indication of the frequency you wish to delete.
The bar-graph, the disk file and the frequency buttons are then updated to
reflect the reduction in number of frequencies.
The change option is offered to allow you quickly adjusting a data base
frequency. This may be useful when you determine that current station tuning
is non-optimum, and you then wish to slightly change the relevant frequency.
In this case, after properly adjusting the transceiver tuning, click first on
the very "Frequency" label, to update the "Frequency" window indication, and
then press the "Change" button. After this, unless you decide to abort the
operation by pressing the "Cancel" button, you shall click the button bearing
the indication of the frequency to be replaced with the current value,
causing the bar-graph, the disk file and the frequency buttons to be updated.
The "Set" button is provided in case you wish, for any reason, to set the
transceiver on the frequency currently shown in the "Frequency" window.
12.4. "SWR plot" feature description
------------------------------
12.4.1. General
The following is to be noted first:
- the automatic SWR plot facility may not be available to TS-450S or
TS-690S users (see sect. 10.1.);
- remember to disable the automatic antenna tuner before making any
SWR test !
This feature allows you to obtain an SWR-versus-frequency plot, which
displays SWR as measured by the internal transceiver SWR meter. Note that
this was not meant to yield an extremely high accuracy, also in consideration
of the fairly limited meter resolution (31 LED bars, for SWR ranging from 1
to infinite). This will also explain why subsequent plots in the same
conditions may not have identical shapes. Nevertheless, this facility is
still considered useful to get a broad indication of your antenna matching
and to periodically check that no important changes have occurred in the
antenna characteristics.
12.4.2. Operations
Before starting the procedure, it is recommended that you adjust the transmit
power in AM mode so that it will not exceed a value that you consider safe
for your transceiver. Although the equipment automatically reduces
transmitted power in presence of high SWR, please be advised that you will
run less damage risks if you properly adjust the transmitted power level
before the test.
You will firstly select "SWR plot" in the "Feature" menu, causing your
transceiver switching into AM mode, setting "Lock" to "OFF", VFO A on both RX
and TX and its meter into SWR. After this, a graphic panel will appear.
Unless you decide to abort the procedure ("Exit" button), you will have the
possibility to set the start frequency, the end frequency and the number of
points forming the plot, with an up/down control. Note that the "Start"
button is only enabled if the end frequency is at least 2 KHz higher than
the start frequency and they are within the 1621 - 29999.99 KHz range.
Just after pressing the "Start" button, which initiates the procedure, the
end frequency may be slightly reduced such as to make the frequency interval
between subsequent points an integer number. This to obtain more easily
readable plots.
Instead, should any inconsistencies be detected (meter not in SWR position,
mode not AM, "Lock" to "ON", VFO other than VFO A, split on, frequency range
too narrow compared with the number of points), a warning message will be
displayed and the procedure will be halted (such conditions may only occur
if you change the equipment status after initially selecting the "SWR plot"
feature).
The procedure will take a while, depending on the selected number of points,
and you will be able to abort it at any time by pressing the "Break" button.
When the procedure is completed, an SWR plot will appear in red (SWR is shown
multiplied by a factor 100, e.g. 145 means SWR = 1.45).
Unless you have aborted the procedure by means of the "Break" button, you
will also be able to print the plot on your printer ("Print" button) or to
save/retrieve measurement results to/from file ("File" button). File
operations are essentially the same described for the Antenna plot feature
(sect. 12.2.2.), apart from the use of extension .SWR.
Once you have a plot on the screen (either just created or even retrieved
from file) you will also have the possibility to compare it with another one
stored on disk. To do this, press the "File" button and then, after selecting
the desired file, press "Compare with". Pressing "Show" will then cause two
plots to appear on the screen, one red (the first one) and one black (the one
just loaded from file). You will also be able to print the twin-plot graph
("Print" button), which indicates date and time of both plots.
The above comparison is possible even if the number of points of the two
plots are different and if the frequency range is not the same, provided that
there is a sufficient overlap between the two ranges.
Final remark: SWR values are derived by associating an SWR figure to each SWR
meter lit LED count (from 0 to 30 LEDs). This association was done trying to
compromise the results given by a Bird 43 meter with the coarse SWR marks
shown on the transceiver SWR meter, also taking into account the non-constant
SWR meter response at different frequencies. A maximum SWR of 10 is indicated
even if actual SWR may be higher.
13. TRACE MODE
==========
The menu "Mode" allows you to shift to the so called "Trace" mode. Two
additional windows will appear, one showing the messages received from the
transceiver and one allowing you to manually enter messages. Messages syntax
is described in the appropriate manual bundled with the transceiver. This
mode may be useful to trace problems in case of malfunctions.
14. HELP
====
This file can be read on-line using the "Hints" menu. Both the English and
the Italian versions are available.
73 Tony, I0JX / AB6VZ