HAM Radio 1/HamRadio.cdr/control/procat/procat.doc

Text File | 1989-11-05 | 10.9 KB | 369 lines

                             PRO CAT
                MS/DOS to Yaesu FRG9600 Interface
                             Program

The  FRG9600 has such a wide range of frequencys it can  receive,
that  it takes a computer to bring its capabilitys  to  practical
use.  PRO-CAT is a professional quality interface written in  the
"C"  computer language, which is fast enough to allow almost  any
MS/DOS computer full access to the FRG9600 power. Here is a  list
of the hardware that is necessary for the interface.


    1. MS/DOS  computer  with DOS 2.2 or  better,  128K  memory,
       serial communications port, and game card adapter.

    2. Yaesu FRG9600 CAT receiver.

    3. Yaesu FIF232 interface device.

    4. Standard RS232 patch cable with 25 pin connectors.

    5. An IBM compatible joystick cable with 15 pin connector.

The RS232 connector that attaches to the computer may have to be
modified, and the joystick cable will need to be connected to the
CAT  plug  that  fits into the back of  the  FRG9600.  This  will
require a knife, a soldering iron, and some electrical tape.

When You're done you might also want to buy a frequency directory
for  your area. The services you can receive are  limitless,  you
may  want to be careful about listening to cellular phone  calls
though!

If  you are using this program, and got it from me, then  I  have
your  name and address. If you didn't, would you send me a postcard?
I like to know who's using PRO-CAT, be sure to include any comments
about your experiences with it!

Don Rasmussen A.R.S. WB8YQJ/6
2316-214 Paseo De Laura
Oceanside, California
                   92056  U.S.A.

















                The PRO-CAT CRT Display Explained

The parts of the PRO-CAT display are shown on the enclosed
diagram of the main menu, they are numbered 1 through 4.

   1. Base frequency and limit frequency show the frequency range
      that  will be scanned when the  s  key is pressed. You  can
      change  these limits by pressing the l key.  The  frequency
      range will be scanned in 5 Khz steps.

   2. This  is  the  record number and  description  of  the
      selected  memory record. As you can see, memory  record  1
      contains  the frequency channels of the  Oceanside  police
      department.

   3. Each  channel  is  listed here, and  has  a  function  key
      designator  to the left of it. If you press F10,  in  this
      example, the FRG9600 frequency will be set to 467.975.

   4. These are the commands available to you.

       l - Changes the base frequency and limit frequency.  The
           FRG9600  display  will flash each  digit  you  enter
           until  you press the (enter) key. You can press  the
           backspace key to correct any frequency entered in error.

       s - Begins a scan of the frequency  range  between  base
           frequency and limit frequency.

       r - Allows  you to call up a  different  record  number.
           Valid record numbers are from 1 to 100.

       m - Begins a scan of the channels listed on  the  right
           side of the display.

       e - Allows you to add, change, or delete records in  your
           scan information file.

       F1 to F10 - Press a function key  to  set  the  FRG9600
       frequency to the value listed on the right side of the
       computer display.

       <shift> F1 - If you press the shift key and the F1 key  at
       the  same time, the computer will allow you to change  the
       value  associated  with the F1 key temporarily. In this
       example, you would enter a new value for 155.055. You can
       change any of the function key frequencys by pressing the
       shift key at the same time as the function key you want
       to change.

       <ctl>  F1 - If you press the control key at the same time
       that  you  press  any function key,  you  can  change  the
       frequency within that function key, and your changes will be
       saved to disk.












                 PRO-CAT CRT Display (continued)



       <shift> L - If you press the shift key at the same time as
       you press the letter L , whatever frequency is displayed
       on the FRG9600 at the time will be locked out of the scan
       sequence.

      <shift> C - If you press the shift key at the same time as
       you press the letter C then all of the locked out frequencys
       will be cleared.

      <shift> S - If you press the shift key at the same time as
       you press the letter S then you will change the scan step
       of the scan. Steps of 5khz, 10khz, 25khz, and 100khz are
       available.

      <shift> m - If you press the shift key at the same time as
       you press the letter m then you will change the mode  used
       in the scan. The program defaults to FM-N, except when the
       frequency is in the aircraft band.

       q - Allows you to quit to DOS.


       Press the cursor right key -> to see these commands
       on the video display main menu.








































                    The Scan Information File


    Scanning frequencys and descriptions are located in a file on
on  disk  called CATBASE.DAT. This file has to be  located  on  a
floppy diskette in drive A: or B: for the program to find it. You
can use the DOS ASSIGN command to direct the program to drive C.
Here is a sample command       >>>  C>assign a=c   <<<

The  file has 100 records, you can initialize just one record or
the entire file using the database menu. When you initialize the
file or a record you erase its frequency information.


               Updates to The Scan Information File
                        (The Database Menu)

Enter the Database menu by pressing the letter e from the main menu.

Option  1 - If you choose this option you can update any  one  of
the 100 records. First you select the record by holding down  the
space bar until the requested record is displayed, then press the
enter key. You will then see all the frequencys available on that
record. The frequency you can change will be colored RED. As  you
change each digit it will turn BLUE. You can backspace to correct
any errors. After entering frequency 10, key in a description for
this  group of frequencys. Lower case letters look  great,  press
the enter key to finish.

Option 2 - This will allow you to clear one record, or the  whole
file if you prefer.

Option 3 - This option calls up the Configuration Options Menu.

Option 4 - Prints the scan information  file  active  records,
followed by a record cross reference to help you remember  record
numbers when you're using the program.
































                 The Configuration Options Menu


Here  is the the last thing as well as the most  important  thing
you  need  to  do  to get your  lazy  FRG9600  receiver  scanning
frequencys  at a rate of 30 frequencys (or better!)  per  second.
Any  program can make a rough guess of how fast a  computer  it's
running on, but you can do a much better job of it. The idea is
simple. The  program  has  the default delays set for an IBM AT
style computer running at 8 Mhz. If you have a XT style computer,
then the datacomm delay will have to be reduced a little at a time
until the program  scans fast enough to suit your taste. If you set
these delays  to zero, however, rest assured that the FRG9600 will
not be  able to handle the rate at which commands are sent from the
computer. If your computer has an adjustable clock speed, set  it
to  its slowest setting before adjusting delays, that  will  keep
computer generated noise to a minimum.

DATACOMM  DELAY  - This delay determines how much of  a pause
to use between frequency set commands to the FRG9600. This
time is used to check the squelch for a possible signal on the
frequency.

CONVERSATION  DELAY  -  When  PRO-CAT is scanning, and finds a
signal on a frequency it has set, it will stop there, and resume
scanning the instant the signal drops below the squelch level.
This delay determines how long to stay on the frequency after
the signal drops below the signal level, in case the signal comes
back on frequency.

BLINK DELAY - When the program wants you to enter a value on  the
keyboard,  it will flash the FRG9600 display at you. If  you  are
entering a lower limit for example, the frequency will  alternate
between  60.000  Mhz  first and then 999.999  Mhz.  Upper  limits
alternate  between  905.000  Mhz  and  999.999  Mhz.  This  delay
determines  how  quickly  these  numbers  alternate.  Using  this
system,  you don't have to turn on your computer  system  monitor
every time you want to scan.

COMMUNICATION  PORT  -  This option allows you to  use  a  second
serial  port for your FRG9600 interface, in case your COMM1  port
is being used for another purpose.


















                      HARDWARE CONNECTIONS



1.  Connect  your  computer's serial port  to  the  Yaesu  FIF232
    interface device using a RS232 standard interface cable. This
    cable  has a 25 pin connector on each end. Use this  cable,
    and connect the unmodified DIN cable that goes from the FIF232
    to the FRG9600. You should be able to change the displayed
    frequency on the FRG9600 by pressing a computer function key
    when PRO CAT is running. If the frequency on the FRG9600 display
    doesn't change when you press a function key, modify the RS232
    cable as follows. On the female connector, short pins
    4 and 5  togather first, and then short pins 6, 8 and 20
    togather. The  pins are numbered on the connector.

2.  There is also a DIN connector cable that goes from the Yaesu
    FIF232 interface device to the FRG9600. You can either splice
    into this cable for the joystick connection, or you can make
    the joystick connection at the plug that fits into the FRG9600.
    Connect the joystick lead that goes to pin  4 on  the
    joystick  male connector  (ground) to pin 1  on the  CAT
    plug (also  ground). Then  connect the joystick lead that
    goes to pin 2 on the joystick male connector (normally the
    joystick #1 fire button) to pin 6 on the CAT plug (BUSY).
    This will allow the computer to know the FRG9600 squelch status.




                         o x o x o o o o
                          o o o o o o o

                 15 Pin Joystick Connector Plug

   You are looking at the pins of the male joystick connector.
     Pin 2 is the x on the top row to the left. (To CAT 6).
   Pin  4 is on the top row, fourth from the left. (To CAT 1).