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KTS_FILE.TXT
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1992-09-18
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84 lines
KTS -- A FILE FOR ALL SEASONS
Kentrol aims to provide the Kenwood user with a consistent, easy-to-use
interface for ANY radio model that allows computer control. It accomplishes
this aim in two ways: standard Toolbar and Tuner window layouts, and a
standard memory file format. The Toolbar and Tuner designs mean that you can
move from rig to rig effortlessly, without having to learn new ways of doing
things. The .KTS standard memory file format lets your memories move with
you, and lets memory contents be transfered from radio to radio.
HOW IT WORKS
Every .KTS file that Kentrol generates has room for 100 duplex memories, which
is the maximum memory capacity of any existing Kenwood model. When you use
the Open File command on the Memories menu to open an existing .KTS file or
start a new one with the New File command, you have access to the entire
file. When you load the memories into your radio, Kentrol automatically loads
the right number and type (simplex/duplex) of channels and if necessary
converts modes your radio doesn't support to the most appropriate available
modes.
CHANNEL NUMBERS
Kentrol numbers channels from 00 to 99. When opened in an editable memory
file window, a .KTS file is 100 lines long, one line per channel. The
information is presented in the following sequence:
channel #, mode 1,frequency 1, remarks, mode 2, frequency 2
You can cut, copy, paste and otherwise edit everything except the channel numbers.
RADIO MEMORY LAYOUTS
Kenwood seems to have some difficulty deciding how to implement memory
channels on its radios. So far it has used four different ideas:
1. Banked, simplex channels are found only on the TS-940S, the first
Kenwood HF radio which is computer-controllable. The 940 has four banks (0-3)
of ten channels (00-09) each. There is a bank switch on top of the radio and
a channel selector on the front panel which operates only on the selected
bank. Kentrol converts all this nonsense into a single set of 40 channels
(00-39) and, because they are simplex channels, uses only mode 1 and frequency
1.
2. Continuously numbered simplex channels are found in the R-5000
(00-99), the TS-440S (00-89) and the TS-140S (00-09). Only mode 1 and
frequency 1 are used.
3. Duplex (Split) channels first appeared in the TS-440S (90-99) and are
used in all later models, notably the TS-140S (10-19) and TS-850S (00-89).
Splits can be both cross-band and cross-mode. Thus, Kentrol uses both mode 1
& 2 and frequencies 1 & 2 in loading and reading split memories.
4. Non-split duplex channels made their first appearance in the TS-140S
(20-30) and are also used in newer models such as the TS-850S (90-99).
Non-split duplex channels (Kenwood calls them 'programmed band markers') are a
sort of primitive version of the user-defined bands which Kentrol provides.
Frequency 1 defines the bottom of a range and frequency 2 the top. Mode 2
must be set the same as mode 1. Kentrol will automatically copy the contents
of non-split memory channels to unused user-defined band positions so you can
specify a tuning step and label text. In memory channel mode it will treat
them as simplex channels, set to frequency 1.
I can only hope that Kenwood will realize what a lame idea the 'programmed
band markers' are, and either replace them with a better system or just
abandon them. Until that happens, they are a potential source of confusion.
AMBIGUOUS CHANNELS
Internally, all duplex channels store information in exactly the same format.
This means that memory files created from a TS-850S may confuse a TS-140S by
storing cross-mode splits in channels 20-30, where the 140 expects same-mode
ranges, and vice versa. A similar confusion can occur between the 850 and the
440 over channels 90-99. There are NO conflicts among radios prior to the 850.
MODE CONVERSIONS
All relevant Kenwood models directly support AM, FM, LSB, USB and CW modes.
All except the TS-140S support either FSK or AFSK. Kentrol provides a
software AFSK mode for the 140 and will automatically use it when loading a
channel. The CWN (140) or CW-R (50-series) mode is automatically converted to plain
CW on all other radios, and the FSK-R mode (50-series) is converted to FSK.