Kenwood_TS-440_IC-10_user.pdf

? ? 1? ? ? ? ? 2? ? 1 Introduction.3 1.1 Scope of the program and working criteria .3 1.2 Disclaimer.3 1.3 Hardware requirements.3 1.4 Working and development environment.4 2 The program: graphic interface and features.6 2.1 Working criteria.6 2.2 Menus, Controls and Groups of Controls.7 2.2.1 Menus.7 2.2.2 Frame “Function” .7 2.2.3 Frame “VFO”.8 2.2.4 Frame “Mode”.9 2.2.5 Frame “Memory”.9 2.2.6 Frame “RIT”.10 2.2.7 Frame “Others”.10 2.2.8 Frame “Lock” .10 2.2.9 Frame “Split”.11 2.2.10 Frame “XIT”.11 2.2.11 Frame “Monitor”.11 2.2.12 PTT key.12 2.2.13 Numeric keypad.12 ? figure 1 - Development and testing conditions.4 figure 2 - ACC1 pin layout.4 figure 3 - Graphic User Interface.6 figure 4 - Frame Function.7 figure 5 - Frame VFO.8 figure 6 - Frame Mode.9 figure 7 - Frame Memory.9 figure 8 - Frame RIT.10 figure 9 - Frame Others .10 figure 10 - Frame Lock.10 figure 11 - Frame Split .11 figure 12 - Frame XIT .11 figure 13 Frame Monitor.11 figure 14 Example of exchanged strings.11 figure 15 - PTT key.12 figure 16 - Numeric keypad.12 ? ? 3? ? ? ? ? ? is a software designed to remotely control the Kenwood TS-440 by means of a Personal Computer. This user manual explains working criteria of the program. ? ? It is important to underline the “philosophy” behind the program. The main scope was the implementation of a robust and reliable tool to manage the transceiver, without the physical presence close to it. A typical application could be the installation of the transceiver and a dedicated PC in a room immediately under the roof, with the possibility to fully control it from a first-floor room. For this reason the program has been designed in order to make it as robust and reliable as possible: after have sent any command to the transceiver, the program typically asks the TS-440 in order to have confirmation about the real execution of the command just sent. Moreover a monitor window has been included, in order to keep an eye on strings coming from the transceiver and sent from the Personal Computer. There are no advanced tool for memory channel management. (e.g. the possibility to keep stored on the HD a set of memory banks to be loaded onto the 100 memories bank in the TS-440). ? ? The ? program has been designed and implemented for amateur purposes only. It is distributed for free, with the inclusion of the source code. The author thanks in advance any people suggesting or proposing any fix or any improvement in general. It is understood that users will use this software at their own risk. The author cannot guarantee the correctness of the program and cannot be kept responsible for any kind of problem or loss or any kind of damages to users devices. ? ? The communication between Personal Computer and TS-440 needs: The installation of a Kenwood kit named IC-10 (two integrated circuits ? and ?) needed to enable the serial data transmission through the ? port on the rear panel of the TS-440. It is possible to find those ICs on the market without buying the IC-10 kit, and install them following directions included in the User Guide of the Kenwood TS-440 transceiver. The use of a RS232-TTL converter to be installed between the serial COM of the Personal Computer and the serial ACC1 on the TS-440. Such device translates RS232 logical levels used by the serial port of the personal Computer in TTL logical levels, understood by the ACC port and vice versa. Kenwood puts on the market a product called ?, however it is possible to find a scheme to home-made such device using, for instance, a MAX232 or a couple of MC1488/MC1489. Please note that it is suggested to use opto-electronic devices ? ? 4? for the translation, in order to physically separate the PC from the RTX, with the aim of avoiding problems of RF feedbacks. ? ? Please refer to the following picture for working environment: Personal Computer Pentium II 64 Mbyte RAM IF ? !?#? Personal Computer ?Processor Pentium II ?Operative System Microsoft Windows 98 ?RAM Memory 64Mbyte ?1 Serial Port COM 1, 9 pin connector ?Screen 1024x768 Home made interface converter (IF in picture) ?IF converter based on MC1488/MC1489 ?External dual power +12V GND 12V RTX Kenwood TS-440S-AT ?Equipped with PD8251AFC e TC4040BP ?Parameters of ACC1 serial port: Full Duplex, 4800bps, Start-Stop (Asynchronous), 1 Start bit, 8 Character bits, 2 Stop bits, parity None. ?$?%?#? Two ?$2+? to increment (UP) or decrement (DN) the current frequency shown on the main VFO panel (VFO A or VFO B). ?!?8?3? ?indicating the frequency of the VFO currently set-up as main VFO on the Kenwood TS-440. The label immediately below the main panel shows which VFO is currently set as main VFO on the transceiver. It is not possible to input digits in the panel (the panel is writing disabled), but the user may input the desired frequency by means of the numeric keypad (2.2.13). A ?#? ? indicating the frequency of the VFO currently set-up as SUB VFO on the Kenwood TS-440. The label immediately below the secondary panel shows which VFO is currently set as SUB VFO on the transceiver. Please note that the TS-440 does not indicate the SUB frequency on its embedded display. It is not possible to input digits in the secondary panel (the panel is writing disabled). An ?2? to switch the status of the TS-440 relating to Main/Sub VFO. This software button has the same function of the A/B key on the front panel of the TS-440. An ?9? to make the SUB VFO frequency equal to the main one. This software button has the same function of the A=B key on the front panel of the TS-440. The sample above (figure 5) shows: On the TS-440, the main VFO is VFO B. The transceivers display indicates 14.201.14 MHz); On the TS-440, the SUB VFO is VFO A (There are no indications on SUB VFO frequency on the TS-440); Pushing software button “UP” (or “DN”), the main VFO frequency will be incremented (or decremented) of 100Hz; ? ? 9? ? ? ?:?!?54?5? The ?!?64?7 contains a set of option buttons to select the desired mode. Please note that this frame may be affected by the use of other buttons/commands of the program. For instance, switching from VFO A to VFO B (please see A/B button in section 2.2.3) shall change the current mode if VFO B (the new main VFO) has a different mode from VFO A. ? ? ?!? ?;?!?54?!?5? The ?!?64?!?7 contains: A ? indicating the current memory channel on the TS-440. The panel is writing disabled; A ?indicating the frequency of the current channel on the TS-440. The panel is writing disabled; Two ?$2+? to increment (UP) or decrement (DN) the memory channel; A ?!?1?with a 00-99 list to have direct access to the desired channel memory, avoiding the multiple use of UP/DN buttons. When the user asks for an empty memory (by means of the DN/UP keys or the Combo box tool) a warning windows is proposed. Empty memories cannot be accessed. If the program is launched while the TS-440 is set in Memory Mode and the current memory channel is empty, the relevant memory frequency panel is set to 0,00. The memory channel panel remains empty. In the sample pictures above (figure 3 and figure 7) the TS-440 is set on VFO mode. For this reason the Memory panel is disabled. However the current channel memory (23) and the relevant frequency (27.255,00 khz) are shown. However there is no indication about the channel memory mode. ? ? 10? ? ?#? ?!?5-?5? The ?!?6-?7 contains: A ?*?#,?1?named “ON” by means of which the user may enable or disable the RIT function on the transceiver. A ?indicating the current RIT frequency in kHz on the TS-440. The panel is writing disabled; Two ?$2+? ? to increment (UP) or decrement (DN) the RIT frequency. The increment (decrement) step is fixed and set to 0,01 kHz; A -0%0? to be used to cancel (set to 0) the RIT frequency. ?$? ? ?!?54?5? ?01?! ?1#*? The strings are intercepted on the serial port and are reported on the window, starting from above. Old strings scroll below. Please refer to figure 14 for a typical program start-up sequence. In this picture, highlighted commands, beginning from below (older commands) to above (newer commands), are briefly explained below: ? ? 12? 1. The PC asks the TS-440 sending the “IF” (Information)1 command. The TS-440 answers back with a complex string with a lot of information, including the main VFO frequency in Hz (00014201140), the RIT frequency in Hz (+0940) and several other info; 2. The PC asks the TS-440 sending the “MR” (Memory Read) command attaching several parameters including the channel memori ID (23). The TS-440 answers back with a string containing the channel 23 frequency in Hz (00027255000), the current channel mode (5 stands for AM) and other info; 3. The PC asks the TS-440 sending the “FA” (VFO A) command. In this case the VFO A is set as SUB. The TS-440 answers back with a string containing the VFO A frequency in Hz (00007200000); Please refer to the Kenwood IC-10 Instruction Manual to have a deep understanding of the proprietary serial communication protocol (commands/parameters). ?-?!? ?,? The PTT key is used to put the transceiver in transmission. The PTT software key has to be pushed with the left key of the mouse: ?+%?$)?*?,?*?!?: The user puts the TS-440 in transmission mode; The “ON AIR” label lights. -0/0?%?$)?*?,?*?!?: The user puts the TS-440 in receiving mode; The “ON AIR” turns off. A Check Box “Lock TX” prevents from an accidental pressing of the PTT key. The Check Box is set to “ON” at the program launch. ?.?!? ?:?$?!?#?,? ? 1 The Kenwood proprietary communication protocol requires that all commands strings ends with “;”. ? ? 13? The ?!?#?,? ? is used to set on the main VFO the desired frequency. The keypad is enabled only when the TS-440 is in VFO mode (please see 2.2.3). To use the keypad correctly: Push the %0? key. The main VFO panel empties; Insert the ?# by means of software, 0 to 9, keys. Please note that: ?Inser