CAT Control - Shirehampton Amateur Radio Club

G4NAQ
CAT Control Topics
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What is CAT Control
CAT Commands
The RS232 interface
Connecting it all up
3rd Party interfaces for the radio
Software Configuration
New connectivity options
The Remote Shack
Radio Programming (not CAT control)
Useful Links
HRD CAT Interface
HRD Logbook Interface
TRX Manager
What is CAT Control?
 A method of interfacing your radio to your computer
 A method to control the configuration and settings of your radio
and manipulate its controls without touching the radio
 Enables automation within your shack integrating with other
software to: -
 Populate logging software based on the radios frequency, mode,
power
 For FSK provide the interface for data modes
 Program the radio (memories)
 Easier to change a setting that’s hidden in a menu
 Traditionally and still in most instances implemented using an
RS232 interface
 Limited software support for Linux but Windows and Mac well
supported
CAT Commands
 Each manufacturer has developed their own set of
commands and responses to support their equipment
and are not compatible with each other!
 A set of all the formats, commands and responses is
usually included in the back of the radios operating
manual
Kenwood & Yaesu CAT Commands
 Kenwood & Yaesu commands consist of a 2 character
command following by 8 character setting or response
terminated by a “;”
Command
Parameter
;
 Commands can interrogate the radio for its current
setting or instruct it to use the setting e.g.
 FA14250000; would instruct the radio to change VFO-A
to 14.250Mhz
 FA; would request the radio to advise the current
frequency of VFO-A and would expect a response in the
format of FA28233000;
ICOM CAT Commands
 ICOM uses a far more complicated format to complement
the complexity in their front panels !
 But it does allow multiple radios to be controlled via one
piece of software
FE
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FE
RA
E0
CN
SC
DT
FD
FE – known as preamble & sent twice for synchronisation
RA – Receive Address to identify which radio the command is for
E0 – the controllers address
CN – Command Number
SC – Sub Command Number
DT – Data area
FD –End of message
The above format is for sending data to the radio, there is a different format for
the responses
The RS232 Interface
 RS-232 is a standard for serial transmission of data
developed in 1962
 It defines the signals connecting a DTE (data terminal
equipment) such as a computer terminal, and
a DCE (data circuit-terminating equipment typically a
modem
 Historically used for connections to modems, printers
and mice
 Phased out during late 1990’s and replaced by USB
The RS232 Interface
Name
Purpose
Abbrev
Pin
Data Terminal Ready
Indicates presence of DTE to DCE.
DTR
4
Data Carrier Detect
DCE is connected to the telephone line.
DCD
1
Data Set Ready
DCE is ready to receive commands or
data.
DSR
6
Ring Indicator
DCE has detected an incoming ring
signal on the telephone line.
RI
9
Request to Send
DTE requests the DCE prepare to receive
data.
RTS
7
Clear to Send
Indicates DCE is ready to accept data.
CTS
8
Transmitted Data
Carries data from DTE to DCE.
TxD
3
Received Data
Carries data from DCE to DTE.
RxD
2
GND
5
Common Ground
The RS232 Interface
 There are multiple ways to wire an RS232 cable and the
cables look the same unless you look closer!
 “Straight through” where pins are wired to the corresponding
pin at each end of the cable RxD to RxD, TxD to TxD etc.
 “Null Modem” crosses the RxD and TxD lines so that transmit
on one end is connected to receive on the other end and vice
versa. In addition to transmit and receive, DTR & DSR, as well
as RTS & CTS are also crossed in a Null modem connection.
The Yaesu FT847 uses this configuration.
 Within the Windows operating system RS232 interfaces are
referred to as COMx ports, in Linux ttySx.
The RS232 Interface – Null Modem
No RS232 Interface port?
 Modern laptops and desktop PC’s no longer contain an RS232 interface port
but…
 If you have a desktop PC open the case as there may be a header cable missing
which could be fitted
 Check the BIOS to see if there are settings related to the COM ports
 If you have space fit a PCI Express RS232 card, make sure the board will fit as
many PCs will require half-height cards or mount cards horizontally which may
necessitate a riser card (which may not be fitted)
 The easiest method is to use a USB to RS232 interface cable. There are many
around but avoid those based on the Prolific chipset and buy an FTDI based
version
 Cheap interfaces will cause problems such as intermittent connectivity caused
by buffering problems or software to freeze
 Driver issues
 If you unplug a USB interface & use a different USB port the PC will allocate a
new COM port no. and software will require reconfiguring
Connecting things together
Make sure you check the gender of the sockets at each end as these are not
always consistent! If you buy the wrong cable a gender changer is cheaper than
a new cable.
Interfacing Kenwood Equipment
 Older transceivers require an optional IF-10A, B or C
board fitted in the transceiver & IF232C level converter
 Until the TS870 Kenwood transceivers have fixed
settings and the RS232 must be set as per the manual.
Typically this is
 4800 bits per second
 1 start bit
 8 character bits
 2 stop bits
 no parity
Interfacing Kenwood Equipment
Model
Interface
TS-50
IF-10D + IF-232C
TS-140
IF-10C + IF-232C
TS-440
IC-10 + IF-232C
TS-450
IF-232C
TS-480
straight-through female 9-pin RS232
to female RS232 cable
TS-570
straight-through female 9-pin RS232
to female RS232 cable
TS-590
standard USB cable (A-male to Bmale)
TS-680
IF-10C + IF-232C
TS-690
IF-232C
TS-711
IF-10A + IF-232C
TS-790
IF-10C + IF-232C
TS-811
IF-10A + IF-232C
TS-850
IF-232C
TS-870
straight-through female 9-pin RS232
to female RS232 cable
TS-940
IF-10B + IF-232C
TS-950
IF-232C
TS-990
standard USB cable (A-male to Bmale)
TS-2000
straight-through female 9-pin RS232
to female RS232 cable
Interfacing ICOM Equipment
 ICOM developed its own systems which had 2 notable versions
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known as the CI-IV and CI-V
ICOM implemented a bus type interface so up to 4 radios can be
simultaneously connected as each radio has a unique id
There is a UX-14 interface which allows older CI-IV radios to
communicate with CI-V
The level converter for ICOM is called a CT-17 & has connections
for 4 radios
All equipment interfaces have the same RS-232 configuration
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1200 bits per second
1 start bit
8 character bits
1 stop bits
no parity
Interfacing ICOM Equipment
Model
CI-IV Interface
CI-V Interface
HF Transceivers
IC751
IC725 & newer
Receivers
IC-R71
IC-R72 & newer
144Mhz Transceivers
IC-271
IC-275 & newer
432Mhz Transceivers
IC-471
IC-475 & newer
Interfacing Yaesu Equipment
 Older transceivers require an optional FIF-232C level
converter
 All newer models work with the SCU-17 interface
Interfacing Yaesu Equipment
Model
FT-100
Interface
Yaesu CT-62 level-converting cable (see note below)
FT-736
FT-747
FT-757GXII
FT-767
straight-through female 9-pin RS232 to female RS232 cable or Yaesu SCU17
Yaesu FIF-232 and RS232 cable
Yaesu FIF-232 and RS232 cable
Yaesu FIF-232 and RS232 cable
Yaesu FIF-232 and RS232 cable
FT-817
Yaesu CT-62 level-converting cable (see note below) or Yaesu SCU-17
FT-840
FT-847
Yaesu FIF-232 and RS232 cable
null modem female 9-pin RS232 to female RS232 cable
FT-857
Yaesu CT-62 level-converting cable (see note below) or Yaesu SCU-17
FT-890
Yaesu FIF-232 and RS232 cable
FT-897
Yaesu CT-62 level-converting cable (see note below) or Yaesu SCU-17
FT-900
FT-920
Yaesu FIF-232 and RS232 cable
male 9-pin RS232 to female RS232 cable
straight-through female 9-pin RS232 to female RS232 cable or Yaesu SCU17
Yaesu FIF-232 and RS232 cable
FT-450
FT-950
FT-990
Interfacing Yaesu Equipment
Model
Interface
FT-1000, FT-1000D
Yaesu FIF-232 and RS232 cable (early FT-1000's may not work correctly with
interfaces that claim to be replacements for the FIF-232)
FT-1000MP
straight-through female 9-pin RS232 to female RS232 cable
FT-1000MP Mark-V
straight-through female 9-pin RS232 to female RS232 cable
FT-2000 Mark-V
straight-through female 9-pin RS232 to female RS232 cable or Yaesu SCU-17
FTDX-1200
straight-through female 9-pin RS232 to female RS232 cable or Yaesu SCU-17
FTDX-3000
USB A-B cable (set Menu item 037 CAT SELECT to USB) or straight-through female
9-pin RS232 to female RS232 cable (set Menu item 037 CAT SELECT to RS232C)]
FTDX-5000
straight-through female 9-pin RS232 to female RS232 cable or Yaesu SCU-17
FTDX-9000
straight-through female 9-pin RS232 to female RS232 cable or Yaesu SCU-17
rd
3
Party Interface Providers
 There are 3rd parties who now provide compatible
cards and interfaces if you have an old radio or
complete standalone interface units.
 www.piexx.com (plug in compatible boards)
 www.g4zlp.co.uk
 www.microham.com
 www.westmountainradio.com
Software Configuration
 Once everything is connected the next challenge is the
software configuration.. A few tips
 Baud Rate - Kenwood work well at high speeds (if they
are newer rigs & not fixed speed)
 Handshaking – Try and set this to “None” for Kenwood
equipment or RTS “enabled” assuming you have wired
the cable with CTS & RTS pins. If RTS is selected for
handshaking you cannot use it for PTT switching or CW
keying.
New Connectivity Options
 West Mountain Radio have introduced a Bluetooth
interface which replaces cables between the PC and the
radio using Bluetooth and creates virtual COM ports for
both CAT and audio for data modes. There are still cables
between the rig & interface unit. This may remove issues if
you have RF getting back into the PC down the USB cables.
 For those lucky enough to have an SDR the Ethernet port is
now the method of connecting to the “box” and all these
problems go away!
Radio Programming
 If you are programming the radio & not using it for CAT
control the cheap Prolific chipset based USB cables are
fine… Especially for the Baofeng (Pofung) UV5 series of
handhelds
 See Alex G8NQO for further information on this topic &
use of the CHIRP software
The Remote Shack - Ofcom
10 Unattended and remote control operation
• 10(1) The Licensee may conduct Unattended Operation of Radio Equipment provided that any such operation
is consistent with the terms of this Licence. Additional restrictions which apply to the Unattended Operation
of Beacons are specified in Schedule 2 to this Licence.
• 10(2) Subject to Clause 10(3), the Licensee may also conduct Remote Control Operation of Radio Equipment
(including, for the avoidance of doubt, Beacons) provided that any such operation is consistent with the terms
of this Licence.
• 10(3) This Clause 10 does not permit the Licensee to install Radio Equipment capable of Remote Control
Operation for general unsupervised use by other Amateurs.
• 10(4) Any communication links4 used to control the Radio Equipment or to carry Messages to or from the
Radio Equipment in accordance with Clause 10(2) must be adequately secure so as to ensure compliance with
Clause 3 of this Licence. Any security measures must be consistent with Clause 11(2) of this Licence.
• 10(5) The use of any such communication links referred to in Clause 10(4) must be failsafe such that any failure
will not result in unintended transmissions or any transmissions of a type not permitted by this Licence.
• 10(6) If this Licence is a Foundation Licence or an Intermediate Licence, and the Licensee wishes to establish
communication links to operate the Radio Equipment in accordance with Clause 10(4), then the Licensee may
only do so using wireless communication links and the Licensee may only use the amateur band allocations
detailed in Schedule 15 to operate those links. Any such communications links shall be subject to a maximum
power level of 500 mW pep e.r.p.
• 10(7) Only where this Licence is a Full Licence, Full (Reciprocal) Licence, Full (Temporary Reciprocal) Licence
or a Full (Club) Licence, the Licensee may make use of any communications links (including, for the avoidance
of doubt, the amateur band allocations detailed in Schedule 15) to establish the wireless communication links
referred to in Clause 10(4).
The Remote Shack
 SDR devices and USB hardware receivers have provided
new options if you are prepared to leave kit unattended but
you still need some form of CAT control
 A remote shack in your 2nd / someone else's home or
remote shack in a remote location
 Lots of logistical issues i.e. power, computers, theft!
 Connectivity options
 Internet if there is a link at the other end
 Wireless link like the club’s Internet connection
 Over the air using DTMF tones
 Over the telephone line
The Remote Shack
The Remote Shack
 Or rent someone else's!
 http://www.remotehamradio.com/the-stations/
Useful Links
 wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Amateur_Radio_T
ransceiver_Control
 The downloadable manual with TRX Manager lists
some interesting quirks with specific radios which is
worth reading http://www.trx-manager.com/
 Cables for CAT and Data for most radios
https://radioarena.co.uk/index.php