G4NAQ

CAT Control Topics 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 “;”

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;

Command Parameter ;

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 – 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

FE FE RA E0 CN SC DT FD

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

Common Ground GND 5

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 B-male)

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 B-male)

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

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

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 Interface

FT-100 Yaesu CT-62 level-converting cable (see note below)

FT-450 straight-through female 9-pin RS232 to female RS232 cable or Yaesu SCU-17

FT-736 Yaesu FIF-232 and RS232 cable

FT-747 Yaesu FIF-232 and RS232 cable

FT-757GXII Yaesu FIF-232 and RS232 cable

FT-767 Yaesu FIF-232 and RS232 cable

FT-817 Yaesu CT-62 level-converting cable (see note below) or Yaesu SCU-17

FT-840 Yaesu FIF-232 and RS232 cable

FT-847 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 Yaesu FIF-232 and RS232 cable

FT-920 male 9-pin RS232 to female RS232 cable

FT-950 straight-through female 9-pin RS232 to female RS232 cable or Yaesu SCU-17

FT-990 Yaesu FIF-232 and RS232 cable

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

3rd 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