PC CONTROL COMMAND

PC CONTROL COMMAND

REFERENCE FOR THE

TS-480HX/ SAT TRANSCEIVER

© 2003/11/28

09  08 07 06 05 04 03 02 01  00

All descriptions in this PC CONTROL COMMAND reference are for the users convenience only. KENWOOD will not support or warrantee this documentation in any way.

HARDWARE DESCRIPTION

The TS-480 transceiver uses a full-duplex, asynchronous, serial interface for communicating through the male 9-pin D-sub connector.  Each data is constructed with 1 start bit, 8 data bits, and 1 stop bit (4800 bps must be configured as 2 stop bits).  No parity is used.  The pinout and the pin functions of the COM connector on the transceiver are shown below:

COM Pin No.	COM Pin Name (Ref.: Computer)	Function (Ref.: Transceiver)	I/O
1	NC	—	—
2	RXD	Transmit data	Output
3	TXD	Receive data	Input
4	NC	—	—
5	GND	Signal ground
6	NC	—	—
7	RTS	Receive enable	Input
8	CTS	Transmit enable	Output
9	NC	—	—

RXD:     Transmit data is serial data transferred from the transceiver to the computer.

TXD:     Receive data is serial data transferred from the computer to the transceiver.

GND: Signal ground pin

RTS:     This signal is applied to the transceiver.  It is used to inhibit transmit data from the transceiver when the computer is not ready to receive data. Transmit data is inhibited when the level is low.

CTS:     This signal is applied from the transceiver.  It is used to inhibit transmit data from the computer when the transceiver is not ready to receive data. Transmit data is stopped when the level is low.

Most computers handle data in the form of “bits” and “bytes”.  A bit is the smallest piece of information that a computer can handle.  A byte is composed of eight bits.  This is the most convenient form for most computer data.  This data may be sent in the form of either serial or parallel data strings.  The parallel method is faster but more complicated, while the serial method is slower and requires less complicated equipment.  The serial form is, therefore, a less expensive alternative.

Serial data transmission uses time-division methods over a single line.  Using a single line also offers the advantage of reducing the number of errors due to line noise.

Only 3 lines are required theoretically for control of the transceiver via the computer:

•     Transmit data

•     Receive data

•     Ground

From a practical standpoint, it is also necessary to incorporate some means of controlling when this data transfer will occur.  The computer and transceiver cannot be allowed to send data at the same time! The required control is achieved by using the RTS and CTS lines.  To interface between the TS-480 transceiver and a PC, use a commercially available cable with a DB-9 female connector at each end. Each connector pin must be connected to the same pin number at the other end (a straight cable).

To control the transceiver from a PC, utilize the general purpose terminal program to send commands to the tranceiver.  The transceiver responds the command accordingly.

For example, the transceiver is placed into the transmit mode whenever the character string “TX;” is sent from the computer.  The character string “TX;” is called a PC control command.

You can further develop or create a script of the commands using a macro function of the terminal program.  Kenwood also provides the remote control program, ARCP-480 at our Web site.  You can download the program for free and try it out on your PC.  Access http://www.kenwood.com/i/products/info/ amateur.html  and follow the instructions.

PC CONTROL COMMAND

COMPUTER CONTROL COMMANDS

A computer control command is composed of an alphabetical command, various parameters, and the terminator that signals the end of the control command.

EXAMPLE:  Command to set VFO A to 7 MHz

Commands can be classified as shown below:

_Input Set command command(Sets a

( Input to the particular condition)

transceiver) Computer

controlRead command

commands(Reads an answer)

Output

command            Answer command

( From the            (Transmits a condition) transceiver)

For example, note the following in the case of the FA command (Frequency of VFO A):

•     To set the frequency to 7 MHz, the following command is sent from the computer to the transceiver:

“FA00007000000;”     ( Set command )

•     To read the frequency of VFO A, the following command is sent from the computer to the transceiver:

“FA;”            ( Read command )

•     When the Read command above has been sent, the following command is returned to the computer:

“FA00007000000;”          ( Answer command )

■ Alphabetical Commands

A command consists of 2 alphabetical characters. You may use either lower or upper case characters.  The commands available for this transceiver are listed in the PC Control Command Tables from page 3.

■ Parameters

Parameters are used to specify information necessary to implement the desired command. The parameters to be used for each command are predetermined.  The number of digits assigned to each parameter is also predetermined.  Refer to the Computer Control Commands and the PC Control Command Tables to configure the appropriate parameters.

When configuring parameters, be careful not to make the following mistakes.

( correct parameter: “IS+1000” )

IS1000;        Not enough parameters specified

( No direction given for the IF shift )

IS+100;        Not enough digits

( Only three frequency digits given )

IS                   +        1000; Unnecessary characters between parameters

IS+10000;     Too many digits

( Five frequency digits given )

Note:  If a particular parameter is not applicable to this transceiver, the parameter digits should be filled using any character except the ASCII control codes (00 to 1Fh) and the terminator (;).

■ Terminator

To signal the end of a command, it is necessary to use a semicolon (;).  The digit where this special character must appear differs depending on the command used.

■ Error Messages

In addition to the Answer command, the transceiver can send the following error messages.

Error Message	Reason for Error
?;	•     Command syntax was incorrect. •     Command was not executed due to the current status of the transceiver (even though the command syntax was correct). Note:   Occasionally this message may not appear due to microprocessor transients in the transceiver.
E;	A communication error occurred such as an overrun or framing error during a serial data transmission.
O;	Receive data was sent but processing was not completed.

Note:

◆ Do not use the control characters 00 to 1Fh since they are either ignored or cause a “?” answer.

◆ Program execution may be delayed while turning the Tuning control rapidly.

PC CONTROL COMMAND

PC CONTROL COMMAND

Menu No.	Function	EX command parameter P5
		0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Over
000	Display brightness	OFF	1	2	3	4
001	Key illumination	OFF	ON
002	Auto Mode operation	OFF	ON
003	Tuning control adjustment rate	250	500	1000								(Hz)
004	Tuning with Tuning control in FM mode	OFF	ON
005	Rounds off VFO frequencies changed by using the MULTI control	OFF	ON
006	9 kHz frequency step size for the MULTI control in AM mode on the AM broadcast band	OFF	ON
007	Tunable (ON) or fixed (OFF) memory channel frequencies	OFF	ON
008	Program scan partially slowed	OFF	ON
009	Slow down frequency range for the Program scan	100	200	300	400	500						(Hz)
010	Program scan hold	OFF	ON
011	Scan resume method	to	co
012	Beep output level	OFF	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
013	TX sidetone volume	OFF	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
014	VGS-1 message playback volume	OFF	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
015	VGS-1 announcement volume	OFF	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
016	VGS-1 announcement speed	OFF	1	2	3	4
017	Use CW IF filter for SSB reception	OFF	ON
018	DSP RX equalizer	OFF	Hb1	Hb2	FP	bb1	bb2	c	U
019	DSP TX equalizer	OFF	Hb1	Hb2	FP	bb1	bb2	c	U
020	DSP TX filter bandwidth for SSB or AM	2.0	2.4
021	Fine transmission power tuning	OFF	ON
022	Time-out timer	OFF	3	5	10	20	30					(minutes)
023	Transverter frequency display	OFF	ON
024	Output power adjustment for Transverter	OFF	ON
025	TX hold when AT completes the tuning	OFF	ON
026	In-line AT while receiving	OFF	ON
027	Control method for the external AT	At1	At2
028	Linear amplifier control delay for HF band	OFF	1	2	3
029	Linear amplifier control delay for 50 MHz band	OFF	1	2	3
030	Constant recording	OFF	ON
031	Repeat the playback	OFF	ON
032	Interval time for repeating the playback	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	~ 60 (in steps of 1 s)
033	Keying priority over playback	OFF	ON
034	CW RX pitch/ TX sidetone frequency	400	450	500	550	600	650	700	750	800	850	~ 1000 (in steps of 50)
035	CW keying dot, dash weight ratio	AUTO	2.5	2.6	2.7	2.8	2.9	3.0	3.1	3.2	3.3	~ 4.0 (in steps of 0.1)
036	Reverse CW keying auto weight ratio	OFF	ON
037	Bug key function	OFF	ON

PC CONTROL COMMAND

Menu No.	Function	EX command parameter P5
		0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		Over
038	Swap dot and dash paddle position	OFF	ON
039	Auto CW TX in SSB mode	OFF	ON
040	Frequency correction for changing SSB to CW	OFF	ON
041	FSK shift	170	200	425	850								(Hz)
042	FSK keying polarity	OFF	ON
043	FSK tone frequency	1275	2125										(Hz)
044	Mic gain for FM	1	2	3
045	Filter bandwidth for Data communications	OFF	ON
046	AF input level for Data communications	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
047	AF output level for Data communications	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
048	Remote Control panel PF key	00 ~ 99   (2-digit ) Refer t o page 6 4 of the   TS-480				instruct	ion man ual for t he num bers and   functio ns.
049	Microphone PF1 key
050	Microphone PF2 key
051	Microphone PF3 key
052	Microphone PF4 key
053	Split frequency transfer in master/ slave operation	OFF	ON
054	Permit to write the transferred Split frequencies to the target VFOs	OFF	ON
055	TX inhibit	OFF	ON
056	COM port communication speed	4800	9600	19200	38400	57600	115200						(bps)
057	DTS polarity	OFF	ON
058	Busy lockout (TX)	OFF	ON
059	APO (Auto Power Off) function	OFF	60	120	180								(minutes)
060	Transmit with the audio input on the DATA terminal	OFF	ON

Share this

tz-ms