Note: the external radio support is only available in version 1.4 build 680 or higher.

The console supports the integration of external receivers and transceivers with SDR radios. There are two ways in which an external radio works with a SDR radio:

1. SDR radio connected to the IF output,
2. SDR radio has either an own antenna or shares an antenna with the external radio.

The external radio is controlled using a serial port protocol, so you will need:

1. A serial port on your computer, and
2. A serial cable.

Note: the serial port connector on the RFspace radios is currently not supported.

Features:

• Autostart the connection when the console is started,
• Radio definitions are user-definable, saved in XML,
• VFO and mode tracking,
• Mute SDR receiver when external radio in TX mode,
• Custom mute levels in TX mode,
• IF center frequency calibration for each mode,
• Uses auto-information mode when supported by the external radio - the radio sends messages when the frequency or mode is changed.

To open the External Radio pane select External Radio from either the Console or Windows pane in the ribbon bar. The mode is shown in the top center; below the mode are VFOs A and B.

The options in the toobar are:

• Connect using a radio definition (see Definitions),
• Stop (closes the current connection),
• VFO+Mode Tracking - changing either the VFO or mode on either the external or SDR radio changes the corresponding VFO or mode on the other radio.
• Mute on TX - when the external radio is a transmitter the SDR radio is muted during a transmission to avoid audio feedback (howlaround).

The Elecraft K3 has an extra command FI which returns the last four digits of the IF center frequency. At the time of writing (June 22nd, 2011) this command is not returned when Auto-Information is enabled so changes to the IF center frequency are only returned by polling the K3.

FI * (I.F. Center Frequency; GET only)
RSP format: FInnnn; where nnnn represents the last 4 digits of the K3’s present I.F. center frequency in Hz. Example: If nnnn = 5000, the I.F. center frequency is 8215000 Hz. Intended for use with panadapters, which need to keep track of the exact I.F. center frequency as filter bandwidths and shifts are changed by the operator. (c) Elecraft

June 22nd, 2011

Currently only the newer yaesu radios which use the Kenwood protocol are supported, for example:

• FT-450,
• FT-950,
• FT-2000,
• FT-5000,
• FT-9000.

Older radios will be supported at a later date.

The Kenwood protocol / command set is used not only by Kenwood but also by Elecraft, Flex Radio, Yaesu and other companies.

Advantages of the Kenwood protcols are:

• All data sent uses readable characters.
• An unambiguous command format; all commands end with a semi-colon (;).
• Commands can be sent using a console emulator such as Putty.

Kenwood Old vs Kenwood New

There are important difference between the older (e.g. TS-850S) and newer (e.g. TS-480) command sets:

1. The way the mode is returned from the radio, and
2. The way the active VFO is detected.

The older radios set the mode using the MD command and read the mode as part of the IF (often parameter P9) whereas the newer radios set and read the mode using the MD command.It is important to use the correct command set as the mode is returned when AI (auto information) is enabled.

Similarly the older radios detect the active VFO using the IF command (parameter P10) whereas the newer radios use the FR command.

Where Is This Information?

The Kenwood manuals can be downloaded from Kenwood USA's website. Look at the manual for your radio to see whether the MD command supports Read. If it does then you use the Kenwood New protocol, otherwise the Kenwood Old protodol.

Sample Manuals

Old: TS-850 IF232 (does not support MD command)

New: TS-480 PC Commands (supports the MD command)

You must complete an external radio definition to enable a connection to an external radio. To view the definitions select Definitions in the External Radio pane's toolbar.

The definitions window contains four panes:

1. General,
2. Frequency,
3. Mode,
4. Auto Info, TX.

In the General pane select the Manufacturer, Protocol and enter the radio model.

Select each of the other panes and click the Load Defaults button to apply the suggested defaults for the selected Manufacturer and Protocol.

Notes:

• The Kenwood defaults will work with most Kenwood radios. It is recommended that you remove the Modes entries which are not supported by your radio.

When sharing an antenna with an external radio it is necessary to either use an antenna splitter or a switching box such as SWITCH BOX from ELAD.

Some radios such as the IC-r8500 receiver and the Yaesu FTDX-5000 has an IF output connector which can be connected to the RF input connector on the SDR radio.

Other radios such as the Yaesu FT-950 and FT-2000 have the IF available when an extra card is added inside the radio (IF-2000 from RFspace.com).

• The output frequency from the IF-2000 board is 10.5485 MHz.
• The ICOM IC-r8500 outputs a 10.7 MHz signal.
• The Yaesu FTDX-5000 features a 9 MHz IF out from the main receiver (when menu item 109 RGEN IF OUT is enabled).

All commands sent to and read from the external radio are recorded in a special logfile which is accessed from the Options > Logfile > View menu in the External Radio pane.This logfile is designed for use by the SDR-RADIO.com developers to assist with connection and other radio support issues. An example of this logfile is shown below for a connection with a Yaesu FT-950 at 4800 baud.

HF Radio  12:10:14 Opening \\.\COM3
          12:10:14 Setting buffer sizes in=4096, out=4096
          12:10:14 Configuring port 4800,n,8,2
          12:10:14 Setting timeouts
          12:10:14 Setting device control
          12:10:14 Setting event mask
          12:10:14 Clearing connection
         
Write     12:10:14 Cmd = Auto info, Buffer = AI1;
Write     12:10:14 Cmd = Read VFO-A, Buffer = FA;
Write     12:10:14 Cmd = Read VFO-B, Buffer = FB;
Write     12:10:14 Cmd = Read VFO Seln, Buffer = FR;
Write     12:10:14 Cmd = Read TX, Buffer = TX;
Write     12:10:14 Cmd = Read Mode, Buffer = MD0;
Reply     12:10:14 Buffer = FA07120540;
Reply     12:10:14 Buffer = FB14035341;
Reply     12:10:14 Buffer = RM0042;
Reply     12:10:14 Buffer = FR0;
Reply     12:10:14 Buffer = TX0;
Reply     12:10:14 Buffer = MD01;
Reply     12:10:14 Buffer = RM0042;
Reply     12:10:14 Buffer = RM0045;
Reply     12:10:14 Buffer = RM0042;
Reply     12:10:15 Buffer = RM0040;
Reply     12:10:15 Buffer = RM0042;
Reply     12:10:15 Buffer = RM0045;
Reply     12:10:15 Buffer = RM0050;
Reply     12:10:15 Buffer = RM0052;
Reply     12:10:15 Buffer = RM0057;

To send this logfile to SDR-RADIO support:

1. Select Options > Logfile > View in the External Radio pane, the logfile is now displayed with your default text program which is usually Notepad.
2. Save to a text file, for example SDRExternalRadioLogfile.txt.
3. In the Yahoo! mailing list you simply attach this logfile to a post in the mailing list (a feature available for all list members).

Access Denied

A common problem is the error message Access Denied which indicates that the COM port is in use by another program - only one program can open a COM port. Also check that the port is not opened in the Serial Ports pane of the Program Options (screenshot below).