Serial Port (CAT)

Configuration

This program supports the use of serial ports for exchanging information with third-party programs such as logbooks. Normally you use virtual serial ports, for example those created using:


Free

The free products are in regular use at the SDR Console development office.

 


Commercial

The commercial products have not been tested by the SDR Console developer.


 

Connecting

You connect the third-party program (for example WSJT-X) to one end of the serial cable and this program (SDR Console) to the other. The third-party program sends commands to this program, for example to set the frequency and mode. The serial port cannot be used to monitor and synchronise another radio.


Protocol: in your logbook program select the Kenwood TS-2000 protocol.


Speed: If you are using a virtual serial port the default speed of 57,600 can be used, if using a hardware port then the speed must match the speed at the other end of the connection. To change the speed you first select an entry in the list and then select the new speed from the dropdown at the top of the window.

In the program options select Port Selection. In this window you select the ports which are opened by this program. This program opens and closes ports as you make changes to the selections in this window. The status is shown in the main logfile window.


Note: you cannot use a serial port for a third-party program and at the same time use it to connect to an external radio unless these programs use Omni-Rig or similar. Use one serial port per program.

com0com

Download

There are many kits floating around on the internet, the kit here from Simon Harston on Sourceforge is signed and works with Windows 10, 64-bit. More information about this kit below.


Sourceforge

Post from Simon Harston on 2021-09-16: Hi folks, I think(!) I can provide com0com 3.0 as a signed version of the installer including the setup-GUI. I made it in 2013 using separately signed versions of the 32- and 64-bit versions that I found back in 2012, and then forgot about it until I received feedback from a user who said she couldn't install on the newest Win10 build. Reading here above that Win10 build 1607 might have changed procedures, I just now tried running my installer on a laptop that has certainly never seen com0com before, and it ran without problems. I checked back with the user and found she had a different problem, which we also solved. So... you are all very welcome to try this version of com0com - I promise it's legitimate:

http://radio.jsh.de/com0com.zip.

VSP Manager by K5FR

Download

Contact K5FR, more information on this page.



Important

Set compatibility to Windows XP SP3 and select 'Run as Administrator'.


The Help link does not work, this software does not appear to be maintained but does work well with Windows 10. The latest version appears to be 1.0.3.01.

Virtual Serial Port Driver

Eltima Software
Create pairs of virtual COM ports linked by virtual null-modem cable

Virtual COM Port Driver is a powerful technology designed specifically for those who develop, test, or debug serial port software and hardware. This solution will provide your system with as many virtual COM interfaces as you need.

Diagnostics

Use the I/O Monitor window to record and diagnose the serial port traffic. The View option displays the logfile with your default text file viewer. When enabled diagnostic information is also generated, this is displayed with DebugView - see http://www.sdr-radio.com/Support/Diagnostics for information about DebugView.

Using these extra diagnostics helps in the rare situations where a lockup may occur.

Testing

Use the I/O test window to verify the serial port protocol. It is recommended to use a second instance and identity of SDR Console for tests.

Connect to the other end of the virtual serial cable, then use Read All / Apply to return the values for the current receiver. The response should always be instantaneous.

Change Frequency
To change the frequency:
  • Check the Frequency box
  • Enter new value in Update Receiver window
  • Press Apply.

Band Switching

When you change the frequency of the active receiver, the frequency range (band) in the main waterfall will only change if the corresponding option is enabled in the Receiver tuning options below.

Omni-Rig

If you are using Omni-Rig set the timeout to 100ms (the lowest value supported).

The above image shows the recommended Omni-Rig settings, remember to select the correct Port, COM 11 is used as example.

Commands

Changes
October 3rd, 2018:
  • SA changed to SZ as SA is assigned to Satellite Mode.
October 8th, 2018:
  • Changed TX from return TX status to switch to transmit, and
  • Changed RX from return RX status to switch to receive.
Commands
The format uses the Kenwood TS-2000 protocol and supports a subset of the TS-2000 command set. Software which uses the basic TS-2000 commands will not require significant changes. Unsupported commands return ?;.

The serial port commands are shown below.

FA FB, FC, FD, FE, FF

Frequency in Hz for receiver 1 (FA) to 6 (FF).

Read: FA; reads the frequency for receiver 1;

Write: FC + <11 digit frequency> + ; sets the frequency of receiver 3.

AI
Auto information
Read: AI; always returns AI0; (auto-information off).
Write: ignored. Auto information is always disabled.

IF
Transceiver information
Read: IF; returns the standard IF data (see TS-2000 format).
Write: ignored.

SM
Signal meter level
Read: SM; returns the signal level as a four-digit value in 3dB steps (one S-unit is 6dB):
  • S0 = 0 units
  • S5 = 10 units
  • S9 - 18 units.
If the current signal level is below S0 the value returned is 0.
Write: ignored.

MD
Mode
Read: MD; returns the current mode.
Write MD<mode>;
Note: the mode value only supports a single digit.
Values:

0 DSB
1 LSB
2 USB
3 CW (upper sideband)
4 FM
5 SAM (synchronous AM, includes ECSS)
6 Not used
7 CW (lower sideband)
8 Wide FM
9 Broadcast FM

TX
Switch to transmit.

RX
Switch to receive

PS
Power status
Read: PS; always returns PS1; (power on) - if the power is not supplied to the computer then it is unlikely that it will function in a reliable way - if indeed functions at all. If you have a computer that runs without power first find a good patent lawyer and then contact your local Green party representative.

GT
AGC - Off (0), Fast (1), Medium (2), Slow (3)
Read: GT; returns the current AGC setting, for example GT3; (slow).
Write: GT<agc>;

SH
Filter high value in Hz
Read: SH; returns the filter high value in Hz, for example SH03000; (3 kHz).
Write SH<value>;

SL
Filter low value in Hz, otherwise same as SH above.

AG
AF gain, range is 0 to 100.
Read: AG; returns the current value, for example AG075; (75 %).
Write: AG<value>;

MU
Audio mute status, 0 (muted) or 1 (not muted).
Read: MU; returns either 0 (muted) or 1 (not muted).
Write: MU<status>; 

NA
Read-only, returns the radio name, for example NetSDR. This is the same value shown at the bottom left of the status bar.

SA
Read-only, returns the current sample rate.

FT
Read-only, returns the transmitter index which is always 0.

FR
Read-only, returns the current receiver index.
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