AOR 'DWD0DVWHU
User’s Manual
© Simon Collings, G4SGI 1996
Software Published and Distributed by:
AOR (UK) LTD.,
4E East Mill,
Bridgefoot,
Belper,
Derbyshire DE 56 2UA
ENGLAND
Tel: +44 1773 880788
Fax: +44 1773 8807 80
info@aoruk.com
http://www.aoruk.com
Note: This electronic version has forced
formatting, as a result page indexing may be
incorrect.
AOR '$7$0$67(5 for Windows
_____________________________________________________________________
TM
CONTENTS
MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS................................................................ 7
INSTALLING THE SOFTWARE............................................................................. 8
Copy Protection
To Install the Tuner Applications...
To Install the Data Base Toolkit...
How to Setup the Software...
AOR AR7030 Tuner for Windows........................................................................... 16
INTRODUCTION
Acknowledgment
GETTING STARTED
RS-232 connection
Starting the Program
Setting up
Obtaining Help
Travel Portable Personality
Classic Analogue Desktop Personality
Digital Desktop Personality
FILE MENU OPTIONS
New
....................................................................................................................... 29
Open...
Close
Save
Save As
Send to RX...
Get from RX...
Print...
Print Setup...
Send...
Exit
EDIT MENU OPTIONS
Cut
Copy
Paste
Clear
Delete
Add Item...
Modify Item...
Renumber
SETUP MENU OPTIONS
Tune...
Time
Power On/Reset
Power Off
Filters...
Data Base Directory...
Communications...
TOOLS MENU OPTIONS
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2 Contents
AOR '$7$0$67(5 for Windows
TM
_____________________________________________________________________
Maps..................................................................................................................... 37
Scan Operation.................................................................................................... 37
Search Operation ................................................................................................ 38
Spectrum Display............................................................................................. 38
HF Utilities........................................................................................................... 39
HF Broadcasters.................................................................................................. 39
Logbook... ............................................................................................................ 39
WINDOW MENU OPTIONS............................................................................... 40
Cascade ................................................................................................................40
Tile........................................................................................................................ 40
Arrange Icons...................................................................................................... 40
Close All............................................................................................................... 40
MAPS....................................................................................................................... 41
File........................................................................................................................ 42
Overlay ............................................................................................................. 42
Clear.................................................................................................................. 42
Setup..................................................................................................................... 42
Home................................................................................................................. 42
View...................................................................................................................... 43
Vantage Point................................................................................................... 43
Zoom In ............................................................................................................ 43
Zoom Out.......................................................................................................... 43
Antipodes .......................................................................................................... 43
Rotate +90 degrees........................................................................................... 43
Rotate -90 degrees............................................................................................ 43
AOR AR3030 Tuner for Windows........................................................................... 44
INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................. 45
Acknowledgment................................................................................................. 46
GETTING STARTED........................................................................................... 47
RS-232 connection............................................................................................... 47
Starting the Program.......................................................................................... 47
Setting up............................................................................................................. 49
Obtaining Help.................................................................................................... 50
Front Panel .......................................................................................................... 50
FILE MENU OPTIONS........................................................................................ 53
New....................................................................................................................... 53
Open..................................................................................................................... 53
Close..................................................................................................................... 53
Save....................................................................................................................... 53
Save As................................................................................................................. 53
Send to RX........................................................................................................... 54
Get from RX........................................................................................................ 54
Print...................................................................................................................... 54
Print Setup........................................................................................................... 55
Send...................................................................................................................... 56
Exit ....................................................................................................................... 56
EDIT MENU OPTIONS........................................................................................ 57
Cut........................................................................................................................ 57
Copy ..................................................................................................................... 57
Paste...................................................................................................................... 57
3 Contents
AOR '$7$0$67(5 for Windows
TM
_____________________________________________________________________
Clear..................................................................................................................... 57
Delete.................................................................................................................... 58
Add Item.............................................................................................................. 58
Modify Item......................................................................................................... 58
Renumber............................................................................................................ 58
SETUP MENU OPTIONS..................................................................................... 60
Tune...................................................................................................................... 60
Data Base Directory............................................................................................ 60
Communications... .............................................................................................. 61
TOOLS MENU OPTIONS.................................................................................... 62
Maps..................................................................................................................... 62
Scan Operation.................................................................................................... 62
Search Operation ................................................................................................ 63
Spectrum Display............................................................................................. 65
HF Utilities........................................................................................................... 65
HF Broadcasters.................................................................................................. 65
Logbook... ............................................................................................................ 66
WINDOW MENU OPTIONS............................................................................... 67
Cascade ................................................................................................................67
Tile........................................................................................................................ 67
Arrange Icons...................................................................................................... 67
Close All............................................................................................................... 67
MAPS....................................................................................................................... 68
File........................................................................................................................ 69
Overlay ............................................................................................................. 69
Clear.................................................................................................................. 69
Setup..................................................................................................................... 69
Home................................................................................................................. 69
View...................................................................................................................... 71
Vantage Point................................................................................................... 71
Zoom In ............................................................................................................ 71
Zoom Out.......................................................................................................... 71
Antipodes .......................................................................................................... 71
Rotate +90 degrees........................................................................................... 71
Rotate -90 degrees............................................................................................ 72
MUFsight Propagation Prediction................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
INTRODUCTION...................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
Program Highlights .............................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
PROPAGATION IN THE ATMOSPHERE.........Error! Bookmark not defined.
USING THE PROGRAM.......................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
The Basics.............................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
Advanced Features...............................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
Usable Frequencies...........................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
Spatial Resolution.............................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
Single Point Prediction.....................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
Alternative Map Projections............................Error! Bookmark not defined.
Monitoring Frequency .....................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
PROGRAM CONTROLS ......................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
The Toolbar..........................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
The Menu Items ...................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
4 Contents
AOR '$7$0$67(5 for Windows
TM
_____________________________________________________________________
File......................................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
Setup ..................................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
Plotting...............................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
Help....................................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
GLOSSARY AND DEFINITIONS........................Error! Bookmark not defined.
Acknowledgment..................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
Moving Copy Protection........................................................................................... 87
MOVING COPY PROTECTION........................................................................ 88
AOR Data Base Toolkit............................................................................................. 89
HARNESS APPLICATION.................................................................................. 90
File Menu............................................................................................................. 90
File|Close........................................................................................................... 90
File|Print........................................................................................................... 90
File|Print Setup................................................................................................ 91
Edit Menu ............................................................................................................91
Edit|Undo.......................................................................................................... 91
Edit|Cut............................................................................................................. 91
Edit|Copy.......................................................................................................... 92
Edit|Paste.......................................................................................................... 92
Edit|Delete........................................................................................................ 92
Edit|Select All................................................................................................... 93
Form Menu.......................................................................................................... 93
Form|Find......................................................................................................... 93
Edit|Replace... ..................................................................................................95
Form|Add Records .......................................................................................... 98
Form|Delete Current Record.......................................................................... 98
Form|Blank Current Record.......................................................................... 98
Form|Go to Record Number........................................................................... 99
Form|Previous Record .................................................................................... 99
Form|Next Record ........................................................................................... 99
Form|Top Record ............................................................................................ 99
Form|Bottom Record....................................................................................... 99
Form|Refresh Records .................................................................................... 99
SCOPE PANEL.................................................................................................... 101
All ....................................................................................................................... 101
Rest..................................................................................................................... 101
Next..................................................................................................................... 101
Record................................................................................................................ 102
For ...................................................................................................................... 102
While ..................................................................................................................102
EXPRESSION BUILDER................................................................................... 103
Checking for equality and comparing............................................................. 104
Logical combinations of conditions................................................................. 104
Comparing frequency values........................................................................... 105
LISTENERS LOGBOOK.................................................................................... 106
Add Button ........................................................................................................106
Pack Button ....................................................................................................... 107
Close Button ...................................................................................................... 107
Help Button........................................................................................................ 107
HF BROADCASTERS FORM........................................................................... 108
5 Contents
AOR '$7$0$67(5 for Windows
TM
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Add Button ........................................................................................................108
Report Button.................................................................................................... 109
What’s on...? Button......................................................................................... 110
Close Button ...................................................................................................... 110
Help Button........................................................................................................ 110
HF UTILITIES FORM........................................................................................ 112
Add Button ........................................................................................................112
Report Button.................................................................................................... 113
Close Button ...................................................................................................... 113
Help Button........................................................................................................ 113
VHF/UHF FORM................................................................................................. 114
Add Button ........................................................................................................114
Report Button.................................................................................................... 114
Close Button ...................................................................................................... 114
Help Button........................................................................................................ 115
BRITISH ISLES PLACE NAMES FORM........................................................ 116
Add Button ........................................................................................................116
Pack Button ....................................................................................................... 117
Close Button ...................................................................................................... 117
Help Button........................................................................................................ 117
WORLD PLACE NAMES FORM..................................................................... 118
Add Button ........................................................................................................118
Pack Button ....................................................................................................... 119
Close Button ...................................................................................................... 119
Help Button........................................................................................................ 119
6 Contents
AOR '$7$0$67(5 for Windows
_____________________________________________________________________
TM
MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
This software requ ires the following minimum requirem ents of
your PC system :
•
Pentium P60 PC processor (or higher)
•
Colour graphics display with at least 80 0 x 600 p ixe l and 256 c olou r s
•
Windows
supported)
•
8M byte of system memory (640k bytes of base DOS memory); 16M
bytes highly recommended if running tuner and data base applications
together
•
Microsoft
•
at least 10M bytes of free hard disk space (at least 4.3M bytes for both
tuner applicati ons and 5.3M bytes for data base applications)
•
At least two RS-232 serial ports (one for mouse if used, highly
recommended)
•
Windows
®
95 operating system (WindowsTM NT is not currently
®
mouse or equivalent (strongly recommended)
TM
compatible printer (optional)
either
•
AOR
AR3030
general coverage HF receiver (with appropriate RS-232
cabling, not supplied)
or
•
AOR AR7030 high dynamic range general coverage receiver (with
appropriate RS-232 cabling, not suppl ied)
7 Minimum System Requirements
INSTALLING THE SOFTWARE
In this manual, it is assumed that you are familiar with Microsoft
®
Windows® 95 and the hardware you are using with y our computer. If you
TM
need further informatio n on usi ng speci fic Windows
®
your Microsoft
WindowsTM help system.
features, consult
You have two sets of distribution floppy disk s: one for the tuner
applications; one for the AOR Data Base Toolkit. You will need to
install each set onto your system following the instructions below.
First, a note about the copy protection sc heme used with the
distribution disks.
Copy Protection
AOR '$7$0$67(5
not use a dongle or other cumbersome devices, however, there are a
few simple points that you may need to refer to. Please read this
section carefully.
is copy protected. The protection does
AOR
'$7$0$67(5
is copy protected usin g a system which
places a “token” on your hard dis k when you install the program. The
program will only work on the hard disk you installed it to. There is no
dongle or key-disk, so onc e insta lle d the pro gram runs completely
normally and you will not be inconvenienced (unlike other schemes).
Specific points to remember:
1. The distribution disk contains two tokens. This means that you can
install up to two complete copies of t he software on separate machines at
once. You cannot transfer the program to another machine without first
moving one of the tokens back onto the original distribution disk then reinstalling. The tokens can easily be moved with the program that is
provided. Contact your AOR distributor if you need additional copies of
the software.
2. You should keep your original disks in a safe place away from strong
magnetic fields, high humidity or other environmental condi tions that
could damage them. You will not be able to re-install the software or
move it to another machine without the distribution disks.
AOR AR3030 Tuner for Windows
_____________________________________________________________________
3. Two hidden files are copied to a hidden subdirectory of the
0$67(5
directory when you install the software. These contain
'$7$
configuration information for the copy protection scheme and are normal
DOS format files.
CIRCUMSTANCES
DO NOT DELETE THESE FILES UNDER ANY
. If these files are dele ted,
'$7$0$67(5
will
not run.
4. If you are using a backup utility, ma ke sure that the two hidden files
are not backed up. When restore d, the copy protection schem e may not
be able to validate the installation and
'$7$0$67(5
will not run.
Most backup utilities do not touch these files because they have the
hidden, system and read-only attributes set. The two copy protection files
also do not have the archive bit set, so you should be able to exclude them
from backups by setting up your backup software to ignore files without
an archive bit. Remember, it is not the backup but the restore that can
cause problems.
5. The /d+ option of the PC-Kwik disk cache software from Multisoft
Corporation is not compatible with the copy protection schem e and
should be tem porarily disable d when installing
'$7$0$67(5
or
moving the token. HyperCache also affects the copy protection scheme
in the same way because of non-standard methods of accessing the floppy
disk drive. Again, it should be temporarily disabled, but both caches may
be used at other times.
6. The copy protection scheme is compatible with disk drives compressed
with SuperStor, Stacker and DoubleSpace. However, you should
temporarily remove the token from the hard disk when installing one of
these compression utilities because the protection will appear invalid
when the drives are compressed. The disk compression utilities warn you
of this in their manuals.
7. The copy protection scheme is known to be compatible with the
following dis k defragmenters: Central Point’s Compress, Digital
Research’s Diskopt, Stac’s Sdefrag and Microsoft’s Defrag.
8. The copy protection scheme is not currently compatible with
Windows
TM
NT.
9. The copy protection scheme is not compatible w ith non-standard
floppy disk systems. At present (7 /95) this includes the following PCs:
____________________________________________________________________
9 Introduction
AOR AR3030 Tuner for Windows
_____________________________________________________________________
Evesham Vale Voyager laptop
Zeos Pentiums
It is possible to install onto a PC with a non-standard floppy disk (or no
floppy disk) using a networked standard drive. The easiest way to do this
if you do not already have a network is to use the INTERLNK or
INTERSVR utilities supplied with MS-DOS.
10. The copy protection scheme is compatible with Windows 95.
However, you can completely erase your tokens using Explorer to drag
and drop the
'$7$0$67(5
directory onto the Recycle bin.
Although the token files are not deleted, they cannot be restored to their
original positions on disk. EXPLORER DOES NOT GIVE WARNINGS
LIKE FILE MANAGER UNDER WINDOWS 3.X!.
See the section of this manual entitled
PROTECTION
protection token.
MOVING COPY
for instructions on using the utility for moving the copy
____________________________________________________________________
10 Introduction
AOR AR3030 Tuner for Windows
_____________________________________________________________________
To Install the Tuner Applications...
Place the first of the tuner distribution disks in floppy drive A and
follow these instructions:
From the
Select the Run... option and type "
button on the task bar...
A:\INSTALL.EXE
dialog.
Press <ENTER> or click on the OK button to proceed.
You should obtain the window shown below on your screen. This
is the installation utility which will copy and install the
0$67(5
files to your hard disk:
" into the open
'$7$
Three push buttons are provided inside the window. You can abort
the installation by clicking on the "Quit" push button (or by pressing
“Q”). Alternative ly, to decompress and copy the program files onto your
hard disk, click on the "Install...” push button (or press “I”). If you want
to obtain help on the installation program, you can click on the “Help”
push button.
If you are proceeding with the installation, you will be asked to
type in the name of a directory on your hard disk for the program files
(you will need a pproximately 4.3M bytes of space). The default directory
name is "C:\DATAMAS", but you can change it by typing in an
alternative into the dialog that is dis play ed.
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11 Introduction
AOR AR3030 Tuner for Windows
_____________________________________________________________________
The dialog looks like that shown above. If you want to keep the
default directory for the
'$7$0$67(5
files, just click on the “OK”
push button. If you want to change it, you can type in an alternative name
and then click on “OK” (if the directory does not already exist, it will be
created).
Once you have selected a directory for the
'$7$0$67(5
files, they are decompressed an d copied onto your system in a few
moments (the exact amount of time required depends on your computer
speed).
NOTE: The installation program does not alter your Windows
TM
".INI" initial settings files; it uses its own files.
When installation has completed, you should see a box with all
'$7$0$67(5
the
icons in it as follows (note: the box may need
resizing on your system):
To Install the Data Base Toolkit...
The AOR Data Base Toolkit has its own set of distribution disks
and must be installed separately from the tuner a pplications. To install
the Data Base Toolkit place the first disk of the set in floppy drive A and
follow these instructions:
From the
____________________________________________________________________
12 Introduction
button on the task bar...
AOR AR3030 Tuner for Windows
_____________________________________________________________________
Select the Run... option and type "
A:\SETUP.EXE
" into the open
dialog.
Press <ENTER> or click on the OK button to proceed.
This will start the “setup” program for the Data Base Toolkit and allow
the files to be transferred onto your system. You will see the following
dialog box appear on screen:
Type in the target directory you want to install the data base into (it need
not be the defaul t but you will need to setup the tu ner applications if it is
not). You should then see the following dialog displayed.
Click on “Install” to continue or “Cancel” to abort and stop installing the
Data Base Toolkit. Assuming that you continued, you should then see the
files from the first floppy disk being copied on to your system. After a
while you will need to remove the floppy disk and insert the next one in
the set. When this happens, the following dialog is displayed.
____________________________________________________________________
13 Introduction
AOR AR3030 Tuner for Windows
_____________________________________________________________________
You should not need to alter the location of the distribution disk. Place
disk 2 of the set in the floppy dri ve and click on “Continue”. Repeat until
you have used al l the floppy disks.
You will then be given the opportunity to view the “readme” file for the
AOR Data Base Toolkit, but it is possible to view it at anytime by
double-clicking on its icon from the AOR
'$7$0$67(5
program
group. This file c ontains any last minute information that cou ld not be
included in the manual. The dialog inviting you to view the file looks
like:
If you want to view the “readme” file now click on “Yes”, if not click on
“No” to contin ue immediately.
When the installation process has completed successfully, you should see
the following message box.
Click on “OK” and you should then see a box with all the AOR Data
Base Toolkit icons in it as follows (note: the box may need resizing):
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14 Introduction
AOR AR3030 Tuner for Windows
_____________________________________________________________________
How to Setup the Software...
There is a lot of software in the AOR
'$7$0$67(5
package,
but only the minimum of settin g up is required. If you have follow ed the
instructions given so far, you should now have tuner applicatio ns for the
AR3030
and
AR7030
, MUFsight and the AOR Data Base Toolkit on
your hard disk.
You now only need to setup the tuner application for the radio you
are using, so proceed to the relevant section of this manual and follow the
instruction there before starting to use any of the software. If you have an
AR7030
, proceed to Part I. If you are using an
AR3030
, proceed to Part
II.
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15 Introduction
AOR AR3030 Tuner for Windows
_____________________________________________________________________
AOR
AR7030
Part I
Tuner for Windows
____________________________________________________________________
16 Introduction
AOR AR7030 Tuner for Windows
_____________________________________________________________________
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to
control application for the AR7030 high dynamic range general coverage receiver
which forms part of the AOR '$7$0$67(5 package. This simple to use
program lets you configure memory data, tune the radio using personalities and
import transmitter data from the AOR Data Base Toolkit overlaying it onto a world
map for point and click tuning. The program uses an RS-232 serial port to
communicate with your radio and has these exciting features and more:
• Easy to use intuitive windowing system with tile and cascade. You may have any
number of memory data files of 100 channels as you wish (disk space permitting).
• Comprehensive editing features for memory data including intelligent cut/paste
and line renumbering
• On-line context sensitive help. You may obtain help from the main menu and in
all dialogs. Help is also available from the desktop simply by pressing the F1
key.
• Tune your radio using a travel portable, analogue desktop or digital desktop
personality.
• Switch the radio ON/OFF remotely via the RS-232 interface.
• Import text reports from the AOR Data Base Toolkit, plot transmitter data on a
spherical projection world map from any vantage point and tune using a point and
click interface
• Obtain on-line instant HF propagation predictions using MUFsight; display those
parts of the world that are audible on a world map
• Send memory data to your radio or get data from your radio and print it out.
• Display the spectrum when searching, measure frequency and signal strength with
your mouse.
• Access G4SGI SWL working aids on the subjects of foreign language recognition,
propagation, modulation and the international bandplan
• Send memory files as e-mail over the Internet through Microsoft Exchange
AOR
AR7030 Tuner for WindowsTM. This is a powerful RS-232
You have purchased a “licence” to install and operate a maximum of two
copies of the
copy protection tokens on the master disk. See the section on copy protection for
more details.
Tuner software (both
AOR
AR3030
and
AR7030
). There are two
Acknowledgment
This program uses geographical data placed in the public domain by Fred Pospeschil
and Antonio Riveria. Original coordinate data was created by the Central Intelligence
Agency.
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17 Introduction
AOR AR7030 Tuner for Windows
_____________________________________________________________________
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18 Introduction
AOR AR7030 Tuner for Windows
_____________________________________________________________________
GETTING STARTED
RS-232 connection
You must connect your radio to an RS-232 port of your computer before you
can operate the software. A screened cable with a minimum of 3 conductors is
required for connecting the PC to the receiver.
If screened cable is not used then digital noise may radiate from the
conductors of the cable and cause interference to reception. All cable
connections should be high quality for durability.
Full details of the connection required (including the pin configuration) is
given in Section 5-15 Computer Control socket of the AR7030 Operating
Manual. No level shifting interface is required (unlike other manufacturer’s
receivers), you just connect a serial port of your computer directly to the radio.
Starting the program
To launch AR7030 Tuner for WindowsTM:
Select
option of the Programs menu on the task bar. The AR7030 Tuner program should
then appear on your screen. The main window has a number of components a
follows
:
the AOR AR7030 Tuner shortcut from the AOR'$7$0$67(5
s
Menu:
____________________________________________________________________
19 Getting started
AOR AR7030 Tuner for Windows
_____________________________________________________________________
The main menu provides access to all the features of the program and is
located just below the top edge of the window.
Tool bar:
Underneath the main menu is the tool bar. This contains a number of push
buttons which provide rapid access to the most frequently used menu options. If you
move your mouse over any of the tool bar buttons, a line of text is displayed on the
status bar in place of the copyright notice on the bottom edge of the main window
telling you what the button does.
Status display:
Next to the tool bar push buttons is a status display showing the current
frequency and mode the radio is tuned to.
Status bar:
Along the bottom edge of the window is a copyright notice which can be used
to display a dialog showing the version of the program. Click on the or ©
symbol to display the dialog.
Desktop:
The main part of the window (the application’s desktop) is used to display
files of memory data in individual windows. A specially developed style of list box is
used for display and provides a flexible and fast way to handle data. Data windows
can be reduced to icons and appear along the bottom edge of the desktop as
minimised windows.
You must set up RS-232 communication from your computer before starting
to use AR7030 Tuner using the instructions given in the next section.
Setting up
AR7030 Tuner uses an RS-232 serial port on your computer to send
instructions to the radio. You must have a suitable interface unit to make the physical
connection between the D-type connector on your computer to the remote control port
on your radio. Full details of the connection required (including the pin
configuration) is given in Section 5-15 Computer Control socket of the AR7030
Operating Manual.
To setup the software:
First, connect the radio and PC together and switch the AR7030 on. Once
you have launched AR7030 Tuner, you will need to use the Setup|Communications...
dialog to configure the serial port used by AR7030 Tuner for your radio.
____________________________________________________________________
20 Getting started
AOR AR7030 Tuner for Windows
_____________________________________________________________________
Select the PC serial port configuration you want from the dialog and click on the
“OK” push button to continue. The parameters you select are stored in the
"AR7030.INI" initial values file so that they can be reused next time you run
AR7030 Tuner. The required baud rate of 1200 bps is selected automatically.
Once you have setup your PC serial port for the radio you are using, you can
begin to use AR7030 Tuner.
Obtaining Help
AR7030 Tuner has a extensive context sensitive help available at all times.
You can obtain help from the desktop simply by pressing F1 or by selecting the
“Help” option from the main menu. Help is also provided from a push button in each
dialog.
The help information that is provided is hypertext based and fully interreferenced for your convenience.
You can also access the SWL working aids from the help menu.
Comprehensive information is provided on the international bandplan (regions 1, 2,
and 3), modulation, propagation and foreign language recognition (non-English).
Travel Portable Personality
This personality uses an attractive LCD style display and keypad to emulate a
digital travel portable radio. The personality looks like:
There are several controls available:
Power push button
____________________________________________________________________
21 Getting started
AOR AR7030 Tuner for Windows
_____________________________________________________________________
Click the Power push button to close the Travel Portable personality. You can open it
again from the Personalities menu option on the desktop.
Manual Up/Dn push buttons
Click on these push buttons to step up or down in frequency. The step size depends
on the frequency you are using as follows:
LF 144-288 kHz 9 kHz
MF 522-1611 kHz 9 kHz
HF 3-30 MHz 5 kHz
VHF* >30 MHz 50 kHz
* where supported
The step sizes are stored in the initial values file PORTABLE.INI as follows:
[steps]
lf=9
mf=9
hf=5
vhf=50
If you need to change the step sizes (eg for North America), you can simply edit the
PORTABLE.INI file with a text editor (such as WindowsTM Notepad). Note, only
integer frequency values in units of kHz are valid.
Signal LED
This is lit when a signal that is stronger than 30% of S-meter full scale deflection is
received.
Keypad
The keypad can be used to enter a frequency and tune the radio. To tune the radio,
click on the required digits on the keypad and either AM or SNC (for Synchronous
AM). You must enter the frequency in kHz.
For example, to tune to 7260 kHz AM mode, click “7”, “2”, “6”, “0” and “AM”
If you make a mistake, wait for 4 seconds and the display will return to the previous
frequency entered.
____________________________________________________________________
22 Getting started
AOR AR7030 Tuner for Windows
_____________________________________________________________________
Search Start/Stop
This is a simple band search which operates on the following bands: 120m, 90m,
75m, 60m, 49m, 41m, 31m, 25m, 21m, 19m, 16m, 15m, 13m, 11m. The actual
frequencies used are listed in the PORTABLE.INI file as follows (120m band only
shown):
[120m]
lower=2300
upper=2495
If you want to alter one of the frequencies, you can edit PORTABLE.INI with a text
editor (such as WindowsTM Notepad). Note only integer frequency values in units of
kHz are valid.
Click on the Search Start/Stop push button to begin a search. The radio will tune up
in frequency until it reaches the highest value for the band, then it starts again from
the bottom. If you start outside one of the recognised search bands, the radio will tune
up until it reaches it then cycle round within.
The search will stop when the LED is lit by a received signal or you click on the
Search Start/Stop push button again to stop it.
Classic Analogue Desktop Personality
This radio personality is a nostalgic echo of the way analogue radios were operated in
the past. It emulates an analogue desktop radio of the type available in the 1970’s but
giving you the full RF performance of the 1990’s AR7030.
The personality looks like:
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23 Getting started
AOR AR7030 Tuner for Windows
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MHz Tuning knob
You select the MHz band you want to receive using this control knob. Click
repeatedly on the right side of the knob until the LED lock light is lit to increase the
MHz value. Click on the left side in a similar way to reduce the MHz value.
You are tuning the radio in 1 MHz increments with this control. This neatly emulates
the old style Wadley loop PLL system that was popular in the 1970’s. You can see
what MHz value the radio is currently set to in the MHz display. This rotates round
as you click on the knob.
Main tuning knob
The main tuning knob controls the kHz value the radio is tuned to (ie 0-999 kHz).
Use the MHz tuning knob to change the MHz value.
To change the radio’s frequency, click repeatedly on the right side of the main knob to
increase frequency (in steps of 5 kHz) or click on the left side to decrease frequency.
You can also click on the right or left sides of the kHz display to tune in 50 kHz steps
for speed tuning. The main knob and kHz display are animated as you tune the radio.
Fine tuning knob
The fine tuning knob gives you fine control of the received frequency by tuning in 1
kHz steps. To increment the frequency, repeatedly click on the right side of the fine
tuning knob. To decrement the frequency, click on the left.
The fine tuning, main tuning and kHz display are all animated when you click on the
fine tuning control.
Attenuator switch
The attenuator switch can be used to select 0, 10 or 20 dB of attenuation. Click on the
control to move the attenuator switch between its available settings. The DX setting
corresponds to 10 dB while the local setting corresponds to 20 dB of RF attenuation.
Mode switch
The mode switch is used to cycle through the available receiver modes. Click
repeatedly on the mode switch control to select your required mode. The switch is
animated as you click on it.
S-meter display
The S-meter display is a needle type which moves in step with the received signal
strength.
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24 Getting started
AOR AR7030 Tuner for Windows
_____________________________________________________________________
Volume knob
Use this rotary knob to control the receiver’s audio level. To operate the control click
on the right hand side of the control to increase the volume or on the left hand side to
decrease it.
Power switch
Click on the power switch to close the Analogue Desktop personality window. You
can open it again at any time from the Personalities menu option on the desktop.
Digital Desktop Personality
This personality gives you simple and direct access to the most important
controls on the AR7030 radio, but remotely over the RS-232 connection. The
personality includes a dual VFO display with full status information on show.
Power Switch
Click on the power switch to close the Digital Desktop personality window. You can
open it again at any time from the Personalities menu option on the desktop.
S-meter
The S-meter display is a needle type which moves in step with the received signal
strength.
AGC push buttons
These push buttons can be used to select the AGC speed (or OFF). Click on the
required button to change the AGC setting. An LED lights up next to the selected
speed.
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25 Getting started
AOR AR7030 Tuner for Windows
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Status Display
This sophisticated display shows you the main settings of the receiver at a glance.
The display includes: the frequency and mode of VFO A; the frequency of VFO B;
the current IF bandwidth; the BFO setting; the current passband shift setting; and an
IF status display (see below):
The IF Display indicates graphically which IF filter has been selected and shows you
where it is positioned (in frequency) in the IF. This is useful for working out how to
select PBS and bandwidth options. The display is calibrated as follows:
Bandwidth push buttons
These push buttons let you cycle through the available IF filters that are installed in
your radio. Click on the push button to select the next filter and on the push
button to select the previous one. The current bandwidth setting is shown on the
status display.
Mode (and A/B) push buttons
Use these push buttons to select a mode from those available. You can also switch
between the two VFOs using the push button.
Keypad
The keypad can be used to enter a frequency directly into the radio. You can either
enter the frequency in kHz or MHz.
For example, to enter the 6.045 MHz, type “6”, “.”, “0”, “4”, “5”, “MHz” or “6”, “0”,
“4”, “5”, “kHz”. If you want to back-space and correct an incorrect digit, click on the
ENT/BS push button before re-entering the digit.
It is also possible to select a broadcasting “meter band” by entering the wavelength (in
metres) and clicking on “mtr”. The meter bands are as follows:
Metre Band Frequency (kHz) Mode
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26 Getting started
AOR AR7030 Tuner for Windows
_____________________________________________________________________
160* 1907.5 CW
120 2300.0 AM
90 3200.0 AM
80* 3500.0 LSB
75 3900.0 AM
60 4750.0 AM
49 5950.0 AM
41 7100.0 AM
40* 7000.0 LSB
31 9500.0 AM
30* 10100.0 USB
25 11650.0 AM
21 13600.0 AM
20* 14000.0 USB
19 15100.0 AM
17* 18068.0 USB
16 17550.0 AM
15* 21000.0 USB
13 21450.0 AM
12* 24890.0 USB
11 26965.0 AM
10 28000.0 USB
RF Gain push buttons
It is possible to select the RF amplifier or 20/40 dB of attenuation using these push
buttons. The currently selected setting is indicated by the LED.
Rotary controls
A selection of rotary controls are used to alter the IF gain setting, passband shift,
BFO, bass and treble tone controls and squelch settings.
To use a rotary control, click on the right hand side of it to increase the value and on
the left hand side to decrease the value. Note that the BFO, PBS and tone controls are
centre-zero whereas the squelch control is fully anti-clockwise for minimum level and
the IF gain is fully clockwise for maximum gain.
Main tuning
The main tuning knob is used to tune the radio in steps. The step size depends on
where you click on the tuning knob as follows:
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27 Getting started
AOR AR7030 Tuner for Windows
_____________________________________________________________________
All step sizes shown above are in kHz.
Volume
You can alter the volume of audio from the radio using this rotary control. Click on
the right hand side of the Volume control to increase the volume level and on the left
hand side to decrease it.
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28 Getting started
AOR AR7030 Tuner for Windows
_____________________________________________________________________
FILE MENU OPTIONS
The file menu contains all the menus you need to work with files and
manage memory data held on disk. The content of each file is shown inside a data
window on the desktop.
New
The File|New command opens a new, untitled memory data window, and
makes it the active window. AR7030 Tuner prompts you to name untitled
documents when they are closed.
Open...
The File|Open... command displays the “Open” dialog box so you can select a file
and create a new window to display it.
Close
File|Close closes the currently active window. If you have modified the file without
saving, you will be prompted to save before exiting.
Save
The File|Save command saves the file in the active window to disk. If the file
is unnamed, the File|Save As... dialog box is displayed so you can name the file, and
choose where it is to be saved.
Save As...
The File|Save As... command allows you to save a file under a new name, or in a new
location on disk. The command displays the standard Save As dialog box. You can
enter the new file name, including the drive and directory.
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29 File menu options
AOR AR7030 Tuner for Windows
_____________________________________________________________________
Send to RX...
The File|Send to RX... command transfer the contents of the current window
to your radio using RS-232 commands.
If you are sending memory data, all channels in the radio will be cleared before the
data is sent. This ensures that the data stored in the radio is exactly the same as that
displayed in the memory data window.
You can use the following dialog to abort sending data by simply clicking on the
abort push button:
Data in your radio will be overwritten.
Get from RX...
The File|Get from RX... command gets a file of data from the radio and places
it in the currently active window. You should open a new window before getting new
data if you do not want to overwrite the current window.
You can abort this operation in the same way as you can for sending data: simply
click on the Abort push button in the dialog that is displayed.
Data in the current window will be overwritten.
Print...
The File|Print... command prints the contents of the active window. Use
File|Print Setup... to select a printer, and to set printer options. Only memory
channels with data in them will be printed.
Print Setup...
The File|Printer Setup... command displays the Printer Setup dialog box which allows
you to select and configure the WindowsTM compatible printer to be used to print
documents in the application.
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30 File menu options
AOR AR7030 Tuner for Windows
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Send...
This File menu option allows you to send memory files using e-mail through
Microsoft Exchange. When you select File|Send..., Exchange is launched
automatically and pre-loaded with the current active memory file ready for you to
send it as an e-mail attachment over the Internet. You can also send memory files as
FAXes using Exchange.
Exit
The File|Exit command exits AR7030 Tuner. If you have modified files without
saving, you'll be prompted to save before exiting.
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31 File menu options
AOR AR7030 Tuner for Windows
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EDIT MENU OPTIONS
The edit menu provides you with all the facilities you need to edit the data
displayed inside the windows. Most of the edit menu options work by copying,
cutting and pasting using WindowsTM Clipboard.
You often need to highlight areas of text before using edit menu options. It
is possible to select an individual line simply by clicking on it. If you want to select
several lines at once, you can select a block by clicking on the first line and shift
clicking on the last (click with the mouse while holding the SHIFT key down).
You can select several lines scattered throughout the file by control-clicking on each
(clicking with the mouse while holding the CTRL key down).
Cut
The Edit|Cut command removes the selected items from the active window and places
the text in the Clipboard. Choose Edit|Paste to paste the cut text into another window
or into another part of the same window. The text remains selected in the clipboard,
and can be pasted several times.
Copy
The Edit|Copy command leaves the selected items intact and places an exact copy of
them in the Clipboard. To paste the copied text into another document, choose
Edit|Paste.
Paste
The Edit|Paste command inserts the text currently in the Clipboard into the current
window at the cursor position.
Clear
The Edit|Clear command removes the selected items and leaves blank lines in their
place. The text is not placed in the Clipboard.
Data cannot be recovered once it has been cleared.
Delete
The Edit|Delete command deletes the currently selected items from the current
window removing it completely. The text is not placed in the Clipboard.
Data cannot be recovered once it has been deleted.
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32 Edit menu options
AOR AR7030 Tuner for Windows
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Add Item...
The Edit|Add Item... option allows you to add a new item of data just below the
currently selected item.
The dialog above is display when you select this menu option and the current VFO
parameters copied into it. A 40-character comment (not downloadable) is provided
which allows you to identify the channel. You can accept the parameters picked up
from the radio or modify them using the dialog controls before clicking on OK.
If you are editing a list of frequencies, the ‘Next’ push button will update the current
channel and move you on to the next in one operation. This greatly speeds up the
modification of lists.
Modify Item...
The Edit|Modify Item... opens a dialog which lets you alter the current item of
data in the active window. The dialog for modifying a channel is the same one for
adding a channel.
Renumber
The Edit|Renumber menu option allows you to renumber the lines of data items so
that they are in ascending order (by channel number).
You will need to use this option after editing using Clipboard or whenever the
channels are not in the right order before sending the data to the radio.
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33 Edit menu options
AOR AR7030 Tuner for Windows
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SETUP MENU OPTIONS
This set of menu options will allow you to alter the setup of the AR7030
Tuner software and tune your radio.
Tune...
The Setup|Tune... command opens a dialog box which allows you to set the
frequency and mode of the radio direct from the desktop.
Use the Tune dialog to select the parameters you want and click on OK to accept or
CANCEL to abort. The RS-232 command needed to change the radio is sent and the
status display on the tool bar updated when you press OK.
You can select the receiver’s mode, IF filter and AGC speed direct from the keyboard
as follows:
AM
F2
SNC
F3
NFM
F4
DAT
F5
CW
F6
LSB
F7
USB
F8
cycle through available
filters
cycle though AGC speeds
Time
This menu option is used to set the AR7030’s internal clock from the system clock of
your PC. The software attempts to compensate for offset from UTC and implements
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34 Setup menu options
AOR AR7030 Tuner for Windows
_____________________________________________________________________
daylight saving if you are running under Windows 95. You will need to have your PC
clock set correctly for this to work.
The time in the radio is updated immediately on selection of this menu option.
Power On/Reset...
This menu option sends a reset command to the radio to switch it on. You should use
this if only you have previously switched the AR7030 off via software.
Since the
still applied), you do not need to switch the radio on before using this software it will do this for you.
AR7030
CPU is active even when switched off (but with power
Power Off
This menu option can be used to switch off the AR7030. Power is removed from the
RF circuits in the radio and the internal software is put into a nominally dormant state.
However, the CPU in the radio remains active even though it is notionally “switched
off”. This means that is can still respond to some RS-232 commands from this
software, but will not tune of course. It is possible to send and get memory data when
the AR7030 is switched off.
Since the
still applied), you do not need to switch the radio on before using this software it will do this for you.
AR7030
CPU is active even when switched off (but with power
Filters...
Use this menu option to list the filters that are fitted in your radio and save them to the
initial values file. The current filters are listed in the dialog that appears. Click on the
“Save to INI...” push button to save the filter values in the AR7030.INI initial values
file. The values saved are used to label the displays used in the program.
The software reads data direct from the radio so you should run the filter
calibration routine after fitting new filters before saving the filter values to file.
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35 Setup menu options
AOR AR7030 Tuner for Windows
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Data Base Directory...
The optional AOR Data Base Toolkit is installed separately from AR7030 Tuner and
so you need to set the directory you used for the data base to enable the program to
launch data base applications.
You just need to type in the appropriate directory name into the dialog that is
displayed. For example:
The directory name you choose is stored in the initial values (“.INI”) file so you only
need to do this once. The directory name you type in must be exactly the same as that
chosen when installing the data base.
Communications...
The Setup|Communications... command opens the Communications dialog
box which allows you to select the serial port you want to use for bi-directional RS232 communications with your radio. See the section on setting up the software for
descriptions of the dialogs.
You can select the serial port you want to use (COM1 to COM4).
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36 Setup menu options
AOR AR7030 Tuner for Windows
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TOOLS MENU OPTIONS
This menu provides a number of tools for tuning the radio including search,
scan and map based tuning from data imported from the AOR data base.
Maps...
This powerful feature of the program provides a link between the AOR data
base and software control of your radio. Using the map display, you can read text
reports from the AOR data base, plot individual transmitter sites and tune the radio
from the mouse just by clicking on a TX site.
Further details are given in the MAPS section of this manual.
Scan Operation...
Scan allows you to review selected frequencies in a memory file by tuning to them
automatically in sequence.
Memory SCAN operation directly by the radio is not supported by the RS-
232 command set.
You need to have a memory file (.MEM) open in the desktop and some memory
channels selected before you begin a scan. To select channels, you can either select a
continuous block of data by clicking on the first line then again on the last line with
the SHIFT key held down; alternatively, you can select a number of lines that are
not in a block by single-clicking on each with the CNTRL key held down. Once
you have selected the channels in the memory window you want, open the scan dialog
from the main menu and they will appear in the “Selected” box as follows:
You can set the dwell time on each channel using the scroll bar to select a value in the
range 1-10s per channel before starting the scan.
To begin the scan, click on the Start push button. To pause on an active channel, click
on Stop and to resume the scan click on Start again.
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37 Tools menu options
AOR AR7030 Tuner for Windows
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Click on the Close push button to stop the scan and return to normal operation.
Search automatically tunes the receiver through all frequencies between two
specific limits looking for active frequencies. Scan recalls specific spot
frequencies which have been stored into a memory file.
Search Operation...
Search allows you to tune continuously between two frequency limits to review signal
activity in bands. The following dialog is opened when you begin a search:
You need to specify a lower and upper VFO frequency, a step size, mode and dwell
time before you start. The step size allows you to align tuning with the channel
spacing used by the radio services you are listening to (eg 5 kHz for HF broadcasts, 9
kHz for MW AM in Europe, 10 kHz for MW AM in North America). The dwell time
is selected using a scroll bar; you can choose any value in the range 1-10s per tuning
step.
If you want a spectrum display, press the Spectrum push button BEFORE starting the
search. A separate window is then used to display the spectrum which is the mean
signal level found on each frequency step. See the section below for details of the
Spectrum Display window.
If you want to save the search parameters you have entered for re-use later, click on
the Save... push button to open a standard File Save As dialog. To load a set of search
parameters saved earlier, click on the Load... push button. The lower frequency,
upper frequency, mode and chosen step size are stored in a .PBS file on disk. Note,
these push buttons are only active when not actually doing a search.
To begin a search press the Start push button. To pause on an active frequency, press
Stop push button and Start again to resume. Click on Close to stop searching and
return to normal operation.
Search automatically tunes the receiver through all frequencies between two
specific limits looking for active frequencies. Scan recalls specific spot
frequencies which have been stored into a memory file.
Spectrum Display
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38 Tools menu options
AOR AR7030 Tuner for Windows
_____________________________________________________________________
The spectrum window looks like:
The display shows the signal level on each active frequency found. A maximum of
400 signal traces can be shown on the display although the thickness of each trace
depends on the number of tuning steps in the search. If you have a large number of
tuning steps, the traces will be thin; if you have a small number, the traces will appear
much thicker.
You can clear the display using the Options|Clear menu option or print it out using the
Otions|Print menu option.
You can also measure the frequency and signal level of each signal trace by moving
your mouse over the display. Moving position indicator bars help you to line up the
mouse over the display. The mouse position is shown in the bottom left hand corner
of the display in terms of frequency and signal level.
HF Utilities...
This option launches the optional HF Utilities data base (if installed). The data base
application is part of the AOR Data Base Toolkit (available separately) and is a
separate executable.
Refer to the on-line help and the AOR Data Base Toolkit manual for further details.
HF Broadcasters...
This option launches the HF Broadcasters data base application from the optional
AOR Data Base Toolkit.
Logbook...
This menu option launches the Shortwave Listener’s Logbook data base application
from the optional AOR Data Base Toolkit.
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39 Tools menu options
AOR AR7030 Tuner for Windows
_____________________________________________________________________
WINDOW MENU OPTIONS
This menu allows you to change the way that windows are displayed on the
AR7030 Tuner desktop. A list of the files that are currently open is appended
automatically to the bottom of the menu.
Cascade
The Window|Cascade command arranges all document windows from the top-left
position of the application's main window so that the title bar of each is visible.
Tile
The Window|Tile command arranges all document windows side-by-side in a nonoverlapping pattern.
Arrange Icons
The Window|Arrange Icons command arranges all iconised windows into rows along
the bottom of the application's main window.
Close All
The Window|Close All command closes all document windows open in the
application.
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40 Window menu options
MAPS
This powerful feature of AR7030 Tuner available from the Tool menu allows
you to plot a world map on a spherical projection and overlay it with transmitter data
imported from the AOR data base.
The map window allows you to select any vantage point you want (by default
it is your home location). Your home location is marked with a symbol and a
place name (which you can specify). An example map display is shown below:
The Maps window has its own menu which allows you to select the display options
you want.
When you open the Maps window, it is blank. To start plotting a map, either select
View|Vantage Point... or right-click on the window with your mouse to open the
Vantage Point dialog. Next open a report (.RPT) file using the Overlay menu option
to overlay data base data on top of your map. You can then tune simply by clicking
on the transmitter symbols that are displayed.
A simple system of symbols is used to indicate when there is more than one frequency
active from the same site or when there is more than one transmitter at the same
location. The following symbols may appear just to the left of the symbol
(depending on the data available):
AOR AR7030 Tuner for Windows
_____________________________________________________________________
when more than one frequency on the same TX
when more than one transmitter at the same site
The following menu options are provided from the Maps window:
File
This menu allows you to select overlay options.
Overlay
You can open a text format data base report (.RPT) file using the standard
Open dialog, but you must have plotted a map first.
Clear
This option blanks the map display so that you can plot a new map and
overlay it with fresh data.
Setup
This menu allows you to set your home geographical location for plotting
on the map.
Home...
This dialog lets you select your home geographical location. This is the location on
the map that has a symbol plotted on it. The Home Location dialog looks like:
You can enter the latitude, longitude and a place name. All geographical angles must
be entered in decimal degrees (eg 51.92) with Southern and Western values being
negative. The values you enter are stored in the initial values file so that they are
reused next time the program is run.
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42 Introduction
AOR AR7030 Tuner for Windows
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View
This menu contains a variety of options for changing the map displayed in
the window.
Vantage Point...
The vantage point is the geographical location on the spherical map
projection which is in the centre of the field of view. By default, your home location
is chosen as the vantage point.
You can select another vantage point using the Vantage Point dialog:
You can enter the latitude, longitude, rotation angle and zoom factor for the vantage
point. All geographical angles must be entered in decimal degrees (eg 51.92) with
Southern and Western values being negative.
Normally the rotation angle is 90 degrees, but you can select another angle if you
prefer.
Type in the values you require and click on OK to accept or Cancel to Abort.
Zoom In
This option zooms in by a factor of x2 and re-plots the transmitter data.
Zoom Out
This option zooms out by a factor of x2 and re-plots the transmitter data.
Antipodes
This option rotates the map to the opposite side of the Earth.
Rotate +90 degrees
This option rotates the map through +90 degrees of longitude.
Rotate -90 degrees
This option rotates the map through -90 degrees of longitude.
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43 Introduction
AOR AR7030 Tuner for Windows
_____________________________________________________________________
Part II
AOR
AR3030
Tuner for Windows
____________________________________________________________________
44 Introduction
AOR AR3030 Tuner for Windows
_____________________________________________________________________
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to
AOR
AR3030
Tuner for
powerful RS-232 control application for the
receiver which forms part of the AOR
'$7$0$67(5 package. This
Windows
AR3030
TM
. This is a
general coverage
simple to use program lets you configure memory data, tune the ra dio
from a realistic front panel display and import transmitter data from the
AOR Data Base Toolkit overlaying it onto a world map for point and
click tuning. The program uses an RS-232 serial port to communicate
with your radio and ha s these exciting features and more:
• Easy to use intuitive windowing system with tile and cascade. You
may have any number of memory data files of 100 channels as you
wish (disk space permitting).
• Comprehensive edi ting features for memory data including i ntelligent
cut/paste and l ine renumbering
• On-line context sensitive help. Y ou may obtain help from the m ain
menu and in all dialogs. Help is also available from the desktop simply
by pressing the
F1 key.
• Tune your radio using a realistic front panel display (complete with
needle s-meter) for a realistic “virtual” AR3030 on your PC.
• Import text reports from the AOR Data Base Tool kit, plot transm itter
data on a spherical projection world map from any vantage point and
tune using a point and click interface
• Obtain on-line instant HF propagation predictions using MUFsight;
display those parts of the world that are audible on a world ma p
• Send memory data to your radio or get data from your radio and print it
out.
• Display the spectrum when searching, measure frequency and signal
strength with your mouse.
• Access G4SGI SWL working aids on the subjects of foreign language
recognition, pr opagation, modulation and the international bandplan
• Convert your
AR3030
&RQFHUWR memory data to the form at supported
by AR3030 Tuner
• Send memory files as e-m ail over the Internet through Microsoft
Exchange
You have purchased a “licence” to install and operate a
maximum of two copies of AOR AR3030 Tuner for WindowsTM.
____________________________________________________________________
45 Introduction
AOR AR3030 Tuner for Windows
_____________________________________________________________________
There are two copy protection tokens on the master disk. See the
section on copy protection for more details.
Acknowledgment
This program uses geographical data placed in the public domain by Fred
Pospeschil and Antonio Riveria. Original coordinate data was created by
the Central Intelligence Agency.
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46 Introduction
AOR AR3030 Tuner for Windows
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GETTING STARTED
RS-232 connection
You must connect your radio to an
before you can operate the software. A screened cable with a minimum
of 3 conductors is required for connecting the PC to the receiver.
If screened cable is not used then digital noise may radiate from
the conductors of the cable and cause interference to reception. All
cable connections should be high quality f or durability.
Full details of the connection re quired (including the pin
configuration) is g iven in Section 7 Computer Control (RS-232C) of
the
AR3030
(unlike other manufacturer’s receivers), you just connect a serial port of
your computer di rectly to the radio.
2SHUDWLQJ0DQXDO. No level shifting interface is require d
RS-232
port of your computer
Starting the program
To launch AR3030 Tuner for WindowsTM:
Select the AOR AR3030 Tuner shortcut from the AOR '$7$
0$67(5 option of t he Programs menu on the task bar. The AR3030
Tuner program should then appear on your screen. The main window has
a number of components as follows:
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47 Getting started
AOR AR3030 Tuner for Windows
_____________________________________________________________________
Menu:
The main menu provide s access to all the features of the program
and is located just below the top edge of the window.
Tool bar:
Underneath the main menu is the tool bar. This contains a number
of push buttons which provide rapid access to the most frequently used
menu options. If you move your mouse over any of the tool bar buttons,
a line of text is displayed on the status bar in place of the copyright notice
on the bottom edge of the main window telling you what the button does.
Status display:
Next to the tool bar push buttons is a status display showing the
current frequency and mode the radio is tuned to.
Status bar:
Along the bottom edge of the window is a copyright notice w hich
can be used to display a dialog showing the version of the pro gram.
Click on the
____________________________________________________________________
48 Getting started
or © symbol to display the dialog.
AOR AR3030 Tuner for Windows
_____________________________________________________________________
Desktop:
The main part of th e window (the applicatio n’s desktop) is use d to
display files of memory data in individual windows. A specially
developed style of list box is used for display and provides a flexible and
fast way to handle data. Data windows can be reduced to icons and
appear along the bottom edge of the desktop as minimised windows.
You must set up RS-232 comm unication from your computer
before starting to use
AR3030
Tuner using the instructions given in the
next section.
Setting up
AR3030
Tuner uses an RS-232 serial port on your computer to
send instructions to the radio. You must have a suitable interface unit to
make the physica l connection betwee n the D-type connector on your
computer to the remote control port on your radio. Full deta ils of the
connection required (including the pin configuration) is given in
7 Computer Control (RS-232C)
of the
AR3030
2SHUDWLQJ0DQXDO
Section
.
Setting up is a tw o step process which involves setting up the
software then selecting RS-232 operation from the
AR3030
’s front pa nel.
To setup the software:
Once you have m a de the physical connection and launched
AR3030
to configure the serial port used by
Tuner, you will need to use the Setup|Communications... dialog
AR3030
Tuner for your radio.
You can select th e baud rate and serial port on your PC from the dialog
shown above. Selec t the PC serial port configuration you want and click
on the “OK” push button to cont inue. The param eters you select are
stored in the "
next time you run
AR3030.INI
AR3030
Tuner.
" initial values file so that they can be reused
To setup the radio:
____________________________________________________________________
49 Getting started
AOR AR3030 Tuner for Windows
_____________________________________________________________________
With the radio switched
ENT into the
AR3030
’s keypad (you should use the same baud rate you
ON
, type in 4, 8, 0, 0, ENT or 9, 6, 0, 0,
selected in software). Your choice will be effective until you exit from
the program or switch the radio OFF. You w ill need to setup the r a dio in
this way
EVERY TIME
you use the software because the
AR3030
must
be in “REMOTE” mode for RS-232 control to work.
Once you have setup your PC serial port for the radio you are
using, you can begin to use
AR3030
Tuner.
The RS-232 parameters you select from the dialog must
EXACTLY match those setup in the radio. If they are different, you
will get unstable behaviour when using the program or no apparent
operation at all.
Obtaining Help
AR3030
Tuner has a extensive context sensitive help available at
all times. You can obtain help from the desktop simply by pressin g
F1 or by selectin g the “Help” option from the main menu. Help is also
provided from a push button in each dialog.
The help information that is provided is hypertext based and fu lly
inter-referenced for your convenience.
You can also access the SWL working aids from the help menu.
Comprehensive information is provided on the international bandplan
(regions 1, 2, and 3), modulation, propagation and foreign language
recognition (non-English).
Front Panel
____________________________________________________________________
50 Getting started
AOR AR3030 Tuner for Windows
_____________________________________________________________________
The Front Panel window is an accurate representation in software
of the
AR3030
’s own front panel, so you ca n tune the radio in a natural
way even through you are using software. A continuous needle type smeter display is provided which exactly matches that on the radio. Most
of the radio’s front panel controls are available under software control
giving you a “virtual”
AR3030
on your PC. The Front Panel window is
displayed whenever you are using the software.
The following controls are provided:
POWER Exit from the program (does not switch off power
from radio)
<- mode -> Step through avai lable modes (backwar ds or
forwards)
BW Select bandwidth (NWR, NOR)
AGC Select agc (SLOW, FAST)
TONE Select tone (HIGH, LOW)
ATT Select attenuator (off, 10dB, 20dB)
MEMO Toggle memory mode
Min Memory in
Keypad Keypad frequency entry (with MTR band entry)
Tuning knob Tuning tool
To use the front panel window, simply single click with your
mouse on the active co ntrols just as you would if you were using the
radio directly. Sections 5 and 6 of the
AR3030
2SHUDWLQJ0DQXDO
will
help you operate the Front Panel window since those controls that can be
duplicated by RS-232 commands are supported in software.
The radio can be tuned continuously in steps using the Tune Tool
which is obtained by clicking on the tuning knob. The tuning tool looks
like:
You can tune up or down in frequency steps with the size shown in
the list box in the middle of the tool. Simply click on the > or < push
buttons with your mouse to change frequency. You can remove the
tuning control by closin g the dial og.
____________________________________________________________________
51 Getting started
AOR AR3030 Tuner for Windows
_____________________________________________________________________
Memory operation from the software front panel is very similar to
the actual radio. To review individual memory channels directly in the
radio, click on the MEMO key and use the keypad to select the channel
you want (00 - 99). Click on MEMO again to transfer the chan nel to the
main VFO. To store a frequency in the radio’s memory directly, click on
Min then either select a channel from the keypad and click on ENT/BS or
click on Min again to use the next available blank channel.
Memory SCAN operation and VFO A/B select are not supported
by the RS-232 command set and so cannot be emulated in software.
____________________________________________________________________
52 Getting started
AOR AR3030 Tuner for Windows
_____________________________________________________________________
FILE MENU OPTIONS
The file menu contains all the menus you need to work with files
and manage m emory data held on disk. The content of each file is shown
inside a data window on the desktop.
New
The File|New command opens a new, untitled memory data
window, and makes it the active window.
to name untitled documents w hen they are closed.
Open...
AR3030
Tuner prompts you
The File|Open... command displays the “Open” dialog box so you
can select a file and create a new window to display it.
Close
File|Close close s the currently active window. If you have modified the
file without saving, you will be prompted to save before exiting.
Save
The File|Save command saves the file in the active window to di sk.
If the file is unnamed, the File|Save As... dialog box is displayed so you
can name the file, and choose where it is to be saved.
Save As...
____________________________________________________________________
53 File menu options
AOR AR3030 Tuner for Windows
_____________________________________________________________________
The File|Save As... command allows you to save a file under a new name,
or in a new location on disk. The comma nd displays the standard Save
As dialog box. You can enter the new file name, including the drive and
directory.
Send to RX...
The File|Send to RX... command transfer the contents of the
current window to your radio using RS-232 commands.
If you are sending memory data, all channels in the radio will be cleared
before the data is sent. This ensures that the data stored in the radio is
exactly the same as that displayed in the memory data window.
You can use the following dialog to abort sending data by simply clicking
on the abort push button:
Data in your radio will be overwritten.
Get from RX...
The File|Get from RX... command gets a file of data from the radio
and places it in the currently active window. You should open a new
window before ge tting new data if you do not want t o overwrite the
current window.
You can abort this operation in the same way as you can for sending data:
simply click on the Abort push button in the dialog that is displayed.
Data in the current window will be overwritten.
Print...
The File|Print... command prints the contents of the active window.
Use File|Print Setup... to select a printer, and to set printer options. Only
memory chann e ls with data in them will be printed.
____________________________________________________________________
54 File menu options
AOR AR3030 Tuner for Windows
_____________________________________________________________________
Print Setup...
The File|Printer Setup... command displays the Printer Setup dialog box
which allows you to select and configure the
Windows
printer to be used to print documents in the application.
TM
compatible
____________________________________________________________________
55 File menu options
AOR AR3030 Tuner for Windows
_____________________________________________________________________
Send...
This File me nu option allows you to send memory files using e-mail
through Microsoft Exchange. When you select File|Send..., Exchange is
launched automatically and pre-loaded with the current active memory
file ready for you to send it as an e-mail attachment over the Internet.
You can also send memory files as FAXes using Exchange.
Exit
The File|Exit command exits
AR3030
Tuner. If you have modified files
without saving, you'll be prompted to save before exiting.
____________________________________________________________________
56 File menu options
AOR AR3030 Tuner for Windows
_____________________________________________________________________
EDIT MENU OPTIONS
The edit menu provides you with all the facilitie s you need to
edit the data displayed inside the windows. Most of the edit menu
options work by copying, cutting and pasting using
Clipboard
.
Windows
You often need to highlight areas of text before using edit menu
options. It is possible to select an individual line simply by clicking on it.
If you want to select several lines at once, you can select a block by
clicking on th e first line and shi f t clicking on th e last (click with the
TM
mouse while holding the
SHIFT key down). You can select sever a l
lines scattered throughout the file by control-clicking on each (clicking
with the mouse while holding the
CTRL key down).
Cut
The Edit|Cut command removes the selected items from the active
window and places the text in the Clipboard. Choose Edit|Paste to paste
the cut text into another window or into another part of the same window.
The text remains selected in the clipboard, and can be pasted se veral
times.
Copy
The Edit|Copy com mand leaves the selected items intact and places an
exact copy of them in the Clipboard. To paste the cop ied text into
another document, choose Edit|Paste.
Paste
The Edit|Paste com mand inserts the text currently in th e Clipboard into
the current window at the cursor position.
Clear
The Edit|Clear command removes the selected items and leaves blank
lines in their place. The text is not placed in the Clipboa rd.
Data cannot be recovered once it has been cleared.
____________________________________________________________________
57 Edit menu options
AOR AR3030 Tuner for Windows
_____________________________________________________________________
Delete
The Edit|Delete command deletes the c urrently selected items from the
current window removing it completely. The text is not placed in the
Clipboard.
Data cannot be recovered once it has been deleted.
Add Item...
The Edit|Add Item... option allows you to add a new item of data just
below the currently selected item.
The dialog above is display when you select this menu option and the
current VFO parameters copied into it. A 40-character comment (not
downloadable) is provided which allows you to identify the channel. You
can accept the param eters picked up from the radio or modify them using
the dialog controls before clicking on OK.
If you are editing a list of frequencies, the ‘Next’ push button will update
the current cha nnel and move you on to the next in one operation. This
greatly speeds up the modification of lists.
Modify Item...
The Edit|Modify Item... opens a dialog which lets you alter the
current item of data in the active window. The dialog for modifying a
channel is the same one for adding a channel.
Renumber
The Edit|Renumber menu option allows you to renumber the lines of data
items so that they are in ascending order (by channel number).
____________________________________________________________________
58 Edit menu options
AOR AR3030 Tuner for Windows
_____________________________________________________________________
You will need to use this option after editing using Clipboard or
whenever the channels are not in the right order before sending the data
to the radio.
____________________________________________________________________
59 Edit menu options
AOR AR3030 Tuner for Windows
_____________________________________________________________________
SETUP MENU OPTIONS
This set of menu options will allow you to alter the setup of the
AR3030
Tune...
to set the frequency and mode of the radio direct from the desktop.
Tuner software and tune your radio.
The Setup|Tune... command opens a dialog box which allows you
Use the Tune dialog to select the parameters you want and click on OK to
accept or CANCEL to abort. The RS-232 command needed to change
the radio is sent and the status display on the tool bar updated w hen you
press OK.
You can select the receiver’s mode direct from the keyboard as follows:
CW
F2
USB
F3
LSB
F4
AM
F5
SAM
F6
FM
F7
FAX
F8
Data Base Directory...
____________________________________________________________________
60 Setup menu options
AOR AR3030 Tuner for Windows
_____________________________________________________________________
The optional AOR Data Base Toolkit is installed separately from
AR3030
Tuner and so you n eed to set the directory you used for the data
base to enable the program to launch data base applications.
You just need to type in the appropriate directory name into the dialog
that is displayed. For example:
The directory name you choose is stored in the initial values (“.INI”) file
so you only need to do this once. The directory name you type in m ust be
exactly the same as that chosen when installing the data base.
Communications...
The Setup|Communications... command opens the
Communications dialog box which allows you to select the parameters of
the serial port you want to use for bi-directional RS-232 com munications
with your radio. See the section on setting up the software for
descriptions of the dialogs.
You can select th e serial port you want to use (COM1 to COM4) and the
baud rate.
You must make sure that the RS-232 parameters set in the radio
EXACTLY match those selected in the software.
____________________________________________________________________
61 Setup menu options
AOR AR3030 Tuner for Windows
_____________________________________________________________________
TOOLS MENU OPTIONS
This menu provides a number of tools for tuning the radio
including search, scan and map based tuning from data imported from the
AOR data base.
Maps...
This powerful feature of the program provides a link between the
AOR data base and software control of your radio. Using the map
display, you can read text reports from the AOR data base, plot individual
transmitter s ites and tune the radio from the mouse just by clicki ng on a
TX site.
Further details are given in the MAPS section of this manual.
Scan Operation...
Scan allows you to review selected frequencies in a memory file by
tuning to them automatically in sequence.
Memory SCAN operation directly by the radio is not supported
by the RS-232 command set.
You need to have a memory file (.MEM) open in the desktop and som e
memory chann e ls selected before you begin a scan. To select channels,
you can either sel ect a continuous block of data by clicking on the first
line then again on the last line with the
alternatively, you can select a number of lines that are not in a block by
single-clicking on each with the
have selected t he channels in the memory window you want, open t he
scan dialog from the main menu and they will appear in the “Selected”
box as follows:
CNTRL key held down. Once you
SHIFT key held down;
____________________________________________________________________
62 Tools menu options
AOR AR3030 Tuner for Windows
_____________________________________________________________________
You can set the dwell time on each channel using the scroll bar to select a
value in the range 1-10s per channel before starting the scan.
To begin the scan, click on the Start push button. To pause on an active
channel, click on Stop and to resume the scan click on Start again.
Click on the Clo se push button to stop the scan and return to normal
operation.
Search automatically tune s the receiver through all frequencies
between two specific limits looking for active frequencies. Scan
recalls specific spot frequencies which have been stored into a
memory file.
Search Operation...
Search allows you to tune continuously between two freque ncy limits to
review signal activity in bands. The following dialog is opened when you
begin a search:
You need to specify a lower and upper VFO frequency, a step size, mode
and dwell time before you start. The step size allows you to align tun ing
with the channel spacing used by the radio services you are liste ning to
____________________________________________________________________
63 Tools menu options
AOR AR3030 Tuner for Windows
_____________________________________________________________________
(eg 5 kHz for HF broadcasts, 9 kHz for MW AM in Europe, 10 kHz for
MW AM in North America). The dwell time is selected using a scroll
bar; you can choose any value in the range 1-10s per tuning step.
If you want a spectrum display, press the Spectrum push button BEFORE
starting the search. A separate window is then used to display the
spectrum w hich is the mean signa l level found on each frequency step.
See the section below for details of the Spectrum Display window.
If you want to save the search parameters you have entered for re-use
later, click on the Save... push button to open a standard File Save As
dialog. To load a set of search parameters saved earlier, click on the
Load... push button. The lower frequency, upper fre quency, mode and
chosen step size are stored in a .PBS file on disk. Note, these push
buttons are only active when not actually doing a search.
To begin a search press the Start push button. To pause on an active
frequency, press Stop push button and Start again to resume. Click on
Close to stop sea r ching and retur n to normal operation.
Search automatically tune s the receiver through all frequencies
between two specific limits looking for active frequencies. Scan
recalls specific spot frequencies which have been stored into a
memory file.
____________________________________________________________________
64 Tools menu options
AOR AR3030 Tuner for Windows
_____________________________________________________________________
Spectrum Display
The spectrum window looks like:
The display shows the signal level on each active frequency found. A
maximum of 400 signal trac es can be sh own on the d ispl ay althou gh the
thickness of each trace depends on the number of tuning steps in the
search. If you have a large number of tuning steps, the traces will be thin;
if you have a small number, the traces will appear much thicker.
You can clear the display using the Options|Clear menu option or pr int it
out using the Otions|Print menu option.
You can also measure the frequency and signal level of each signal trace
by moving your mouse over the display. Moving p osition indicator bars
help you to line up the mouse over the display. The mouse positio n is
shown in the bottom left hand corner of the display in terms of frequency
and signal level.
HF Utilities...
This option launches the opti onal HF Utilitie s data base (if installed).
The data base application is part of the AOR Data Base Toolkit (available
separately) and is a separate executable.
Refer to the on-line help and the AOR Data Base Toolkit manual for
further details.
HF Broadcasters...
This option launches the HF Broadcasters data base applicatio n from the
optional AOR Data Base Toolkit.
____________________________________________________________________
65 Tools menu options
AOR AR3030 Tuner for Windows
_____________________________________________________________________
Logbook...
This menu option launches the Shortwave Listener’s Logbook data base
application from the optional AOR Data Base Toolkit.
____________________________________________________________________
66 Tools menu options
AOR AR3030 Tuner for Windows
_____________________________________________________________________
WINDOW MENU OPTIONS
This menu allows you to change the way that windows are
displayed on the
currently open is appended aut omatically to the bottom of the m enu.
Cascade
The Window|Cascade command arranges all document windows from the
top-left position of the application's main window so that the title bar of
each is visible.
Tile
The Window|Tile command arranges all document windows side-by-side
in a non-overlapping pattern.
AR3030
Tuner desktop. A list of the files that are
Arrange Icons
The Window|Arrange Icons comm and arranges all iconised windows into
rows along the bottom of the appl ication's main window.
Close All
The Window|Close All command closes all document windows open in
the application.
____________________________________________________________________
67 Window menu options
AOR AR3030 Tuner for Windows
_____________________________________________________________________
MAPS
This powerful feature of AR3030 Tuner available from the Tool
menu allows you to plot a world map on a spherical projection and
overlay it with transmitter data imported from the AOR data base.
The map window allows you to select any vantage point you want
(by default it is your home location). Your home location is marked with
a
symbol and a place name (which you can specify). An example
map display is shown below:
The Maps window has its own menu which allows you to select the
display options you want.
When you open the Maps window, it is blank. To start plotting a map,
either select View|Vantage Point... or right-click on the window with your
mouse to open the Vantage Point dialog. Next open a repor t (. RPT) file
using the Over lay menu option t o overlay data base data on top of your
map. You can then tune simply by clicking on the transmitter symbols
that are displayed.
____________________________________________________________________
68 Maps
AOR AR3030 Tuner for Windows
_____________________________________________________________________
A simple system of symbols is use d to indicate when there is more than
one frequency active from the same site or when there is m ore than one
transmitter at the same location. The following symbols may appear just
to the left of the
symbol (depending on the data available):
when more than one frequency on the same TX
when more than one transmitter at the same site
The following menu options are provided from the Maps window:
File
This menu allow s you to select overlay options.
Overlay
You can open a text format data base report (.RPT) file using the
standard Open dialog, but you must have plotted a map first.
Clear
This option bl anks the map display so that you can plot a new
map and overlay it with fresh data.
Setup
This menu allow s you to set your home geographical location for
plotting on the map.
Home...
This dialog let s you select your home geographical location. This is the
location on the map that ha s a
Location dialog looks like:
symbol plotted on it. The Home
____________________________________________________________________
69 Maps
AOR AR3030 Tuner for Windows
_____________________________________________________________________
You can enter the latitude, longitude and a place name. All geographical
angles must be en tered in decimal degrees (eg 51.92) with Southern and
Western values being negative. The values you enter are stored in the
initial values file so that they are reused next time the program is run.
____________________________________________________________________
70 Maps
AOR AR3030 Tuner for Windows
_____________________________________________________________________
View
This menu contains a variety of options for changing the map
displayed in the window.
Vantage Point...
The vantage point is the geographical location on the spherical
map projection which is in the centre of the field of view. By default,
your home locati on is chosen as the vant age point.
You can select a nother vantage point using the Vantage Point
dialog:
You can enter the la titude, longitude, rotation angle and zoom factor for
the vantage point. All geographical angles must be entered in decimal
degrees (eg 51.92) with Southern and Western values being negative.
Normally the rot a tion angle is 90 degrees, but you can select another
angle if you prefer.
Type in the values you require and click on OK to accept or Cancel to
Abort.
Zoom In
This option zooms in by a factor of x2 and re-plots the transmitter data.
Zoom Out
This option zooms out by a factor of x2 and re-plots the transmitter data.
Antipodes
This option rotates the map to the opposite side of the Earth.
Rotate +90 degrees
____________________________________________________________________
71 Maps
AOR AR3030 Tuner for Windows
_____________________________________________________________________
This option rotates the map through +90 degrees of longitude.
Rotate -90 degrees
This option rotates the map through -90 degrees of longitude.
____________________________________________________________________
72 Maps
AOR AR3030 Tuner for Windows
_____________________________________________________________________
Part III
MUFsight Propagation Prediction
____________________________________________________________________
73 Maps
MUFsight Propagation Prediction
___________________________________________________________________
INTRODUCTION
MUFSight is a propagation prediction utility that generates the maximum and
lowest usable frequencies for communication between a home location and a DX site.
The program can display these frequencies against world maps, using two different
projections, for a specified time or, by double clicking on the maps, view the usable
frequencies for the DX location under the mouse over a twenty four hour period.
MUFSight is based on the well respected propagation prediction algorithm
MINIMUF which models the propagation properties of the F layers taken as a single
region. MUFSight also includes a prediction of the lowest usable frequency by
calculating the E layer critical screening frequency. MUFSight combines fast and
established prediction algorithms with a flexible and easy to use graphic interface.
Program Highlights
Microsoft® Windows
has been developed in C++ using Borland's Object Windows Library for a natural
look and feel supporting sophisticated features. It is compatible with both Windows
3.x and Windows 95.
HF Propagation Prediction.
algorithm to predict HF radio propagation conditions for anywhere in the world.
Frequency range is 1 - 150MHz for full coverage of the HF band even at times of high
solar flux.
Map projections.
map projection as colour coded shading. You can trace values simply by positioning
your mouse on the display (lat, long, bearing and great circle path are all traced).
Select between MUF and LUF plots from the toolbar.
Single point predictions.
analysis of MUF and LUF figures for the selected geographical location.
Home Location.
and longitude.
Monitoring Frequency.
the world that should be audible at the current time.
AOR
having to type it
RS-232 radio control software to obtain the monitoring frequency without
program
Predictions can be plotted on either a cylindrical or spherical world
Set your geographical home location simply by entering the latitude
Choose a monitoring frequency and highlight those parts of
. MUFsight is a Windows compatible program that
MUFsight implements the much respected MINIMUF
Double-click anywhere on the map for a full 24 hour
You can
DDE query
your
in.
On-line context sensitive help
provide you with the information you need wherever you are in the program. In
addition to the help menu, all dialogs have a "help" push button which calls up
information for that dialog. You can also highlight individual menu options using the
arrow keys and obtain help on them by pressing <F1>.
____________________________________________________________________
74 Introduction
. The full Windows hypertext help system is used to
MUFsight Propagation Prediction
___________________________________________________________________
PROPAGATION IN THE ATMOSPHERE
The propagation of electromagnetic waves in the atmosphere is affected by the
presence of matter. The electromagnetic waves can be subject to absorption, reflection
or refraction, depending on the nature of the matter with which the waves interact. HF
radio waves are principally affected by the properties of the part of the atmosphere
known as the ionosphere. This is the region lying between 80 and 700 km above the
earth’s surface and derives its name from the fact that the matter in this region is
subject to ionisation by UV light incident from the sun, producing free electrons and
ions. The electron density is chiefly responsible for influencing the propagation of
radio waves and it varies as a function of altitude. There are local minima in electron
density which mark the interfaces of layers identified by the letters D, E, F1 and F2.
These regions have different effects on the propagation of HF radio signals, due to
their characteristic electron densities.
The D layer, or more usually know as the D region due to its limits being less easy to
define compared to the other layers, occurs at an altitude of 50 - 90 km and has
relatively low electron density. Radio waves are attenuated on passing through this
region. The E layer, at 90 - 130 km, has a higher electron density and acts as a
reflector of radio waves. The F1 layer, at an altitude of 130 - 200km and F2 layer at
an altitude of over 200km, have still higher electron densities and are of most
importance for long distance HF propagation. The electron density in these regions
varies with height and in a range such that propagation occurs but the speed of
propagation is affected. The change in density with height means that radio waves can
be refracted and their paths can be bent in a similar fashion to light passing through a
prism. Radio waves can travel from the transmitter through the ionosphere and be
redirected downwards to the earth once more, to be picked up by receivers, enabling
signals to be transmitted beyond the horizon. If the conditions are favourable, signals
____________________________________________________________________
75 Propagation in the atmosphere
MUFsight Propagation Prediction
___________________________________________________________________
may make multiple “skips” bouncing from the ground and being refracted by the
ionosphere, to travel around the globe.
The degree of refraction is dependent on the electron density, the frequency of the
radio waves and the angle of incidence of the radio waves on the ionosphere. The
height of the layers and the density of electrons is a function of the amount of ionising
radiation from the sun. This radiation is from the near constant background solar flux
and increased additional activity associated with sun spots. The amount of ionisation
therefore depends on the time of day and the season at a particular location and the
level of sun spot activity. The electron density directly above a particular location
increases after dawn, reaches a peak just after midday and decays away again as dusk
approaches to stay at a low level during the night.
MUFSight determines the usable frequencies by modeling the propagation
properties of the F layers for the maximum usable frequency and the properties of the
E layer for the lowest usable frequency, knowing the ionisation conditions from the
date, time of day and sun spot number. There are, however other processes occurring
in the ionosphere that are in general too difficult or impossible to predict, involving
random, localised changes in ion density. These include disturbances in the
ionosphere due to shear winds and the interaction of the solar wind and magnetic field
of the sun with the ionosphere. The sporadic regions of ionised matter which result
can have an influence on the underlying propagation conditions. By their nature, these
effects cannot be included in a prediction model. However the theoretical calculations
of the propagation properties of the ionosphere produced by programs such as
MUFSight, give us one of the best pictures possible of the actual propagation
conditions.
The predictions produced by MINIMUF have been compared to measurements using
sounder techniques and has been shown to be accurate in most situations to within ±
3.8 MHz. It is less reliable at distances less than 250 miles
____________________________________________________________________
76 Propagation in the atmosphere
MUFsight Propagation Prediction
___________________________________________________________________
USING THE PROGRAM
This section gives an explanation of how to use MUFSight.
The Basics
Start the application by either double-clicking the application icon or use the run
command of Windows 3.x or Windows 95. The initial screen is as shown in figure 1.
The various regions of the display are marked.
Figure 1 The initial screen display
The plotting area is blank but the statusbar along the bottom displays data read in
from the MUFSIGHT.INI file and from the system clock.
If you are starting the application for the first time or you have changed your location
or there is a change in the local time difference to UTC due to change in daylight
saving time, enter these data in the Set Up dialog box, see figure 2, accessible from
Set Up | Home Location
the
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77 Using the program
menu selection.
MUFsight Propagation Prediction
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Figure 2 Set Up Dialog Box
Use the help button in the dialog for guidance on the format of the data to be entered.
N.B. The new location data will be saved in the file MUFSIGHT.INI when the
application is quit and read in automatically when the application is started again.
The initial time and date selected by the application is the date read from the system
clock and the hour nearest to the hour read from the system clock converted to UTC.
The initial sun spot number is read from the file MUFSIGHT.INI. These values are
displayed in the bottom status bar.
To make changes to any of these values press the
Input Parameters
dialog box, see figure 3.
Figure 3 The Input Parameters Dialog box
The help button in the dialog gives advice on the format of the data to be entered.
After you have made your selection, you are ready to plot your first set of predicted
usable frequencies.
selection from the menu to access the Input Parameters
button or use the
Set Up |
Press the button or use the
selection to generate the plot.
This should have produced a plot of the MUF, shown as blue squares with a map of
the world in a cylindrical plot superimposed. The home location is marked as a green
dot. See figure 4 for an example.
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78 Using the program
Plotting | Plot Usable Frequency
menu
MUFsight Propagation Prediction
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Figure 4 Example screen showing plotting of usable frequency using defaults (low
resolution and MUF).
You can examine the values generated by moving the mouse over the map. The status
bar at the top of the map shows the values of MUF and LUF (in MHz), the latitude
and longitude, the bearing and great circle path distance (in km) from the home
location, of the position pointed to by the mouse.
Advanced Features
Usable Frequencies
There is a choice between plotting the Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) or the
Lowest Usable Frequency (LUF) against the map. This choice can be made by
selecting the appropriate button from the toolbar or by the corresponding
menu option
Plotting | Usable Frequency |MUF
Usable Frequency |LUF
.
Plotting |
or
Spatial Resolution
A choice between three different spatial resolutions is available for the selected usable
frequencies, by the
Plotting | Resolution | Low, Plotting | Resolution | Medium
buttons or by the corresponding menu options
or
Plotting | Resolution | Hi gh .
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79 Using the program
MUFsight Propagation Prediction
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Single Point Prediction
If you double click the mouse on the map, you generate a plot of the MUF and LUF,
at the single DX location pointed to by the mouse, over a 24 hour period, in a separate
popup window, as shown in figure 5.
Figure 5 Pop-up window showing single point prediction over 24 hour period
Alternative Map Projections
There is a choice of two map projections. These are cylindrical and azimuthal,
selectable respectively by the buttons or the corresponding menu options
Plotting | Projection | Cylindical
Projection | Azimuthal
projection is useful for giving an overall view. The azimuthal projection is of most use
when considering the propagation path. In this projection you see two hemispheres of
the earth, the home location or its antipodes is at the centre of a hemisphere. Radial
lines from these central points are of constant bearing from the home location. Figure
6 gives an example of the azimuthal projection.
. The default projection is cylindrical. This
Plotting |
or
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80 Using the program
MUFsight Propagation Prediction
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Figure 6 An example of the display using the azimuthal projection
Monitoring Frequency
A powerful feature is the ability to select a monitoring frequency that you are either
listening on or transmitting on. When this facility is selected, you can generate plots
of the usable frequencies against the world maps with high lighted areas where the
monitoring frequency is above the LUF and below the MUF, indicating the regions of
the world that are audible for that particular time of day and propagation conditions.
By pressing the button or selecting the
Frequency
allowing the entry of a decimal frequency in the range 1 to 150 MHz.
menu option, the Monitored Frequency dialog box (figure 7) appears
Plotting|Monitoring
Figure 7 Monitored Frequency Dialog Box
On pressing the OK button to close the dialog box, the selected monitoring frequency
is displayed on the top status bar. The next time you plot a prediction, the audible
regions for this frequency are shown as areas of the colour red. Figure 8 shows such a
plot.
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81 Using the program
MUFsight Propagation Prediction
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Figure 8 Plot showing the high lighted monitored frequency.
The Monitored frequency can be toggled on or off by pressing the
If you are using the AOR bundled version of MUFsightTM (available with certain
AOR RS-232 control software), you can use the monitor frequency push button
to DDE query the control software for the monitor frequency. You do not have to
type it in. The standalone version of MUFsightTM does not support this feature.
AOR RS-232 control software is available separately from AOR (UK) or
your international AOR distributor. MUFsightTM is supplied bundled with some
packages - ask your AOR dealer for details.
button.
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82 Using the program
MUFsight Propagation Prediction
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PROGRAM CONTROLS
The Toolbar
The toolbar is the collection of buttons as shown above, which control the operation
of the application. A particular control is activated by pressing the appropriate button.
The functions of the various buttons are described below.
ButtonAction Menu Equivalent
Create new plot of usable
Frequency
frequency against world map.
Select cylindrical or azimuthal plot
Cylindrical
Azimuthal
Selection of Maximum or Lowest
Frequency |MUF
usable frequency.
Frequency | LUF
Input parameters for calculations
Parameters
Plotting | Plot Usable
Plotting | Projection |
Plotting | Projection |
Plotting | Usable
Plotting | Usable
Set Up | Input
Selection of low, medium and high
Plotting | Resolution |
Low
resolution plot.
Plotting | Resolution |
Medium
Plotting | Resolution |
High
Query an AOR radio control
package for a frequency
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83 Program controls
Plotting | Query Radio
MUFsight Propagation Prediction
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(AOR bundled version only)
Manually enter a monitor frequency.
Frequency
Get help on MUFsight
The Menu Items
File
File | Exit
Setup
Set Up | Input Parameters
Plotting|Monitoring
.
Quits the application
This option allows the parameters of date, time,
sunspot number and path to be altered for the
plotting of the usable frequencies.
Plotting
Set Up | Home Location
Allows your home latitude and longitude to be
selected and is stored automatically in the file
MUFSIGHT.INI which is read in each time the
program is started.
Plotting | Plot Usable Frequency
This option is used to plot the usable frequencies for a
set time, date, sunspot number and path against the
world map. The menu selection is equivalent to using
the “GO” button from the toolbar. The “GO” button is
raised at the start of the program and pops out again
whenever you have made a change to one or more of the
plotting parameters. Remember, when the button is
raised, you are ready to re-plot.
Plotting | Query Radio
This option is a powerful feature of MUFsight
allows you to integrate the program with your AOR
radio control package (AOR bundled version only). A
Windows Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) link is used
to query the radio control software for the current
frequency. This frequency then become the
which
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84 Program controls
MUFsight Propagation Prediction
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MUFsight monitored frequency value and can be
used to display areas of the globe that are audible
according to the propagation prediction. This feature is
similar to Monitoring Frequency but allows the
monitoring frequency to be obtained automatically.
Plotting | Monitoring Frequency
Initially opens the Monitoring Frequency dialog box
allowing the entry of the desired monitoring frequency.
Subsequent use of this option toggles the plotting for the
audible regions on the maps, indicated by the status of
the Monitoring Frequency button on the Toolbar.
Plotting | Projection | Cylindrical
or
Plotting | Projection | Azimuthal
These options allow the selection of a cylindrical
projection of the map of the world (square symbol),
or an azimuthal projection (circular symbol). The
cylindrical plot gives a good over view of the
propagation conditions over the globe. The azimuthal
plot is useful in that radial lines from the home
location are on a constant bearing.
Help
Plotting | Usable Frequency | MUF
Plotting | Usable Frequency | LUF
These options allows selection between plotting the
maximum usable frequency (MUF) or lowest usable
frequency (LUF) against the world map.
Plotting | Resolution | Low
Plotting | Resolution | Medium
or
or
Plotting | Resolution | High
These options allow the selection of low, medium
and high resolution of plot. These correspond to
regions on the map of 10, 5 and 2.5 degree
increments of latitude and longitude respectively.
Contents.. F1
Allows activation of on-line help file at the contents
page. F1 is the keyboard accelerated equivalent.
or
About
Shows “About” dialog box.
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85 Program controls
GLOSSARY AND DEFINITIONS
MUF - Maximum Usable Frequency, the highest possible frequency for
communication between home location and DX location.
LUF - Lowest Usable Frequency, the lowest possible frequency possible for
communication between home location and DX location.
Bearing - The angle between north and the great circle connecting the home
location and the DX site
Great Circle Path - The shortest path between two points on a sphere i.e. the
route that is close to that taken by a radio wave bouncing from the atmosphere
and the ground.
Short and Long Path - Refers to the path between two points taking the great
circle route (short path) or the path between two points traveling the opposite
direction around the world (long path).
Sun Spot Number - The Zurich smoothed mean sun spot number, related to the
10.7cm solar flux by the equation Solar Flux = 63.75 + 0.7233 SSN + 0.00089
SSN2.
Acknowledgment
This program uses data placed in the public domain by Fred Pospeschil and
Antonio Riveria. Original coordinate data was created by the Central
Intelligence Agency.
GLOSSARY AND DEFINITIONS
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_____________
Part V
Moving Copy Protection
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___
87 Moving Copy Protection
MOVING COPY PROTECTION
A simple utility has been provided so you can move the copy protection
“token” that is installed by your AOR software back onto the distribution floppy disk
or between hard disks.
You may need to move the copy protection token back onto you original
distribution disk in the following circumstances:
When installing disk compression software.
)
When upgrading your AOR software
)
When moving the program to a new computer.
)
When returning the original disk to your AOR distributor (for updates
)
etc.)
To transfer the token onto the distribution floppy disk, run the Copy Protection
Move utility:
When you have done this, the following window is displayed:
To transfer the token onto the distribution floppy disk, click on the Move to
master floppy... push button. If the token is already on the floppy disk, you
can transfer it to hard disk using the Move from master floppy... push
button. You can use this utility to have copies of the program on several computers at
once, however the program will only work on the machine that has the copy
protection token on it.
This AOR software product comes with a single license and two tokens.
Contact your AOR dealer to obtain additional copies of the software.
AOR Data Base TOOLKI
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Part VI
AOR Data Base Toolkit
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_____________
89 World Place Names Form
AOR Data Base Toolkit
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HARNESS APPLICATION
The AOR Data Base Toolkit uses compiled executable Borland Visual dBase
applications (distributed under the conditions of the Borland license). The
information included in this manual and included in the on-line help is based on that
provided by Borland for the Visual dBase system.
Each AOR Data Base Toolkit form has its own controls, but a “harness” application is
also provided with supplies a number of editing and record maintenance features to
enhance operation of the data base system.
The harness application has a menu and tool bar and displays the data base form on its
desktop as follows:
File Menu
The File menu contains options for exiting and printing AOR Data Base Toolkit
forms that are displayed on the harness dektop.
File|Close
This File menu option closes the current AOR Data Base Toolkit form and exits from
the harness application.
File|Print
This File menu option prints the current form.
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90 Harness Application
AOR Data Base Toolkit
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File|Print Setup...
This File menu option allows you to setup your printer.
Edit Menu
The Edit menu contains options for editing individual AOR Data Base Toolkit
records.
Edit|Undo
Reverses the effect of the last typing or Clipboard operation. Undo reverses the
following editing operations:
• Typing
• Edit|Cut
• Edit|Paste (you cannot Undo a record paste operation)
• Edit|Delete
After you undo an edit, the Undo menu command is replaced with Redo. Redo
restores the original editing operation. After you redo an edit, the Redo command is
replaced with Undo. Otherwise, the next editing operation brings back the Undo
command.
You can undo only one editing operation.
The Undo command is not available if you have not performed an editing operation.
Edit|Cut
Removes the selected text or object and places it on the Clipboard.
Use this command to move text or an object, such as an OLE object, from one record
to another.
• Once the Clipboard contains text or an object, you can paste it elsewhere using
Edit|Paste.
• The contents of the Clipboard are not deleted when you paste, so you can paste
many times.
• The Clipboard holds only one entry, so each time you cut, the previously cut or
copied entry is replaced.
• To reverse the effect of this command, choose Edit|Undo.
• To copy text or an object and move it to another place, choose Edit|Copy followed
by Edit|Paste.
To remove text or an object without placing it on the Clipboard, choose Edit|Delete.
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91 Harness Application
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The Cut command is not available if no text or objects are selected.
Edit|Copy
Copies the selected text, object, or record to the Clipboard without removing it
from its original location.
Use this command to copy an item, such as an OLE object, to another location.
• Once the Clipboard contains an item, you can paste it elsewhere using Edit|Paste.
• The contents of the Clipboard are not deleted when you paste, so you can paste
many times.
• The Clipboard holds only one entry, so each time you copy, the previously cut or
copied entry is replaced.
• To move text or an object, use Edit|Cut followed by Edit|Paste.
• To reverse the effect of this command, choose Edit|Undo.
The Copy command is not available if no text, objects, or records are selected.
Edit|Paste
Inserts text, an object, or a record from the Clipboard to the location you specify
in the active window.
This command inserts data previously put on the Clipboard by Edit|Cut, Edit|Copy, or
another application. Text appears at the insertion point. Objects appear in the active
window.
• The contents of the Clipboard are not deleted when you paste, so you can paste
many times.
• To reverse the effect of this command, choose Edit|Undo. You cannot Undo a
Paste operation if you are pasting a record in the Table Records window.
The Paste command is not available if the Clipboard is empty or when what is on the
Clipboard cannot be pasted into the active window.
Edit|Delete
Removes the selected text or object without placing it on the Clipboard.
• To reverse the effect of this command, choose Edit|Undo.
• To remove text or an object and place it on the Clipboard for later pasting, choose
Edit|Cut. As long as you do not cut or copy any other text, the contents of the
Clipboard remains intact.
The Delete command is not available if no text or objects are selected.
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92 Harness Application
AOR Data Base Toolkit
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Edit|Select All
Selects all the text or objects in the active editing area.
Once text or objects are selected, you can cut or copy them to the Clipboard. Once the
Clipboard contains text or an object, such as an OLE picture, you can paste it
elsewhere using Edit|Paste.
To reverse the effect of this command, click outside the editing area.
The Select All command is not available if the editing area contains no text or objects.
Form Menu
The Form menu contains options for navigating through AOR Data Base Toolkit
tables and manipulating whole records.
Form|Find...
Finds the specified text or value in the selected field.
Use Table|Find Records to search for a record in the Table Records window. If a
match is found, the record pointer moves to the found record. You can search on
character, numeric, float, date, logical, and memo fields.
Find What
Enter the text or value you want to find. You can specify any printable character,
including spaces. For example, you could search for records where the ID field equals
“DL5DWW”.
For text and memo fields, you do not have to enter the precise value you are searching
for. You can enter the beginning of a phrase, such as “Radio”, to find all records
beginning with the word “Radio”.
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93 Harness Application
AOR Data Base Toolkit
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To search for a value stored in another field, use parentheses in the Find What text
box.
AOR Data Base Toolkit searches the field specified in Located in Field for the value
that the expression evaluates to. AOR Data Base Toolkit searches for records where
the selected field matches the value of another field in the same record. For example,
you could search for records where the ID field equals the COMMENT field by
selecting ID in the Located in Field list, and specifying (COMMENT) in the Find
What text box.
Located in Field
Choose the field to search.
Search Rules
Defines the search parameters. These options are available for AOR Data Base
Toolkit character and memo fields.
Standard
Searches for records whose field begins with or matches the Find What value.
Exact Length
Searches for records whose field contains exactly the Find What value,
including its length.
Anywhere in Field
Searches for records whose field has the Find What value anywhere inside it.
Sounds Like
Searches for records whose field sounds like the Find What value. The search
is a sound-a-like, or phonetic, search.
Match Case
Matches both uppercase and lowercase letters in the Find What value and field
to search.
Start Search From
Choose where you want to start the search in the data base table.
Top Record
Starts the search from the first record in the data base table.
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94 Harness Application
AOR Data Base Toolkit
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Current Record
Starts the search from the current record in the data base table.
Speed Filter
Indicates whether the search will take advantage of a Speed Filter. AOR Data Base
Toolkit automatically uses Speed Filters whenever possible.
Find push button
Finds the next occurrence of the search value.
Close push button
Closes the dialog box, leaving the record pointer where it was after the last Find.
Advanced>> push button
The Scope panel gives you options for specifying the scope of the operation. This
panel is described in the Scope Panel section.
Edit|Replace...
Replaces the value in a field with a value that you specify for one or more records in a
table.
Use Table|Replace Records to change the data in a field. You can choose any type of
field; however, the replacement value must have the same data type as the field you
choose. When you use Table|Replace Records to change data, the changes appear in
the Table Records window immediately.
The replace dialog looks like:
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95 Harness Application
AOR Data Base Toolkit
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If you provide a scope by using the Scope panel, data is replaced when the value in
the field meets the set of criteria that you specify.
Find What
Enter the text or value you want to find. You can specify any printable character,
including spaces. For example, you could search for records where the ID field equals
“Radio Havana”.
You do not have to enter the precise value you are searching for. You can enter the
beginning of a phrase, such as “Radio”, to find all records beginning with the word
"Radio".
To search for a value stored in another field, use parentheses in the Find What text
box.
AOR Data Base Toolkit searches the field specified in Located in Field for the value
that the expression evaluates to. AOR Data Base Toolkit searches for records where
the selected field matches the value of another field in the same record. For example,
you could search for records where the ID field equals the COMMENT field by
selecting ID in the Located in Field list, and specifying (COMMENT) in the Find
What text box.
Replace With
Specifies the value that AOR Data Base Toolkit replaces the value of the specified
field with. Enter the replacement value in the text box.
• The length of the new value must not exceed the field width. Otherwise, the data in
the field is replaced with an approximation to the new value in scientific notation,
if it will fit.
• Like the Find What text box, you can specify a value stored in another field by
surrounding the expression with parenthesis.
Located in Field
Choose the field to replace data in.
Search Rules
Defines the search parameters. These options are available for AOR Data Base
Toolkit character and memo fields.
Standard
Searches for records whose field begins with or matches the Find What value.
Exact Length
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96 Harness Application
AOR Data Base Toolkit
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Searches for records whose field contains exactly the Find What value,
including its length.
Anywhere in Field
Searches for records whose field has the Find What value anywhere inside it.
Sounds Like
Searches for records whose field sounds like the Find What value. The search
is a sound-a-like, or phonetic, search.
Match Case
Matches both uppercase and lowercase letters in the Find What value and field
to search.
Start Search From
Choose where you want to start the search.
Top Record
Starts the search from the first record.
Current Record
Starts the search from the current record.
Speed Filter
Indicates whether the search will take advantage of a Speed Filter. AOR Data Base
Toolkit automatically uses Speed Filters whenever possible.
Find push button
Finds the next occurrence of the search value.
Replace push button
Replaces the specified replacement field of the current record with the Replace With
value.
Replace All push button
Replaces all occurrences of the specified replacement field with the Replace With
value.
Close push button
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97 Harness Application
AOR Data Base Toolkit
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Closes the dialog box, leaving the record pointer where it was after the last Find or
Replace.
Advanced>> push button
The Scope panel gives you options for specifying the scope of the operation. This
panel is described in the Scope Panel section of this manual.
Form|Add Records
Appends a new, blank record to the end of the current table and positions the
insertion point in the first field of that record.
If you are using Form or Columnar layout (selected by pressing F2), you need
to enter a value in the first field displayed, or use arrow keys to bypass it. If you press
Enter on the first blank field, the Add Records operation ends, the new record is not
added, and the Table Records window closes.
If you enter data into an appended record and then move the insertion point past the
end of the record, another record is automatically appended.
Table|Add Records automatically updates any open indexes while you append records
(if used).
Form|Delete Current Record
Marks the current record for deletion or removes the deletion mark from the current
record. This is not the same function as the Delete push button in the form which will
physically remove ALL records that are marked for deletion.
Form|Delete Current Record does not permanently remove a record from a table when
you delete it. Instead, the record is retained in the table but is marked for deletion.
Until records have been permanently removed from a table with the Delete push
button, you can recall deleted records (undelete them).
Form|Blank Current Record
Replaces data in the current record with blanks.
Use Form|Blank Current Record to replace the values of fields with blank or empty
values.
Form|Blank Current Record is most useful for replacing logical, float, and numeric
fields with true blank values, which Form|Replace Records cannot do. Form|Replace
Records replaces a numeric or float field with 0, which AOR Data Base Toolkit treats
as a zero value rather than a blank value. The distinction between blank and zero
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98 Harness Application
AOR Data Base Toolkit
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values in numeric and float fields is significant when you calculate a value such as an
average.
Form|Go to Record Number
Moves to a specified record and makes it current.
Use Form|Go to Record Number to navigate in a table. The Go to Record dialog box
looks like:
Record
Specifies the number of the record to which you are moving. Enter the record
number or use the spin box to select it.
Form|Previous Record
Moves to the previous record and makes it current.
Form|Next Record
Moves to the next record and makes it current.
Form|Top Record
Moves to the first record in the table and makes it current.
Form|Bottom Record
Moves to the last record in the table and makes it current.
Form|Refresh Records
Updates the display of all records to reflect the latest changes to data. This menu
option is only relevant for network data bases (not used here).
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99 Harness Application
AOR Data Base Toolkit
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Use this command to ensure that the data you display reflects the latest changes made
to tables by other users on a network. This command is most often used when
accessing data from tables stored on a database server; however, you can also use it to
update the data buffers for open AOR Data Base Toolkit tables.
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100 Harness Application
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