Kenwood TS-480HX User Manual

PC CONTROL COMMAND REFERENCE FOR THE TS-480HX/ SAT TRANSCEIVER

© 2003/11/28

09 08 07 06 05 04 03 02 01 00

PC CONTROL COMMAND

ABOUT THIS REFERENCE

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

HARDWARE DESCRIPTION

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

Front view

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

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

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

GND: Signal ground pin

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

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

CONTROL OPERATION

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

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

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

•Transmit data

•Receive data

•Ground

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

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

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

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

1

PC CONTROL COMMAND

COMPUTER CONTROL COMMANDS

■ Alphabetical Commands

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

EXAMPLE: Command to set VFO A to 7 MHz

FA 00007000000 ;

Terminator

Parameters

Alphabetical command

Commands can be classified as shown below:

			Input			Set command
						(Sets a
			command
						particular condition)
			(Input to the
Computer			transceiver)			Read command
control
						(Reads an answer)
commands
			Output		Answer command
			command
					(Transmits a condition)
			(From the
			transceiver)

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

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

“FA00007000000;”

(Set command)

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

“FA;”

(Read command)

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

“FA00007000000;”

(Answer command)

Note:

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

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

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

■Parameters

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

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

(correct parameter: “IS+1000”)

IS1000; Not enough parameters specified (No direction given for the IF shift)

IS+100; Not enough digits

(Only three frequency digits given)

IS + 1000; Unnecessary characters between parameters

IS+10000; Too many digits

(Five frequency digits given)

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

■Terminator

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

■Error Messages

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

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

2

PC CONTROL COMMAND

PC CONTROL COMMAND TABLES

AC	Sets or reads the internal antenna tuner status.													Parameters:
														P1
														0: RX-AT THRU
	1	2	3	4		5	6	7		8	9		10
														1: RX-AT IN
Set
	A	C
			P1	P2		P3	;							P2
														0: TX-AT THRU
	1	2	3	4		5	6	7		8	9		10
														1: TX-AT IN
Read
	A	C	;											P3
														0: Stop tuning (Set)/ Tuning is stopped (Answer)
	1	2	3	4		5	6	7		8	9		10	1: Start tuning (Set)/ Tuning is active (Answer)
Answer	A	C	P1	P2		P3	;
AG	Sets or reads the AF gain.													Parameters:
														P1
														0: Always 0 for the TS-480.
	1	2	3	4		5	6	7		8	9		10
														P2
Set
	A	G
			P1	P2		P2	P2	;						000 (min.) ~ 255 (max.)
	1	2	3	4		5	6	7		8	9		10
Read	A	G	P1	;
	1	2	3	4		5	6	7		8	9		10
Answer	A	G	P1	P2		P2	P2	;
AI	Sets or reads the Auto Information (AI) function ON/ OFF.													Parameters:
														P1
														0: AI OFF
	1	2	3	4		5	6	7		8	9		10
														1: Only old AI format is ON
Set
	A	I	P1	;										2: Only extended AI format is ON
														3: Both formats are ON
	1	2	3	4		5	6	7		8	9		10	When the extended AI format is selected, the transceiver
Read
	A	I	;
														automatically sends the parameters.
														When the old AI is ON and the IF parameters change, the
	1	2	3	4		5	6	7		8	9		10
														transceiver sends the IF command every 1.5 seconds.
Answer
	A	I	P1	;										When the transceiver is turned OFF, the AI parameter
														becomes 0.
AN	Selects the antenna connector ANT1/ ANT2.													Parameters:
														P1
														1: Selects ANT1
	1	2	3	4		5	6	7		8	9		10
														2: Selects ANT2
Set	A	N	P1	;
	1	2	3	4		5	6	7		8	9		10
Read	A	N	;
	1	2	3	4		5	6	7		8	9		10
Answer
	A	N	P1	;
AS	Sets or reads the Auto Mode function parameters.													Parameters:
														P1
														0: Always 0 for the TS-480.
	1	2	3	4		5	6	7		8	9		10
														P2
	A	S
			P1	P2		P2	P3	P3		P3	P3		P3	00 ~ 31: HF ~ 50 MHz band (32 points)
Set														P3
	11	12	13	14		15	16	17		18	19		20
														Frequency in Hz (11-digit). Unused digit(s) must be 0.
	P3	P3	P3	P3	P3		P3	P4		;				P4
														0: Reserved
	1	2	3	4		5	6	7		8	9		10	1: LSB
Read														2: USB
	A	S	P1	P2		P2	;
														3: CW
														4: FM
	1	2	3	4		5	6	7		8	9		10
														5: AM
	A	S
			P1	P2		P2	P3	P3		P3	P3		P3	6: FSK
Answer														7: CWR (CW Reverse)
	11	12	13	14		15	16	17		18	19		20
														8: Reserved
	P3	P3	P3	P3	P3		P3	P4		;				9: FSR (FSK Reverse)

3

PC CONTROL COMMAND

BC	Sets or reads the Beat Canceller function status.											Parameters:
												P1
												0: Beat Canceller OFF
	1	2	3	4	5		6	7	8	9	10
												1: Beat Canceller 1 (BC1) ON
Set
	B	C
			P1	;								2: Beat Canceller 2 (BC2) ON
	1	2	3	4	5		6	7	8	9	10
Read	B	C	;
	1	2	3	4	5		6	7	8	9	10
Answer	B	C	P1	;
BD	Moves down the frequency band.											Parameters:
												None
	1	2	3	4	5		6	7	8	9	10
Set	B	D	;
	1	2	3	4	5		6	7	8	9	10
Read
	1	2	3	4	5		6	7	8	9	10
Answer
BU	Moves up the frequency band.											Parameters:
												None
	1	2	3	4	5		6	7	8	9	10
Set
	B	U	;
	1	2	3	4	5		6	7	8	9	10
Read
	1	2	3	4	5		6	7	8	9	10
Answer
BY	Reads the busy signal status.											Parameters:
												P1
												Transceiver status
	1	2	3	4	5		6	7	8	9	10
												0: Not busy
Set
												1: Busy
												P2
	1	2	3	4	5		6	7	8	9	10
												Sub-receiver status (Not applicable for the TS-480)
Read	B	Y	;									0: Always 0 for TS-480.
	1	2	3	4	5		6	7	8	9	10
Answer
	B	Y	P1	P2	;
CA	Sets and reads the CW Auto Zero-beat function status.											Parameters:
												P1
												0: Cancels CW Auto Zero-beat function/ Not active
	1	2	3	4	5		6	7	8	9	10
												1: Activates CW Auto Zero-beat function/ Active
Set	C	A	P1	;
	1	2	3	4	5		6	7	8	9	10
Read
	C	A	;
	1	2	3	4	5		6	7	8	9	10
Answer
	C	A	P1	;

4

PC CONTROL COMMAND

CH	Move the current VFO frenquency 1 step up, using the MULTI											Parameters:
	control.											P1
												0: Move the MULTI control 1 step up
	1		2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
												1: Move the MULTI control 1 step down
Set
	C		H	P1	;
												In VFO mode, CH command overrides the MHz Up/ Down
	1		2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
												mode of the TS-480 transceiver.
Read
	1		2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Answer
CN	Sets and reads the CTCSS tone number.											Parameters:
												P1
												00 ~ 41
	1		2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Set	C		N	P1	P1	;						Refer to page 33 of the TS-480 instruction manual for the
												CTCSS tone numbers and frequencies.
	1		2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Read
	C		N	;
	1		2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Answer
	C		N	P1	P1	;
CT	Sets and reads the CTCSS function status.											Parameters:
												P1
												0: CTCSS function OFF
	1		2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
												1: CTCSS function ON
Set
	C		T	P1	;
	1		2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Read
	C		T	;
	1		2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Answer	C		T	P1	;
DL	Sets and reads the Digital Noise Limiter (DNL) function status.											Parameters:
												P1
												0: DNL function OFF
	1		2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
												1: DNL function ON
Set	D		L
				P1	P2	P2	;					P2
												00: DNL Level 1
	1		2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
												01: DNL Level 2
Read	D		L	;								02: DNL Level 3
	1		2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Answer
	D		L	P1	P2	P2	;
DN	Emulates the microphone DWN key.											Parameters:
												P1
												00 ~ 99
	1		2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Set	D		N	P1	P1	;						If no P1 parameter is specified, the command is interpreted
												as 1 step down.
	1		2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
												In Memory mode and Quick Memory mode, the command
Read
												without a parameter is treated as a Memory channel down
												command. With parameters, it is treated as the frequency
	1		2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	down command.
Answer

5

PC CONTROL COMMAND

	EX	Sets or reads the Extension Menu.										Parameters:
												P1
												000 ~ 060: Menu No.
		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
												P2
		E	X
				P1	P1	P1	P2	P2	P3	P4	P5	00: Always 00 for the TS-480
	Set											P3
		11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20
												0: Always 0 for the TS-480
		P5	;									P4
												0: Always 0 for the TS-480
		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	P5
	Read											A string of characters (Variable length)
		E	X	P1	P1	P1	P2	P2	P3	P4	;
												Normally 1-digit for the TS-480.
												Menu No. 32, 35 and 48 ~ 52 use 2-digit parameters.
		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
		E	X	P1	P1	P1	P2	P2	P3	P4	P5	Command example:
	Answer											Display brightness
		11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20
												EX00000000; (Display illumination OFF).
		P5	;									EX00000003; (Display brightness level 3).

6

PC CONTROL COMMAND

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

7