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TS480 Panel Setup

Software Configuration Setup

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Configuring the Internet Remote Toolkit Software

 The I.R.T. can be configured for three different configurations.

  1. HOST, i.e. where the ham station is
  2. CLIENT, i.e. provides an interface for the operator
  3. SPECIAL CLIENT: No-Host Client; A special case that provide the client interface even when special hardware is used to replace the Host side computer

This section will provide a quick walk through of the setup menus for each case

IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT AFTER CHANGING SETUP VALUES, CLICK THE SAVE BUTTON, SHUT DOWN THE IRT APP AND RESTART IT TO MAKE SURE ALL THE NEW SETTINGS TAKE EFFECT.

 

Note that ALL I.R.T. windows remember their last opened position and can be slightly resized to accommodate differences in computer displays.

    

The Internet Remoting Toolkit software will provide an end-to-end path through the Internet to control ham radio equipments. Each piece of amateur equipment is attached to the HOST or CLIENT computers via its RS232/DB-9 interface (or USB equivalent).

 

A set of built-in software tools are provided to provide quick and immediate access to Kenwood radios including keyboard controlled CW, an Alpha 87A amplifier, a SteppIR antenna, a serial rotator interface (IdiomPress/HyGain rotator) and a Weeder 15 port DTIO board for relay and antenna control.

 

Additionally any available ham radio program may be used, e.g. TRX Manager, Ham Radio Deluxe, Dx Commander, WriteLog, etcÉ   Software control is also possible at either the HOST-end (testing, normal home operation, etc) or CLIENT–end or both.

The I.R.T. is configured via a small set of menu screens accessible via the SETUP menu item of the main window. Examples of the configuration are provided below. All cases are not addressed, but hopefully, users will get sufficient information to try other options

 

The basic flow of the SETUP is as follows:

  1. Connect the PHYSICAL equipment to the HOST and CLIENT computers.  This is done by RS232 or USB physical connections at both the HOST and CLIENT and then by using the SETUP/HARDWARE tab to define the computer COM ports for these physical connections.
  2. Configure the use of external software programs at either the HOST or CLIENT. This is done by using the SETUP/SOFTWARE tab to define the software connection to ÔSoftÓ or ÒVirtualÓ COM ports. Note that most Ham software wants to ÔtalkÕ to some equipment that it believes is connected to a physical serial port on its local computer. This is emulated within the IRT by creating a ÒsoftÓ COM port for the software to interface with and then by connecting this ÔsoftÕ COM port to the actual hardware via the magic the Internet!!

  3. A default Internet setup is provided under the SETUP/Internet tab.  This is done ONLY at the HOST. Make sure that these Internet ÒportsÓ are forwarded through the HOST-side router.  You can change these ports, IF you really must.

  4. Implement Passwords, if you desire. This is done ONLY at the HOST

  5. Create your remote station list by adding the remote station name  (any name you want) and its IP or URL to the Client station list. This is done at the CLIENT

 

A good rule of thumb about beta software is that if something is nor working, then go to the RESET menu item on the main IRT window and select RESET-> LOCAL. In a worst case, shut down and immediately restart the applications

 

 

Configuring the HOST-side

 

This will establish the details of the serial connections to the equipments, the Internet port definitions, passwords and additional functionality such as antenna switching, antenna rotators, etc. The capabilities are selected and/or entered on the four pages of the Setup Configuration menu illustrated below.

          



  • Select THIS IS A HOST

  •  Enter the LAT and LONG of the stations. This is used by the client to calculator the rotator directions

  • Select the radio type. If the radio is a Kenwood, then the Kenwood related features such as auto power on/off, CW Keyboard, Band information to the Alpha, etc will be  activated

  • The built-in user interfaces, will be auto enabled on CONNECT, if their box is selected and saved. If these are not used to operate the Host then it is best just to keep then off at the host end

  • If you intend to use the IP-Sound VoIP software then just click the Full Auto button.

  • If you intend to use the Skype VoIP software then just click the Auto button, fill in the Skype Node name and START THE SKYPE APPLICATION (The software DOES NOT start this automatically)

    NOTE always click SAVE to save entered configuration changes

  • If you choose to use IP-Sound, then you MUST FORWARD PORT 4444 BOTH AT THE HOST ROUTER AND THE CLIENT SIDE ROUTER.  This is a problem with IP Sound. If you choose to use another VoIP program, e.g. Skype, then port forwarding is NOT required.

 

            

 

 

REMOTE EQUIPMENT –to- HOST COMPUTER CONNECTION

 

  • This is how the PHYSICAL equipments at the remote are connected to the HOST computer, i.e. using PHYSICAL RS232 COM ports or their USB equivalents.

Enter up the COM number (1-255 is supported) for each device, e.g. Radio, Rotator, etc, and enter the serial settings for each device. This is often fixed for many devices, but can be adjusted for most radios.

PUSH TO TALK [COMING SOON]

 

  • Push-to-Talk is available within the software interface for Kenwood radios and some other radios.

  • A ÔhardwareÕ PTT interface is also provided at the HOST. This interface is directly controlled by the ÔhardwareÕ PTT interface at the CLIENT and is NOT tied to any software application.

  • The PTT interface is implemented via the computer parallel port using the standard established within the amateur contest community. Thus all hardware connectors, cables, etc developed to interfaced the computer to the radio PTT can be used for the IRT, e.g. http://www.trlog.com/w1wef.shtml

  • Computers may have several parallel ports installed. If yours does not have a parallel port, then USB-parallel interfaces are available, e.g. http://www.directron.com/usbdb25f.html .   In order for the HOST software to interface with the parallel port, you MUST enter the address of the port. To find that address go to Start->Control Panel->Hardware->Device Manager->Ports->LPT1, LPT2, etc used for the  PTT/CW application >Properties/Resourses and use the first number in the top line, e.g 0378

 

KEY-BASED CW [COMING SOON]

 

  • A character-based keyboard CW is available within the software interface for Kenwood radios.

  • A ÔhardwareÕ CW interface is also provided at the HOST. This interface is directly controlled by the CW Key interface at the CLIENT and is NOT tied to any software application.

  • The CW Key interface is implemented via the computer parallel port using the standard established within the amateur contest community. See PTT section above for additional details

 

ANTENNA RELAY AND ROTATORS

 

  • The IRT supports several options for both remote relay control and remote rotator control


Relay Control

  • Serial Devices:  Both the 8 relay ADR2200 board (~$15 on eBay) and the 15 output Weeder DTIO board are supported

  • Parallel Devices: One 8 bit Parallel Port is provided to support the numerous inexpensive PIO relay boards that are available.

  • The 7 additional outputs of the Weeder DTIO  board are used to control a special antenna, such as arrays or  a 160m receive only antenna, etc.

Rotator Control

  • Serial Device: This is a straight pass thru from the serial rotator control software configured in the CLIENT

  • Parallel Devices: This allows connection the EA4TX  Antenna Rotator System to a parallel port of the HOST and will translate the rotator control from the CLIENT into ARS commands. For this to happen, the CLIENT rotator control must be configured as a standard HyGain rotator or you must use the built-in rotator control at the CLIENT.

                       

 

HOST COMPUTER –to- CLIENT COMPUTER CONNECTION VIA THE INTERNET



  • The IRT will extend the serial ports of the HOST side via the Internet to the CLIENT, which will provide the actual control of the ham equipment.

  • Default ports 3001-3009 have been defined. USUALLY THERE WILL BE NO NEED TO CHANGE THESE.

  • REMEMBER THAT THESE PORTS (3001-3009) MUST BE FORWARDED THROUGH THE LOCAL ROUTER AT THE HOST SIDE. Sometimes routers require additional information about the ports to set up the forwarding.  Ports 3001-308 are TCP and Port 3009 is UDP

                          

 

PASSWORDS

 

  • If you wish to control access via passwords then just enter the password list, and check to box

 

ANTENNA OFFSETS

 

  • If you have several antenna on a single rotator that are offset from each other to reduce interactions, then enter that data here

 

 

 

 

Configuring the CLIENT-side

 

This will establish the details of the serial connections to the equipments, the Internet port definitions, passwords and additional functionality such as antenna switching, antenna rotators, etc. The capabilities are selected and/or entered on the four pages of the Setup Configuration menu illustrated below.



  • Select THIS IS A CLIENT


  • If you intend to use the IP-Sound VoIP software then just click the Full Auto button

    NOTE always click SAVE to save entered configuration changes

  • If you choose to use IP-Sound, then you MUST FORWARD PORT 4444 BOTH AT THE HOST ROUTER AND THE CLIENT SIDE ROUTER.  This is a problem with IP Sound.

  • If you choose to use Skype, then port forwarding is NOT required. I you choose the Skype Auto option at the HOST end and enter a Skype Host node name at the HOST end (you should!!), then Host Node name will be filled in at the CLIENT and you may choose the Skype Auto connect option at the CLIENT. [ For Skype to Auto Connected when you CONNECT to the HOST, the Skype application MUST be running.

 

          

 

CLIENT EQUIPMENT –to- CLIENT COMPUTER CONNECTION

 

There are currently four (4) possible PHYSICAL devices that may be connected to the IRT CLIENT computer. These are connected via the RS232 or USB serial ports on the CLIENT computer

á      Radio front panel, e.g. TS480 panel

á      PTT switch (e.g. connect pins 7&8 of the DB-9 to the foot switch)

á      Kenwood radio, e.g. TS2000, used to control the remote TS2000 radio.

á      CW Key / Bug  or the output of a CW Keyer .
Note that this shares the same COM port as the Front Panel. If the panel COM port is defined, then you are finished, else you need to define the CW COM port.

The CW key or Keyer should be connected to the RTS pin and Ground, e.g.  pins 7&8 of a DB-9

 

Enter the COM port and settings for these devices only in this menu.

 

    

                          

 

APPLICATION SOFTWARE, E.G. TRX-MANAGER, HRD, etc..


á      Your ham radio software is designed to interface with a local serial COM interface directly to the local equipment. We will fake this interface to allow the software to continue working even though the real equipments are located tens or thousands of miles away at the Host location

á      Opposite each type of remote equipment is a box or set of boxes. You should select (1-15) and enter the number of a COM port that will be used to connect that piece of software to its device, e.g. radio, rotator, etc. These are NOT real physical COM devices, but will be created internal to your computer in software, thus are referred to as ÔsoftÕ or ÔvirtualÕ COM ports.

The gray box on the left indicates the current set of COM ports recognized by the software that are NOT currently being used by any program in your computer. You may select from these or create additional ports by entering a number between 1 and 15 into the box opposite the equipment that your software will control. BE CAREFUL NOT TO USE COM PORTS THAT ARE IN USE BY OTHER PROGRAMS.

á      When you are finished, then click the DEFINE THE SOFT COM ports button and follow the instructions below.

á      When this is properly completed you should then configure your external software to connect to the COM port for its equipment.

 

PROPERLY INSTALLING OR UPDATING THE  SOFT COM ports

When you click the DEFINE THE SOFT COM button you SHOULD get the display on the left.

  • The I.R.T. is shut down while the drivers are updated. You must start it up again when t he update is finished.

  • If the SOFT COM drivers are installed then you need to push the UPDATE button, if not then you should push the INSTALL button


 

PROPERLY INSTALLING OR UPDATING THE  SOFT COM ports

 

When you click the UPDATE or INSTALL button you SHOULD get the display on the left.

á      If you see them, then just click CONTINUE ANYWAY, the update is completed and your ÒSOFTÕ COM ports are ready to be used by your software programs.

á      If you DO NOT get these displays then you need to handle this manually.

1.    Use Windows File manager to go to the directory c:\Program Files\W4MQ\Toolkit shown below

2.    Double click on SOFTCOM.exe and hopefully you can repeat the previous step properly

 

ADDING REMOTE STATIONS TO THE DROP DOWN LIST

 

  • If you wish you can add a station list that will be included in the station drop down box on the main interface. 
  • Please SAVE the information when you are finished
  • Close the SETUP windows
  • Click the RESET menu item and select the Reset Local option or possible shut down and restart the I.R.T. to display the revised Station List
  • Remember to select the drop down control on the main I.R.T. Client and select a remote site to connect to.

 

 

ANTENNA OFFSETS

 

If you have several antenna on a single rotator that are offset from each other to reduce interactions, then enter that data here

 

 

 

 

 

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