Frozen Fish 1: Amiga/FrozenFish-Apr94.iso/bbs/alib/d9xx/d954/scan8800.lha/SCAN8800/Help_for_SCAN8800

Text File | 1993-12-22 | 16KB | 468 lines

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  Hello, dear SWL (Short Wave Listener),


  because I didn't want to store all the interesting frequencys in my
  head, I have written a program called 'SCAN8800'.
  'SCAN8800_T' is a turbo-version for AMIGA's with the processor 68020
  (or higher) and a co-processor. There is not much more speed, but I
  think, it's good to use this compiler-option - and use CpuBlit.
  The maximal entrys are depending of the free memory of your computer.
  For each frequency you can store up to 9 transmission times and the
  weekdays of them.

  Owner of the receiver FRG-8800 from YAESU now can jubilate, but only
  if they also have the interface MINIX MIF-90 too, because you can con-
  trol this receiver with your AMIGA: setting the frequency (min. 25 Hz)
  and mode.

  Further you can scan in different manners and get a chart from the
  S-values.

  - scanning of a spectrum
    (LW, MW, ... or as an example from 6200 kHz to 6305 kHz step 1 kHz)

  - scanning over time
    To see the fading you can check max. 6 frequencys for 1, 2, ..hours.

  - scanning of the selected stations of your data-base.


  Please copy file 'SCAN.miscel' into the directory 's:'.


  If there is something wrong or could be made better then write to me.
  To get a new version, send a disk and enough IRC's.


  Thanks a lot to
    - Amiga and Commodore for developing this superior computer
    - SAS for the C-6.3 compiler
    - Willi Burmeister for his helpful aid
    - Bryan Brown for the nice DrawMap-program
    - Anders Bjerin (Sweden) & Bernd Schied (BRD) for the File-Requester,
      I found on Fish 464 (appears not under OS 2.x)



  So long and 55 73.


  Address:   Rainer Redweik
             Kattowitzer Str. 7
             D-38440 Wolfsburg
             Germany


             Phone: [phone]

             Z-Net: [e-mail]


******************************************************************************


I n f o s:




Hardware connection


     MIF 90         |    Serial (AMIGA)
--------------------------------------------------
              Pin       Pin

 In            1---------2 TX
 +14 Volt      2---------9 +12 Volt
 Ground        3---------7 GND
 Out           4---------3 RX
 NC            5       --4 RTS  (Pin 4 and 5 must be
                       |         short-circuited, otherwise
                       --5 CTS   you read "No 'CTS'!")


Tips for operation

After starting SCAN8800 the program try to find the file 'SCAN.miscel' in
the drawer s:. If it wasn't found, the function 'Miscellaneus edit' was
started (Sometimes the help-key give infos about to use the editor. On my
A-2000-C I have to press two times. Yeah.). Here you should enter:

 - the path to find the necessary files (Diskname:Drawername)

 - the number of the serial port (0 for the default, 1, 2, ... for a
   multiport-card)

 - longitude and latitude of your location

 - begin of summertime (DD.MM.)

 - end   of summertime (DD.MM.)

 - differenz of lokaltime and UTC (15:00 LOC - 14:00 UTC = +1)

 - minimal freq. [Hz] the receiver can receive (150000)

 - maximal freq. [Hz]  "      "     "    "  (29999900, 146000000 or 173999500)

 - step-wide for the scan-function you want to use
       LW    MW    SW    VHF
      3000  9000  1000  25000

Now you have finished ? Ok, please don't forget to save.



If the program now finds the file 'Stations.SCAN', it show's you several
broadcasting-stations. And also the program try to read the ASCII-file
'SCAN.chanel'. Here you can give in by an editor the frequency with the
belonging chanel:

 27065000:009 /* distress call chanel */
145625000:001 /* Relais (listen) */


If not, you can fill the data-base:
  Select menu 'Station edit (right AMIGA-key and e).

  Please enter

  - the frequency [Hz],

  - if you whish an offset (+-999 Hz) (The receiver get freq. + offset),

  - the mode (AM, LSB, USB, CW, FM, AMn, CWn or FMn (n means, that the
    narrator-filter should be turned on)),

  - the classification (amateur, broadcasting, free radio ...),

  - if you want a 't', to give in times,

  - the station-name

  - the coordinates and

  - if known the ITU-sign.


  Now you can fill the next record. The program detects double freq. and
  don't allow it.
  To leave the edit-mode clear the frequency (with 'Esc') and press RETURN.

  If you type a 't' in column 'Time' a new mask appears. Here you kann type
  in the times (in  U T C ) when a transmission goes on the air. On each
  weekday, a transmission is running, you can type a 'x'. If you type 'a'
  in the Sa-column, all week-days were marked.
  In a row you can jump between columns with 'TAB' and 'SHIFT-TAB'.
  In summer some stations started one hour earlier. This case you can mark
  in the column bevor Begin[UTC] with a '#'.
  To delete a time-row type a 'l' in column Begin[UTC] - and if this column
  is clear and you press RETURN you leave the time-mask premature.

  In case that you use the ITU-column, SCAN8800 hunted the file 'SCAN.itu'
  for the description and printed it - only if found - under the headline.
  The file you can change by an editor: every row 3 signs for the con-
  traction, a colon and 25 signs for text:

   CPV:Kapverdische Inseln
   S  :Sweden

  In this column you can read the contents of file 'SCAN.itu' by pressing
  the 'Help'-key. Further more pressing this key changed the sorting. Look
  for the green point.
  With cursor-up/down you can move through the contents. By pressing the
  initial letter the first found text was marked.
  To return use the 'Esc'-key.


Turn on the receiver:

If you select the Power ON-"Key" on the screen (or right AMIGA-p), AMIGA
take control of FRG-8800. Of course only if the connection is correct.
But it's better to switch on with the hardware-POWER-key too.
After pressing RETURN, the frequency and mode of the actual station was
send out.
With cursor-up/down you can change the station.
With cursor-left/right you change the offset (for SSB) in step of 25 Hz.
To change with a step of 100 Hz use a shift-key additional. Using an Alt-
key steps with 500 Hz and using Ctrl-key set the offset to the min/max value.
This changed offset is the one of the data-base and can be saved. Pressing
'u' calls the undo-function.
Using 'Esc' leave this function.


Scrolling:

The description how to scroll for- or backwards you can get with the help-key.
There are several kinds to sort all the items (see menu). Depended from sor-
ting are the reaction of the key 'n' (next) and 'p' (previous). If you have
sorted the mode and the actual-mode is AM, than, after pressing 'n', it
scrolls to mode CW. This can be quicker than using other keys.

You can use the 'f' key to enter a frequency - then the program jumps to it
or if not exists, near by (Short: 6205 is expanded to 6205000).
If you have sorted by ITU, you can use the 'i' key to enter an ITU, to which
you whish to jump and by using the 'Help'-key, now you can read the contents
of 'SCAN.itu'.


Searching:

With this function you can search for station-names (uppercase == lowercase).
If there are several conformables, you jump to them by pressing cursor-up/
down keys.
'F1'  select stations.
'Esc' ends searching and the requester appears to allow to enter a new word.
      If no word is given in, the program turned to main.
'q'   ends the search-function without the requester.


Sorting:

The default sorting is time-sorting - after starting you can see if there is
an interesting program on the air.
A little green point in the headline indicates, if you have sorted by mode,
frequency, time, ...


Select:

Selected station can be used in two scan-functions.
To select single items press 'F1', to select groups see menu 'Station select'.
'Clear' of course clears all selections.
'Delete' deletes all selected entrys of the data-base !!!
In the scan-function 'Time' you can use up to the first six frequencys, in
'Selected' all of them.
'F2': all stations without coordinates were selected for better find.

With 'N'ext (shift-n) you jump to next selected station.
With 'P'rev (shift-p) you jump to previous selected station.



S C A N:

To exit the scan-functions use the 'Esc'-key. But first you have to stop the
scanning.
If you havn't press the Power-ON-"key", the S-values are random numbers.
'Mouse-laziers' can use the keyboard, the letters are underlined. Except the
numbers 1 to 6 in time-scanning.


Scan spectrum:

Here you can scan a frequency-range. Choose LW, MW, SW, ... 'Free' allow you
to enter your special wish. Over menu you can select the special broadcasting
ranges on SW and also ranges from the radio amateurs.
The mode can be changed with 'AM', 'FM', ...

'Delay' enable to set a time to wait up to 30 seconds. After this time the
next station will tune in. With the 'SQUELCH'-knob on the receiver it is pos-
sible to control the delay-time. If the signal isn't strong enough, the pro-
gram dosn't wait.
Or you can set a range of the S-value, in which delay-time is enabled: with
the mouse set the lower- and/or upper-boundary. Right side of the scale
there are two small grey fields. If you move the mouse in this area, the out-
fit of the pointer changed. You can pick and stretch the fields. If the S-
value reached between this fields, the program is waiting, otherwise it scans
on.
With cursor-left/right you can stop and scan by hand.
If you have stopped, you can jump to the next/prev. frequency by using the
'n' or 'p' key, dependend by the range of S-value.
If you select 'Max hold' from the menu, the max. S-values will be drawn - may
be good for searching short signals (voice radio).

Scan time:

This function allowes to record the fading over time of 1 to 6 frequencys.
'Selected' take the first selected stations (max. 6). After this the program
ask for start- and end-time.
With 'Free' it is possible to give in the freq. manualy. Entering a 'e'xit
jumps to time entry.
'San' starts the record. If start-time is not reached, SCAN8800 waits and then
automaticaly starts.
Selecting the f1-f6 keys on the screen (1-6 on keyboard) turns off/on the fre-
quency.
If you want to set dots, use key 'd'. Key 'c' clears the last one.


Scan selected:

The program scans all the selected stations. More infos see 'Scan spectrum'.



Other:

In the column 'Band' there are printed out the official radio-band in meters
(black). Out of this ranges the wavelength will be calculated (grey).

To have a quick view to the times press 't'. After pressing a second time or
using the menu, the window closes automaticly.

Who wanted to print out a graphic (please use a 'screengrabber' and a paint-
programm), can press 'shift-p' to let change the colours. So you needn't so
much time by working with the paint-programm.

You can fade in/out a map by pressing the 'm'-key. If you have entered the
coordinates, you see the points on the map. Also available in 'Time-Scan'
and 'Selected-Scan'.
The map-file is called 'SCAN.map', for interlace 'SCAN.map_lace'. Delete the
file, you didn't use.


If the reception isn't good, don't turn AMIGA on. 'She' makes little noise.
Sometimes the contact to the receiver isn't successful. I don't know the
reason, but after a second attempt it works.
Don't forget to make regulary a backup of the files 'Stations.SCAN' and
'SCAN.itu' !!!

If you want to decode MORSE-, RTTY- or FAX-code you can run the decoder-pro-
gram and SCAN8800, if you have a multiport-card. Change the unit-number in
'Miscellaneus edit'. I hope, it work - but I havn't tested it.
Here in Germany some equipment use the gameport, so no card is neccessary.


Much fun by the 'ride on the waves'.






VERSION 2.33:

Bugs removed (and installed ?).

NoSerRead ->    two SWL told me, that they have build a lowcost interface.
                But they can't read the S-meter and squelch. If this menu
                is selected, the programm didn't read the serial port.
                On the next re-design of the miscel-screen, I will put this
                menu-part into. So the programm can remember the choice.


More_Freq.lha   A few files with special frequencys.
                Use 'LHA -x -M x More_Freq.lha'.




VERSION 2.34:

Requester ->    added the possibility to cancel a request.

select->save:   new menu-item. Now you can save only the selected stations,
                and if you want, arrange a new file, using 'Merge'.

select->modify: new menu-item. All selected stations can be modified.

                Example: if you want to change 'Rundfunk' into 'Broadcasting',
                         1. clear all what is selected (right Amiga-shift-l)
                         2. sort by classification (right Amiga-c)
                         3. type 'n' until 'Rundfunk' is in the edit-row
                         4. select all 'Rundfunk' (right Amiga-shift-c)
                         5. use the new menu-item and type in 'Broadcasting'.

                         if you want to change 'AM' into 'AMn',
                         1. clear all what is selected (right Amiga-shift-l)
                         2. sort by mode (right Amiga-m)
                         3. type 'n' until 'AM' is in the edit-row
                         4. select all 'AM' (right Amiga-shift-m)
                         5. use the new menu-item and type in 'AMn'.

                         ... and so on. Please always do the 5 steps !!!




VERSION 2.35:

Frequency-range changed. Now the frequency-limits, you have set in the miscel-
                laneous-function, are only guilty, when the programm is sending
                to the receiver.
                In the database, you can feed frequencys into your computer in
                the range of 1 kHz (type '1' and return) up to < 1 GHz.

Select->delete  now deletes only manual selected stations.

Selected        Displays the numbers of selected stations (green).
                Shows the numbers by using next- and previous-functions (blue).

Summertime      I have learned, that in the southern hemisphere summertime is
                from October to March. Thank you W.F. Wevers from New Zealand !
                Miscellaneus is changed.

File protection mode now will accepted.

And a few other changes.




VERSION 2.36:

Serial          changed to 7 wire handshake. For future enlargement.

Scan » Spectrum If you have found several new interesting frequencys, you can
                insert them into the database. Jump to the freq. by using the
                cursor-keys or 'n'ext or 'p'revious. Then press the 'i'-key.
                If it is a new frequency it will be inserted and selected.
                When you return to the main-screen, the program jumps to the
                first item and then you can complete the text.

Printer         Bug fixed.

Map             To zoom in into the area of Europe, press 'z'.




VERSION 2.37:

Bugs removed.

Printer         Function for black / white - printer corrected.

Menu            'Zoom Map' added.

Map             The drawing line from transmitter to receiver isn't always
                correct (Thank's W. Wevers for the info). Maybe next time
                I will remove this line.




VERSION 2.38:

Map             Now you can put the map-screen to back by clicking into the
                upper right corner.

'f'-key         If you use this key for searching a frequency, now you get
                information, wether there is more than one freq. (f + offset).
                If the freq. is found and shown in green color, there is only
                one station, otherwise there are more with the same freq.

                Example:   Freq.       Offset      f+o

                          6000000         0      6000000
                          6000001        -1      6000000
                            ...          ..         ..
                          6000009        -9      6000000

Sort            starting by mouse. A quick hack without buttons or so.
                You can let sort by clicking on the words 'Frequency', 'Mod',
                'Classification', ...