**************************************************************** New commands and changes in the new PTC-II firmware version 1.12 **************************************************************** Removed Bugs ============ Bug cleared at Unproto > 2: At AP=1 the power is not reduced automaticly now. ================== MARk and SPAce-commands now are accepted while a PACTOR connect is running if TOnes ist set to 0 or 1. If TOnes is set to 2 the commands MARk and SPAce should not be used in a PACTOR 1 or 2 QSO because of problems with the carrier swapping in the PACTOR-protocol may occure. ================== The SPAce command now is lockable with the LOck command. ================== At Remote=2 now not all commands from the main menu are remotable any more, but only (as it should be) the commands of the TRX-menu are enabled to be remoted. ================== With direct box access enabled (BOX=1 or BOX=3) the commands can now be terminated with +? without the need of a CR. (Before this commands have not been realized because the command-interpreter has been waiting for a CR. The termination of cammands with +? is very usual when working with AMTOR- mailboxes.) ================== No more repeated listings when using the Check-command with greater arguments or other scramblings that could appear when using Check. ================== NEW NEW NEW NEW NEW NEW NEW NEW NEW NEW NEW NEW NEW NEW NEW NEW NEW NEW NEW =========================================================================== In the version 1.12, the CW-Terminal has been thoroughly re-worked. The demo- dulator now uses the talked about technique of the Auto-Correlation filter in the Audio-Menu (see below). This enables even weak signals to be reliably detected WITHOUT tuning problems. (An ideal filter for a CW signal with a speed of 60 BpM exhibits a 0/0 bandwidth of only 20Hz, which with conventional methods requires extremely exact and stable tuning for good results). The Auto-Correlation method is also the basis of the AGC used in the CW demodu- lator, with a dynamic range of approximately 40 dB. The AGC allows a constant- ly good receive performance, independent of audio input signal level. The tuning into a particular CW signal is carried out as formerly, in that the tuning is adjusted so that the LED tuning indicator shows maximum deflection. IMPORTANT NOTE: The Audio frequency of the CW-Terminal as from Version 1.12 is independent of the actual Mark-frequency. It is now defined by use of the Center-command in AUD menu (see Audio-command). As a further new feature, the CW terminal offers the use of a number of so- called hotkeys: BKIN-Character (CTRL-Y) ----------------------- When pressed twice, the BKIN character leads to switching between direct transmission of the keyboard input (Immediate transmission mode), and a delayed switch over (Delayed transmission mode). This delayed switching allows text to be "typed ahead" whilst reading the other QSO partners transmission. The text in the buffer can then be transmit- ted by pressing the BKIN-character (CTRL-Y) once. The transmission is then only blocked again when no characters are transmitted for 6 seconds. This has the advantage that user may continue to write after the buffered text is sent, without having to press any other key. The renewed blocking of the transmitted text (it then being redirected into the buffer instead of being immediately transmitted) is shown by the PTC with the message ">>>" written to the Echo-window. After switching to the CW-Terminal, one is always in the direct transmission mode. CTRL-U and CTRL-D ----------------- Increases (Up) or decreases (Down) the decoder speed by 1/16 the actual value. This is mainly for use when the automatic RX speed adjustment is turned off. CTRL-F ------ Switches between automatic and manual RX speed adjustment (fixed speed mode). On switching between the two possibilities, the present speed is taken without change, so that in practice, one can leave the automatic adjustment running for a while to set the correct speed, then press CTRL-F to keep this setting. The operation with a fixed speed has definite advantages with weak signals, or signals with heavy fading. The decoder withstands speed errors of 40 per- cent without problem, so that even with a fixed speed setting, virtually no reading errors are found. After switching to the CW-Terminal, on is always switched to the automatic speed adjustment mode. ================== Audio-Denoiser ============== As from the firmware version V.1.12, the PTC presents its own submenu - the so called Audio-Denoiser menu - used for special processing and filtering of Audio signals (Audio from the Transceiver). The PTC is thus also suitable for SSB operation (automatic notch filter) and for CW listening (Automatic peak- filter, CW-filter) being very useful options. The Audio is presented to the PTC as usual via pin 4 of the 8-pin HF radio connector, so that no changes from normal RTTY/PACTOR operation is required here. The processed or filtered signal is presented at pin 1 of the HF radio connector, and at pin 2 of the mini-DIN-connector (8 pin TRX-REMOTE-CONTROL). The maximum level of this output AF signal is +-500mV. For the first test, a 600 ohm earphone can be connected directly to the AF signal from the PTC. Usually however, a small AF amplifier with volume control should be used, which enables comfortable loudspeaker operation. The unregulated power supply of the PTC-II is available for use on pin 5 of the mini-DIN-connector, to ease connection of an AF amplifier block. The very high computing power of the PTC-II is shown to be very advantageous for the Audio processing algorithm. In comparison to the usual simpler and cheaper Audio Denoiser units, very much more computing effort can be used to give an optimum result. All functions of the AUD-menu that evaluate the AF input signal, use a 4-stage signal level matching (22 dB control range) for the 16-Bit A/D converter, in order that the quantising effect is kept as low and to allow a large effective dynamic range. The PTC-II therefore adjusts itself in stages automatically to the average signal level delivered from the transceiver. AUdio ----- The Audio-denoiser-menu (AUD-menu) is available from the main menu of the PTC-II, and is activated with the command Audio. The command prompt takes the form 'aud:'. At the moment, the following commands are available in the AUD-menu. There will certainly be a lot more in the future as improvements and extra features are added: Bandwith, Center, CWfilter, DD, Help, Notch, Peak, Quit, Through. The normal commands of the PTC-II are no longer available for use. The commands of the AUD-menu: ----------------------------- Bandwidth --------- Default: 300 Arguments: 30-300 Adjusts the -6 dB bandwidth of the CW-filter continuously between 30 and 1000 Hz. (See Cwfilter-command in the AUD-menu). Center ------ Default: 1400 Arguments: 300-2700 Sets the center frequency of the CW-filter continuously between 300 and 2700 Hz. (See Cwfilter-command in the AUD-menu and the CWTerm-command). IMPORTANT NOTE: As from Version 1.12, the Center-command also adjusts the audio frequency of the CW-Terminal of the PTC-II send and receive sides. (In the previous firmware releases, the CW-Terminal used the current Mark-frequency, which sometimes was not particularly suitable). CWfilter -------- Activates the CW-filter, using the center frequency set by the Center-command, and the bandwidth set by the Bandwidth-command. The filter is designed as FIR with a linear phase-change, so that even with a bandwidth of 30 Hz it does not ring. The transfer function has not been designed for maximum flank steepness, but a shape delivering a signal easily readable for the human ear, and the best signal/noise ratio possible. DD -- Ends the Audio-menu. Help ---- Lists commands used in the Audio-menu. Notch ----- Activates the automatic N-times notch filter. All systematic signals are heavily attenuated. The algorithm used leads to considerably less signal distortion of speech signals compared to simpler DSP notch filters. Peak ---- Activates the automatic N-times peak filter. This may be considered as a phase-linear Auto-Correction filter, of a very high order and large dynamic range. This filter enables slow CW-signals within the SSB bandwidth to be found that lie BELOW the level discernible by the human ear. The filter algorithm puts a very narrow band filter on all systematic signal components. Uncorrelated noise is heavily attenuated. Quit ---- Ends the Audio-menu. Through ------- Loops through the Audio signal direct, i.e. without filtering, from input ADC to output DAC. ============================================================================= **************************************************************** New commands and changes in the new PTC-II firmware version 1.11 **************************************************************** A bug of Version 1.1 has been fixed, which may lead to a failure of the modem tones in case of a frequency deviation of more than 20 Hz. ================== Auto-Power option (command APower) has been enabled. (Refer to the PTC-II manual for version 1.1 for more information). ============================================================================= *************************************************************** New commands and changes in the new PTC-II firmware version 1.1 *************************************************************** Transceiver Remote-Control ========================== TRX --- The TRX command (without argument) activates the transceiver remote-control menu (TRX-menu). The command prompt takes the form trx: The following commands are allowed within the TRX menu: Channel, DD, Down, DWell, Frequency, Help, List, Offset, Ptime, Scan, TYpe, Up, Quit and Wait (capital letters show the possible abbreviaton). All other ("normal") commands are not available from within the TRX-Menu. The TRX-menue may be ended either with DD or Quit. The TRX command may also contain an argument. This must be a suitable command from the TRX-menu. In this case, the PTC will then carry out this command, without switching to the TRX-Menu. The control command may be said to be "fed through" Example: TRX frequency 14079.0 This command for example would change the frequency of a connected transceiver directly to 14079.0 kHz - without having to divert to the TRX-Menu. The TRX-menu commands: ---------------------- Channel ------- The PTC allows up to 16 channels to be defined. Every channel consists of a channel number, its frequency (in kHz), the scan status and an optional short info-text. For example: CHANNEL-LIST: Ch Frequency (kHz) Scan Comment ============= -------------------------------------------------- 1: 14079.000 NO DL2FAK-QRG on 20 m 3: 3583.640 YES DL2FAK on 80 m The Channel-command (without argument) behaves exactly as a List-command for the TRX command set. All user defined channels are listed. If the Channel-command is followed by ONE argument, consisting of a number between 1 and 16, then the PTC switches the connected TRX to the given channels frequency. If the command Ch 3 is given, then (from the above list) the TRX would be switched to 3583.640 kHz. The definition of a channel is carried out by putting two or three arguments after the Channel-command. Example: ch 10 14076.5 EA5FIN STBY Defines the channel 10 for the frequency 14076.5, with the comment "EA5FIN STBY". The length of the comment must not exceed 19 characters. As the comment does not contain essential information, it may be omitted. The frequency input is always in kHz, where however the decimal point after the Megahertz position is optionally allowed (e.g. 14.076.50). The last decimal point is processed as a Kilohertz decimal point. There are up to three positions allowed after this decimal point, whereby a frequency accuracy of 1 Hz has been anticipated (which cannot be used by some TRX`s as only 10 Hz synthesizers are fitted) Valid frequency inputs: 14079 14079.0 14079.010 3.582.500 1000.123 The frequency input 0 kHz serves to erase the channel from the frequency list. Example: Ch 1 0 Deletes the channel 1 from the frequency list. DD -- Serves to leave the TRX-Menu. The command prompt changes back to its "normal" form (cmd:). Down ---- Allows the microphone DOWN key to be activated (simulated with a FET switch), which is connected to PIN 6 of the 8 pin HF transceiver socket. It is hereby possible WITHOUT accessing the serial interface, to make small adjustments to the TRX frequency. As argument, following the down command may be a number between 1 and 60000. This represents the number of key pulses initiated by the PTC. If the argument is missing, then the PTC gives out a single pulse (identical effect to giving the command Down 1 ). As every impulse requires a number of milliseconds (see Ptime-command in the TRX-Menu), a frequency change using the microphone keys requires several seconds even for relatively small frequency changes, as commonly the TRX frequency changes by only 10 Hz for every key pulse. This methode of frequency change is therefore only of very limited use for scanning. DWell ----- Default setting: 30 Argument: 5-1000 sets the dwell time of the PTC scanner on each channel in 100-ms steps. A DWell-time of 30 means for example that the scanner will pause on each channel for exactly 3 seconds. Frequency --------- Argument: Frequency input in the format described in the Channel-command. Allows the direct setting of the TRX frequency, without having to define a scan-channel. The format is however that as described in the Channel-command. Help ---- Gives a short list of the commands used in the TRX-menu. The Help-command may also contain a command word from the TRX-menu as argument, wherby a description of that command is given (e.g. Help Channel ). List ---- Lists the entire defined PTC frequency list. Also see the Channel-command. Offset ------ Default setting: 0 Argument: -5.000 bis 5.000 kHz (Format as for the Channel-command) The Offset value is applied to EVERY frequency (Channel-List, Frequency-command etc.) before it is output to the transceiver. This allows, even whilst in SSB mode, the transceiver to be set to the Mark-frequency of the PTC of the other station. If, for instance, Low-Tones are being used (1200/1400 Hz TOnes-Parameter=0) und USB, then the TRX is set on 14077.60 kHz in order to transmit the Mark-frequency of 14079.00 kHz. As the transceiver displays the frequency of the (imaginary) carrier, then in USB, the frequency of the audio-mark-tone (1400 Hz) must be added to the carrier frequency for the actual Mark-frequency to be calculated. If on the other hand, the Mark-frequency is taken from a BBS list, The Mark-tone frequency must be subtracted in order to find the correct frequency to tune the SSB transceiver to. If the Offset-value is defined as -1.4 kHz, then the PTC-II carries out the required frequency correction for the Mark-frequency automatically. It is thus only necessary to give the wanted Mark-frequency, and the correct offset is automatically applied. For example, one can give the command "Frequency 14079.0 . The PTC-II then sets the transceiver to 14077.6 kHz, which automatically then with Low-tones, and USB gives the correct transmit and receive frequency of 14079.0 kHz. Similarly with LSB (only here the positive Space-tone frequency would be chosen as Offset) and with different tone pair frequencies. Ptime ----- Argument: 1-1000 Default Setting: 50 Sets the time (in milliseconds) for the Up and Down keying pulse, that can be initiated from the Up and Down commands (TRX-menu). A Ptime-value of 50 means that the respective switch in the PTC-II per impulse is closed for 50 ms and open for 50 ms. Scan ---- Default Setting: 0 Argumente: 0/1 or Channel 1-16 The Scan-command has two different functions: If, as argument, a 1 or 0 follows, then that means the scanner is switched on or off respectively. This can be said to be the "main Switch" for the scanner. If, as argument, the word "Channel" (minimum abbreviation: C) follows, then the PTC requires a further argument, the Channel-number from the Frequency- list (See the Channel-command). Such a command switches the Scan-Status for the given Channel-number. If the Channel 1 of the Frequency-list has not been defined as a scanned channel up until now (Scan-Status: NO), then it may be declared as such with the command Scan Ch 1 . Through this command, Channel 1 then obtains the Scan-Status YES in the frequency-list. A new input of the command Scan Ch 1 toggles the Scan-Status back to NO, whereby Channel 1 would be skipped again on scanning. Type ---- Default Setting: ICOM 1200 04 (bzw. A) Argument: Icom/Kenwood/Yeasu BAUDRATE(300-115200 Bd) Icom-ID(1-99)/VFO(A/B) Enables the configuration of the PTC-II TRX interface. There are up to three arguments allowed. The first argument indicates the transceiver (Icom, Kenwood, Yaesu; the first letter is sufficient). Then follows the baudrate, which takes all the values also allowed in the SERbaud-command. For the third argument, the PTC requires either a number (maximum 2 figures) that represents the ICOM equipment address-number, or with Kenwood and Yaesu equipment, the VFO number (A or B) that should be addressed by the PTC. Example: Type I 1200 4 Ty K 4800 A Type Yaesu 9600 B If fewer that three arguments are included, then the PTC only changes the explicitly given parameter. The command Ty I 9600 for example sets only the Type to Icom and the baudrate to 9600. The equipment address remains unchanged. Up -- Allows the microphone UP key to be activated (simulated with a FET switch), which is connected to PIN 8 of the 8 pin HF transceiver socket. It is hereby possible WITHOUT accessing the serial interface, to make small adjustments to the TRX frequency. As argument, following the up command may be a number between 1 and 60000. This represents the number of key pulses initiated by the PTC. If the argument is missing, then the PTC gives out a single pulse (identical effect to giving the command Up 1 ). As every impulse requires a number of milliseconds (see Ptime command in the TRX-menu), a frequency change using the microphone keys requires several seconds even for relatively small frequency changes, as commonly the TRX frequency changes by only 10 Hz for every key pulse. This methode of frequency change is therefore only of very limited use for scanning. Quit ---- Serves to leave the TRX-menu. The command prompt returns to its "normal" form. Identical to the DD-command in the TRX-menu. Wait ---- Initial Setting: 5 Argument: 1-240 Defines the time (in seconds) that the scanner waits after the end of a link, before it switches to the next channel. The waiting time for the resynchronisation of AMTOR is not influenced, as the phasing-condition in AMTOR-ARQ is interpreted internally within the PTC as a continuous connect, and the scanner therefore remains switched off. Systemtest-Menu =============== SYStest ------- The command SYStest (without argument) activates the Systemtest-menu. (SYS-menu). The command prompt takes the form sys: Within the SYS-menu, the following systemtest commands are allowed: Audio, Beep, DD, Down, Fsk, Help, Kill, Led, Ptt, PLl, Ram, Up, Quit. All other "normal" commands are NOT available! The SYS-menu may be ended with Quit or DD. The SYStest-command may also be followed by an Argument, which should be a command from the SYS-menu. In this case, the PTC carries out only that given Systemtest-command, without switching to the SYS-menu. The command may be said to have been fed through. Example: SYS Ram This command for example would show the PTC-II RAM expansion. The SYS-menu commands: ---------------------- Audio ----- Serves to carry out a so-called "Audio-Loop-Test" or check of the analogue I/O stages, as well as the DSP. This function requires a wire connecting PIN 1 (audio-out) and PIN 4 (audio-in) of the 8 pin shortwave sadio socket. If the analogue stages are working correctly, the PTC-II gives out OK. In cases where an error occurs, then NOT OK is displayed. Beep ---- Activates the micro-loudspeaker in the PTC-II briefly. With correct operation, a short signal tone should be heard. DD -- Serves to end the SYS-menu. The command prompt returns to its "normal" form. Identical to the Quit-command in the SYS-menu. Down ---- Gives out a 100 ms long key pulse (against ground) at the down-output of the 8-pin shortwave radio socket. Fsk --- Activates the FSK-test routine. The key toggles between Mark and Space tones. The routine supports the FSK as well as the AFSK outputs. The PTT-transistor switch is turned on during the FSK-Test routine. The FSK test may be ended with . Help ---- Gives a short list of the SYS-menu commands. The Help-command can contain a command word from the SYS-menu as argument, whereby a description of that command is given. e.g. Help Audio . Kill ---- The subdirectory killer. The entry of Kill enables to step through the directories of the PTC mailbox in alphabetic order using the + and - keys and to remove the whole directory using the # key. Led --- Carries out an LED-test. Ptt --- Activates the PTT-test routine. The PTT switching transistor is toggled on or off by means of the key. The PTT-test routine can be ended with . PLl --- Tests the DSP PLL. With correct operation of the PLL, the PTC gives OK. In case of error, NOT OK is given. Ram --- Displays the measured RAM-expansion of the PTC. Up -- Gives out a 100 ms long key pulse (against ground) at the Up-output of the 8-pin shortwave radio socket. Quit ---- Serves to end the SYS-menu. The command prompt returns to its "normal" form. Identical to the DD-command of the SYS-menu. ================== CHeck (additional command): ---------------------------- CHeck without argument lists the newest 10 public mails of the PTC mailbox. With a numerical argument between 1 and 100 it is possible to define the quantity of mails to be listed. CHeck follewed by the argument P lists the 10 newest private mails (directory name is a callsign). A numerical argument may follow the define the quantity of mails to be listed. Examples: CH 20 (lists the newest 20 public mails) CH P (lists the newest 10 private mails) CH P 20 (lists the newest 20 private mails) From remote the abbreviation C is also valid for there is no possibility of being interchanged with connect. ================== MYSelcall --------- New Command. It's identical to the Mycall-command with activated AMTOR-prompt, whereby under the cmd: prompt the AMTOR-Selcall may also be defined. ================== Changes in the List-Command: New column (=Status) after the filename. Contains the first letter of the read-status, i.e. N for New, or Not read, or R for Read. The second letter represents the source: A=Amtor, P=Pactor. Thus these outputs (A: or P:) are deleted from directly before the FROM-callsign. ================== Changes in the Log: Now the mode is displayed in the log with following meanings: S1: PT1-Sysop-Call S2: PT2-Sysop-Call P1: PT1-Rx P2: PT2-Rx AT: AMTOR Now the PTC internal log also diplays the number of the channel a link has taken place as soon as channels have been defined using the TRX command set. A channel number 0 is displayed when the contact was when not scanning. The extended log is only displayed when at least one connect happened while scanning. ================== REMOTE: Additonal parameter value 2 When remote is st to 2 then the whole transceiver control menu (TRX) is accessable from remote side. ================== Using slashes (//) for remote when BOX is set to 1 does not produce an error message any more. The slashes are simply ignored. ================== Directory sorted in alphabetic order. Now the directory of the PTC mailbox is devided into 2 groups, private mails (directory name is a callsign) and public mails. Each group is sorted in alphabetic order separately. ================== Bugfix in the change over procedure. Under very specific conditions it could happen that the link breaks down at change-over whilst long packet transmission. This was caused by a bug removed in the new firmware 1.1.