Working with clone-files
FT847-SuperControl� is able to download, edit and archive clone files from your FT-847-Transceiver. After editing, you are able to upload your new channels to the transceiver.
It is possible to edit 78 normal memories, 12 satellite memories and 2 vfo-range channels. There is still more important data in a clone-file, but not yet supported by FT847-SuperControl�. Nevertheless you are able to archive all the data provided in a clone-file with different names and channels.
Before we can use the clone-function, we should check the needed settings in the transceivers firmware. Please start the internal transceivers menu and go to the menu 42 "EXTEND" and set it to "ON", after that, some hidden menu settings are visible now. Please go to menu 94 "CLN RATE" and set it to "57600" Baud. Now you can leave the internal menu on the transceiver.
Please start the clone data editor window, by using the button "CLONE" in the root program window. Now you can see the following window and the normal communication between the software and the transceiver will be turned off (refer to picture 1.1).
(picture 1.1 - clone-data editor window)
Now you can see an empty Listbox in the middle of the window. This Listbox will be filled with the clone-data later, but first we need to download a clone-file from the transceiver. Unfortunately it is not yet possible to create a new clone-file from the software, because there are many different models of the transceiver, with different revisions and versions of the firmware which are not 100% compatible. Also it is not possible to use and upload clone-files from other transceivers, an error will occur.
To download and create a clone file, you should use the button "Receive clone data from trcvr". A new window will open where you can specify your path and filename to save the data to. Of course it is possible to overwrite previously created clone files. After your choice of the filename, please use the button "Save". In the picture the button is called "Speichern", because it was a german system were it has been generated from. All the clone-files will have a suffix of ".hex" (refer to picture 1.2).
(picture 1.2 - file listbox to save a clone file to disc)
After using the button "Save", a new window will appear, which already waits for data from your transceiver. Please read the hints on this window as it will describe what is to do. Please go to the internal transceiver menu and turn to menu 95 "SEND CLN". After that, please push the button "MCK/W" on your transceiver to initiate the dataflow from the transceiver to the software. You can watch a blue progress-bar while data is transmitted (refer to picture 1.3).
(picture 1.3 - downloading clone-data)
At the end of the data transmission, the following messagebox should tell you, that everything went ok (refer to picture 1.4).
(picture 1.4 - confirmation of a successful download)
If everything went like described above, you can see the clone data editor window filled with the previously downloaded clone-file channels, even if they are empty (refer to picture 1.1). You now have successfully downloaded a clone-file with your actual transceiver settings and channels to your choosen destination.
Filling the clone file with previously saved FT847-SuperControl-memories
The part "Memory source", in the top of the clone-data window (refer to picture 1.1), will be used as source for the later filling of the clone-file memories. Here you can choose from which FT847-SuperControl memory bank you wish to use the data from. The example will show you the "vhf-repeater" memory bank. If you do a mouseclick to an entry, the data will be copied to the "Channel entry". In this channel entry you can verify, or edit your copied data, before sending it to the clone-file by using the "Insert to clone channel:" combo box. You also can enter data by hand, but please make sure, that you enter the data in the correct spelling. Frequencies should always have two seperation points and modes should only have up to three characters ! Before you can save an entry to the clone-file, please make sure you have disabled the write-protection by unchecking the checkbox "clone file - write protection on". You can switch between the display for the standard channels, the satellite-channels and the scanrange channels by using the buttons View standard channels", "View satellite channels" and "View VFO scan range ch.".
The saving of each channel will be confirmed with a messagebox. If the saving was successful and if the saving had the correct checksum, the following window will appear (refer to picture 1.5).
(picture 1.5 - confirmation of a successful saved channel)
Under some circumstances it is possible, that you get a messagebox telling you, that the checksum is incorrect. In this case you only should save another channel to the clone-file. A new checksum will be generated then and everything should be fine. Thats all. Now you are able to save all the needed channels to your clone-file. You will see, that editing and creating clone-files can be made very fast with some experience.
If you wish to edit previously saved clonefiles from disc, please use the button Read clone file from disc" to load and edit them.
The last step in this section is to upload a previously saved clone-file to the transceiver.
Uploading of clone-files to the transceiver
For this case you should use the button "Send clone data to trcvr". A new window will open, where you can specify your path and filename of the clone-file you wish to upload. Please note, that clone-files always have the suffix ".hex" (refer to picture 1.6).
(picture 1.6 - file listbox to load a clone file from disc)
After your choice of the desired clone-file, you can confirm your choice with the button "Open". In the picture the button is called "�ffnen", because it was a german system were it has been generated from. The following window will appear (refer to picture 1.7).
(picture 1.7 - Uploading clone-data)
Please read the hints on this window as it will describe what is to do. Please go to the internal transceiver menu and turn to menu 96 "RCV CLN". After that, please push the button "MCK/W" on your transceiver. The transceiver now waits for incoming data. Now please push the button "OK" to initiate the dataflow from the software to the transceiver. You can watch a blue progress-bar while data is transmitted (refer to picture 1.7).
After the successful transfer of the clone-data, a new confirmation messagebox should appear (refer to picture 1.8).
(picture 1.8 - uploading successful)
Now you can exit the clone data editor window (refer to picture 1.1), by using the button "EXIT".