The EasyComm interface
The EasyComm interface is based on Chris Jackson's, (G7UPN) EasyComm protocol. EasyComm is a simple ASCII character based protocol for controlling rotors and radios. The benefit was that a new protocol did not have to be created, it is easy for programmers to write for and interface to.
FT847-SuperControl� is capable to use some of these EasyComm commands with special memories. Also you must have a second free serial port, which must be configured first. To configure the serial port, please refer to chapter 2 - Configuration.
Please note, that you can put in the AZ/EL-data to these special memories only manually by hand. To enter the AZ/EL-data, please go to the pulldown-menu "Edit -> Special memories" in the root program window and put in the data to your desired record. Of course you should save some records before.
The two fields "AZ" and "EL" will have a total length of 30 characters each. For normal operation only 5 characters in the format "XXX.X" will be used by the program, where X must be a number from 0 to 9. FT847-SuperControl� will internally add a prefix to this data (AZXXX.X oder ELXXX.X) which completely will be taken to the serial port later. There are also some more EasyComm commands, and you can add also some more commands to the "AZ" and "EL" datafields. Please note, that it is mandatory, to begin the entry in the datafields with the AZ/EL-data in the format which is mentioned above. Otherwise the string can't be recognized by the rotor or the rotor hardware.
After you have set AZ/EL, you can add more commands to the field if necessary, beginning with the prefix of that command. Please take a look to the EasyComm command overview:
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Overview EasyComm 1 standard commands:
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AZaaa.a |
Azimuth - numeric data with decimal place (no fixed width) |
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ELeee.e |
Elevation - numeric data with decimal place (no fixed width) |
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UPuuuuuuuuu |
Uplink frequency in Hertz |
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DNddddddddd |
Downlink frequency in Hertz |
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UUU |
Uplink mode (ASCII - e.g. SSB, AM or FM) |
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DDD |
Downlink mode (ASCII - e.g. SSB, AM or FM) |
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Overview
EasyComm 2 standard commands: |
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AZ |
Azimuth - numeric data with decimal place (no fixed width) |
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EL |
Elevation - numeric data with decimal place (no fixed width) |
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UP |
Uplink frequency in Hertz |
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DN |
Downlink frequency in Hertz |
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DM |
Downlink mode (ASCII - e.g. SSB, AM or FM) |
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UM |
Uplink mode (ASCII - e.g. SSB, AM or FM) |
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DR |
Downlink Radio (number) |
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UR |
Uplink Radio (number) |
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ML |
Move left |
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MR |
Move right |
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MU |
Move up |
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MD |
Move down |
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SA |
Stop azimuth moving |
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SE |
Stop elevation moving |
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AO |
AOS |
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LO |
LOS |
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OP |
Set output |
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IP |
Read input |
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AN |
Read analogue input |
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ST |
Set time (YY:MM:DD:HH:MM:SS) |
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VE |
Request version |