PTT_remote Information
======================

PTT_remote is a Window$ helper program for other programs (which you write) which for various reasons cannot reliably access the COM ports in order to waggle DTR and RTS.

Very often you can set these handshake lines quite happily from your program, but Window$ immediately turns them off again!

PTT_Remote is a Window$ program, and so is immune to these shenanigans. Its action is remarkably quick and efficient.

Setting it up
-------------

Place the PTT_remote executable in the same folder as your application (this just makes life easier for your program). Run PTT_remote before you run your own application, or at the start of your application. Set the COM port you need.

Your application must make or otherwise make available the file 'TX.txt' in the folder which contains PTT_remote in order for COM port PTT to operate.

Your application must delete or otherwise make unavailable this file for the PTT to be released.

Operation
---------

PTT_remote scans the current folder (the one from which the program was executed) looking for the existence
of a file named 'TX.txt'. It checks every 300 ms, so it's pretty quick about finding and executing your wishes.

The file need not have anything in it.

The small user interface of PTT_remote indicates which port it is using, and whether PTT is ON or OFF. The banner has a message which reminds you the name of the file it is looking for.

Push the CLOSE button to close the program when you're finished using it.

Programming
-----------

In your program you have several options:

1. Make (or open) a new file, which then creates the file required; then later simply delete the file.

2. Make the file somewhere else, and when needed, move it to the working folder, and move it back somewhere
   else when done.

3. Make the file 'RX.txt' or whatever in the working folder at program start. When you need to transmit, rename
   it 'TX.txt', and when you're done, rename it back as 'RX.txt'.

Which method you choose will depend on which is the easiest for you programmatically. Beweare that your program may crash unless all the circumstances of files present, missing or renamed are handled with care.

73,
Murray ZL1BPU
Nov 2014
