Intercom was originally developed to run together with SIMPLEX in a VHF/UHF interconnected repeater system but it may be run alone or interfaced with any application which sends strings of characters on a TCPIP connection.
In the following help, it will be mainly described its use with SIMPLEX release 1.9 and later.
The goal of Intercom is to remotely command
-either KENWOOD TMD700 or TMD710 or TM-V71 through strings of characters called “DTMF codes”, those DTMF codes being associated to dedicated actions by the system operator.
-or any transceiver (named generic) which features UP, DOWN and PTT commands, I using the same DTMF codes. (see paragraph #6)
Intercom does not decode DTMF tones. This is done by the SIMPLEX program which sends the decoded ASCII characters on a TCPIP connection to Intercom.
Intercom watches and treats these ASCII characters. If a string fits the defined so-called DTMF codes, Intercom immediately executes the associated action.
Available commands are limited to the bare necessities as far they may be used by different users and it is highly recommended to keep the repeater under control.
An action is provided in SIMPLEX to switch back the transceivers to their default state.
The list of the available commands is displayed in the DTMF window of the program.
Please be aware that Intercom does not replace the KENWOOD utility program which sets the contents of memories and VFOs. Intercom only remotely controls the usage and switching of these memories and VFOs.
IMPORTANT : If running with SIMPLEX, note that releases 1.2 and later of Intercom can only run correctly with releases 1.8.3 of SIMPLEX and later.
To run Intercom, you need to link your computer and your transceiver
The dialog between the computer and the TMD700 / TMD710 / TM-V71 is at a 9600 bauds speed, 8 bits, no parity, 1 stop bit.
When starting the program, the generic menu is chosen by default. (see chapter 6)
If choosing a Kenwood transceiver, you will be asked to choose a COM port. After that, Intercom tries to read by default the kenwood datas.
If the TMD700 or TMD710 or TM-V71 does not answer, an error message is displayed after a 3 seconds delay : "TMxxxx does not answer !".
If the dialog is correct, reading datas will last about 10 seconds and the following message is displayed : "Initialisation completed". The program will then displayed the available memories, the active VFO frequency and TX status (TXA or TXB active and VFO or MEM active).
Note that only the first 200 memories of the TMD710 are read to be compliant with the TMD700. The number of memories to be read may be reduced by the menu MEM. This will reduce the initialization time if a lot of memories are not used.
Finally the program tries to connect the SIMPLEX server if required. Note that this is possible only if SIMPLEX is already running and if its TCPIP server is active (click the TCPIP icon the SIMPLEX DTMF panel). To connect the SIMPLEX server, the IP address and port number in Intercom must be entered as they are defined in SIMPLEX.
If you need to connect the TCPIP server when starting the program, click the relevant checkbox in the DTMF window.
The whole initialisation may be restarted at any time. Especially if you have manually changed the setting of your TMD700 or TMD710 or TM-V71, it is mandatory to restart initialisation because Intercom does not listen to TMD700 or TMD710 or TM-V71 changes. But as your TMD700 or TMD710 or TM-V71 is in a remotely controlled system, this should never happens but at the very first settings of your transceiver.
The above information will be saved when quitting the program.
This paragraph applies to Kenwood transceivers. For generic transceivers please read paragraph 6.
Such as in SIMPLEX, a list of remotely actions is defined in Intercom . These actions have got a number to be associated with your personal DTMF codes. When this association has been done, click the Add button to take it into account.
Remember that the number of an action is not its DTMF code. It is just a reference mark to associate a DTMF code to the action.
Among these actions, those numbered 7, 8, 10 et 11 are a bit peculiar. These actions switch the transceiver to memory mode and select the memory that you want to use :
Actions 7, 8, 10 : to switch band A or band B on memory n# NNN : the relevant DTMF code must end with the character 0 if using memories 000 to 099 or with character 1 if using memories 100 to 199. the user completes the DTMF sequence with the 2 last numbers of the memory number.
For example : let us decide that the character * is used to mark DTMF codes that will be used to switch the transceiver to memory mode.
We have to create 2 DTMF codes .
- A DTMF code *0 associated to action n#10 for memories 000 à 099
- A DTMF code *1 associated to action n#10 for memories 100 à 199
When these 2 DTMF codes will be created, the program will wait for 2 more characters following the codes. For example :
to use memory n#065, the user will have to send the DTMF sequence *065 (4 characters)
to use memory n#144, the user will have to send the DTMF sequence *144 (4 characters)
If you intend to use only memories from 000 to 099, the second DTMF code has not to be created.
The previous examples use the codes *0 and *1 but any other code terminated with a 0 or a 1 will be accepted.
Action 11 : to switch the active band to the memory which frequency contains the string FFFF in KHz : the relevant DTMF code must be terminated by the character 4 to choose a frequency range between 4000 à 4999 or terminated by the character 5 to choose a frequency range between 5000 à 5999. The user terminates the DTMF sequence with the 3 last characters .
For example : We decide that the character * is used to set the frequency on the active band .
We have to create 2 DTMF codes .
- A DTMF code *4 associated to action n#11 for frequency range 4000 à 4999
- A DTMF code *5 associated to action n#11 for frequency range 5000 to 5999
When these 2 DTMF codes will be created, the program will wait for 3 more characters following the codes. It will then look inside all the memories which one contains the wanted frequency and will switch the transceiver to this memory. :
to use frequency 145.6125 Mhz, the user will have to send the DTMF sequence *5612 (5 characters)
to use frequency 144.725 Mhz, the user will have to send the DTMF sequence *4725 (5 characters)
If no memory contains the sent string, no action will occur.
The previous examples use the codes *4 and *5 but any other code terminated with a 4 or a 5 will be accepted.
Actions 20 to 25 : these actions set the output power of the transmitters.
Actions 26 to 27 : these actions set the tranceiver into transmit and receive mode.
Actions 30 and 31 : These actions starts and stops the scanning of the TMD700 (not available for the TMD710).
Note 1: to avoid DTMF decoding problems, it is recommended to create DTMF codes that have the same length.
Nota 2 : Intercom treats DTMF characters as soon as they are received. If a sequence is recognised to be valid, it will be immediately executed even if extra characters are still received from the server.
Note 3 : Any 5-seconds delay without any received characters resets the actual received DTMF sequence. If you are not sure of the sequence that you are sending, it is recommended to wait at least 5 seconds and re-send the whole sequence.
If two memories contain the same frequency, the program will use the first one. If you want to use the second one, you need to use its number instead of its frequency.
The action n#11 (frequency programming) allows programming frequencies only in the VHF range 144.000 to 145.999 or the UHF range 434.000 à 435.999. If you need to use frequencies outside these ranges, you need to set the relevant memories inside these ranges and to switch them by using their number (actions n#7, 8 or 10) instead of their frequency.
Intercom recognises specific commands from SIMPLEX on the TCPIP link :
Commands are sent on LPT parrallel port (ground pin 25). See file LPT-PC.bmp
Commands are logic TTL levels 0-5volts
Important : if you run WinXP, the zntport.sys must be copied in the directory windows/system32/drivers and the PC must be restarted.
UP : pin 14 , pulse, positive (5V) or negative (0V) duration 50 à 1000 ms
DOWN : pin 1, pulse, positive (5V) or negative (0V) duration 50 à 1000 ms
RESET : pin 16, pulse, positive (5V) or negative (0V) duration 0.25 à 5 sec. This command must reset the TRX on a well-know default channel (for example in switching off/on or another mean)
PTT : pin 17, active 5V or 0V. This command switches the TRX in transmit mode.
SQUELCH : pin 11, active 5V o 0V. This signal comes from the receiver and stops scanning if active.
It is recommended to use opto circuits to isolate the TRX from the PC.
Option circular scanning : this option is to be used only if the highest channel switches to channel n#1 on the next UP command. Example Alcatel 1>>>16 then1 >>> etc
When this option is checked, only the UP command is used for continuous scanning.
If using single UP command, when the highesy channel is reached, next UP command switches to channel #1.
Reversely, if using single DOWN command, when the channel #1 is reached, next DOWN command will switch the TRX to the highest channel.
DO NOT USE THIS OPTION IF YOUR TRX DOES NOT WORK THIS WAY.
By default this option is not checked. This means that the UP command stops to the highest channel and then is ineffective. Reversly, the DOWN command stops to channel and then is ineffective.
In this case, the continuous scanning works alternatively with UP and DOWN commands.
Resynchronization between TRX and program : These two buttons of the INIT window, named UP/DN, allow to set the program counter to a particular channel number WITHOUT SENDING COMMAND TO THE TRX. This is useful when desynchronization occurs between the TRX and the program. Use this feature only if the RESET command is not available.
List of memoiries & channels : A maximum of 40 channels may be filled but only the number which is set in the counter "Number of channels of TRX" will be used.
The format of the frequency is very precise : FFF.FFFFFF in Mhz. Ex: 145.687500
It is this value that is synthetized by SIMPLEX when SIMPLEX requests the Intercom frequency (DTMF action #61 or TCPIP command FREQUENCY to the Intercom). Is is also this value that is used when setting the channel with the DTMF ACTION #11.
If no frequency is assigned to a channel, you will have to use DTMF action #10 to command this channel. (see below).
The field Comments accepts any character except [ and ] .
6.1-DTMF actions for the generic UP/DOWN transceiver :
Action #10 : commands the TRX through a channel number. The whole DTMF sequence must end with : 0nn (minimum 3 characters) where the figures before nn constitute the DTMF code and nn is the channel number to set.
For example, the DTMF code associated to this action can be 0. Then, the user will have to send the sequence 008 to set channel number 8.
Another example : the DTMF code associated to the action can be #0. Then the user will have to send the sequence #008 to set the channel number 8.
The DTMF code to created must end with a 0 and the user will terminate the sequence with nn.
Action #11 : commands the TRX through a frequency value. The whole DTMF séquence must end with : 4fff ou 5fff where the figures before fff constitute the DTMF code and fff is the frequency to set.
For example, the DTMF code associated to this action may be either 4 or 5. Then, the user will have to send the sequence 5687 to set the channel which frequency is 145.687500.
Another example : the DTMF code associated to the action can be #4 and #5. Then the user will have to send the sequence #5687 to set the channel which frequency is 145.687500.
The DTMF code to created must end with a 4 or 5 and the user will terminate the sequence with fff.
This action can be used only if the desired frequency value is assigned to a usable channel.
Action #26 : command PTT ON (TRX on transmit)
Action #27 : command PTT OFF (TRX on receive)
Action #30 : scanning ON
Action #31 : scanning OFF
Action #32 : command UP
Action #33 : command DOWN
Action #34 : command RESET
Action #35 : circular scanning (see comment above)
Action #36 : non-circular scanning
Action #40 : resynchronization UP
Action #41 : resynchronization DOWN
DTMF sequences may be simulated in the DTMF menu window in clicking ctrl+alt+s.
6.2-TCPIP commands as Client :
As a client of an external TCPIP server, Intercom recognizes the following commands (ending with CR+LF) :
- FREQUENCY : to return the frequency value of the actual channel. Format is FFF.FFFFFF. This value is 000.000000 if no frequency value is available. This value is 999.999999 if scanning is running.
- TRANSMIT_L : to send the command PTT ON if left channel is checked
- TRANSMIT_R : to send the command PTT ON if right channel is checked
- RECEIVE_L : to send the command PTT OFF if left channel is checked
- RECEIVE_R : to send the command PTT OFF if right channel is checked
- GENERIC_U : to send UP command
- GENERIC_D : to send DOWN command
Obviously Intercom may be used alone to switch the transceiver by using the relevant buttons.
Intercom can also run together with any server that will send strings of ASCII characters. It will treat them as if they were DTMF sequences and execute the associated actions.