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CAT System Computer Control
O
VERVIEW
The CAT (Computer Aided Transceiver) System
in the MARK-V FT-1000MP Field provides control of
frequency, VFO, memory, and other settings such as
dual-channel memories and diversity reception using
an external personal computer. This allows multiple
control operations to be fully automated as single
mouse clicks or keystroke operations on the computer
keyboard.
The MARK-V FT-1000MP Field has a built-in level
converter, allowing direct connection from the rear-
panel CAT jack to the serial port of your computer
without the need of any external boxes.
Each time a command instruction is being received
from the computer via the CAT port, the "CAT" indi-
cator appears in the display, then turns off afterward.
You will need a serial cable for connection to the RS-
232C (serial or COM port) connector on your computer.
Purchase a standard serial cable (not the so-called "null
modem" type), ensuring it has the correct gender and
number of pins (some serial COM port connectors use
a 9-pin rather than 25-pin configuration). If your com-
puter uses a custom connector, you may have to con-
struct the cable. In this case, refer to the technical docu-
mentation supplied with your computer for correct data
connection.
Vertex Standard does not produce CAT System
operating software due to the wide variety of personal
computers and operating systems in use today. How-
ever, the information provided in this chapter explains
the serial data structure and opcodes used by the CAT
system. This information, along with the short program-
ming examples, is intended to help you start writing
programs on your own. As you become more familiar
with CAT operation, you can customize programs later
on for your operating needs and discover the true op-
erating potential of this system.
Page 86
CAT D
ATA
Serial data is passed via the CAT jack on the rear
panel of the transceiver at 4800 bits/sec. All commands
sent from the computer to the transceiver consist of
five-byte blocks, with up to 200 ms between each byte.
The last byte sent in each block is the instruction
opcode, while the first four bytes of each block are ar-
guments: either parameters for that instruction, or
dummy values (required to pad the block out to five
bytes):
CAT 5-BYTE COMMAND STRUCTURE
Byte 1
Byte 2
Byte 3
Argument
Argument
Argument
Each byte sent consists of one start bit, 8 data bits,
no parity bit and two stop bits:
CAT DATA BYTE FORMAT
Start
0
B 1
1
Bit
There are twenty-nine instruction opcodes for the
MARK-V FT-1000MP Field, listed in the table on pages
94 ~ 97. Most of these duplicate menu programming
settings or options, or else emulate front panel button
functions. Notice that several instructions require no
specific parameters. However, every Command Block
sent to the transceiver must always consist of five bytes.
The CAT control program you are writing must con-
struct the 5-byte block, by selecting the appropriate
instruction opcode, organizing the parameters, if any,
and providing unused (dummy) argument bytes for
padding the block to its required 5-byte length (the
dummy bytes can contain any value). The resulting five
bytes are then sent, opcode last, from the computer to
the MARK-V FT-1000MP Field CPU via the serial port
and CAT jack on the transceiver rear panel.
P
ROTOCOL
Byte 4
Byte 5
Instruction
Argument
OPCODE
Stop
Stop
1
1
1
1
Bit
O
M
PERATING
ANUAL
Bit
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