About This Reference; Hardware Description; Control Operation - Kenwood TS-480HX Reference Manual

PC CONTROL COMMAND

ABOUT THIS REFERENCE

All descriptions in this PC CONTROL COMMAND
reference are for the users convenience only.
KENWOOD will not support or warrantee this
documentation in any way.

HARDWARE DESCRIPTION

The TS-480 transceiver uses a full-duplex,
asynchronous, serial interface for communicating
through the male 9-pin D-sub connector. Each data
is constructed with 1 start bit, 8 data bits, and 1 stop
bit (4800 bps must be configured as 2 stop bits). No
parity is used. The pinout and the pin functions of the
COM connector on the transceiver are shown below:
Front view
1 2
6
COM
COM Pin Name
COM
(Ref.: Computer)
Pin No.
1 NC
2 RXD
TXD
3
NC
4
5 GND
6 NC
7 RTS
8 CTS
9 NC
RXD: Transmit data is serial data transferred from
the transceiver to the computer.
TXD: Receive data is serial data transferred from
the computer to the transceiver.
GND: Signal ground pin
RTS: This signal is applied to the transceiver. It is
used to inhibit transmit data from the transceiver
when the computer is not ready to receive data.
Transmit data is inhibited when the level is low.
CTS: This signal is applied from the transceiver. It
is used to inhibit transmit data from the computer
when the transceiver is not ready to receive data.
Transmit data is stopped when the level is low.
3 4 5
7 8 9
Function
I/O
(Ref.: Transceiver)
—
—
Transmit data Output
Receive data
Input
—
—
Signal ground
—
—
Receive enable
Input
Transmit enable
Output
— —

CONTROL OPERATION

Most computers handle data in the form of "bits" and
"bytes". A bit is the smallest piece of information that
a computer can handle. A byte is composed of eight
bits. This is the most convenient form for most
computer data. This data may be sent in the form of
either serial or parallel data strings. The parallel
method is faster but more complicated, while the
serial method is slower and requires less complicated
equipment. The serial form is, therefore, a less
expensive alternative.
Serial data transmission uses time-division methods
over a single line. Using a single line also offers the
advantage of reducing the number of errors due to
line noise.
Only 3 lines are required theoretically for control of
the transceiver via the computer:
• Transmit data
• Receive data
• Ground
From a practical standpoint, it is also necessary to
incorporate some means of controlling when this data
transfer will occur. The computer and transceiver
cannot be allowed to send data at the same time!
The required control is achieved by using the RTS
and CTS lines. To interface between the TS-480
transceiver and a PC, use a commercially available
cable with a DB-9 female connector at each end.
Each connector pin must be connected to the same
pin number at the other end (a straight cable).
To control the transceiver from a PC, utilize the
general purpose terminal program to send
commands to the tranceiver. The transceiver
responds the command accordingly.
For example, the transceiver is placed into the
transmit mode whenever the character string "TX;" is
sent from the computer. The character string "TX;" is
called a PC control command.
You can further develop or create a script of the
commands using a macro function of the terminal
program. Kenwood also provides the remote control
program, ARCP-480 at our Web site. You can
download the program for free and try it out on your
PC. Access http://www.kenwood.com/i/products/info/
amateur.html and follow the instructions.
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