Unit installation

15-3

entered that can be used to customize how the HF commands work (not finished yet). While in HF

mode, the '#' key is used as the force-execution digit to make it easier to control the HF remote

from the reverse autopatch.

Virtual Radio Features:

Although the RLC-3's HF remote base interface is loaded with features, it uses only the most basic

features on the HF radio itself: receive frequency, transmit frequency, vfo, split, and mode. The

rest of the features are provided by the RLC-3 itself. This allows the RLC-3 to provide all of those

features even on radios that don't have built-in support for them. Scanning is performed by sending

a change of frequency several times a second, so the controller always knows what frequency the

radio is on and so it can handle scan edges even if the radio doesn't support them directly.

Memories are stored on the controller, so radios without built-in memories can support them with

the RLC-3. Even VFO A and VFO B are simulated by the controller; they work like you would

expect but both use VFO A on the radio (the radio's VFO B is used to handle offsets with some

radios). You could call all of these features that are handled by the controller "virtual" features,

since they may or may not exist on the radio but the controller makes it work like they do. The

only reason you need to know about which features are virtual and which ones actually use the

features of the radio is so you can understand why the display on the radio doesn't always reflect

the commands you enter. Watching the display on the radio may be more confusing than just using

the frequency recall command (keypad command '8') while you are in HF mode.

Default Values:

The first time the HF remote is turned on (or after it has been reinitialized), it will go to 14.25 Mhz,

USB. All of the virtual memories also default to 14.25 Mhz, USB. Of course you can change them

to any other frequency you may choose.

Example:

I want to control a Kenwood TS-870S. I want my command prefix digit to be '1', so I enter "195

11". I then enter "196 2 2 0" to set the radio type and tell the controller that it will be connected to

port.two. The audio cable is built just like the one for my repeater was. Since the TS-870S already

has a RS-232 serial port, I don't need a level converter, but I do need a null modem adapter in the

serial cable between it and the controller to connect the data out line on each end to the data in line

on the other. At least for now, I don't care about transmit or scan band edges, so I am going to

skip command 197. Entering "198" from the repeater on port 1 turns on HF mode and sets the

frequency to 14.25 Mhz. "179" starts it scanning up fast. Kerchunking it stops the scan. "13" will

turn of HF mode.