Remote Control Software; Remote Interface Information - Kenwood R-5000 User Handbook Manual

REMOTE CONTROL SOFTWARE

There are a number of software packages specifically written to control the R-5000.
These packages allow you to change frequency, mode, channels, etc. Some also allow you to
do more advanced features like scanning and programming memory channels. Appendix B lists
some of these programs and where to obtain them. Note that some of these programs were
designed for the Kenwood TS-440 amateur transceiver, but the receive part of the programs will
still work. Note that the R-5000 is a "sister product" to the TS-440, but the receiver design more
closely follows that of the TS-940 transceiver.
I find most of these programs are overkill for my personal needs. I like to be able
program the channels from my computer, and I prefer to tune the radio from the front panel
knobs. I like the ease and speed of programming the channels with the frequencies and modes
of interest from my computer. I use a computer modem communications program (Procomm
Plus) on my computer and ASCII download text files with the channel information. I can
program all 100 channels in about 30 seconds. For example, if I am interested in monitoring
military aircraft on HF, I have a ASCII text file called MILAIRHF.TXT that contains frequency
and mode information for each channel. I then download this file to the radio and I am ready to
go. Below is a sample listing of that file (see REMOTE CONTROL COMMANDS below for
description of the command MW):
This loads channel 00 with 11.176 MHz USB, channel 01 with 13.241 MHz USB, and channel
02 with 15.015 MHz USB, etc. I have found you need to put a single RETURN every 10th line.
This seems to allow the radio to keep pace with the incoming commands.
Note that if you download another group of frequencies you will overwrite any previous
information programmed in those channels. You can erase all the programming in the receiver
by holding down the A=B key on the front panel while you turn the radio on. This will completely
erase everything, so be sure you copy down any frequencies of importance first!

REMOTE INTERFACE INFORMATION

If you would like to use a communications program on your computer to control the R-
5000, you will need to set up the interface. The interface to the radio should be at 4800 baud, 8
data bits, 1 start bit, 2 stop bits, with no parity. The receiver does not echo back the commands,
so the program must have echo on or be on full duplex. Upper or lower case letters can be
used, but each command must be followed by a terminator which is a semicolon (;). If you send
a semicolon followed by a RETURN the receiver will send a question mark (?) in response. This
is a good check to verify that communications are working.
MW 000001117600020 ;
MW 010001324100020 ;
MW 020001501500020 ;
•
•
•
MW 990000899300020 ;
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