Ports: Cat & 2Nd Cat - microHAM MK2R Manual

The CAT channel is used by the host application to control transceiver frequency, mode, T/R switching and many
other parameters. The application communicates with the radio using a serial protocol. Most modern radios
implement some form of serial control but almost every radio implementation is different. The amount of radio
control depends on the particular application and radio.
NOTE: The COM port number assigned in Router MUST match the port number assigned in the
host application. First configure the virtual COM ports in Router then configure the application.
When a COM port is assigned in the Router but not in
the application (or the application is not running) Router
will indicate the channel is closed.
When an application opens the COM port assigned for control (usually at start-up), Router shows the channel as
open and displays baud rate, data bits, parity and number of stop bits used by the application. For example,
4800 8N2 means: 4800 baud, 8 bits data length, parity = none, and two stop bits.
Data flowing through the CAT channel is indicated by two arrows. A green arrow shows data flow from the host
application to the radio and a red arrow shows data flow from the radio to the application.
TIP: If the application provides PTT (T/R) by radio control (CAT) turn this function OFF. PTT by CAT is
not reliable because RFI can prevent the radio from switching back to receive. There is a dedicated T/R
switching channel for this purpose called PTT.
NOTE: If your radio does not support handshake (most do not)., configure DTR and RTS settings in
your application program (logger) for Always On or Always Off. Do not select "Handshake."
For Router to determine the operating
frequency and mode, it must know
what radios (CAT protocol) are being
used. To select the radio, click the Set
button, choose your radio in the Radio
combo box, then select communication
speed in the Baud rate box, and set
the CI-V address for Icom and some
TenTec radios.
When both radios are communicating
with Router, click Device | Store as
Power-up Setting. This will save the
radio settings to EEPROM and allow
frequency/mode decoding and iLink
updates even if Router is not running
(stand alone mode).
TIP: Disable AUTOBAUD in
Icom transceivers. Set the
radio, Router, and application
software to operate at 9600 or
19200 baud.
NOTE: The baud rate must match your radio. All Icom and some Ten-Tec radios require the correct CI-V
address. If everything is configured properly, your radio's current operating frequency and mode should
be displayed.
microHAM © 2010 All rights reserved
nd
CAT PORT & 2 CAT PORT
28