Repeater Controller Programming
From Link Communications - Support
Contents |
[edit] Programming Controllers with a Computer or DTMF Pad
Though it is possible to program the RLC repeater controllers using a DTMF pad, we strongly recommend using a computer for the initial setup. See Programming Using a Computer for more information.
If you are are using a DTMF pad and trying to enter a programming example that was intended to be loaded through the serial port using a computer, you can:
- Omit everything from a semicolon (';') to the end of the line. They are just comments and are ignored by the controller.
- Ignore spaces. The controller doesn't care if they are entered or not, even from the serial port.
- If a line begins with the letter 'N' (RLC-3/4/5/Club only), the 'N' can be omitted. The digits following the 'N' (except as noted above) will need to be entered.
For example
N036 000 001 002 ; speak "one two three"
can be entered from a DTMF pad as follows:
036000001002 <unkey>
[edit] Controllers With Similar Programming
Note that the programming for some of the controller models is very similar. Example programming for one can usually be changed to work on another by adjusting the timer, macro and event trigger numbers. The controllers that are similar are:
- RLC-1 - similar to the RLC-2 version 3.x firmware (pre-1995)
- RLC-1 Plus and RLC-2 V4.x
- RLC-3, RLC-Club (with or without Deluxe option), and Club Deluxe II
- RLC-4 and RLC-5 (also somewhat similar to the RLC-3 and RLC-Club)
[edit] Macro Programming
All of the RLC repeater controllers support multi-command macros (see Multi-Command Versus Snapshot Macros). The RLC-3, 4, 5 and Club controllers use macros for almost everything, including user DTMF commands and sending messages (such as IDs). Chapter 11 in the controller manuals describes how to program the ID macros. Macros used to implement user DTMF commands generally follow the same pattern:
- Send the voice or CW response (done first so it will automatically get sent to the port that the command was received from)
- Turn off the command responses for the remainder of the macro
- Execute the commands needed to accomplish the action
The following table contains links to examples of such user DTMF commands for the various controllers. Note that if you don't find an example for the type of controller you have, that one of the examples for a different controller may be really similar and easily modified (see the list of controllers that program similarly at the top of this page).
| Description | RLC-1 | RLC-1 Plus | RLC-2 | RLC-3 | RLC-4 | RLC-Club | RLC-Club Deluxe II |
| Basic Setup | RLC-1 Basic Setup | ||||||
| Link On/Off | RLC-3/Club Link On/Off | RLC-3/Club Link On/Off | RLC-3/Club Link On/Off | ||||
| Output Line On/Off | RLC-3/Club Output On/Off | RLC-3/Club Output On/Off | RLC-3/Club Output On/Off | ||||
| Courtesy Tone Examples | RLC-1 Plus Courtesy Tones | ||||||
| Controlling PL Encoder | Controlling PL Encoder | Controlling PL Encoder | |||||
| Changing courtesy beep to reflect conditions | RLC-4 Change Courtesy Beep | ||||||
| Switching links based on which PL is decoded | RLC-4 PL controlled linking | ||||||
| Weather Radio Control | RLC-Club Deluxe II Weather Radio Control |
Other examples:
- Synchronizing Time To A Master Clock. For RLC-3: Example of using a "master clock" to switch an input line on a controller to synchronize its clock to the master clock, ensuring that its time of day clock is always accurate. From Frederick R. Vobbe, W8HDU.
[edit] FAQs
Q: Why is there a delay before commands execute from receiver 1 with V2.xx of the RLC-3 or RLC-Club software?
A: See Delay Before Commands Are Executed
Q: How do I set up HyperTerminal to communicate with my controller?
A: See How to set up Hyperterminal
Q: If I started configuring my controller with QuickStart but I want to switch to using a text file and HyperTerminal, how can I keep the stuff I have already done?
A: See Generating Controller Command Files With QuickStart
Q: Any good ways to do a PL disable without having different commands for every repeater?
A: See Changing Command Based On RX Executed From
Q: How can I automate the creation repetitive command settings.
A: See Using Windows "CMD" scripts to generate repetitive commands
[edit] Other Web Sites with Programming Examples
Rich, WA8DBW has a web site with programming examples for several RLC controller models:
- _Programming.htm RLC-1 Programming - Example file from Greg McKim, KC5WDV with support for RBI-1.
- RLC-2 Programming - Example file for firmware version 4.2 from Wilson Penney, VO1BK.
- RLC-3 Programming - "Quick Start" info, example frequency agile remote base commands, "bell" courtesy tones, DVR-2 audio check macros, automatic daylight savings time adjustment, code to mute the remote base receiver audio (use command 006 instead if you have V2.15 or later firmware), etc.
- Additional RLC-3 Programming - Lots of information, including: paging, autopatch, I/O board responses, control of an HF remote, control of VHF/UHF Remote, setting up port one as a repeater, setting up port two as a repeater, setting all repeaters and links in "net" mode.
- RLC-4 Programming - Example from Doug Steventon, VE7EPT showing how to link an RLC-4 to a remote simplex autopatch.
- RLC-Club Programming - Currently only has information about controlling Yaesu FT-847/817 radios.
- RLC-ANG Programming - No examples at last check.
[edit] Known Firmware Bugs
See Known Firmware Bugs.
