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RS-232 Control of the AOR AR-5000

Interface Unit: None required - direct connection

Standard Connections Used: TXD, RXD, RTS, CTS, GND

Flow Control: Software (XON/XOFF)

Type of RS-232 Command Set: ASCII text, <CR> delimiter, and are achieved using hex 0x1e and 0x1f respectively

Data Parameters: 4800, 9600 or 19200 baud; 2 stop bits; no parity

Overview of RS-232 Interfaces

The AR-5000 is one of (if not the) best RS-232 supported basestation scanner. It uses an ASCII text based commands set (except for and which use hexadecimal byte values) whicj is very similar to other AOR radios, such as the AR-8000. The power of the RS-232 interface lies in its simplicity of use and the considerable level of control that is provided. The AR-5000 (like the AR-8000) is one of the few radios that can be programmed for searches and scans at the full rate the radio supports - it does this by accepting only the search/scan parameters from the computer and avoid the need to tune the radio to each frequency individually.

RS-232 Connector Pinout

AR-5000 Function IBM-PC
9-pin		 IBM-PC
25-pin
2 TX data 2 3
3 RX data 3 2
5 Ground 5 7
7 RTS 7 4
8 CTS 8 5

Command Set

Digraph Function Command
AC AGC To set: ACn<CR>
Where n is defined as follows:
0 fast
1 middle
2 slow
F off

To read: AC<CR>
Response is ACn

Note: set automatically when in automode
AI IF Output To set: AIn<CR>
n=0 (EXT-IF off), n=1 (EXT-IF 1), n=2 (EXT IF 2)

To read: AI<CR>
Response is AIn
AF AFC To set: AFn<CR>
n=0 (off), n=1 (on)

To read: AF<CR>
Response is AFn

Note: When active, AFC causes the last three digits of the AR5000 frequency display to be replaced with " AF"
AN Antenna To set: ANn<CR>
n=0 (auto antenna),
n=1 (antenna 1),
n=2 (antenna 2),
n=3 (antenna 3),
n=4 (antenna 4)

To read: AN<CR>
Response is ANn or AN0 n (when auto-antenna is active)
AS Search auto-store on/off To set: ASn<CR>
n=0 (off),
n=1 (on - use bank 0),
n=2 (on - delete and use bank 0),

To read: AS<CR>
Response is either n=0 (off) or n=1 (on)
AT Attenuator To set: ATn<CR>
n=0 (0dB - off),
n=1 (10dB),
n=2 (20dB),
n=F (auto-attenuator on)

To read: AT<CR>
Response is ATmn, where m=0 (auto off), m=1 (auto on) and n=0, 1 or 2
AU Auto mode To set: AUn<CR>
n=0 (off), n=1 (on)

To read: AU<CR>
Response is AUn

Note: Step, mode, bw, lpf, hpf and de-emphasis are all affected by this command
BM Scan bank link setting To read: BM<CR>
Responds with: BM n n n n n n n n n n, where n = character corresponding to linked bank (0 - 9), or - (not linked)

Example: BM - 1 2 3 - - - - - - indicates that banks 1, 2 & 3 are linked

To set: BM n n n n n n n n n n<CR>
Where n is a charcter which specifies a bank which will have its link status toggled (0 - 9)
BM%%<CR> clears all link settings

Example: BM 123 toggles the link status for banks 1, 2 & 3

BN EEPROM Bank Select
(use DOUBLE the memory capacity - 2000 channels!)		 To set: BNn
n=0 (bank 0), n=1 (bank 1)

To read: BN<CR>
Response is BNn
BQ Search bank link function on/off To set: BQn<CR>
n = 0 (off), n = 1 (on)

To read: BQ<CR>
Response is BQn
BS Search bank link on/off To read: BS<CR>
Responds with: BS n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n, where n = character corresponding to linked bank, or - (not linked). The first 10 ns correspond to banks 0 - 9 whereas the last 10 ns correspond to banks 10 - 19

Example: BS - 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - 5 6 - - - indicates that banks 1, 15 & 16 are linked

To set: BS nn nn nn nn nn nn nn nn nn nn nn nn nn nn nn nn nn nn nn nn<CR>
Where nn are two-digit values corresponding to bank link statuses to be toggled
BS%%<CR> clears all link settings

Example: BS 00 11<CR> toggles the link status for banks 0 & 1
BW Bandwidth To set: BWn<CR>
n=0 (0.5 kHz),
n=1 (3 kHz),
n=2 (6 kHz),
n=3 (15 kHz),
n=4 (30 kHz),
n=5 (110 kHz),
n=6 (220 kHz)

To read: BW<CR>
Response is BWn

Note: This command exits the receiver from automode
CN CTCSS operation To read: CN<CR>
Responds with CNnn nn=0 (off), nn=01 (auto), nn=06-37 (a frequency from the following table)
nn freq nn freq nn freq nn freq
00 off 10 136.5 20 241.8 30 177.3
01 auto 11 141.3 21 250.3 31 183.5
    12 146.2 22 67.0 32 189.9
    13 151.4 23 71.9 33 196.6
    14 156.7 24 74.4 34 199.5
    15 162.2 25 77.0 35 206.5
06 94.8 16 167.9 26 79.7 36 229.1
07 100.0 17 173.8 27 82.5 37 254.1
08 103.5 18 179.9 28 85.4    
09 107.2 19 186.2 29 88.5    
0A 110.9 1A 192.8 2A 91.5    
0B 114.8 1B 203.5 2B 97.4    
0C 118.8 1C 210.7 2C 69.4    
0D 123.0 1D 218.1 2D 159.8    
0E 127.3 1E 225.7 2E 165.5    
0F 131.8 1F 233.6 2F 171.3    

To set: CNnn<CR>, where nn is a two digit value from the table
EN De-emphasis To set: ENn<CR>
n=0 (25 us),
n=1 (50 us),
n=2 (75 us),
n=3 (750 us),
n=4 (thru)

To read: EN<CR>
Response is ENn

Note: This command exits the receiver from automode
EX Exit RS-232 EX<CR>
Terminates remote operation via the RS-232 and restores normal operation from the radio's front panel.
GA Tag memory channels
for select scan		 To set: GAn<CR>
n=0 (off), n=1 (on)
To clear all memory select scan settings, use GA%%<CR>

To read: GA<CR>
Response is GAn
GM Memory link group To set: GMn<CR>
Tags the current memory with label n=0 - 9

To read: GM<CR> or GM%%<CR>

GM%%<CR>
Lists all memory channel tags in the current bank.

Example:
GM1 XD2.0 XB 000 XA 000 XP00 XMF ML0 BM - - - - - - - - - -
GM2 XD2.0 XB 000 XA 000 XP00 XMF ML0 BM - - - - - - - - - -
GM3 XD2.0 XB 000 XA 000 XP00 XMF ML0 BM - - - - - - - - - -
GM4 XD2.0 XB 000 XA 000 XP00 XMF ML0 BM - - - - - - - - - -
GM5 XD2.0 XB 000 XA 000 XP00 XMF ML0 BM - - - - - - - - - -
GM6 XD2.0 XB 000 XA 000 XP00 XMF ML0 BM - - - - - - - - - -
GM7 XD2.0 XB 000 XA 000 XP00 XMF ML0 BM - - - - - - - - - -
GM8 XD2.0 XB 000 XA 000 XP00 XMF ML0 BM - - - - - - - - - -
GM9 XD2.0 XB 000 XA 000 XP00 XMF ML0 BM - - - - - - - - - -
GM0 XD2.0 XB+001 XA+001 XP01 XMF ML0 BM - - 2 3 - - - - - -

Note: Refer to individual commands for details of each field.
GR Recall tagged channels
for select scan		 GRnn<CR>
Lists selected channel nn (00-99) from those available for select scan.

GR<CR>
Lists all selected channels

Response is of the form:
GRnn MXmnn RFnnnnnnnnnn TMxxxxxxx

Note: Refer to individual commands for details of each field.
GS Search link group To set: GSn<CR>
Where n=0-9

To read: GS<CR> or GS%%<CR>

GS%%<CR> lists all search links

Example:
GS1 SD2.0 SB 000 SA 000 SP00 AS0 BQ0 BS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

GS2 SD2.0 SB 000 SA 000 SP00 AS0 BQ0 BS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

GS3 SD2.0 SB 000 SA 000 SP00 AS0 BQ0 BS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

GS4 SD2.0 SB 000 SA 000 SP00 AS0 BQ0 BS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

GS5 SD2.0 SB 000 SA 000 SP00 AS0 BQ0 BS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

GS6 SD2.0 SB 000 SA 000 SP00 AS0 BQ0 BS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

GS7 SD2.0 SB 000 SA 000 SP00 AS0 BQ0 BS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

GS8 SD2.0 SB 000 SA 000 SP00 AS0 BQ0 BS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

GS9 SD2.0 SB 000 SA 000 SP00 AS0 BQ0 BS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

GS0 SD2.0 SB+001 SA+001 SP01 AS0 BQ0 BS - - - - - - - - - - - 1 - - - - - - - -

Note: Refer to individual commands for details of each field.
HP Highpass filter select To set: HPn<CR>
n=0 (0.05 kHz),
n=1 (0.2 kHz),
n=2 (0.3 kHz),
n=3 (0.4 kHz)

To read: HP<CR>
Response is HPn
DA VFO Voice-level To set: DAnnn<CR>
nnn=000 - 255 (where 000=Voice off)

To read: DA<CR>
Responds with DA nnn or DA+nnn (+ = current voice level >= nnn)
DB VFO squelch-level To set: DBnnn<CR>
nnn=000 - 255 (where 000=L-SQ off)

To read: DB<CR>
Responds with DB nnn or DB+nnn (+ = current AGC level >= nnn)
DD VFO delay time To set: DDnn<CR>
Where nn = 00 - 99 (indicating 0.0 - 9.9 seconds)

To read: DD<CR>
Responds with DDn.n
DS Cyberscan on/off To set: DSn<CR>
n=0 (off) or n=1 (on)

To read: DS<CR>
Response is DSn
LC Respond with frequency
and level when squelch opens		 To set: LCn<CR>
n=0 (off), n=1 (on)

To read: LC<CR>
Responds with LCn

When active, data in the following format is returned when the squelch opens:
LCA2
RF0125650000
Where the LC parameter specifies the signal level (see LM command) and the RF parameter specifies the current frequency (see (RF command)
LM Respond with S-meter
reading		 To read: LM<CR>

Responds with a 256-level s-meter sample in hexadecimal, LMmnn,
where nn = 00-FF and m is either " " (squelch open) or "%" (squelch closed)
LP Lowpass filter select To set: LPn<CR>
n=0 (3 kHz),
n=1 (4 kHz),
n=2 (6 kHz),
n=3 (12 kHz)

To read: LP<CR>
Response is LPn
LS Tone eliminate frequency To set: LSnnn (000-255) (000=off)

To read: LS<CR>
Responds with LS nnn or LS+nnn (for mute on)
MA List a block of ten memory channels To read: MA<CR> or MAnnn<CR> (n= bank 0-9)

Example:
MX120 ---
MX121 ---
MX122 MP0 GA0 RF0088300000 ST100000 AU1 MD0 TMBBC
MX123 MP0 GA0 RF0088300000 ST000010 AU0 MD3 TM
MX124 MP0 GA0 RF0433250000 ST025000 AU1 MD0 TM
MX125 MP0 GA0 RF0145000000 ST100000 AU0 MD0 TM
MX126 MP0 GA0 RF0145000000 ST100000 AU0 MD0 TM
MX127 MP0 GA0 RF0145000000 ST100000 AU0 MD0 TM
MX128 MP0 GA0 RF0088300000 ST100000 AU1 MD0 TMBEFG
MX129 ---

Note: Refer to individual commands for details of each field.
MD Mode To set: MDn<CR>
0 FM
1 AM
2 LSB
3 USB
4 CW
5 SAM
6 SAL
7 SAH

To read: MD<CR>
Responds with mode value as above
ML Scan bank function on/off To set: MLn<CR>
n = 0 (off), n = 1 (on)

To read: ML<CR>
Responds with MLn

Note: see BM command for more details of scan bank linking
MP Set memory channel as pass To set: MPn<CR>
n = 0 (pass off), n = 1 (pass on)

MP%%<CR> clears pass settings for all memory channels

Setting pass on a memory channel excludes it from scans
MQ Delete bank or memory
channel		 MQ<CR>
Deletes the current memory channel (when in memory recall mode)

MQnn<CR>
Deletes memory channel nn (where nn = 00 - 99)

MQ%%<CR>
Deletes all memory channels from the current bank.
MR Recall memory channel MRmnn<CR> recalls memory channel nn (00-99) from bank m (0-9)

To read the current memory channel: MR<CR>
MS Select scan mode MS<CR>
Starts scan using the current memory bank

MSn<CR>
Starts scan using memory bank n (0-9)

Note: to scan and report active frequencies, see LC command
MT Manual tune or auto-tune of tone eliminator To set: MTn
n=0 (off = auto-tune) or n=1 (on)

To read MT<CR>
Responds with MTn TUnnn

Note: Refer to TU commands for details of tone frequency value.
MX Write data to memory MXxnn RFnnnnnnnnnn AUn STnnnnnn MDn BWn LPn HPn ENn MPn ATn AHn ACn TMxxxxxxxx<CR>
Writes data of the format shown into memory channel nn in bank x

TM permits an 8-character alphanumeric ASCII comment

Parameters ST, MD, BW, LP, HP, EN, MP, AT, AH, AC and TM are all optional and need only be specifies if required.

Note: Refer to the individual commands for further details
NB Noise Blanker To set: NBn<CR>
n = 0 (off), n = 1 (on)

To read: NB<CR>
Response is NBn

Note: an "N" symbol is displayed in the bandwidth part of the AR-5000 front panel display if the bandwith is less that 110 kHz
PD Delete pass frequency PDnnmm<CR>
Deletes pass frequency mm (00-99) in search bank nn (00-20) (nn=20 is VFO)

PD%%nn<CR>
Deletes all pass channels in bank nn (00-20) (nn=20 is VFO)
PR Recall pass frequency PRnn<CR>
Recalls the pass frequency stored in pass bank nn (nn=00-20, nn=20 is VFO)

Responds with:
PRnn mm ffffffffff
Where nn = bank, mm = channel, ffffffffff = frequency (in Hz)

Example:
PRV 00 0125650000
PRV 01 ---
PS Set search pass frequency PSnnnnnnnnnn<CR> or PSnn.nn<CR>
Adds the frequency nnnnnnnnnn (in Hz) or nn.nn (in MHz) to the next available pass channel

Note: You must select VFO or search first to direct the pass frequency to the appropriate bank (see PR and PD commands)
QM DTMF decode on/off To set: QMn<CR>
n=0 (off) or n=1 (on)

To read: QM<CR>
Responds with QMn
QP Power Off QP<CR>
Turns off power to the AR-5000

Note: to turn it on again send an X<CR> command (although a <CR> is sufficient)
QS Delete search data QSnn<CR>
Delete search with pass frequency for bank nn=00-19
RF Set frequency RFnnnnnnnnnn<CR>
Tune to the specified frequency (expressed in Hz)

RFnn.nn<CR>
Tune to the specified frequency (expressed in MHz)
RX Respond with current data RX<CR>
Recalls current operating parameters in the following formats
VFO
Mode		 Vn RFnnnnnnnnnn STnnnnnn AUn MDn
Memory
Manual
Mode		 MR MXnnn MPn GAn RFnnnnnnnnnn STnnnnnn AUn MDn TMxxxxxxxx
Scan
mode		 MS MXnnn MPn GAn RFnnnnnnnnnn STnnnnnn AUn MDn TMxxxxxxxx
Select
Scan
Mode		 SM MXnnn MPn GAn RFnnnnnnnnnn STnnnnnn AUn MDn TMxxxxxxxx
Search
mode		 SSn RFnnnnnnnnnn STnnnnnn AUn MDn TTxxxxxxxx
VFO
Search
Mode		 VS Vn RFnnnnnnnnnn STnnnnnn AUn MDn TTxxxxxxxx

Note: Refer to individual commands for details of each field.
RQ Squelch setting To set: RQnnn<CR>
nnn=000-255

To read: RQ<CR>
Responds with RQ nnn or RQ+nnn (where + indicates squelch is open)
SA Voice level To set: SAnnn<CR>
nnn = 0 (audio search off), nnn = 001-255 (level value)

To read: SA<CR>
Responds with SA nnn or SA+nnn (current voice level >= nnn)
SB Level scan To set: SBnnn<CR>
nnn = 0 (level search off), nnn = 001-255 (audio search value)

To read: SB<CR>
Responds with SB nnn or SB+nnn (current level >= nnn)
SC Change operating code (details unknown)
SD Set hold/delay time in search mode To set: SDnn<CR>
where
01-99 Delay in 1/10ths of a second
FF hold
00 delay off

To read: SD<CR>
Responds with SDn.n, as above
SE Set search data SEnn SLnnnnnnnnnn SUnnnnnnnnnn AUn STnnnnnn MDn BWn LPn HPn ENn ATn AHn ACn TTxxxxxxxx

Sets search parameters for search bank nn=00-19

TT permits an 8-character alphanumeric ASCII comment to be specified

Parameters ST, MD, BW, LP, HP, EN, AT, AH, AC and TT are all optional and need only be specifies if required.

Note: Refer to the individual commands for further details
SH Set offset step To set: SHnnnnnn<CR>
Set the tuning step size in Hz

To set: SHn.n<CR>
Set the tuning step size in kHz

SH+nnnnnn, SH+n.n or SH+ turns on step adjust

To read: SH<CR>
Responds with value, format: SHnnnnnnx (x=+ step adjust on)
SL Lower search frequency limit See RF command for format of frequency
SM Start memory scan SM<CR>
Starts memory scan using the parameters selected
SP Search pause time setting To set: SPnn<CR>
where, nn = 01 - 60 seconds free search time, nn = 00 pause off

To read: SP<CR>
Returns with SPnn (as above)
SR Recall search parameters SR<CR>
Recalls the currently selected search bank

SRnn<CR>
where nn = 00-19
Recalls search bank nn

SR%%<CR>
Responds with a listing of all search banks

Responds with:
SRnn SLnnnnnnnnnn SUnnnnnnnnnn STnnnnnn AUn MDn TTxxxxxxx

Note: Refer to the individual commands for further details
SS Start search SS<CR>
Start searching using the current search bank

SSnn<CR>
Start searching using the parameters stored in search bank nn (00-19)
ST Tuning step size To set: STnnnnnn<CR>
Set the tuning step size in Hz

To set: STn.n<CR>
Set the tuning step size in kHz

ST+nnnnnn, ST+n.n or ST+ turns on step adjust

To read: ST<CR>
Responds with value, format: STnnnnnnx (x=+ step adjust on)
SU Upper search frequency limit See RF command for format of frequency
SJ Sub-step size To set: SJn<CR>
Where n = 0 - A as follows:
0 main
1 x10
2 100 Hz
3 500 Hz
4 1 kHz
5 5 kHz
6 10 kHz
7 50 kHz
8 100 kHz
9 500 kHz
A 1000 kHz
TM Memory Text See MX command
TT Search Text See SE command
VA/VB/
VC/VD/
VE		 VFO A - E functions To set: Vxnnnnnnnnnn<CR> (in Hz) or Vxnn.nn<CR> (in MHz)
Where: x is A, B, C, D or E for VFO A -E, frequency data is expressed in the format used by the RF command

To read: Vx<CR>
Responds with: Vx RFnnnnnnnnnn STnnnnnn AUn MDn

Note: Refer to the individual commands for more details
VL Volume select To set: VLnnn<CR>
Where, n = 000 - 255

To read: VL<CR>
Responds with VLnnn as above
XA Voice scan setting To set: XAnnn<CR>
Where, nnn = 000 (voice scan off), nnn = 001-255 (voice scan value)

To read: XA<CR>
Responds with XA nnn or XA+nnn (if current voice level >= nnn)
XB Level scan setting To set: XBnnn<CR>
Where, nnn = 0 (level scan off), nnn = 001-255 (level scan value)

To read: XB<CR>
Responds with XB nnn or XB+nnn (if current level >= nnn)
XD Memory scan delay time To set: XDnn<CR>
nn = 00 - 99 representing 100ms increments (0.0 - 9.9s)

To read: XD<CR>
Responds with XDn.n as above
XM Mode scan To set: XMn<CR>
0 FM
1 AM
2 LSB
3 USB
4 CW
F All mode

To read: XM<CR>
Responds with XMn as above
XP Memory scan pause setting To set: XPnn<CR>
00 pause off
01-60 pause time in seconds

To read: XP<CR>
Responds with XPnn as above
Up/Down
n<CR>
where n is a binary byte value as follows
0x1e
0x1f

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This document maintained by simon.collings@cableinet.co.uk.
Material Copyright © 2000 Simon Collings