Simon Collings - RS-232 Interfacing for Receiver Control

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RS-232 Control of the AOR AR-8000

Interface Unit: CU-8232 (or equivalent)
Note: The AOR manual recommends a maximum length of RS-232 cable of 2 meters

Standard Connections Used: TXD, RXD, GND

Flow Control: Software (XON/XOFF)

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

Data Parameters: 2400, 4800 or 9600 baud; 2 stop bits; no parity

Overview of RS-232 Interfaces

The AR-8000 is probably the best RS-232 supported handheld. It uses an ASCII text based commands set (except for and which use hexadecimal byte values). The power of the RS-232 interface is in its simplicity of use and the level of control that is provided. 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

CU-8232 9-pin	Function	IBM-PC 9-pin	IBM-PC 25-pin
2	TX data	2	3
3	RX data	3	2
5	Ground	5	7

Note: Pins 4, 6 & 8 are linked together inside the CU-8232 unit. Some systems will required the linking of pins 4 & 5 (CTS/RTS) at the computer end for correct operation.

Command Set

Digraph

Function

Command

Attenuator

To set: ATn<CR>
n=0 (off), n=1 (on)

To read: AT<CR>

Auto mode

To set: AUn<CR>
n=0 (off), n=1 (on)

To read: AU<CR>

Scan bank link on/off

To read: BM<CR>
Responds with: BM nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn, where n = character corresponding to linked bank, or - (not linked)

Example: BM -BC---GHIJa---e--h-j indicates that banks B, C, G, H, I, J, a, e, h & j are linked

To set: BMnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn<CR>
Where n is a charcter which specifies a bank which will have its link status set (A-J and a-j), or '-' to invert link status

Example: BM BChj sets the link status for banks B, C, h & j

Note: the ML command can be used to switch off all links

Change search/scan bank

To set: BNx<CR>
In VFO mode, BN specifies the bank to use for search or scan mode (rather than allowing the last used bank to be used as default)

To read: BN<CR>
Responds with bank designator A-J or a-j as follows:
MXx - scan mode
SRx - search mode

Search bank link function on/off

To set: BQn<CR>
n = 0 (off), n = 1 (on)

Search bank link on/off

To read: BS<CR>
Responds with: BS nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn, where n = character corresponding to linked bank, or - (not linked)

Example: BS -BC--F-HIJa---e----j indicates that banks B, C, F, H, I, J, a, e & j are linked

To set: BSnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn<CR>
Where n is a charcter corresponding to a bank to be linked, or '-' to invert the link status

Example: BS BCfg sets the link status for banks B, C, f & g

Note: the BQ command can be used to switch off all links

Report current VFO data

DD<CR>
Responds with data of the following format:
RFnnnnnnnnm0 STnnnnm0 AUn MDn ATn

Exit RS-232

EX<CR>
Terminates remote operation via the RS-232 and restores normal operation from the radio's front panel. This has the same affect as pressing the [LOCAL] key on the radio's front panel

Tag memory channels
for select scan

GAxnn
Tags memory channel nn (00-49) in bank x (A-J, a-j)

Un-tag memory channels
for select scan

GDnn<CR>
Un-tags memory channel nn in the current bank (00-49)

GD%%<CR>
Un-tags all memory channels in the current bank.

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 MPn RFnnnnnnnnm0 STnnnnm0 MDn ATn TMxxxxxxx

Refer to individual commands for details of each field.

Respond with frequency
and level when squelch opens

LC<CR>
Causes the AR-8000 to respond with current frequency and S-meter reading and again whenever the squelch opens. To terminate, send another command.

Response:
LCnn RFnnnnnnnnm0, where nn is an s-meter sample in the range 00-3f hex (64 steps) and nnnnnnnnm0 is the current frequency.

Example:(in 1-vfo mode) LC1B RF0145300000, s-meter 0x1b (27 decimal)

Example:(in 2-vfo mode) LC1B Vn0145300000 (Vn is either VA or VB)

Respond with S-meter
reading

LM<CR>
Responds with a 64-level s-meter sample in hexadecimal, LMnn, where nn:

00-3F - squelch open (as per LC command)
B0-BF - squelch closed

Respond with bank

To read the curreny memory bank: MR<CR>

To read the specified memory bank: MRx<CR>
where, x = A-J, a-j

Typical response:
MXA01 MP0 RF1290000000 ST01000 AU1 MD1 AT0 TMtest 1
MXA02 MP0 RF0015100000 ST01000 AU1 MD1 AT0 TMtest 2
...
Refer to individual commands for breakdown of fields returned

Monitor

To set: MCn<CR>

0	mute off
1	mute on
2	normal squelch operation

Mode

To set: MDn<CR>

0	WFM
1	NFM
2	AM
3	USB
4	LSB
5	CW

To read: MD<CR>
Responds with mode value as above

Start scan.
Respond with freq/level when squelch opens

MG<CR>
Starts the scan and responds with frequency and level data as per the LC command

Scan bank function on/off

To set: MLn<CR>
n = 0 (off), n = 1 (on)

Note: see BM command for more details of scan bank linking

Set memory channel as pass

To set: MPn<CR>
n = 0 (pass off), n = 1 (pass on)

To read: MP<CR>

Setting pass on a memory channel excludes it from scans

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 - 49)

MQ%%<CR>
Deletes all memory channels from the current bank.

Select memory recall mode

MR<CR>
Places the receiver into memory recall mode (M.RE) and reports the last used channel

MRxnn<CR>
Places the receiver into memory recall mode (M.RE) and reports the contents of memory channel nn (00 - 49) in bank x (A-J, a-j).

Note: the format of data reported is the same as per the MR command

Select scan mode

MS<CR>
Starts scan using the current memory bank (or the last one used)

MSx<CR>
Starts scan using memory bank x (A-J, a-j)

Note: to scan and report active frequencies, see MG command

Write data to memory

MXxnn RFnnnnnnnnm0 AUn STnnnnm0 MDn ATn TMxxxxxxx<CR>
Writes data of the format shown into memory channel nn in bank x

TM permits a 7-character alphanumeric ASCII comment

Refer to the individual commands for further details

Set delay for power save mode

To set: PAnn<CR>
Sets the power save delay time in seconds (nn = 01-99, 00=off)

To read: PA<CR>
Responds with PAnn (nn = current value in seconds)

Note: used on conjunction with PI command

Delete search pass frequency

PDnn<CR>
Deletes pass frequency in pass channel nn (00-49)

PD%%<CR>
Deletes all pass channels

Set interval time for power save mode

To set: PIn<CR>
Sets interval time in seconds (1-9)

To read: PI<CR>
Responds with PIn (n= current interval value)

Note: used on conjunction with PA command

Recall search pass frequency

PR<CR>
Recalls all pass frequencies

PRnn<CR>
Recalls the pass frequency stored in pass channel nn (00-49)

Set search pass frequency

PSnnnnnnnn00<CR>
Adds the frequency nnnnnnnn00 (in Hz) to the next available pass channel

PSnnnn.nnn<CR>
Adds the frequency nnnn.nnn (in MHz) to the next available pass channel

Set current frequency as pass

PW<CR>
Add the current received frequency to the next available pass channel

Set frequency

RFnnnnnnnnm0<CR>
Tune to the specified frequency (expressed in Hz)

RFnnnn.nnnnm<CR>
Tune to the specified frequency (expressed in MHz)

m must either be '5' (for 50Hz) or '0'. Any other digit is ignored.

Respond with current frequency

RX<CR>
Recalls current operating parameters in the following formats

VFO Mode	DD RFnnnnnnnnm0 STnnnnm0 MDn ATn
2-VFO Mode	VF RFnnnnnnnnm0 STnnnnm0 MDn ATn
M.RE	MR MXmnn MPn RFnnnnnnnnm0 STnnnnm0 MDn ATn TMxxxxxxx
Scan mode	MS MXmnn MPn RFnnnnnnnnm0 STnnnnm0 MDn ATn TMxxxxxxx
Select Scan Mode	SM MXmnn MPn RFnnnnnnnnm0 STnnnnm0 MDn ATn TMxxxxxxx
Search mode	SS RFnnnnnnnnm0 STnnnnm0 AUn MDn ATn TTxxxxxxx

Audio search on/off

To set: SAn<CR>
n = 0 (audio search off), n = 1 (audio search on)

To read: SA<CR>
Responds with SAn (as above)

Set level and threshold

To set: SBn<CR>
n = 0 (level search off), n = 1-7 (audio search value)

To read: SB<CR>
Responds with SAn (as above)

Change operating code

(details unknown)

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 SDnn, as above

Set search data

SEx SLnnnnnnnnm0 SUnnnnnnnnm0 AUn STnnnnm0 MDn ATn TTxxxxxxx
Sets search parameters for search bank x.

Refer to the individual commands for further details (SL and SU fields given below):

SLnnnnnnnnm0
Set the lower frequency in a search (expressed in Hz)

SLnnnn.nnnnm
Tune to the specified frequency (expressed in MHz)

m must either be '5' (for 50Hz) or '0'. Any other digit is ignored.

SU field obeys the same rules as SL. Note, it is not possible to use SL and SU as commands in their own right

Start search.
Respond with freq/level when squelch open

SG<CR>
Starts searching using the parameters and search links currently selected.

Responses with, LCnn RFmmmmmmmmmm, data whenever an active frequency which opens the squelch is encountered

Refer to the LC command for details of the parameters

Option unit

(details unknown)

Start memory scan

SM<CR>
Starts memory scan using the parameters selected

Set password protection of memory and search banks a- j

To set: SNnnnn<CR>
Sets password nnnn (4 digits), or '0000' to disable password protection

To read: SN<CR>
Returns with password, SNnnnn

Read current search options (delay, free & hold)

SO<CR>
Responds with:

SO0	Delay mode on
SO1	Free mode on
SO2	Hold mode on

Free search mode

To set: SPnn<CR>
where, nn = 01 - 99 seconds free search time, nn = 00 free search off

To read: SP<CR>
Returns with SPnn (as above)

Read search current options (level & audio)

SQ<CR>
Responds with:

SQ0	both level and audio search off
SQ1	level search on
SQ2	audio search on
SQ3	both level and audio search on

Recall search parameters

SR<CR>
Recalls the currently selected search bank

SRx<CR>
Recalls search bank x (A-J, a-j)

Responds with:
SRx SLnnnnnnnnm0 SUnnnnnnnnm0 STnnnnm0 AUn MDn ATn TTxxxxxxx

Refer to the individual commands for further details (except SL and SU which are described in the SE command)

Start search

SS<CR>
Start searching using the current search bank

SSx<CR>
Start searching using the parameters stored in search bank x (A-J, a-j)

Set search step size

To set: STnnnnm0<CR>
Set the tuning step size in Hz

To set: STnnn.nm<CR>
Set the tuning step size in kHz

m must either be '5' (for 50 Hz) or '0'. Any other digit is ignored.

It is possible to enter step frequency values from 50 Hz - 999.995 kHz

To read: ST<CR>
Responds with value, format: STnnnnm0

Set priority interval

To set: TInn<CR>
Sets priority interval nn (01-19) in seconds

To read: TI<CR>
Responds with TDnn (nn is current priority interval value expressed in seconds)

VA/VB

VFO A/VFO B functions

To set: Vxnnnnnnnnm0<CR> (in Hz) or Vxnnnn.nnnnm<CR> (in MHz)
Where: x is either A or B for VFO A or VFO B, frequency data is expressed in the format used by the RF command

To read: Vx<CR>
Responds with: Vxnnnnnnnnm0 STnnnnm0 AUn MDn ATn

Refer to the individual commands for more details

Select 2-VFO mode

VF<CR>
Selects 2-VFO mode and reports current VFO data, as follows:

Vxnnnnnnnnm0 STnnnnm0 AUn MDn ATn

Refer to individual commands for further details

Audio scan on/off

To set: XAn<CR>
Where, n = 0 (audio scan off), n = 1 (audio scan on)

To read: XA<CR>
Responds with XAn as above

Level scan on/off

To set: XBn<CR>
Where, n = 0 (level scan off), n = 1-7 (level scan value 1 - 7)

To read: XB<CR>
Responds with XBn as above

Scan delay time

To set: XDnn<CR>
nn = 00 - 99 representing 100ms increments (0.0 - 9.9s)

To read: XD<CR>
Responds with XDnn as above

Mode scan

To set: XMn<CR>

0	WFM
1	NFM
2	AM
3	USB
4	LSB
5	CW
F	All mode

To read: XM<CR>
Responds with XMn as above

Read free scan status

XO<CR>
Responds with XOn, where n = 0 (free scan off), n = 1 (free scan on)

Free scan time

To set: XPnn<CR>

00	Free scan mode off
01-99	free scan time in seconds

To read: XP<CR>
Responds with XPnn as above

|Read scan options

XQ<CR>
Responds with XQn, as follows:

0	neither level or audio scan
1	level scan on
2	audio scan on
3	both level and audio scan

Up/Down

n<CR>
where n is a binary byte value as follows

	0x1e
	0x1f