Kenwood R-5000 User Handbook Manual

Also see for R-5000: Service manual Instruction manual Instruction manual Service manual Instruction manual

Contents

REMOTE CONTROL SOFTWAREThere 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 todo more advanced features like scanning and programming memory channels. Appendix B listssome of these programs and where to obtain them. Note that some of these programs weredesigned for the Kenwood TS-440 amateur transceiver, but the receive part of the programs willstill work. Note that the R-5000 is a “sister product” to the TS-440, but the receiver design moreclosely follows that of the TS-940 transceiver.I find most of these programs are overkill for my personal needs. I like to be ableprogram the channels from my computer, and I prefer to tune the radio from the front panelknobs. I like the ease and speed of programming the channels with the frequencies and modesof interest from my computer. I use a computer modem communications program (ProcommPlus) on my computer and ASCII download text files with the channel information. I canprogram all 100 channels in about 30 seconds. For example, if I am interested in monitoringmilitary aircraft on HF, I have a ASCII text file called MILAIRHF.TXT that contains frequencyand mode information for each channel. I then download this file to the radio and I am ready togo. Below is a sample listing of that file (see REMOTE CONTROL COMMANDS below fordescription of the command MW):MW 000001117600020 ;MW 010001324100020 ;MW 020001501500020 ;•••MW 990000899300020 ;This loads channel 00 with 11.176 MHz USB, channel 01 with 13.241 MHz USB, and channel02 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 previousinformation programmed in those channels. You can erase all the programming in the receiverby holding down the A=B key on the front panel while you turn the radio on. This will completelyerase everything, so be sure you copy down any frequencies of importance first!REMOTE INTERFACE INFORMATIONIf 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, 8data 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 beused, but each command must be followed by a terminator which is a semicolon (;). If you senda semicolon followed by a RETURN the receiver will send a question mark (?) in response. Thisis a good check to verify that communications are working.14