VX-5 Commander - version 0.1 This is freeware programming software for Yaesu's VX-5r. Please read this entire document before using the VX-5 Commander. This software is in beta, so use with care, there are probably still bugs. I do not yet own a VX-5R, however I have done my best to write this software without a VX-5R to test it with. There is already great free software available for the VX-5R, EVE. Big thanks go to Ed (KF4FDT), author of EVE, for his detailed documentation of the VX5 memory data. More information on the VX-5R and EVE can be found Here: http://www.icongrp.com/~sllewd/vx5rmain.htm Many settings not yet supported by VX5 Commander can be edited in EVE, as well as software modifications. I plan to continue development, and will add more features to VX5 Commander as time allows. ***DISCLAIMER*** This program is provided without warranty of any kind. If you use it and brain-dead your vx-5, that is your fault. If it screws up your PC, that is your fault. LICENSE: Please read the file LICENSE.txt for license information. If you have an error trying to run VX5 Commander under Windows XP, run the Reg_XP.exe file and click install. If that doesn't work, click Uninstall, then click Install. This program was written in VB6. It requires msvbvm60.dll. Most people have it already. If you get an error, then obtain this file and place it in the VX5 Commander folder or in Windows\System. Or better yet, download and install the Visual Basic 6 Runtime Files. THE INTERFACE: For the interface, you have a few options: The ADMS interface should work, or you can build your own. Detailed information and schematics can be found here: http://www.icongrp.com/~sllewd/pcware.htm If you have problems reading or writing to the VX5, copy the text from the status window and send it to me in an email, and I will try to help. You can also save the file, and then to write it to the VX5 using EVE for the time being. WHAT IS SUPPORTED: -Supports EVE files. (Can also open VX5 RDF files, but can only save to EVE files) -Add, edit, delete, cut, paste, move regular memory channels, scan edge memories -Edit memory channel text tags, frequency, mode, step, masked, repeater shift, repeater shift freq, Sql Type, Tones, DCS Codes, TX Power, Half Dev -Edit many of the "Set Mode" settings -Import/export CSV -Import from ARRL TravelPlus TPE files -Import from VX7 files -Print main memories to default printer IMPORTANT: -Before you use try to read or write data, set the port under Options > Port. DETAILS: Before you can do anything you must open a vx5 file, or read from the VX-5. When channels are moved, all memory settings, even any that are not supported by this program, are also moved. The GUI is pretty self explanatory. Just double-click to edit a setting. If you cannot type the tag, be sure the field is not all spaces. The tag field only allows 8 characters. All tags fields read from the VX5 will be padded with spaces, this is how the data is stored in the radio. CUT-COPY-PASTE: To select a channel or multiple channels to cut, move, or delete, click and drag the far left column on the grid (with the memory channel number) to hilight the rows. You can also right-click this column after selection for a cut-copy-paste menu. To copy cells to other cells in the same column, single-click on the cell you want to copy. Then right-click on the cells you want to paste to. The cut-copy-paste features in the edit menu are only for whole channel rows. DELETING: Deleting channels frees them up for the "Next Available Memory" storage feature. CSV IMPORT: To import a CSV, you must be aware of the following. Not following these guidelines this WILL cause ERRORS and unexpected results. 1. You should start with an empty VX7 file (clear the memories from a vx7 file) 2. ALL data MUST be in the right place. 3. If you leave a blank entry in the CSV, default data will be automatically assigned. 4. Blank lines in the CSV will result in an empty memory field. 5. ALL data MUST be a valid entry for the corresponding field. 6. Fields should NOT be inside quotes. 7. The first line is always assumed to be a header. 8. ALL fields are CASE SENSITIVE. 9. Tags must contain supported characters. If not, expect unfavorable results. 10. There is code to attempt to handle decimals in the RX freq. There is also code to attempt to handle a frequency length of less than six. If this doesn't work for you, you'll have to fix these fields manually. 11. There is code to attempt to handle Excel's removal of zero decimals for the Tone, and removal of zeros from the beginning of the Freq and Shift. 12. For the repeater shift, RPT+ and RPT- in the CSV will be converted to +RPT and -RPT in the grid. This is to get around Excel interpreting the + and - as mathematical operators. Also, the export function exports these fields like this automatically. CSV EXPORT: All of the grid data is exported to a CSV file. This includes a header. Remember, +RPT and -RPT become RPT+ and RPT- in the CSV. I plan to add a CSV import/export wizard in the future, but for now you will have to live with these limitations. TPE IMPORT: This is designed for import of ARRL Travel Plus files. I do not own this CD, so please let me know if this works for you. VX7 IMPORT: This will import the main memory data from a VX7 Commander file. Note, the VX7 supports some CTCSS tones that the VX5 does not. These unsupported tones will initially be shown in the grid when imported, but when the file is saved and re-opened, these unsupported tones will be converted to 67.0. You can keep importing files until the memory is full. Each import starts at the next line after the highest used memory entry. So, if the last memory in the file is used, import does nothing. PRINT This will print the VX5 main memory data to your default printer. Be aware that if you print all of it, it will be 7+ pages, so specify a range unless you are sure you want to print it all. I think everything else should be self explanatory, but if I have omitted anything or you have a question email me. Jim KC8UNJ Jimbo_48393@yahoo.com