From: daveh@frackit.UUCP (Dave Hultberg)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.shortwave,rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: Re: New Radio Shack Scanner (BOGUS!).  What we really want. . .!
Summary: Computer Interface for RS PRO2004/5/6
Date: 22 Jul 92 19:53:20 GMT
Followup-To: rec.radio.shortwave
Organization: Esoteric Tribble Factory, Harrisburg, PA

In the above article, the need for an interface between the Radio Shack
PRO2004/5/6 series scanners and a computer is mentioned.  It looks like
we should have a reasonably priced interface kit and software soon.  The
following file is from Bill Cheek's Hertzian Intercept BBS in San Diego:

D HB-232 Charlie Test (1:202/731) DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
HB-232_C D
 Msg  : #3466 [8]                   Loc                                 
       
 From : Bill Cheek                  500:10/12               Tue 14 Jul
92 08:17 
 To   : All                                                             
       
 Subj : Charlie Testers Wanted for HB-232!                              
       
DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

Greetings All!
 
                     COMMTRONICS ENGINEERING
                          PO Box 262478
                San Diego, California  92196-2478
         Computer BBS:  (619)  578-9247  (6:00pm - 1:00pm, PDT)
                                                              July 10,
1992
                 PRE-ANNOUNCEMENT ADVISORY NOTICE
 
COMING SOON, the neatest and most powerful scanning tool ever created! 
The
HB-232 Scanner/ Computer Interface turns your PRO-2004, PRO-2005 or
PRO-2006
scanner into a TOTAL SYSTEM with power that equals or exceeds anything
comparable in the most expensive World Class radios to date!  So many
features
and powerful possibilities are available that it is impossible to
discuss them
all here, but following is a brief presentation enough to convince you
that an
awesome performance package is about to make an unprecedented debut!
 
The HB-232 Scanner/Computer Interface connects between a
PC/XT/AT/386/486/clone
computer (512-k min) and the scanner.  A standard serial cable connects
the
HB-232 to the computer's COM port.  The HB-232 can be installed inside
the
scanner for a tidy package, or it can be installed in a small project
box, with
a short cable and plug to mate with a receptacle mounted on the scanner.
 A
serial cable connects the computer to the box.  This latter method
permits use
of the HB-232 with more than one scanner!  The scanner is not
appreciably
modified in either method; rather, 20-wires are connected from the
HB-232 to
various points in the scanner.  Absolutely no scanner features or
performance
are altered or lost!  Now here is what the HB-232 can do!
 
*  Auto-magically download up to 400 frequencies at a time into the
memory
channels of your choice in the scanner, along with any desired custom
settings
such as DELAY, MODE and LOCK-OUT.  The time required to auto-program the
scanner
with 400 custom configured channels is less than 9-minutes!  (Try to
program 400
channels by hand in any time under than an hour or two, and WHAT IF you
find a
mistake with your channels out of sequence back on Ch-30?)
 
*  See and control every standard keyboard function from the computer! 
Your
computer monitor displays a facsimile of the scanner's keyboard and the
LCD
Display area.  Whatever shows in the scanner's LCD Display at any given
time is
simultaneously displayed on the Monitor.  Press M on the computer
keyboard for
MANUAL; or press S for SCAN; or press P for PRGM.  All 29 keys of the
scanner's
keyboard are active on your computer's keyboard!  Anything and
everything that
shows in the scanner's Display also is displayed on your Monitor screen.
 The
scanner is operated straight from the computer keyboard exactly as it is
operated from the front panel.  In fact, you can operate from either
location
simultaneously at any time.
 
*  AutoLog to a text file every event that the scanner sees!  For
instance, in
the AutoLog mode, every time the SQUELCH breaks (a signal comes in) the
computer
writes & appends a line to a text file that contains the channel number
or
SEARCH Bank; frequency; mode (NFM, AM or WFM); DELAY setting, On or Off;
SEARCH
increment (if applicable); Date; Start Time; and Duration of
transmission!  This
file is "comma-delimited" to make it exceptionally easy to load it into
your
favorite database manager for further processing & sorting as desired!
 
*  Anti-Birdie Function, when activated, compares the frequency that the
scanner
stops on to a "birdie file", and instantly resumes SCANning or
SEARCHing, if
that frequency is in the file!  Thus, the scanner will never again lock
up on
"birdies", if you don't want it to.  Neither will it AutoLog momentary
"birdie"
stops!  This superb feature is not limited to just "birdies"; you can
put any
number of other undesired frequencies into the "birdie file", such as
for
pagers, computer data channels, continuous tones, encrypted signals, and
any
other frequencies that you don't want the scanner to stop on or to
AutoLog.  In
fact, there are even ways to automate the collection of undesirable
signals for
adding to the "birdie file".  Gone are the days of obnoxious lockups on
uninteresting freqs.
 
*  The HB-232 generates its AutoLog files in the same format that it
needs for
programming.  Therefore, an AutoLogged SEARCH file can be programmed
back into
memory channels for a powerful SEARCH & STORE feature.
 
*  The HB-232 comes with a powerful "scripting" or macro feature to
allow you to
automate virtually any process that you would normally do by hand.  The
scripting feature can be used to generate a file of what's been
programmed into
the memory channels; to set a time limit for stops on various
frequencies or
channels; to lockout every frequency found during a SEARCH session so
that
duplicate log entries can be avoided; and the possibilities just go on
and on!
 
*  The HB-232 includes four user-definable switches that can be
controlled from
the keyboard or through a script!  These switches are useful for
controlling any
modifications that you may have added on your own, including extended
memory
blocks, automatic tape recorder switches; data/tone squelch; and you can
even
wire one of these switches to control the stock SOUND SQUELCH function,
if you
want.  Another switch can be wired to give access to the scanner's
back-panel
RESTART function!  A little work in the scanner could allow you to use
one of
these switches for the ATTenuator switch on the scanner's back panel,
too!  The
possibilities are nearly endless!
 
*  The HB-232 comes with an easy-to-use built-in text editor to help
edit your
AutoLogged and AutoProgram files and any other text file, for that
matter!
Features and benefits of the HB-232 Scanner/Computer Interface are
simply too
numerous to continue with here in this limited space.
 
Now I have to tell the rest of the story ......the bad side!  Really,
there
isn't a bad side, but if anything at all must be said against the
HB-232, it's
that it comes ONLY as a Kit of Parts and a Program Disk.  You have to
build and
install the HB-232 yourself or have someone to do it for you, if you
can't. The
HB-232 Kit includes a professional printed circuit board, one Motorola
microprocessor chip and special socket, six other IC's, four resistor
networks
(similar to an IC), a quartz crystal, one discrete resistor, and fifteen
capacitors.  NOT supplied are the required serial cable; five common IC
sockets
(four 14-pin DIP and one 16-pin DIP); wires, plugs, connectors; tools,
solder,
project box (if an external installation is desired), etc.  The
functional part
of the HB-232 Kit is complete, however.  Depending on your skills and
ability,
it will take 2-4 hours to assemble the board and 2-6 hours to install
it.  Add
to this another 1-4 hours for preparation.  Assembly of the board is
straightforward and requires only basic soldering skills and the ability
to
match component locations with a parts location diagram; easy enough.
Installation, whether in a project box or internal to the scanner, is a
bit more
technical, though well within the capability of the electronic hobbyist.
The
finished HB-232 board measures 3-1/8"L x 2-5/8"W and the thickness of
the board,
counting all parts mounted thereon is about 1/2".
 
The PRO-2004 is the easiest scanner in which to do the installation,
because all
wiring points are readily accessible and identifiable.  The PRO-2005 &
PRO-2006
are easier than the PRO-2004 in twelve of the wiring points, but five
wires have
to be tack-soldered on the BACK SIDE of the Logic/CPU Board that's
mounted
inside the front panel of the scanner.  This is a straight- forward job,
but
might intimidate the scannist who has never removed that board before.
Still,
the directions are methodical and clear enough and the main requirement
is only
PATIENCE and the ability to locate five solder pads on the board from a
picture
that's provided.  Frankly, the hardest overall part of the job is the
fabrication and wiring of the PCB.  So it's mostly time consuming, but
if you
are patient and can handle a soldering pencil and do a little mechanical
work,
then this project is not beyond your scope.
 
Since there is practically nothing in the scanner to modify (other than
solder
wires to specific points), it is unlikely that serious harm will be done
to the
scanner, even if you err.  I and others who have tested the HB-232 have
all made
errors of one sort or another in the development of the HB-232 and not
yet has
any irrepairable harm come to either the HB-232 or the scanners!
 
So what now?  The HB-232 is not available for sale yet, but it is in the
final
stages of "Beta Testing".  Pre-announcement will be available upon
conclusion of
the Beta Test, starting in late July or early August.  Discount prices
will also
be available until the formal announcement probably in September or
October.
The discounted "Charlie Test" price, will be $129.95 + $5 S&H.
 
I suspect there will be limited quantities of the HB-232 for a while
because of
the expensive and hard to get microprocessor chip, but I will be happy
to accept
advance reservations for the HB-232 on the condition that you make a
deposit of
$25 and be willing to wait for delivery through at least the end of
August.  A
refund of your deposit will be available for the asking any time before
shipment
is made.  You can also reserve an HB-232 Kit without a deposit, but it's
first
come, first served to those who make a deposit and then to those who are
on the
no-deposit reserved list.  If you are not able or willing to build and
install
the HB-232 Kit, I can be available to do it for you.  The cost to build
the
board only (you install it) will be $50 plus the cost of the Kit. 
Installation
inside the scanner, including building the board will be $150 plus the
cost of
the Kit.  Construction and installation of the HB-232 in an external
project box
and the necessary wiring of one scanner will be $225 plus the cost of
the Kit.
Additional scanners can be wired to accept an external HB-232 for a cost
of $50
per extra scanner.  Return shipping for all scanner installations will
be
$12.00, and shipping of Kits or fabricated circuit boards only will be
$5.00.
 
You might be interested to know that while the first HB-232 units will
be
available only for the Realistic PRO-2004, PRO-2005 and PRO-2006
scanners, there
is a good chance that the developer can adapt the HB-232 to the Uniden
BC-760/950XLT, BC-590/600XLT and the Regency R-1600.  For the latest on
this and
other developments of the HB-232, contact us by US Mail or at our
Computer BBS,
the Hertzian Intercept, between 6:00pm-1:00pm, PDT, at (619) 578-9247.
 
Bill
 
--- GoldED 2.40+
 * Origin: Hertzian Intercept (6pm-1pm) San Diego 619-578-9247
(500:10/12)
 



-- 
Private site: frackit    |    Harrisburg, Pa.    |    Dave Hultberg
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