From: barryb@bilver.uucp (Barry Bond)
Subject: SW Receivers with RS232 interface?
Organization: W. J. Vermillion - Winter Park, FL
Distribution: na
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 1992 09:54:46 GMT
Summary: Looking for advice/recommendations.
Keywords: OS9/68000 SHORTWAVE RECEIVERS SERIAL RS232 COMMUNICATIONS

Greetings!

     I'm an avid scanner hobbyist, and I'm looking into getting started
as a SW listener, too.  Basically, I'm looking for opinions from those
already into SW listening and/or anyone who is doing the [unique?] same
things I desire to do, described below!

     I'm going to be considering only receivers which have RS232
computer interfaces, and I won't care about software.  Here's why:

     I have a motorola 68000-based OS9 system with eight terminals at
home.  (Uh oh... I hear the word "fanatic" being used already!  :-) ) I
am NOT PC compatible, and that's always been okay with me.  :)  I don't
expect any hardware/hookup difficulties, as I have "industry standard"
RS232 serial ports on my system.  And, I expect to be doing the design
and implementation of the software myself.

     Okay... I AM a fanatic.  At 3:00 in the morning, I hear a
computerized voice saying "it's time to get up" and the bedroom light
comes on.  :-)

     I tend to automate everything, and I'll want to do the same to my
listening post.  For example, I see myself desiring to program the
channels of the receiver with frequencies via my software.  I have
already developed a frequency database with more frequencies than any
receiver of which I've heard could hold.  I could have the software
program channels with frequencies appropriate to what I was "in the
mood" to hear, for example.  If the receiver allows it, I'll likely
pretty well exclusively control the receiver via my software.

     Another example:  I could dedicate a terminal screen to displaying
information on the frequency I'm hearing during a scan.  The receiver is
scanning, it stops on a channel, and the information in my database for
that frequency pops up in a window!  :-)

     Don't laugh, I told you I'm a fanatic, and I'm already doing
similar things in other areas, such as Caller ID.  The phone rings once,
and a computerized voice says "It's your mother" or "John Milstead is
calling" and the name/number comes up on a monitor by the second ring!
:-)

     Of course, my second example assumes the receiver I choose is able
to send some data to the computer (even if it's just the channel number)
when scanning and it stops on a channel/frequency.  I'll be checking
into that capability as I start to choose a receiver.

     Finally, I'm REALLY not lazy.  [grin]  I honestly make good use of
the time and energy which would otherwise be put into reading the
frequency off the receiver and manually typing it into an inquiry
program!  :-)  (EVERY time it stops!)

     Okay!  If I'm going to do this software, I'll need to know some
things, such as:

        1) What is the nature of the communication between the receiver
           and computer (hardware signals, such as DTR; and data,
           hopefully in ASCII; etc.)?

        2) What kind of things are controllable in a receiver via
           software, and can the receiver send some identifying channel
           or frequency data to the system when it stops on a frequency
           while scanning?

     I realize, of course, that the dealer or manufacturer of particular
receivers I consider is the ultimate source of this information, and I
intend to start contacting for this purpose.  However, what I think I'd
like to know here is:

     - Is anyone here doing something such as what I describe above?

     - If you're doing it or know equipment with which this could be
       done, could you address any of my above questions?  Could you
       provide a recommendation for/against any particular receiver(s),
       considering what I want to do?  I don't yet have one and am just
       beginning to look around.  I have the luxury of choosing my
       receiver with this in mind beforehand.

     In general, if any ideas/comments/opinions come to you upon
reading my intentions, I would love to hear them!  I don't care whether
you reply here or email.

     In the probably unlikely case where anyone else reading this would
like to do the same thing with computer equipment at home, I'll be glad
to help with any experience as I get it!  :-)

     Thanks!

     Barry
-- 
Barry L. Bond   (Computer Systems Designer, Martin Marietta)
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