[PCR-1000] PCR Command Codes

Mon, 22 Mar 2004 17:44:10 -0500

A long time back in one of the emails from this site, someone contacted Icom
about their protocol and commands. They said that the would, indeed, release
it to them to write software...

...for $500 and a non-disclosure agreement.

I thought that was rather amusing.

Mike, N8CBJ

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]]On Behalf Of Max Topley
Sent: Monday, 22 March 2004 12:56 pm
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [PCR-1000] PCR Command Codes

Hi Dwayne,

While the protocol documentation is not available in the public domain, Icom
will supply it to commercial, military, or government organisations on a
"need-to-know" basis, covered by a standard non-disclosure agreement. In
other words, those who have the information are not allowed to pass it on
(except in the form of a working product, of course).

Reading between the lines, I think this restriction is due more to US
guvmint restrictions and wider politico-economic influence than it is Icom's
own preference. In any case, I have reason to believe the situation is
unlikely to change anytime soon.

The RE'd documentation, freely available on the web, is accurate and
complete enough for all normal purposes though  ;o)
Here's a link:
http://planet.gcn.ou.edu/ahern/home/pcr1000/index.html

If you want to play with this, I'd suggest getting a decent comms port
monitor, to allow you to see what's being sent back and forth. Here's a nice
free one for Windows:
http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/freeware/portmon.shtml

--
  Max

----- Original Message -----
From: "Dwayne Walker" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, March 22, 2004 1:46 AM
Subject: [PCR-1000] PCR Command Codes

> Hi Group
> A question came up recently about access to the communication method that
> the PCR uses to communicate via the serial port. Specifically the point
> that Icom has not released this information publicly like they have with
> the C-IV protocol. This of course means to program for the PCR you must do
> a guess and go method. This is time consuming and dose not inspire
> confidence among programers. If this information where publicly available
> there would be far more programers willing to write programs for the PCR
as
> well as incorporate the PCR as a supported receiver in there software. Not
> to mention the general improvement of all Software designed to work with
> the PCR.
>
> So how can we get Icom to release this information? well the only way to
do
> this is to Petition them as a group. If we can show that a significant
> portion of their customers find the public release of the communication
> method the PCR uses a valuable asset. This will show that there customer
> base will be positively affected by such an act.
>
> One potential problem with this is that they may have a contract with Bono
> (or what ever that new software is shipping with the PCR.) In addition to
> this I do not know if any such petition has already been tried. In either
> case it seams that it is worth a shot. I thought I would send this message
> to get a feel for the support of this idea. Please give any and all
> comments. And feel free to indicate if you don't support such a movement
> and the reasoning behind it.
>
> thank you very much for your time
>
> Dwayne WB5PLJ
>
>
>
>
>
> ("Government is not reason; it is not eloquence. It is force. Like fire it
> is a dangerous servant and a fearful master." -- George Washington)
>
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