[Premium-Rx] Software To Control Rxs via GP-IB

[John P Ceresole]

Dear List

Some thoughts to share with you for the control of our Premium Rxs - this 
was prompted by correspondence on the list and an e-mail on the subject 
from Tracey Gardner.

I have software that controls either WJ-8940B or WJ-8999 through GP-IB on a 
DOS 6.22 Platform and in an interactive way or allows frequency sweeps both 
with the ability to add sensor factors and EMI Limits from Mil Std 
461.  The results of measurements can be plotted from data files obtained 
and produced (eg Limits) and the plot output data is in HPGL format for 
which driver/filters are available for Word and other Word Processors on 
the net.  The software (as it is functions in DOS if my memory serves well 
and uses a directory GPIB-PC (I think - bit rusty on that bit of knowledge).

My colleague has written a version that will run under Win98 and XP OSs and 
may control Rxs via a USB-GP-IB adaptor.

The software does far more in it's present state than I believe many list 
members would need.  So I need to find out what you guys would want it to 
do.  My thoughts (so far) means to:

1.	Logging the tuned frequency of the Rx(s)
2.	Tuning the Rx to a previously logged frequency by highlighting frequency 
and pressing a keyboard function 	key
3.	Logging RST Data
4.	Tuning a Synthesiser (or Tx) to the same frequency as the Rx by pressing 
a keyboard function key 	(assuming the synthesiser (or Tx) is GP-IB 
controllable)
5.	Logging Tx settings for the frequency selected.

The software could record enough data to constitute what in effect would be 
a Log-Book with the added advantage of being able to record all the 
pertinent data of a QSO.

Has anyone out there got any more ideas of what they would like to see?

I hate to ask this but software writers have mortgages - how much would 
people be prepared to pay for such software? There is no commercial 
interest in it for me.

I would imagine - having seen correspondence on the list that remote 
control over IP of Rx would be a useful feature - some modern military 
radios now are ethernet compatible - but we won't see these on the surplus 
market just yet I believe and I am not too sure about the use of an 
ethernet card inside the Rx and the resultant radiated EMI unless you use 
rather specially screened cables.

If the control codes of the Rx to be controllled could be made available, 
this would be a great advantage.  WJ RXs seem to include such remote 
control info.

Someone on the list had an idea of having members' Rxs available remotely 
via the i-net with audio feedback - that's a really cool idea.  I wonder 
how we might fare with our legislative bodies on this one?  It might be ok 
if the frequencies used were those licensed to amateur - other frequencies 
may not be ok as some countries can be quite restrictive about these things.

Food for thought and a penny for them.

Best regards

John