Suggested Accessories: ANT08 - Par Shortwave Antenna.$74.95 ANT15 - LF Engineering H-800 Skymatch Active Antenna.$149.00 ANT27 - LF Engineering H-900 Gain Probe Antenna.$189.00 SFT24 - ICOM RS-R75 Remote Control Software.$79.95 SPK08 - ICOM SP-23 base speaker.$194.95 Order RCV32 Only $669.95 MT was instrumental in.
Document originated by: This document is current as of: PC-ALE v1.062H Alpha dated July 2007 PCALE Radio Control The list of supported computer controlled HF SSB transceivers and receivers herein is the latest. However additional make/model radios are always being added. Should your make/model radio not be listed, please contact N2CKH by posting on the with the details and any documentation you may have for the radio in question regarding computer control programming. When the Custom Radio Port Setup interface is not used to select RS-232 port parameters when a given make/model radio supports more than one configuration, all radios are supported at the default factory port parameters. When the baud rate is selected as 0, highest supported baud rate will be used, an exception is for KENWOOD and KENWOODHS which are set to 4800 baud by default due to years of radios only supporting such. At present only ICOM Amateur Radio grade radios support “Radio Address” via this interface. Should the user choose to use custom port parameters, they must be sure to configure the radio properly and enter the proper parameters as well as take into consideration that baud rate has an affect of ALE Channel Scan Rate support.
It is always best to have your radio powered and attached to the proper serial port at program start. STATUS: A color coded comment as to the status for each radio is provided as follows: PENDING = Demand for support and or development requirements are under review (or awaiting documentation or radio loan). WIP = Work about to start or in progress, if listed in ALE.EXE for selection it may not yet be completely coded or fully tested. ALPHA = Coding completed, however test results from user feedback still pending. RELEASED = Coding completed and fully tested by one or more parties.
NOTE: Along with the STATUS, QS/S shall be used to denote Quiet Scanning/Sounding, where the radio is placed into Split Mode operation so at NOT to energize the radios transmit Band Pass Filter (BPF) relays during receive Scanning and Sounding but rather only at transmit. QS/S denotes a radio that should or is known to work with QS/S. QS/S denotes a radio that may not or is known NOT to work with QS/S. No QS/S indication means that the radio has no need for QS/S as far was we know. To learn more about Quiet Scanning/Sounding see the QS/S section within main RHUG.
Also, please provide feedback on make/model radios that are found not to work with QS/S or that you believe from doing the SPLIT MODE test detailed in the QS/S section will work if added to QS/S. NOTE: Along with the STATUS, CAT PTT shall denote NO CAT PTT support by the given radio model and CAT PTT will denote CAT PTT is fully supported.
CUSTOM PORT PARAMETERS (CPP): CPP can be entered for only one instance of use, thus when CCP settings are changed for the currently selected radio type selected, if they do not apply to another radio type that may later be selected where said other radio type supports CPP settings, if the parameters selected do not apply, they would need to be updated. The CPP serial port settings are only enabled when the baud rate is other than 0. To access port settings from the MIL-STD-188-141 options menu click on the “Radio Port” button next to the Radio Type selection.
At present Radio Address supports only the selection of GENERIC ICOM for the radio type. All other radio type selection support only the default factory radio address as listed below for any model which requires an address. If a particular radio model supports CPP selection, then an appropriate Baud Rate along with Stop Bits, Data Bits and Parity can be entered. The use of CPP is a must for any Kenwood radio that supports greater than 4800 baud if such higher baud rate operation is desired as the default baud rate for all Kenwood models in PC-ALE, the starting default is 4800 baud regardless of what the factory setting may be due all the years of that baud rate being the only one supported and these selections supporting all Kenwood models. It is recommended that the highest baud rate be used which any particular make/model radio supports for the best channel scan rate performance.
Typically all baud rates support 1 ch/sec, 4800 baud or better is recommended for 2 ch/sec, 9600 baud or better is recommended for 5 ch/sec. 19200 baud or better will be required for the future TO DO of 10 ch/sec mentioned in MIL-STD-188-141B. Some radios due to their CPU ability to process serial port data may not meet a given Scan Rate regardless of the RS-232 baud rate being used. Any data may be entered into the setup note section up to 38 characters to note which radio the CCP settings apply to and perhaps why they are being used in lieu of the default settings. NOTE: For radios that require polling (for radio ID and other data) and have time outs based on data being returned such as the Ten Tec Pegasus for one, MUST be attached at program start or else the radio will not be recognized and in some cases the tool will timeout constantly and prompt the user with a message to that affect. However for most make/models you can attach and power the radio after program starts RADIO MODEL STATUS COMMENTS DX77T ALPHA QS/S?
CAT PTT Also use for DX-77, DX-77EQ, DX-701 and DX-707. Requires Alinco ERW-4 or compatible computer interface cable. Radio does not support CAT PTT. FT450 WIP QS/S? CAT PTT CPP - 38400 Direct RS-232 without need of external level converter.
The CAT timeout should be set to 3000ms. This model supports optional use of RTS/CTS, use FT450HS selection. FT450HS WIP QS/S? CAT PTT CPP – 38400 Same as FT450 above except support CTS/RTS operation. FT600 RELEASED QS/S CAT PTT a.k.a. Vertex System 600 FT650 RELEASED QS/S CAT PTT Also FT-655.
This unit is supported for its 24-56Mhz coverage. An external level converter using a 1/8 inch 3 conductor stereo plug where tip is Serial Data Out from the PC and shield is ground is required from the external level converter. The ring should only be connected if the RxD line will be monitor for Squelch status for scanning applications which PC-ALE does not support. This radio does NOT use any BPF relays. FT757GX RELEASED CAT PTT QS/S Radio does not support CAT PTT FT767 ALPHA CAT PTT QS/S Radio does not support CAT PTT FT817 RELEASED QS/S CAT PTT CPP - 38400, 8N2 Also used for FT-817ND, FT-857, FT-897.
FT817DIG RELEASED QS/S CAT PTT CPP - 38400, 8N2 As FT187 but supports DIG mode to use data port at rear of radio. FT847 RELEASED QS/S CAT PTT CPP - 57600, 8N2 NOTE: Requires the use of Null Modem cable. See the Yaesu section regarding interfacing to the radio otherwise.
NOTE: Radio must be turned on before software is started else the radio will not respond commands. FT890 RELEASED QS/S CAT PTT This choice supports the older FT-100, FT-747, FT-80C, FT-840, FT-890, FT-900, SB-1400. NOTE: FT-890 QS/S hardware modification is available. FT920 RELEASED QS/S CAT PTT CAT PTT is not listed in the manual, however it works as for other Yaesu radio in its class for CAT PTT. The FT-920 uses a straight RS-232 cable.
FT920DATA RELEASED QS/S CAT PTT See FT920 above as well. DATA port support for the FT920. Thus DATA-LSB and DATA-USB modes are needed for use with the DATA port. If you use an FT-920 and desire to use the DATA port for your interface point of control, the proper radio selection is 'FT920DATA' otherwise select 'FT920'.
The only modes available with the data port are LSB and USB, which for ALE operation is all we need. However, be sure to set the AFSK-FSK switch to AFSK. However, be sure to set the AFSK-FSK switch to AFSK and setup the radio for the +2125hz offset in the U-45 setup menu as the software will subtract 2125hz from the assigned channel frequency so that the radio is on frequency, as the DATA port setup has NO provision for setting a 0hz offset. Also, the operator will need to manually switch from DATA to Voice in multimode operation, it recommended that the B VFO be used in conjunction with radio memory channels.
The software is ALWAYS using A VFO. The operator will need to switch back to VFO A unless the Up/Down Channel or Scan is used. The mic jack is not active in data mode. Also, the operator will need to manually switch from DATA to Voice in multimode operation and use Channel UP/Down or Scan to go back to ALE data. The RX audio out on this port is a constant-level 100 mV rms @ 600ohm audio output line (as is the AF Jack) which is not affected by the position of the front-panel AF GAIN control. This output should be taken to your sound card Line-In. However, if the gain and range of adjustment is not sufficient, Mic-in may be tried.
FT980 ALPHA CAT PTT QS/S Radio does not support CAT PTT FT990QSS RELEASED QS/S CAT PTT This selection is specific to the FT-990 and QS/S operation. NOTE: FT-990 requires ROM version 1.2 or later. FT1000MP RELEASED QS/S CAT PTT Use for all FT-1000 series radios. NOTE: FT-1000D requires ROM version 6.0 or later.
FT2000 ALPHA QS/S? CAT PTT CPP - 38400, 8N2 Also for FT-2000D. FT2000HS ALPHA QS/S? CAT PTT CPP - 38400, 8N2 This selection uses the CTS/RTS handshaking. Also for FT-2000D. FTdx9000 ALPHA QS/S CAT PTT CPP - 38400, 8N2 Use setup menu 70 to select the SSB-TX-BPF for either 300-2700hz or to 3000hz BW.
Use setup menu 69 to select the SSB mic audio port, this is a poor design if it must be done all the time, most will likely want to use a RigBlaster type interface to the standard 8 pin mic port on the rear of the radio. NOTE: FTDX-9000 CAT support currently suffers a known bug that requires a 200ms pause before data write/reads of a new value which impedes smooth operation. GENERIC ICOM RELEASED Does not support IC-735 or IC-751 properly. NOTE: All receivers are supported by all versions of MARS-ALE.
RADIO MODEL STATUS COMMENTS 95S-1 PENDING Use for Collins 95S-1, 95S-1(A) AR-ALPHA PENDING TBD AR5000 RELEASED CPP – 19200, 8N2 Use for AOR AR5000. Default RS-232 port settings are 19200,N,8,2 with Xon/Xoff AR7000 RELEASED CPP – 19200, 8N2 Use for AOR AR5000.
Default RS-232 port settings are 19200,N,8,2 with Xon/Xoff AR7030 RELEASED Use for AOR AR7030 EK890 RELEASED Use for Rhode & Schwarz EK890, EK891, EK893 RS-232 port set to 9600,E,7,1 by default. EK896 RELEASED CPP – 19200, 8N1 Use for Rhode & Schwarz EK895 and EK896 RS-232 port set to 1 9200,N,8,1 by default. EK2000 PENDING Use for Rhode & Schwarz EK2000 FRG100 RELEASED Use for Yaesu FRG-100 FRG8800 RELEASED Use for Yaesu FRG-8800 HF1000 RELEASED Use for Watkins-Johnson HF-1000, HF-1000A HF2050 RELEASED CPP – 19200, 8N1 Use for Collins HF-2050. HF-2050 Remote control interface (RS-422). All other units only have the RS-422 DB25 female on rear of receiver for remote control using EIA Standard RS-422 wiring. An RS-422 to RS-232 converter is needed.
The unit with the pre-selector, has a RS-232 interface option for which a standard RS-232 cable is used. HF150 PENDING Lowe HF-150 HF225 PENDING Lowe HF-225 HF235 PENDING Lowe HF-235 HF250 PENDING Lowe HF-250 KC105CRX PENDING Use for Kachina KC105CRX KENWOOD or KENWOODHS RELEASED Use for Kenwood R-5000 LCR2000 PENDING CPP – 19200, 8N1 Use for Cubic LCR-1200, LCR-2000, LCR-2400, SMR-2000, SMR-2400, CDR-3250, CDR-3280. Radio Address is fixed at 001 and default port parameters are 19200 8N1.
NRD345 RELEASED Use for JRC NRD-345 NRD525 RELEASED Use for JRC NRD-525 NRD535 RELEASED Use for JRC NRD-535 NRD535D RELEASED Use for JRC NRD-535D NRD545 RELEASED Use for JRC NRD-545. The NRD- 545 allows you to disable the band pass filters when scanning to disable the relays, unfortunately it can’t be done over the remote interface. NRD630 PENDING Awaiting docs PCR1000 RELEASED Use for ICOM PCR1000. Radio is used at default 9600 baud. The ICOM OPC-743 or any standard straight RS-232 cable will work. PRC1500 RELEASED Supports USB/VCP RS-232 based PCR1500, IC-R1500 and IC-R2500.
NOTE: At this time, after the tool is started, if the MIL-STD-188-141 dialog is used to change and settings, clicking OK, will reset the radio and shut it down. A restart of the program will be required to reboot the radio comm. RA6790GM RELEASED CPP – 19200, 8N1 Use for RACAL RA6790GM, R-2174(A)/URR. May work for other RACAL receivers, if so a report would be welcome, it not, inform the SDT for what RACAL supported is needed.
Computer control requires installation of the optional A6A1 Microprocessor Board. Should this be missing from your unit, Toronto Surplus (and likely others) have been known to have complete A6A1 and blank A6A1 boards, for more information see: For RS-232 operation soldered jumpers need to be in place on the A6A1 Microprocessor Board as follows: Link1 Install, Link2 Open, Link3 Install, Link4 Install, Link5 Install, Link6 Open. The receiver to PC RS-232 cable, it must be wired for Receiver Address 10, 19200 baud, No Parity, 1 Stop Bit. The cable connector on the A6A1 board on this receiver is a military type plug which can be acquired surplus from William Perry Co., Inc., 702 (Rear) Beechwood Road, Louisville KY 40207, 1-502-893-8724. A pre-wired cable can be purchased from Bill Holland, KC2CNB, 1-609-693-7281 at a reasonable cost. Just tell him it’s for MARS-ALE, if you want a DB9 or DB25 on the PC side and the length you require, 6 foot is standard. RA6830JD ALPHA CPP – 19200, 8N1 Also for TCI-4070.
RS-232 parameters of: 19200 baud, 8 data bits, No Parity, 1 Stop bit, Receiver Address 85. The receiver must have a (standard 25 pin DIN connector on rear for J-13, otherwise you have a GPIB-488 interface or none installed. NOTE: If you have a GPIB-488 interface, an RS-232 to GPIB-448 converter such as the National Instruments GPIB-232-CV-A will be required, see NOTE: Receiver RS-232 serial port parameters are 19200 8N1 which are S1 switch selected as 1,2 and 3 OPEN for 19200, 4 OPEN for 1 stop bit, 5 DONT CARE, 6 CLOSED for NO PARITY, 7 and 8 CLOSED for 8 data bits. The mother board soldered Links in radio for RS-232 operation are: LINK2, LINK4, LINK7. R8 RELEASED Use for Drake R8 R8A RELEASED Use for Drake R8A R8B RELEASED Use for Drake R8B R71 RELEASED Use for Icom R71 R72 RELEASED Use for Icom R72 R75 RELEASED Use for Icom R75 R3030STXx RELEASED CPP – 19200, 8N1 Use for Cubic models R-3030, R-3050, R-3080, R-3090, R-2307/U,R3030A NOTE: Three choices are available as R3030STX1, R3030STX2 and R3030STX3 for the required number of start characters to be sent.
The Radio Address is fixed 01 and default port parameters are 19200 8N1. R2411/U PENDING CPP – 19200, 8N1 Use for Cubic R-2411/U R5000 where KENWOOD is selected RELEASED CAT ANT SW Use for Kenwood R5000. R7000 RELEASED CPP – 19200, 8N1 Use for Icom R7000 R7100 RELEASED CPP – 19200, 8N1 Use for Icom R7100 R8500 RELEASED CPP – 19200, 8N1 Use for Icom R8500 R9000 RELEASED CPP – 19200, 8N1 Use for Icom R9000 R9500 ALPHA CAT ANT SW CPP – 19200, 8N1 Use for Icom R9500 RF590 RELEASED CPP - 19200, 8O2 Use for RF-590, R-2368(A)/URR, RF-590A,R-2368B(V)1/URR, 2368B(V)3/URR RF590H, R-2557A/URC conf igured to use the Harris HRRCP command protocol. RS-232 parameters are 19200 baud, Odd parity, 8 data bites, 2 stop bits and radio address 1. For the RF-590A, to select Harris HRRCP protocol the A14 board jumper at J20 must be set to jumper pins 2 and 3. On older units, revision E and below, there is no jumper, instead, a jumper wire may be soldered connecting U26-10 to U26-8 that must be removed.
RF-590A RELEASED CPP - 19200, 7O1 Use for RF-590A, RF590H, R-2368B(V)1/URR, 2368B(V)3/URR, R-2557A/URC with firmware 208C or above configured to use the ASCII command protocol. User must manually enable the front panel remote switch. Software is written for 19200 baud, Odd parity, 7 data bits and 1 stop bit using radio address 1 operation. For the RF-590A and later units of revision F and above, to select Harris ASCII protocol the A14 board jumper at J20 must be set to jumper pins 1 and 2. On older units, revision E and below, there is no jumper, instead, a jumper wire must be soldered connecting U26-10 to U26-8 for the ASCII protocol.
WRT relay chatter, as here is no ASCII command take the top cover off, remove the A19 cover and pull the A19A2 daughter board. Use a thin wire and jumper the two coaxial connectors. Does not effect the BITE and the relays are pulled from the circuit. Submitted by AFA1PU. RX320 RELEASED Use for Ten Tec RX320 series and RX-321 models built for Globe Wireless. RX330 RELEASED CPP - 9600, 8N1 Use for Ten Tec RX-330 Set parameters to radio address 1 and default 9600 baud with 8N1. RX331 RELEASED CPP - 9600, 8N1 Use for Ten Tec RX-331 Set parameters to radio address 1 and default 9600 baud with 8N1.
RX340 RELEASED CPP - 9600, 8N1 Use for Ten Tec RX-340. Set parameters to radio address 1 and default 9600 baud with 8N1. RX350 RELEASED Use for Ten Tec RX-350. Will also control TT538 Jupiter. RX400 PENDING Use for Ten Tec RX-400. Awaiting documentation. R9200 PENDING SUNAIR R-9200 pending receipt of documentation.
The R-9200 can be computer or remotely controlled via RS232/RS422/RS485/or FSK tones. TO 31R2-4-1034-1, R-9200 Operation and Maintenance Manual, provides more in-depth information on this receiver. TCI8174 RELEASED CPP - 19200, 8N1 Use for TCI 8074, 8172, 8173, 8174 and perhaps other models. With port parameters of 19200 baud,8,N,1 and radio Address 1 (ASCII letter A) where dip switch settings for S1 are 11100000 (1 is up 0 is down). NOTE: For TCI-4070 see RA6830JD. VR5000 ALPHA CPP - 19200, 8N1 Yaesu VR-5000.
Requires null modem cable. 57600 baud is used. WJ8711 RELEASED Use for Watkins-Johnson WJ-8711 WJ8711A PENDING Use for Watkins-Johnson WJ-8711A WJCSMA PENDING Use for older Watkins-Johnson receivers via the CSMA port (such as HF-1000, WJ-8710A, WJ8711A, WJ8712A and others ) with an ICOM CT-17 or compatible interface with the receiver set to address 10. WHEN YOUR RADIO MODLE IS NOT LISTED At present if your radio is not listed by model number follow this advice: KENWOOD It appears that all Kenwood models except the TS-440 (excluded from SPLIT VFO operation) are QS/S compliant. Kenwood radios can be selected for use with and without hardware handshaking, for hardware handshaking, use the selections ending in HS, only DTR can be used for external PTT with HS. The KENWOOD and KENWOODHS selection supports all models at 4800 baud 8N2.
For other RS-232 port parameters the custom port setup must be utilized. In all cases, if the radio is properly returned, but is not recognized, it will be assumed to be a NEW model Kenwood radio and treated as if it is compatible with the TS-480 series command set. If the radio ID type is NOT returned, the radio will be treated as a basic model for frequency, mode and PTT at the given baud rate. The Kenwood selections with “HS” appended add Hand Shaking support. YAESU It appears that only the FT-990 and FT-920 are QS/S compliant.
YAESU model sub family groupings at present: FT817 - Select this choice for FT-817, FT-817ND, FT-857, FT-897. FT890 - Select this choice for FT-100, FT-100D, FT-747GX, FT-840, FT-890, FT-900, FT-990, also for the Heathkit SB-1400 (a.k.a. FT1000MP - Select this choice for FT-1000, FT-1000D, FT-1000MP series. FTDX9000 – Select this choice for the new FTDX-9000 series of radios. FT-2000 and FS-2000HS – Supports the new FT-2000 and the new support for CTS/RTS hardware handshaking. FT-450 and FS-450HS – Supports the new FT-450 and the new support for CTS/RTS hardware handshaking.
ICOM: Most recent ICOM models and some older high end models are QS/S compliant as detailed in the chart herein. All ICOM radio models are supported through the IC-7000 by model number. Select your specific model listed, should a new model come along not specifically listed, select model that is the newest on the list and set your new model radio to auto baud operation and change your new radio’s address to the factory address for that model from the following list.