EzControl ReadMe file 1/16/05 JM v0.1.1 For additional information please visit the official EzControl support website at http://ducktronics.com/ezcoder . EzControl is a tool designed to assist a repeater control operator in providing routine control of a repeater station. The tool is meant to be used by a station using a personal computer with a sound card and a serial port, connected through a 'Rig Blaster' type of interface to a transceiver for repeater control via DTMF tones transmitted over the radio. The purpose of the tool is to make it simple to quickly issue the appropriate command without having to wade through complicated instructions or illegible code sheets. Additionally, the control operator is afforded a means to easily upload audio files for broadcast on the repeater via three programmable 'wav' file buttons. These can be used for net announcements, news bulletins, or whatever. The EzControl file was created using Microsoft Visual Basic version 6 and should install and operate without problem on most computers running versions of Windows from Windows-95 and newer. It has NOT been tested on every concievable type of system and there are likely to be systems that it will not work with. REQUIREMENTS: At the present time, the program does require a serial port and a sound card to function. INSTALLATION: Depending on the update status of the operating system components on your computer, you may be asked to reboot your machine before the setup program can install the program. If you are asked to reboot, you will likely need to restart the setup program to complete the installation. USING THE PROGRAM: The program defaults to install its files into a subdirectory called 'DuckTronics' off of your 'program files' directory. It also creates a program group called 'DuckTronics' which is where the EzControl (and EzCoder if you installed that too) links will reside. When you start the program it automatically reads the data file that you were using the last time you opened the EzControl program. The first time you start the program it will read a default data file to give you a look at what you can expect. The default data file contains the data that generally corresponds to the default parameters the RC1000v is configured to when it has been restored to 'factory default' values. When you wish to program the codes for your own repeater you will need to pull down the FILE menu and select OPEN and then navigate to where the file (created in EzCoder) was placed that contains the data for your repeater. The location of the file is then stored in your Windows Registry so that the next time you start EzControl it will use that file. If you have numerous repeater files to access you will need to manually open the desired one every time you make the switch (likely this will be changed in future updates). CONFIGURATION: After starting the program there is a CONFIG menu which you should pull down to set your serial port parameters, Aux Function, and WAV audio file settings. All of these settings write their status into the Windows Registry when the 'OK' button is pressed. Sadly (as of this version) in order to see the changes you need to open (or re-open) the file you wish to use for the data-- or exit the program entirely and restart it. The Serial port changes occur immediately, it's just that the 'button top' information needs to be re-read by the program. SERIAL PORT CONFIGURATION: The program defaults to using your COM-1 port for communications and with a 1.5 second delay between your transmitter PTT and the start of the first audio tone. There is a selection currently to allow for people who have existing setups that use the DTMF tones from 'Smartmodem compatible' modems to transmit to the repeater, but this function is currently non-functional. The ability to use the DTMF generated by a 'Smartmodem' is being undertaken for legacy support-- as it was the method typically used for these type of control programs in the days before sound cards and 'Rig Blasters'. AUX FUNCTION CONFIGURATION: The RC1000 has three 'virtual relays' that can be hooked up to perform all sorts of things at the repeater site. While many repeaters will not make use of these AUX functions, those that do can avail themselves of our nifty support for the use. The Aux function configuration menu will allow you to customize the text on the button tops for the various AUX function commands to make it easier to remember what they do. These custom 'button tops' are stored in the Windows Registry and will remain the same regardless of which repeater data file is currently being used. SOUND FILE CONFIGURATION: EzControl has three buttons designed to allow for the playback of 'WAV' audio files. You can select up to three such files by hitting the proper 'Select SoundFile' button and then add your own custom button-top-text by typing it into the white box just to the right of the file selection button. This feature does NOT automatically engage the PTT of the connected radio so that you can preview the file without transmitting it. It's fairly easy to manually hit the 'TX' button just before hitting the sound button and then hit the 'RX' button when it's done. This also prevents someone from inadvertantly sending a long sound file on the radio. HELP: Help for the program is available from the HELP menu. The 'Local Help' brings up a locally stored help file which has not been written as of this time. The 'Online Help' brings up the DuckTronics.com EzCoder help system on the website which will have the most up to date information on the program and how to make the best use of it. USING THE PROGRAM: Normal operation of the program should be fairly straightforward. Just hit the button and the control code is transmitted. You will see the 'TX' button turn red when you should be transmitting, and the 'RX' button turn green when you switch back to receive. You can manually hit the 'TX' button to put the unit in the transmit mode, and similarly hit the 'RX' button to switch to receive. The 'Local DTMF generator' is a handy way to send DTMF codes should you wish to do so. You will need to hit the 'TX' button first if you want these codes to be transmitted-- otherwise they will play out your speakers only. EXTRAS AND CAVEATS: The logo in the upper left (with the nice ducky) is easily customizable should you wish to prove to the world that you're an angry old grouch. A 150 x 150 pixel GIF file called 'logo.gif' placed in the same directory as the EzControl.exe executable file is all that is needed to put your repeaters logo onto the EzControl screen. The '.TX2' files that EzControl uses are simple text files. The '.TX2' file extension was chosen to make it easier for users looking for data files on thier computers that are useable with EzControl. You can edit these files in Notepad if you wish to manually change the button top text or the command codes. The file is a 'comma delimited' file which means that you need to remember to leave the commas alone. The default file (rc1000v-original.tx2) includes all the available buttons that EzControl can provide. In many cases, a repeater system owner may only allow the regular control operators to use a limited set of commands. When this is the case, your EzControl 'control panel' will have missing buttons. Spaces where a button would have been are available for ancillary uses if you are adept at the art of tinkering with config files. The section of the Windows registry where the EzControl parameters are stored is at: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\VB and VBA Program Settings\duckyRc1000 . DISCLAIMERS: This copyrighted program is being made available as FREEWARE. Use of this program is at the users risk and absolutely NO WARRANTIES are implied. The program source code is not available for download. There currently are no versions of this program for the Macintosh operating systems or for any flavor of Unix. The author of the program is NOT in any way affiliated or associated with Micro Computer Concepts, the manufacturer of the RC1000 (and RC1000v) repeater controllers. The authors interest in the RC1000V is solely that of a happy owner of one of these fine microprocessor controllers. The EzCoder program is no more than a pretty smart 'speedialer' that saves the users of the RC1000V time and effort. EzControl is copyright 2005 by DuckTronics and the Get Odd Company of Empire Michigan USA. The author of the program is John Martin KF8KK. For additional information, please visith the DuckTronics website at: http://ducktronics.com . 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