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KB0ZP HAM DISK #1 USERS GUIDE Larry Kebel (KB0ZP) 398 Adams Street Cumming, IA 50061 USA KB0ZP Page # 2 HAM DISK #1 Version 2.A USERS GUIDE You are encouraged to copy and freely distribute this HAM DISK #1 in an unmodified form. Please notify me if you have any suggestions on how these programs may be improved or changed. Any and all comments are welcome. If your suggestions are accepted and they are the first time mentioned, I will send you an upgraded HAM DISK #1 (free of charge) including your modifications as well as all the others that have preceded you. If your suggestion is lengthy or complicated, a sample program on a disk would be appreciated. Even this GUIDE is not beyond improvement. The programs were created on a Leading Edge computer with a monochrome monitor and no graphics board using GW Basic and then compiled with the Microsoft QuickBASIC Compiler. The printer used is a Gemini 10X. Therefore, these programs should work on the IBM XT and many clones. If you have found trouble on your computer, or printer please let me know. Copies of the original source code are NOT available to any individual or organization for any reason. So please don't ask. I make no guarantees or warranties as to the accuracy, correctness or reliability of these programs. All responsibilities are borne by the user. The first thing you should do is to make a copy of the HAM DISK #1 using the DISKCOPY command from DOS and put it in a safe place. A>DISKCOPY A: B: HAM DISK #1 Version 2.A consists of the following programs: READ ME MESSAGE EXE GUIDE DECODE1 EXE DECODE2 EXE BRUN20 EXE FORM EXE *INTRODUCTION* KB0ZP Page # 3 HAM DISK #1 Version 2.A USERS GUIDE MESSAGE RECORDING PROGRAM SAVE TO DISK ASCII *MESSAGE PROGRAM* KB0ZP Page # 4 HAM DISK #1 Version 2.A USERS GUIDE PURPOSE --- This program is designed to handle large volumes of message traffic as you would find in a disaster center or State Fair by saving to disk in ASCII format. Each message has its own filename with the extention indicating the destination. With the data disk inserted the a computer, all messages may be transmitted electronically. Whether that be by telephone, AMTOR, CW, RTTY, or Packet Radio. Programs presently exist to transmit by Packet, and in the near future, I am sure that special programs will be written for CW, RTTY and AMTOR. Especially as we get more into the computer age. A hard copy printout is an option for better record keeping. Large quantities of messages can be taken by non-Hams, put onto disks, and then the messages can be given to a Ham (220 at a time) for transmission on the air. This frees up the ham talent for radio operating and does not tie them up with typing chores. GETTING STARTED --- You will need a copy of the HAM DISK #1 and 2 blank and formatted disks. The first thing to do is to create a message program disk on one of the blank diskettes for use in the field so that if it gets lost or damaged, nothing is really lost. The procedure is to place the HAM DISK #1 in Drive A: and a blank disk in Drive B:. Then from the A prompt enter- A>DISKCOPY A: B: The next step is to label the disks you are working with. The one you created above should be labelled MESSAGE PROGRAM. And the last blank disk you have should be labelled MESSAGE DATA (date). All the messages will be written to the DATA disk. Additional Data Disks should be made at this time if you expect to have heavy message traffic. Each disk will hold about 220 messages. RUNNING THE PROGRAM --- Insert the Message Program Disk in Drive A: and type... A>MESSAGE And the program will start. Remove the Program disk and replace it with the data disk. *MESSAGE PROGRAM* KB0ZP Page # 5 HAM DISK #1 Version 2.A USERS GUIDE TIME & DATE RESET --- The time and date that are in memory will be shown here. if both of these are OK - press Y and you will move on to the next screen. If either one is not correct, press N. You will then be asked which one is incorrect. Press D for Date and T for Time. If you press N you will move to the next screen. When D is pressed, you will be able to enter the corrected date. It must be entered in the format shown. ie MM/DD/YY. July 12, 1978 would be entered as 07/12/78. Don't forget to type the slashes (/). Then press enter and you will be asked if all is correct. If OK press Y, if not press N. Now press T to change the time. Enter the correct time in the format shown. 2PM would be entered as 14:00:00. This is a 24 hour clock. Also you must type the colons (:). You do not have to type the seconds. 14:00 is OK. The time will start when enter is pressed for more accurate timekeeping. But, please remember that the clock in the computer is not that accurate. The next question to answer is whether you are using Local, Zulu, or UTC time. Press the appropriate letter and you are now shown the new date and time. If you still have errors or change your mind, do the process again. If all is OK, press Y. MESSAGE TO BE SENT FROM --- If you have previously saved an address with the function key #1, just press it and the address information will be entered automatically. Otherwise you are asked to enter the name, address, etc. of the person who is sending the message. Limits are indicated by the brackets as to the maximum length of each line. If you exceed that length, the program will tell you so and you must fix it before you may proceed. Name 35 Characters Street 35 Characters City 20 Characters The state should be entered as the two letter Post Office abbreviations. It looks better if you enter them as capital letters. To aid you there is a help screen which will give you all the abbreviations. Just type H & Enter. Press any key to return to where you were. *MESSAGE PROGRAM* KB0ZP Page # 6 HAM DISK #1 Version 2.A USERS GUIDE This program is written for messages FROM the USA only. Third party agreements are not known between other countries. ie. Does England have an agreement with France? And what are their rules & regulations? If operators in other countries want a copy of this program for their use, please let me know and send a copy of your third party agreement regulations. I would be glad to create a version for you. So - USA is automatically inserted. The ZIP Code is given 10 spaces for the new 9 digit code plus the hyphen. Enter either a 5 or 9 digit ZIP Code. The phone number should be entered next. If you wish to use the guides shown, you must type them in. If not, just type the phone number as you wish. A telephone number is needed to confirm addresses if there is a problem with delivery and also if you wish a confirmation of delivery. It is also possible to type 'No Phone' at this place, but please ask. Some message handlers will not even try to deliver a message with no phone numbers. At this point, if all of the above is correct, just type a slash (/) and the program will move on. If you have an error, type any other key and you will be asked which line has the error. The lines are numbered on the left side for reference. Enter the correct number and the prompt will go to the right spot for your corrections. When all the corrections are made, type the slash (/) to move to entering the addressee. PERMANENT "FROM" ADDRESS --- After entering the "FROM" address information, press the function key #1 and the address will be saved. Only one "FROM" address may be saved. The other function keys will do nothing. CHOOSE ONE: --- The Fn1 key has been explained above. If you press any of the numbers 1 thru 7 you will be taken to a correction screen where you may correct any errors that have come up. The letter R will (R)eturn you to the start of the "FROM" address so that you will have to redo the entire address again. If all is OK, enter (/) and proceed to the "TO" address. *MESSAGE PROGRAM* KB0ZP Page # 7 HAM DISK #1 Version 2.A USERS GUIDE MESSAGE TO BE SENT TO --- Enter the Name, Street and City as above. The State/Province can be entered as an abbreviation or you may spell out the entire word. 25 characters are allowed. The help screen is available again for the states in the USA as well as some foreign abbreviations. Please use the abbreviations reccomended, as they will be needed later on when sorting by state or section. There is also a help screen available for the country. It will tell you all the countries that the USA has third party agreements with. Please use it wisely. 20 spaces have been allotted for entering the country. You may also send messages to the US possessions and territories. By just hitting the enter key, USA is entered. Enter the ZIP Code as above. Enter the phone number as above. If you have errors, type the number of the line with the error and you will be given a chance to correct the error. If you press any of the function keys, the "TO" address will be saved under that key. A small written record of what address is where would be helpful. It is also possible to go through the function keys when you are entering the "TO" address to find the one you want. By typing R you will (R)eturn to the beginning of the "TO" address and the "TO" address will be lost. Type RR and you will return to the beginning of the program and both addresses will have to be re-entered. MESSAGE --- You are allowed 150 characters and spaces per message which is divided into 3 lines of 50 each. You will not be allowed to exceed the 50 character line length. If your words are chosen carefully, this should be more than enough. Remember, no business correspondence should be sent via Amateur Radio and watch for bad language. Basically follow the FCC rules & regulations. Phrases like "I will be there soon" are ambiguous and should be avoided. It would be better to say "I will be there about 12 Jul 87". Words like "Hello" and "Hi there" do nothing but use up space. "Hi, this is Sally" isn't needed since Sally will be signing the message. As you get into this more deeply, I am sure that you will find that people do ramble on and really don't say much. *MESSAGE PROGRAM* KB0ZP Page # 8 HAM DISK #1 Version 2.A USERS GUIDE One last thing - Please avoid the use of abbreviations in messages. Some abbreviations mean one thing to one person and something completely different to someone else. ie AA could mean Alcoholics Anonymous or American Airlines or even Atom Ant. When typing in the message, just watch the limits of the last line and type enter to move to the signature. You are allowed 15 characters for the signature. Type enter and if all is OK type slash (/). If not then press any other key. Then enter 1, 2, 3, or S to move the cursor into position to make the correction. When you are satisfied - type slash (/). NOTE: This is really a very crude word processor. It does have a word-wrap feature but the backspace and direction keys are disabled. If you type an error, continue typing and then go back to the line with the error and fix by retyping the entire line. MESSAGE NUMBER --- The program will always start with Message #1. If you are working a 2- 3 day affair or shut down for a couple of hours, you have the opportunity to upgrade the message number here. Just type the correct number and press enter. Or if the number is correct, just press enter. The message numbers will increase by one each time you go through the program and you will always have a chance to change it. If you are working many hours and are using a club station call sign, then numbers 1-99 would be one operator and 100-199 would be another etc. The largest message number the program can handle is 9,999,999. Each operator could have their own data disk. PRECEDENCE --- Another help screen is available to define each of the four precedences. Enter H to view it. Or, enter R for Routine, P for Priority, W for Health & Welfare, or E for Emergency. Next you will be asked if all the messages you will handle will have the same precedence. If you anticipate nothing but routine messages, for example, type Y. If not, type any other key. If you typed Y, you will never see this screen again. But don't worry, you will have another change to change it later on. *MESSAGE PROGRAM* KB0ZP Page # 9 HAM DISK #1 Version 2.A USERS GUIDE HANDLING INSTRUCTIONS --- Here again is a help screen to aid you in identifying each of the HX Codes. Just enter H. When entering the prosign, it is best to use a capital letter. Even two prosigns may be used at the same time. Type the first one then a space & then the second one. Do not type the HX. The computer will handle that. You will be asked if this will be the same for all messages. If so, type Y. If not type any other key. STATION of ORIGIN --- Here you must enter the call sign of the station sending the message. Use capital letters. Then press Y or any other key as above. Since this program is for use from the USA only, it will only accept call signs beginning with A, K, N, or W. CITY & STATE of ORIGIN --- Enter the City & State where the message originated. Press enter then Y just like above. FINAL SCREEN --- Here the entire message is displayed. Notice that the Time & Date are automatically entered as well as the character count. The character count does not include the signature. All the information shown here is what will be saved to the disk or printed on your printer. At this point you should be sure that your printer is up and running. And that the paper is aligned correctly. Next check everything on the screen. If you find an error, type C for CHANGE. Then enter the number of the item you wish to change. This will take you to a screen which will show you what is in memory and give you an opportunity to change it. Make your changes and then return to the final screen. Make any additional changes necessary. When you are satisfied that all is OK you have the option to save to disk, print the message, both print and save, encode it or destroy it. *MESSAGE PROGRAM* KB0ZP Page # 10 HAM DISK #1 Version 2.A USERS GUIDE If you wish to DESTROY the message, type D and you will return to the point where you enter the name & address etc. All will be cleared and the message number will not increase. It will neither print nor save. To just PRINT the message , type P. And your printer will start automatically and print the message. They will be printed three to a page with a cut line between each message. It will neither be saved to disk nor held in memory. To just SAVE to disk, type S. The message will be saved under the message number preceded by an #. ie #27 is the 27th message you saved. I estimate that a newly formatted DSDD blank disk can hold about 220 messages. Each message uses 1621 bytes. If you have more than that, just replace the disk in Drive B with a new one and continue on. The message is saved in ASCII format and can be brought up on the screen from DOS by entering A>TYPE #2.* And the second message will be displayed. If you wish to save to disk and print at the same time, type B for BOTH. To ENCODE the message, type E. The computer will select one of 10 different codes. It will then be displayed on the screen. You cannot ENCODE a message that already been ENCODED. When everything else is OK then type S. Don't try to print the ENCODED message because all those funny symbols mean different things to different printers. The printer will take them as printing instructions and all you will do is waste paper. The message number will now have a prefix of @ rather than the normal # This indicates that it was encoded by Version 2.x. Later versions may have different coding procedures. The character count of an ENCODED message will always be 150. To BOOK messages, type K. It will be saved automatically so you want to make all your corrections before you BOOK. You will then be asked to supply another address. When you have typed the new address in, type the slash (/) and you will return to the final screen again for one last check. Anything may be changed here again if you wish. Also notice that the message number has increased by one. And the time has been updated. When you are satisfied that all is correct, type K again and you can enter another address. You can keep this up as long as you wish. When you want to get back to the beginning and stop booking messages, enter STOP as the Name and you will return to the screen asking for both the from and to addresses. *MESSAGE PROGRAM* KB0ZP Page # 11 HAM DISK #1 Version 2.A USERS GUIDE This procedure is helpful if you want to send a message to 10 different people and have them contact you on frequency at different times. Just book the messages as above and change one line of the message with the individual times. Those who have helped in improving this program are: K0CY, Joel Meyers, KA0TMQ GOOD LUCK & GOOD MESSAGE HANDLING KB0ZP *MESSAGE PROGRAM* KB0ZP Page # 12 HAM DISK #1 Version 2.A USERS GUIDE BENEFITS OF THE MESSAGE RECORDING PROGRAM The program automatically inserts the DATE The program automatically inserts the TIME The character count is automatically calculated and inserted The message is printed three to a page and may be given directly to the recipient The message can be saved in an ASCII format for use directly by Packet Radio or any other electronic media Anybody can use the program, HAM or nonHAM, and the data disk can be given to someone else for transmission Automatic Message Numbering HX Help Screen Precedence Help Screen State Post Office Abbreviations Help Screen Third Party Agreement Help Screen Standardized ARRL Format Encoded Messages Book messages without retyping everything 10 different "TO" addresses may be saved The "FROM" address may be saved *MESSAGE PROGRAM* KB0ZP Page # 13 HAM DISK #1 Version 2.A USERS GUIDE MESSAGE DECODING PROGRAM *DECODING PROGRAM* KB0ZP Page # 14 HAM DISK #1 Version 2.A USERS GUIDE PURPOSE --- These programs work in conjunction with the HAM DISK #1 Version 1.B and Version 2.A. They are designed to decode the encoded messages created by the MESSAGE RECORDING PROGRAM. GETTING STARTED --- Place the Message Program disk that was created on Page 4 of this Guide in Drive A. Then type: A>DECODE2 Next remove the Message Program Disk and replace it with your Message Data Disk. The program will start when you press any key. To decode messages created by Version 1.x then type A>DECODE1 SELECT THE MESSAGE --- Here you are to enter the number of the message you wish decoded. Enter only the number. Do not enter any prefix or extension the computer will handle that. If the number you select is not an encoded message, you will immediately be returned to DOS. Then type A>DIR to see which messages have been encoded. Only the ones with @ as a prefix are coded. Once the correct numbers are noted, start the program again by inserting the Message Program Disk again and typing: A>DECODE2 You will next be asked if you wish to decode this message. Type the appropriate letter. DECODING PROCESS --- When the message was encoded, the computer randomly selected one of 10 different codes. And no record was kept as to which one. So now we have to find the correct one. Type Y each time the message comes up garbled. the computer will go through each of the 10 codes until the right one is found. Don't worry if you pass it. You will just have to go through the 10 records again. The Code Number is shown in the upper right hand corner. *DECODING PROGRAM* KB0ZP Page # 15 HAM DISK #1 Version 2.A USERS GUIDE When the decoded message is displayed - read & remember it. You certainly don't want to print it. Printed copies of decoded messages are not to be left around. The message is still on the disk for future reference. Type N to start to view another message. Those who have helped in improving this program are: GOOD LUCK & GOOD MESSAGE HANDLING KB0ZP *DECODING PROGRAM* KB0ZP Page # 16 HAM DISK #1 Version 2.A USERS GUIDE MESSAGE FORM PRINTING *FORM* KB0ZP Page # 17 HAM DISK #1 Version 2.A USERS GUIDE PURPOSE --- This program prints blank message forms to be used by the originator of the message. They may be printed in quantity by this program or singularly and duplicated by other means. GETTING STARTED --- Place the HAM DISK #1 in Drive A:. then type: A>FORM The program will start auotmatically. Make sure that the printer is on and the paper is aligned. First run only one page (two forms) to make sure that the paper is aligned correctly. Then you can run as many as you like. NOTES --- The use of a form can become a work saver. They can be filled out by many people at the same time and then the typist can take them one at a time on a first in first out proceedure. The typist can make a note on the back as to when it was put on the disk and by whom. When the disk is passed on for transmission, the original forms should go with it, and notes made as to when the message was sent and by whom. It will also help if there is a misinterpatation of some of the writing. Before the message form is accepted by the typist, it should be checked by somebody to make sure that it makes sense, is neat and ledgable, does not violate any Amateur Radio Regulations, and also check the third party rules. Keep this program on the disk you take into the field. I have always seen it happen, you think you have enough forms but you always run out. This way you can print more right on the spot. *FORM* KB0ZP Page # 18 HAM DISK #1 Version 2.A USERS GUIDE PC-TALK III This program is an excellent communications program for IBM computers and clones. The documentation alone is 70 pages long. And everything is on the disk, including the documentation. The long routes needed on some packet contacts can be kept in memory on the disk so you don't have to type them in each time. It can handle messages in ASCII or Binary formats. It will print the screen contents at any time, simultaneously prints to the printer as input is received by the radio, will save to disk, delete files from the disk, stores 60 call signs and routing, recalls the last station called, special status messages can be sent, can change communication parameters, can change program defaults, can assign 40 function keys, can program the Alt keys as the program is running, displays the elapsed time of a call, XMODEM error checking protocol option, etc. To get a copy of this program, just ask for it when you become a registered user of the HAM DISK #1 and enclose an additional $5. It will be set along with your updated HAM DISK. Or, you can order it from any of many suppliers of the PC-SIG disks. You might even check the local IBM PC Users group in your area. *PC-TALK III* KB0ZP Page # 19 HAM DISK #1 Version 2.A USERS GUIDE USER SUPPORTED These programs are written by and used by Amateur Radio Operators. If you have any favorite programs you would like to see distributed on these disks please let me know. You and the original writer will get full credit for the effort put forth. Submit all programs on a DSDD 5 1/4 inch Diskette. The program must be available as Public Domain and written in IBM BASIC. I don't know any other languages. If the program is accepted, I will send you the latest version of the HAM DISK it appears in. If you like these programs and wish to add any ideas of your own, please let me know about them. If they are valid, I will add them to the disks. I would appreciate it if you would submit your programs on a DSDD disk and they must be written in IBM BASIC. A $10 contribution to KB0ZP is not much to ask. Upon receipt of your $10, you will become a registered user and will receive all notifications of any updates or additions to this disk. It will also help to defer any mailing costs and some of the expenses involved in creating these programs as well as to encourage me to continue to make high quality and easy to use ham software. Only registered users will get replies to letters. THANK YOU KB0ZP 398 Adams Street Cumming IA 50061 USA *USER SUPPORT* KB0ZP Page # 20 HAM DISK #1 Version 2.A USERS GUIDE SUGGESTION FORM Name Call Sign Address City State Zip Type of computer used: Amount of RAM available: Program Name: Program Version number (as seen on the screen): $10 enclosed (Y or N) to become a registered user. Only registered users get replies. Your comments and suggestions please: ___ Larry Kebel, KB0ZP, 398 Adams Street, Cumming, Iowa 50061 *SUGGESTION FORM* KB0ZP Page # 21 HAM DISK #1 Version 2.A USERS GUIDE ORDER FORM HAM DISK #1 (Not copy protected) Registration fee -------------$10.00 Message Recording Encoding & Decoding Print Message Forms HAM DISK #2 (Not copy protected) Registration fee -------------$10.00 Super Contest Log Multiple formats of printouts PC TALK III (For registered users only) -----------------------$ 5.00 PC FILE (For registered users only) ---------------------------$ 5.00 PC CALC (For registered users only) ---------------------------$ 5.00 (More to Come) Morse Code Practice Satellite Tracking Antenna Design etc. Larry Kebel KB0ZP 398 Adams Street Cumming, IA 50061 *ORDER FORM*