
VX-2 Commander - version 1.0


This is freeware programming software for Yaesu's VX-2R. 
It does not support all of the VX2's wide range of features, but it is coming along
very quickly.  As far as I know it is the only software of it's kind so far. Please 
read this entire document before using the VX-2 Commander. 
This software is in beta, so use with care. Though I have thoroughly tested it, 
there are probably still bugs.



***DISCLAIMER***
This program is provided without warranty of any kind. If you use it and 
brain-dead your VX-2, that is your fault. If it screws up your PC, that is your 
fault.
All I can say is that this utility works for me.


LICENSE:
Please read the file LICENSE.txt for license information.


Tested on Win98SE, Win2000, WinXP.
If you have an error trying to run VX2 Commander under Windows XP, run the Reg_XP.exe
file and click install. This also applies to other OS's, if you receive an error talking
about an OCX file.


This program was written in VB6. It requires msvbvm60.dll. Most 
people have it already. If you get an error, then obtain this file and place it 
in the VX2 Commander folder or in WIndows\System. Or better yet, download and 
install the Visual Basic 6 Runtime Files.


THE INTERFACE:

For the interface, you have a few options:

I am using the same interface I have for my Icom Q7A. It is the improved interface by 
SV1ENS. I use a 1/8" stereo connector instead of a 4 conductor for my Icom, with the 
data on the 2nd conductor. I bought a 3/32" stereo adapter and I plugged that into my 
CT-91 cable. There is a schematic posted on my site, along with 

I have also tested with the six-transistor design found here:
http://www.icongrp.com/~sllewd/pcware.htm


It is reported that an adapted VX5 ADMS cable works as well. I have never personally 
tested with this cable, but it should work, as I have tweaked my code to make this
work based on user feedback. With this cable, you need a 1/8" stereo to 3/32" stereo 
adapter, and the Yaesu CT-91 cable. 
The 4-conductor adapter that comes with the VX5 ADMS cable will not work without 
modification. I do not know much about this, since I don't have the cable.

If you do not own the Yaesu CT-91 cable, you can build your own adapter using the plans
on this site:
http://www.icongrp.com/~sllewd/

The plans must be followed EXACTLY for it to work! 
Some people have trouble grinding the connector down enough.

All interfaces are not created equally, and they do act differently. So be sure to use
one of the interfaces above for the best results.



WHAT IS SUPPORTED:

-Add, edit, delete, cut, paste, move regular memory channels, scan edge memories

-Edit memory channel text tags, name, frequency, mode, step, masked, repeater shift, 
repeater shift freq, Sql Type, Tones, DCS Codes, TX Power, Half Dev, Clock Shift

-Edit Memory Banks

-Edit Set-Mode Settings

-Characters 
A-Z 1-9 + - / [ ] {SPACE}
can be displayed for the text tags.


IMPORTANT:

-Before you use try to read or write data, set the port under Options > Port.

DETAILS:

Before you can do anything you must open a vx2 file, or read from the VX-2.

The GUI is pretty self explanatory. Just double-click to edit a setting.



CUT-COPY-PASTE:

To select a channel or multiple channels to cut, move, or delete, click and drag the 
far left column on the grid (with the memory channel number) to hilight the rows. 
You can also right-click this column after selection for a cut-copy-paste menu.

To copy cells to other cells in the same column, single-click on the cell you want 
to copy. Then right-click on the cells you want to paste to. The cut-copy-paste 
features in the edit menu are only for whole channel rows.


DELETING:
Deleting channels frees them up for the "Next Available Memory" storage feature.


RECOVER DELETED MEMORIES:
You can manually recover memories previously deleted using VX2 Commander.
If you do a reset to the VX2, the memories are marked as unused, but 
the memory data is still there. So if you need to recover this, then just read the 
data from the VX2 and choose this menu item. Memory one is not recoverable. Please note 
this will also reset any changes you have made to grid data since your last save.

FIND:
You can search for memories, by tag or frequency.
This is a case-insesitive substring search. Wildcards are NOT supported, as the wildcard
characters could be valid tag characters. But, wildcards are not needed. Just type part
of the freq or tag that you know.

Example:

Searching for "456" would find the frequencies "456000", "145600", "123456" etc
Searching for "ABC" would find the tags "ABCDEF", "MMABCM", "nnnABC" etc



DUPLICATE FREQUENCY CHECK:
This will check all of you memories for duplicate frequencies, and report back.
If the report says "Duplicates: 19, 100, 233" that means that these 3 memories have the 
same frequency. 



CSV EXPORT:
You can manually configure the csv exported.
This will allow you to export a CSV in the format of the program of your choice.
You can just leave the settings at their default if you plan to export a CSV for 
import back into VX2 Commander.



CSV IMPORT:
The CSV import features assumes the first line is a header.
Any file exported by VX2 Commander should be able to be imported back in, as long
as the file uses the default header applied, regardless of the other settings used 
for export. 
The exported CSVs now have a field for the memory number, so you can have different 
CSVs with different memory ranges stored in them. 
Importing multiple CSVs is supported.
Of course, most fields still need to be in valid "VX2 Commander format".
The frequency field must exist for import, all other fields are optional. If the mode
field is omitted, the default mode will be applied based on the frequency.
VX2 Commander also applies a 12.5 KHz step when the imported frequency needs it.
If other fields are omitted, defaults are applied.



TPE IMPORT:
This is designed for import of ARRL Travel Plus files. I do not own this CD, so please let
me know if this works for you.

VX5IMPORT:
This will import the main memory data from a VX5 .EVE file or a VX5 .RDF file.

VX5IMPORT:
This will import the main memory data from a VX7 .vx7 file or a VX7 .RDF file.

You can keep importing files until the memory is full.
Each import starts at the next line after the highest used memory entry.
So, if the last memory in the file is used, import does nothing.

PRINT
This will print the VX2 main memory data to your default printer.
Be aware that if you print all of it, it will be 30+ pages, so specify a range unless you
are sure you want to print it all.

I think everything else should be self explanatory, but if I have omitted anything or you
have a question email me.


TO DO NEXT:

-map more memory
-all the other vx-2 features

Jim
KC8UNJ

Jimbo_48393@yahoo.com




