1. Introduction

2. IC706MM Features

3. Warning!

4. Files included in this package

5. Installation

6. Starting & setting up IC706MM

a) Setting the IC706

b) Com port selection

c) SETTING THE Timing FACTOR

d) Editing the INI file

7. Using IC706MM

a. Building memory Files

b. Skipping Memory Locations

c. Errors when Loading Files

d. Test connection to radio

e. Sending to radio

8. Interface Requirements

9. Fault-finding

10. Disclaimer

 IC706 Memory Manager allows you to build as many ASCII text file's as you wish and load these to the IC706.

Loading all 99 memory locations and P1/P2 scan limits takes Approximately 1 minute.

IC706MM version 1.01 is offered as freeware for Amateur Radio use.

Registration is not necessary, simply load and enjoy.

Developed using Visual Basic Ver 3.

Installation requires a Windows operating system. (Windows is a registered name of the Microsoft Corp)

 Copyright remains with the author, David Whitty G4FEV April 1999.

Load an ASCII text file containing frequencies, memory location operating mode, wide/narrow filter settings, split on/off and send these parameters to the radio.

Memory SKIP feature that will prevent IC706MM from overwriting 1 or more of your favorite memory locations.

Comms test function to gain confidence that everything is connected correctly before downloading the main data file to the radio.

Options are included for selecting com port 1 or 2 and an adjustable Timing Correction factor that allows the data sending speed to be adjusted to compensate for fast/slow processors. (The IC706 can accept fast data however it

is a little slow in actually carrying out the requests, especially when changing bands is required.

Preferred Comm Port and timing factor can be saved in the file IC706MM.INI

DO NOT TRY AND CONNECT YOUR COMPUTER DIRECTLY TO THE IC706, AN INTERFACE IS

REQUIRED TO CONVERT THE VOLTAGE LEVELS.

THE FIRST TIME YOU SELECT THE "SEND TO IC706" OPTION, ALL YOUR EXISTING IC706

MEMORIES WILL BE OVERWRITTEN. (Unless you use the SKIP option, see 7b.)

MAKE A NOTE OF YOUR CURRENT MEMORY DATA READY TO BUILD A DATA FILE SO THESE MAY

BE RE-LOADED LATER.

This software only supports sending data TO the radio, it does not support saving data FROM the radio.

If you have programed the "memory name" option on the IC706 then this will NOT be changed by this program. There is no published data on how this data may be accessed via the IC706 data port.

IC706MM.EXE 33Kb Main Program

IC706MM.INI 9bytes Preferred Com port and timing factor

HAM.TXT 5Kb Sample data file

UTILITY.TXT 5Kb Sample data file

MARINE.TXT 5Kb Sample data file

IC706MM.DOC 14.5Kb This file in ASCII format

IC706MM.HTM 19Kb This file in Hypertext format

232.JPG 30Kb Suggested circuit of a suitable interface

THREED.VBX 64.5kB Visual Basic "runtime" files

GRID.VBX 44.6kb Copy to C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM if required

MSCOMM.VBX 33kB "

CMDIALOG.VBX 18.6kB "

VBRUN300.DLL 390kB "

IC706MM should run on any Windows platform using a 386 or faster computer

At least 1 free COM port (Com 1 or Com 2) and 604K RAM with Mouse. (Although it should be possible to operate without a mouse.)

The program will run from a floppy drive however it will load faster if copied to a hard drive.

IC706MM has been tested with Windows 3.1, Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows NT.

(Windows is a registered name of the Microsoft Corp)

 Make a directory (i.e. C:\IC706MM) and copy the self extracting file IC706.EXE and excecute.

Windows may require one or more of the Visual Basic runtime files to be copied to WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory if your version is out of date.

6a. Setting the IC706

Place the IC706 in "Initial Setup Mode"

To access this mode depress the LOCK button while pressing the POWER button.

You can check each menu setting using the UP or DOWN buttons.

Changes are made by turning the VFO KNOB until the desired value appears.

Turn off the IC706 to save the settings and return to normal operation.

The IC-706 should be set with the default CI-V ADDRESS. These are different for each version of the IC706.

Use "initial setup mode" and check parameter 21.

For the IC706 MkI set to 48H

For the IC706 MkII set to 4EH

For the IC706 MkIIG set to 58H

Now check parameter 22

Set the CI-V BAUD rate to 19200 or Auto

Check the following menu options; -

Important Note.

If you use the Auto setting and have previously used a computer application which communicates at a speed other than 19.2Kb you will have to turn the radio off then on again to re-set the Auto baud rate detector.

For further information refer to the IC706 operating handbook.

The program will ask which version of IC706 you are using. The correct address will then be used by the program.

By the way, if you have an IC706 MkI don't try sending a file prepared for a 706MkIIG hoping it will load the 432MHz frequencies. Wishful thinking I'm afraid, as any frequencies above 200MHz will be ignored by the radio.

Using the Ports function on IC706MM main page select the desired port, Com 1 or Com 2.

If the port is unavailable an error message will appear when you try to send some data.

6c. Setting The Timing Factor.

The IC706 data port can handle the data rate however the radio is a little slow to respond and the data can race ahead of the radio and memories may be skipped or programmed incorrectly.

This is especially true if your file changes band frequently (i.e. HF to 50MHz to144 MHz).

You should aim for a download time of 50 to 60 seconds which should result in perfect memory loading every time.

Increase the timing factor for a fast processor (say 300MHz or faster).

A slow, 386, computer may result in a long download time so the timing factor could be reduced.

(You do NOT need to connect the IC706 to test this.)

To adjust the timing factor, load the sample data file HAM.TXT (using the file/load menus) and click on the "Send to IC706" button.

A sending data window should appear and the program should complete sending the file in approximately 55 to 60 seconds.

If necessary adjust the timing using the Ports/Timing menu option.

If it is slow reduce the timing factor from 40000 to 10000 and try again, if fast then try 15000.

d) Editing the INI file

IC706MM.INI may be freely edited to load your preferred timing factor and COM port each time the program is started.

As delivered the file looks like this; -

40000,2

I.e. Timing factor 40000. Default port Com 2.

There should be nothing else in this file and it must be saved as an ASCII text document with NO formatting from a Word Processor program.

7a. Making your own memory files.

Looking at the included HAM.TXT file using any text editor should make the file format apparent.

Commas separate the various functions. You can use capital or lower case however the file will be more readable if you stick with uppercase.

The file format is; -

Note that each parameter is separated by a comma ,

Memory location. Valid values are 1 to 99 and P1 P2

P1 P2 are programable scan limits. (For more information see the IC706 manual)

Enter the frequency in MHz. I.e. 14.303 7.080 145.5 0.200 (200KHz)

Leading and trailing zeros are stripped off when loaded into the program however entering them may make your file easier to read.

Same as VFO-A but note that VFO-B is NOT loaded unless the SPLIT function is turned ON

Valid parameters are USB, LSB, CW, AM, FM, WFM and RTTY (upper or lowercase)

If SPLIT is OFF then only VFO-A is loaded.

If SPLIT is ON then VFO-A is loaded as the Transmit frequency and VFO-B is loaded as Receive frequency.

Check out the repeater frequencies in the enclosed HAM.TXT file should make the operation obvious.

To listen on Repeater input channels (Or the Shore-Transmit channels when Marine.TXT is loaded) selecting menu G3 on the IC706 should display the Tx frequency, pressing button F-3 will listen on the frequency.

(Check the IC706 manual for more information)

Parameters are NAR (narrow) and NOR (Normal)

If the FL100 or FL101 filters are installed these will be selected in CW mode if FILT is set to NAR

Optional, this field allows 18 characters. Note this data is not sent to the radio. There is no published data regarding setting the IC706 memory names via the COM port.

The programable frequency limits for scanning Check out the last two lines of the HAM.TXT example file.

You cannot set the SPLIT function to ON for these lines.

(For further information on P1 & P2 check the IC706 Manual)

Below are the first 4 lines of the HAM.TXT file; -

Line 1 loads Memory 1 - VFO-A with 14.303 MHz - USB -Split off - Normal filter

Line 2 This line will not change Memory 2 Placing a 0.0 in the VFO-A position will cause IC706MM to skip to the next memory position. You can skip as many memory positions as you like.

Line 3 An example using SPLIT set to ON. Here a typical repeater channel is programed. VFO-A is the TRANSMIT frequency VFO-B the RECEIVE.

Check the IC706 user manual for further information using SPLIT, i.e. for Satellite or Repeater use.

Line 4 This line will switch in the Narrow CW filter if fitted.

7b. Skipping memory locations

Place a 0.0 in the VFO-A position and this memory location will not be overwritten. You can skip as many locations you like to prevent overwriting your favorite memory locations.

Perhaps you have programed the "memory Name" and want to keep the data intact.

(Check out line 2 of the HAM.TXT file)

When loading the file it is inevitable that sooner or later a typing error or comma may be missed, IC706MM will attempt to check your file and in most cases will report an error and display a message giving some indication of the problem

and it's location.

If an error has been detected the Send To IC706 button will be disabled. View the file, as it has been loaded by IC706MM and some parameters will eventually appear in the wrong column.

The most common mistake is commas misplaced.

To help prevent errors it will be easier to edit your own preferences using the HAM.TXT file as a template and save it with a different name.

Careful use of CUT & PASTE will speed up the production of memory files

In most cases the SEND TO IC706 button should remain disabled if errors occur however it may be possible to load a file with some odd values, sending this to the IC706 will not cause any harm however the memory location and frequency

may appear to be scrambled. This is the price to be paid when using a simple ASCII text file format rather

than a rigidly structured database.

If strange things happen check your text file.

Clicking the test button will send a message to the radio, which will perform the following; -

The last digits will only be visible if they are active on the IC706.

(Check out the function of the TS button in IC706 manual).

If any of the above fail it may be necessary to adjust the Port Timing factor see para 6c.

For further hints on faultfinding see section 9 of this document.

Once a memory file has been loaded successfully, The "send to IC706" button should be enabled. Clicking on the send button will commence the programming sequence.

Sending should take approximately 50 and 60 seconds (if not see Para 6c).

C.A.T. (Computer Aided Transceiver) Interface. This device converts the RS232 Voltage levels from the computer COM port to the 5-volt, TTL levels, required by the transceiver.

Some kind of level conversion interface is required. There are several ways of achieving this; -

1.) You can buy the CT-17, CI-V interface supplied by Icom

2.) You can build a simple interface using the MAX232 RS232 chip or similar. See the enclosed file 232.JPG

Also see Radio Communication (Rad-Com) July 1999 page 48 for another version of the MAX232 interface.

This is a bi-directional version (Not required for this application) which is slightly more complex.

The program will not run if you are trying to edit IC706MM.INI simultaneously

Check IC706 CIV address. Para 6a

Check IC706 Baud Rate is 19200 or Auto (Note. If you use the Auto setting and have previously used a computer application, which communicates at a speed other than 19.2Kb you will have to turn the radio off then on again to re-set the Auto baud rate detector.

Check your interface is correctly connected and power is turned on.

Connect to the correct socket at the rear of the IC706.

Connected to the correct Comm port socket on your computer.

10. Disclaimer.

Use of this software is provided free of charge. It is used entirely at the users own risk, I take no responsibility for anything that happens to you, your computer, your radio your home your pets or anything whatsoever.

David Whitty. G4FEV May 1999.