2021-07-28

BeaconManager

BeaconManager is a program for setting up the different units used in the Next Generation Beacons platform, i.e. DDS, GPSDO and VCO-PLL. It also features offline reading of the manuals for field service without web access. Alternatively most other  serial terminal programs may be used.

Download the installation package

Installation and initial setup

BeaconManager is a Windows program and requires .Net 4.5 installed on the PC.

First you must download and unzip the installation package. Then copy the BeaconManager.exe file to a directory with all privileges. It is vital for BeaconManager to have access to the directory otherwise it cannot use all its features.

After installation you can create a desktop icon if you wish.

BeaconManager automatically creates the Communication, Config, Docs and HexFiles directories.

Setup

There is no setup of the program as such. However, it is recommended that you perform a Menu | Download updates the first time BeaconManager is launched and every time before you go to the beacon site to ensure that you have the latest manuals and MCU .hex files offline.

Using BeaconManager

First select the relevant COM port. Then select the NGB unit type and click the "Connect" button.

Each of the buttons to the right of the communication pane can also be invoked by pressing the F1 to F12 keys respectively. The communication pane shows the received data in green and the data sent in green.

The RX Stamp and the TX Stamp show the timestamp of the latest information received and transmitted respectively.

Checking the "No scroll" checkbox disables scrolling.

To send a command manually type it into the input box and press enter.

To send a command configuration file click "Send file" button and select the command file to send. The command configuration files are pure text files with the .txt extension. Below is an example of a command file made by BeaconManager:

!
! File created, local time : 2017-08-05, 09:17:45
! BeaconManager version    : 1.2.0

wr defaults                    // Set default parameters
wr eep 0 14                    // Beacon mode
wr eep 1 1                     // CW OOK: 0 or FSK: 1
wr eep 1e 33                   // GPS serial speed
wr eep 1f 78                   // GPS delay
wr eep 28 2b                   // Power level

wr freq 144471000              // CW/carrier frequency
wr fsk 144470750               // CW FSK frequency
wr mgm 0                       // MGM tones are relative to the CW/Carrier frequency
wr multi 1 0 0 0               // Multiplier CW/carrier offset, CW FSK offset and MGM tone0 offset

wr call oz7igy                 // CW call
wr loc jo55wm                  // CW locator
wr fsk441 msg 0 oz7igy         // FSK message 0
wr ft8 msg 0 oz7igy_jo55wm     // FT8 message 0
wr eep 29b 0                   // FT8 message 0 three bits
wr ft8 msg 1 oz7igy/s          // FT8 message 1
wr eep 2aa 0                   // FT8 message 1 three bits
wr iscat msg 0 oz7igy          // ISCAT message 0
wr jt4 msg 0 oz7igy_jo55wm     // JT4 message 0
wr jt4 msg 1 oz7igy/s          // JT4 message 1
wr jt6m msg 0 oz7igy           // JT6M message 0
wr jt65 msg 0 oz7igy_jo55wm    // JT65 message 0
wr jt65 msg 1 oz7igy/s         // JT65 message 1
wr jt9 msg 0 oz7igy_jo55wm     // JT9 message 0
wr jt9 msg 1 oz7igy/s          // JT9 message 1
wr msk144 msg 0 oz7igy_jo55wm  // MSK144 message 0
wr opera msg 0 oz7igy          // Opera message 0
wr opera msg 1 oz7igy          // Opera message 1
wr pi4 msg 0 oz7igy            // PI4 message 0
wr pi4 msg 1 oz7igy/s          // PI4 message 1
wr t10 msg 0 oz7igy_jo55wm     // T10 message 0
wr t10 msg 1 oz7igy/s          // T10 message 1
wr wspr msg 0 oz7igy           // WSPR message 0
wr wspr msg 1 oz7igy           // WSPR message 1

wr sbpfreq 50007000            // SBP frequency
wr eep b4 04                   // SBP interval mask
wr sbpcall oz7igy/s            // SBP CW call

wr eep 7d0 c                   // WSPR hopping intervals
wr hop 0 0 137500              // WSPR hopping
wr hop 1 1 475700              // WSPR hopping
wr hop 2 0 1838100             // WSPR hopping
wr hop 3 1 3594100             // WSPR hopping
wr hop 4 0 5288700             // WSPR hopping
wr hop 5 1 7040100             // WSPR hopping
wr hop 6 0 10140200            // WSPR hopping
wr hop 7 1 14097100            // WSPR hopping
wr hop 8 0 18106100            // WSPR hopping
wr hop 9 1 21096100            // WSPR hopping
wr hop 10 0 24926100           // WSPR hopping
wr hop 11 1 28126100           // WSPR hopping

! End of file

Comments in the file must begin with either ! or //. Blank lines are allowed.

A configuration file can also be made manually for an even more detailed configuration.

DDS

The DDS short cut keys:

F1 : Enter setup mode. Please wait for the DDS SETUP> prompt
F2 : Exit setup mode
F3 : Set default values. Does not affect messages and frequencies except multiplier and mHz offsets
F4 :
F5 : Read the active parameters
F6 : Read the EEPROM value from an address
F7 :
F8 :
F9 : Write a value to the EEPROM
F10: Write the beacon mode command to the input box then manually enter the beacon mode
F11:
F12: Write the GPS data delay compensation value

GPSDO

The GPSDO (TU30) short cut keys:

F1 : Set the COM port speed to 4800 Baud
F2 : Set the COM port speed to 9600 Baud
F3 : Configure all for $GPRMC at 4800 Baud in one go
F4 : Configure all for $GPRMC at 9600 Baud in one go
F5 : Set binary mode
F6 : Set GPS speed to 4800 Baud. Must be in binary mode
F7 : Set GPS speed to 9600 Baud. Must be in binary mode
F8 : Set GPS to send NMEA data. Must be in binary mode
F9 : Stop all NMEA messages. Must be in NMEA mode
F10: Send the $GPRMC messages
F11:
F12: Send all possible NMEA messages for the TU30

VCO-PLL

The VCO-PLL short cut keys:

F1 :
F2 : Load the parameters into the PLL
F3 : Set default values
F4 :
F5 : Read the active parameters
F6 : Read the EEPROM value from an address
F7 : Read the PLL lock value
F8 :
F9 : Write a value to the EEPROM
F10: Write the function latch command to the input box then manually enter the value
F11: Write the N counter command to the input box then manually enter the value
F12: Write the R counter command to the input box then manually enter the value

Menu

File

New

Opens a window to enter some of the various configuration parameters.

Not all features are present in the configuration window.

Edit

Opens a configuration file for inspection and/or further modification.

QRA64

Opens a form where the symbols made with QRA64Code.exe can be pasted and saved to a command file that can be loaded subsequently.

QRA64Code.exe a command line program that is located in the WSJT-X installation directory/bin.

Exit

Exit the program.

Communication

Clear

Clear the communication pane.

Copy to clipboard

Copy the content of the communication to the clipboard.

Log

Log the received data to a file. The file is automatically saved to the Communication directory with the name BeaconManager_L_YYMMDD_HHMMSS.rtf. The timestamp is the time of the PC.

Save

Save the latest, up to, 250 lines from the communication pane a file. The file is automatically saved to the Communication directory with the name BeaconManager_S_YYMMDD_HHMMSS.rtf.  The timestamp is the time of the PC.

Manuals

DDS

Shows the DDS S/W manual using a local copy or line.

GPS (TU30)

Shows the GPSDO manual using a local copy or line.

VCO-PLL

Shows the VCO-PLL S/W manual using a local copy or line.

eXtremeBurner programmer

Shows the DDS S/W manual using a local copy or line.

Download updates

Download the latest S/W manuals and MCU .hex files or line.

Help

Help

Shows a brief help and short cut keys.

BeaconManager home page

This webpage.

Online time check

Weblink to an online time check server.

Next Generation Beacons

Weblink to the Next Generation Beacons platform homepages.

About

About BeaconManager window.

Revision history

Bo, OZ2M, www.rudius.net/oz2m