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Cat for Frequency Control Icom 735

in VarAC - HF discussion forum

[Icom IC-735]

CmdType=HEX

SetFreq_Data_method=BCD

SetFreqVfoA_Cmd=FEFE04E005{}FD

SetFreqVfoA_param_length=8

SetFreqVfoA_hz_res=1

ReadFreqVfoA_Cmd=FEFE04E003FD

ReadFreqVfoA_Result_Data_method=BCD

ReadFreqVfoA_Result_hz_res=1

ReadFreqVfoA_Result_Length=22

ReadFreqVfoA_Result_Freq_Start_Pos=11

ReadFreqVfoA_Result_Freq_Length=10

11 comments

Comments (11)

n0zjt

Apr 04, 2023

Sorry to hijack an old thread, but I have an Icom 735 that I had to change ReadFreqVfoA_Result_Freq_Start_Pos from 7 to 11 and I also had to change Parity to "Mark" in order to get it to read the frequency correctly. I have a different issue that I wonder if you could shed some information on. While in the Frequency Control settings, I'm able to get the Icom 735 to change frequencies to what I have selected in the TEST box. However, when I'm on the main screen of the program and try to change frequencies, it doesn't change the frequency on the radio, even while the software sends the command. Is there a different command or process during the test from normal operation?

clas

Apr 04, 2023

Replying to

Hello I never got it to work reliably so I am using omni-rig now, It works ok. Only from time to time it does not close when I close varac and then it blocks the com port from other applications and I have to manually find it and shut it down. I did try a lot with the built in cat control and tried all sorts of settings but never got it to work 100%. If you do manage to get it to work please share :-)

I think this was the last I tried with parity "Mark"

[Icom IC-735]

CmdType=HEX

ModeUSB=FEFE04E00601FD,

ModeUSB_D=FEFE04E00604FD,

ModeFM=FEFE04E00605FD,

SetFreq_Data_method=BCD

SetFreqVfoA_Cmd=FEFE04E005{}FD

SetFreqVfoA_param_length=8

SetFreqVfoA_hz_res=1

ReadFreqVfoA_Cmd=FEFE04E003FD

ReadFreqVfoA_Result_Data_method=BCD

ReadFreqVfoA_Result_hz_res=1

ReadFreqVfoA_Result_Length=20

ReadFreqVfoA_Result_Freq_Start_Pos=7

ReadFreqVfoA_Result_Freq_Length=8

irad d

Oct 23, 2022

Can you share a screenshot while the freq read is turned on? I want to see how it looks on your main screen.

clas

Oct 24, 2022

Replying to

This is with ReadFreqVfoA_Result_Freq_Start_Pos=11 (Sorry for swe)

24/10/2022 06:57:50 - Cat command (HEX): FEFE04E003FD

24/10/2022 06:57:50 - Writing to com port

24/10/2022 06:57:50 - CAT cmd result: fee0040300501014fdfefe04e003fdfe

24/10/2022 06:57:50 - CAT result after echo stripping: fee0040300501014fdfe

24/10/2022 06:57:50 - Error: Unable to read frequency from CAT command: Indatasträngen hade ett felaktigt format.

vid System.Number.StringToNumber(String str, NumberStyles options, NumberBuffer& number, NumberFormatInfo info, Boolean parseDecimal)

vid System.Number.ParseInt64(String value, NumberStyles options, NumberFormatInfo numfmt)

vid System.Convert.ToInt64(String value)

vid VarAC.VarAC.FromBcd(String value, String endian)

vid VarAC.VarAC.convert_freq_from_read_cmd(String freq, String data_method, Single freq_hz_res)

vid VarAC.VarAC.<>c__DisplayClass539_0.<Load_configuration>b__0()

This is with ReadFreqVfoA_Result_Freq_Start_Pos=7

It behaves strange, for ex. if I am at 14.105.000, closes the program and starts it again, it miss reads the info received from the radio as 10.050.300 as it somehow gets wrong result, and changes the radio frequency to 10.050.300

24/10/2022 06:46:20 - Cat command (HEX): FEFE04E003FD

24/10/2022 06:46:20 - Writing to com port

24/10/2022 06:46:20 - Starting write_command_stream_log

24/10/2022 06:46:20 - Writing event to command stream log

24/10/2022 06:46:20 - End of write_command_stream_log

24/10/2022 06:46:20 - CAT cmd result: fee0040300501014fdfefe04e003fdfe

24/10/2022 06:46:20 - CAT result after echo stripping: fee0040300501014fdfe

24/10/2022 06:46:20 - Frequency converted value:10500003

24/10/2022 06:46:20 - CAT Read frequency: 03005010 10500003

24/10/2022 06:46:20 - Change combobox freq text to: 10.500.003

then via the drop box I change back to 14.105.00 it gets another result from the cat command

24/10/2022 06:46:24 - Cat command (HEX): FEFE04E003FD

24/10/2022 06:46:24 - Writing to com port

24/10/2022 06:46:24 - CAT cmd result: e0040300501014fdfefe04e003fdfefe

24/10/2022 06:46:24 - CAT result after echo stripping: e0040300501014fdfefe

24/10/2022 06:46:24 - Frequency converted value:14105000

24/10/2022 06:46:24 - CAT Read frequency: 00501014 14105000

24/10/2022 06:46:24 - Change combobox freq text to: 14.105.000

24/10/2022 06:46:26 - Cat command (HEX): FEFE04E003FD

24/10/2022 06:46:26 - Writing to com port

24/10/2022 06:46:26 - CAT cmd result: e0040300501014fdfefe04e003fdfefe

24/10/2022 06:46:26 - CAT result after echo stripping: e0040300501014fdfefe

24/10/2022 06:46:26 - Frequency converted value:14105000

24/10/2022 06:46:26 - CAT Read frequency: 00501014 14105000

24/10/2022 06:46:28 - Cat command (HEX): FEFE04E003FD

24/10/2022 06:46:28 - Writing to com port

24/10/2022 06:46:28 - CAT cmd result: e0040300501014fdfefe04e003fdfe

24/10/2022 06:46:28 - CAT result after echo stripping: e0040300501014fdfe

24/10/2022 06:46:30 - Changing frequency: user selection from dropdown menu.

24/10/2022 06:46:30 - Frequency converted value:00501014

24/10/2022 06:46:30 - Cat command (HEX): FEFE04E00601FD

24/10/2022 06:46:30 - Writing to com port

24/10/2022 06:46:30 - Cat command (HEX):

24/10/2022 06:46:30 - Writing to com port

24/10/2022 06:46:30 - CAT cmd result: fee004fbfd

24/10/2022 06:46:30 - Cat command (HEX): FEFE04E00500501014FD

24/10/2022 06:46:30 - Writing to com port

24/10/2022 06:46:30 - CAT cmd result: fefe04e00500501014fd

24/10/2022 06:46:30 - Change combobox freq text to: 14.105.000

24/10/2022 06:46:30 - Change combobox freq color

24/10/2022 06:46:31 - Change combobox freq color

24/10/2022 06:46:32 - Cat command (HEX): FEFE04E003FD

24/10/2022 06:46:32 - Writing to com port

24/10/2022 06:46:32 - CAT cmd result: fefee004fbfdfefe04e003fdfefe

24/10/2022 06:46:32 - CAT result after echo stripping: fefee004fbfdfefe

24/10/2022 06:46:32 - Change combobox freq color

irad d

Oct 19, 2022

This is the right one. please check this:

[Icom IC-735]

CmdType=HEX

ModeUSB=FEFE04E00601FD

ModeUSB_D=FEFE04E00604FD

ModeFM=FEFE04E00605FD

SetFreq_Data_method=BCD

SetFreqVfoA_Cmd=FEFE04E005{}FD

SetFreqVfoA_param_length=8

SetFreqVfoA_hz_res=1

ReadFreqVfoA_Cmd=FEFE04E003FD

ReadFreqVfoA_Result_Data_method=BCD

ReadFreqVfoA_Result_hz_res=1

ReadFreqVfoA_Result_Length=20

ReadFreqVfoA_Result_Freq_Start_Pos=11

ReadFreqVfoA_Result_Freq_Length=8

clas

Oct 20, 2022

Replying to

And the ReadFreqVfoA_Result_Freq_Start_Pos=11 is 7. The cat control of my radio (IC 735) is not 100% not specific to VaraC but Overall.

irad d

Oct 21, 2022

Replying to

Are you sure about this ? I look at the manuals and it looks like 11. Can you test with 11 and lmk if it works ok also ? reading from the 7th position shoudl give you a false frquency read.

clas

Oct 23, 2022

Replying to

I agree, It seams strange, I put it down to my cat cable or something, I also get different results with debug mode on or off and I need to use parity "Mark" to get it to work. and to confirm yes I must use ReadFreqVfoA_Result_Freq_Start_Pos=7 I might go with omni-rig as it seams more stable.