Syntor X Flash Memory Module
Revision
C
The PIEXX SynXFlash memory module, along with the supplied PC software, replaces the original SyntorX code plugs and allows you to easily set modify and update your SyntorX channel memories.
Features:
1.
Plug
compatible with the original code plug modules.
2.
Provides
4 banks of 32 or 64 memory channel capability.
3.
Bank
selection can be made with a single external 10K pot.
4.
Supports
VHF High Band, Low Band and UHF (440) transceivers .
5.
Easy
to install and program.
6.
Operation
duplicates original Code Plug functionality.
Hardware Installation:
1.
Loosen
the four screws securing the SyntorX bottom cover, and remove the cover from
the transceiver.
2.
Remove
the old code plug from the SyntorX.
3.
The
PIEXX SynXFlash can either be programmed in system or out of the system. If you
wish to program the SynXFlash before installing it, go to the programming
section now. Otherwise, install the SynXFlash memory module in your system as
shown in the next picture. Be sure to orient the board so that the 6 pin
programming connector is facing the back of the transceiver. Also, make sure
that all 22 pins align with the receptacle on the SynXFlash memory module.
4.
If
you plan on downloading the memory channels into the SynXFlash memory module
while it is installed in the radio, you will need to connect the serial
interface adapter to the 6 pin connector on the memory module. Make sure that
the plug is oriented with the orange lead connected to pin 1 of the SynXFlash
module. Pin 1 is closest to the 22 pin interface connector. When you program
the memory in system, you will not need to, and should not, connect the wall transformer to the serial
interface adapter board. The SynXFlash, as well as the serial interface,
receives its power from the system.
5.
The
revision C serial interface adapter has mounting holes that will allow it to be
permanently installed in the radio. If you plan on leaving the serial interface
adapter in the radio, you will need to make an exit hole in the case for the
serial cable.
Steps 6 and 7 deals with using the advanced memory bank select features of the revision C SynXFlash module. If you don’t want to use multiple memory banks, you will not need to perform these installation steps.
6.
The
revision C SynXFlash module has the ability to signal the radio that the flash
information has been updated. The frequency change line, FCHG, is located on
pin 5 of the P1 interface connector. The FCHG line has a short gray wire
attached to it on the cabling supplied with the serial interface adapter. For
normal operation of the transceiver, this line can be left unconnected. If you
do not connect the FCHG line, and you switch memory banks or download data to
the SynXFlash module, then you may need to cycle the channel switches on your
control head to force the transceiver to read the updated information from the
memory module. However if you plan on leaving the serial interface adapter in
the radio, or you wish to use the bank switching features of the SynXFlash
module, you should connect this line to the input of the line transceiver
associated with the mode 1 select line. The easiest place to solder the gray
FCHG wire is on pin 1 of hybrid HY3 located on the SyntorX personality board as
shown in the following picture. The FCHG signal, generated by the SynXFlash
module, is usually in the high impedance state. When the SynXFlash wants to
signal the transceiver that the flash data has changed, it drives the FCHG line
high for 20 mS, then it drives it low for 20 mS and then returns the FCHG line
to the floating state. When the FCHG line is connected to the mode 1 input
transceiver, this sequence fools the SyntorX transceiver into thinking that the
operator has made a mode change, there by causing it to read the memory module
and update the radio parameters accordingly.
7.
Another
feature of the revision C SynXFlash module is its ability to select between 4
distinct memory banks with a single control line. Pin 6 of the SynXFlash P1
interface connector, labeled ANA SEL, is an input optimized for use as a bank
select line. If this line is left unconnected, bank 0 will be selected. If a
10K potentiometer is connected, with its wiper to the ANA SEL line and the
clockwise most leg connected to ground (pin 3 of P1), then each of the 4 memory
banks may be selected with the pot. If the most counter clockwise setting of
the pot is positioned at the 7 o’clock position then the banks will be selected
as follows:
Bank 1 – 7 o’clock, or full
counter clockwise position (>9K)
Bank 2 – 10 o’clock (6.8K to
ground)
Bank 3 – 2 o’clock (3.3K to
ground)
Bank
4 – 5 o’clock, or full clockwise position. (<1K to ground)
You can make a 2 bank
selector by simply connecting a switch between the ANA SEL input and ground.
When the ANA SEL is open, Bank 1 will be selected. When ANA SEL is at ground
potential, Bank 4 will be selected.
The picture above shows a cable made to
connect to a mode change pot. Notice the gray wire on the FCHG, pin 5, signal.
For the mode change pot to work properly, the FCHG wire must be connected to
HY3 pin 1 on the SyntorX personality board, as previously mentioned.
8.
After
the SynXFlash module is installed and programmed, reinstall the bottom plate of
the transceiver.
Software Installation:
The SynControl Software is intended for operation under the Windows95/98, Windows ME or Windows XP operating system. Install the software by placing the provided CD in your CDROM drive, press the Start Icon (usually in the lower left of your desktop), proceed up to and press the Run selection of the pop-up menu. In the open dialog box type:
D:Prg\Setup
Where D is the drive designator for your CDROM
drive After entering the command line
press enter, and the system software will be loaded.
Programming:
In order to download channel information into
the SynXFlash module, the serial interface adapter must be connected to a free
serial port on your computer and power must be applied to the SynXFlash module.
There are two ways to apply power to the flash module:
1.
The
SynXFlash module can be installed in the SyntorX transceiver with power applied
to the radio.
2.
With
the SynXFlash module out of the radio, the Flash module can be powered through
a wall transformer plugged into the serial interface adapter.
NOTE: If
the power is applied via a wall transformer plugged into the serial interface
adapter, the SynXFlash module must not be plugged into the SyntorX transceiver!
You will need to connect the serial interface
adapter to the 6 pin connector on the memory module. Make sure that the plug is
oriented with the orange lead connected to pin 1 of the SynXFlash module. Pin 1
is closest to the 22 pin interface connector.
It is not necessary to specify the serial
port that the SynXFlash module is connected to as the SynXPrg will
automatically search your computers serial ports, from COM1 to COM8, to
determine the correct connection. In order for this search to be accomplished,
the COM port connected to the SynXFlash module must not be in use by any other
program.
With power applied to the SyntorX, or the
serial interface adapter board, start the SynXPrg program executing by pressing
the Start Icon and following the pop up menus to Programs, SynXPrg and finally
Shortcut to SynXPrg. Click on Shortcut to SynXPrg, if all is connected properly
the SynTalk Dialog box will appear on you screen.
The Bank select radio buttons manually select
1 of 4 different radio channel banks. Each bank contains 64 possible memory
channels and is unique. Each bank needs to be completely specified, including
band and Pin data. Although it probably doesn’t make much sense, the different
banks could be setup to work with completely different radios. Selecting a bank
does not automatically update the channel information. If you change to a
different bank, and want to see what info is loaded in it, you must press the
Read Module button. The default bank for the SyntorXFlash module is bank 1. If
you haven’t connected the ANA SEL line to anything, make sure you program bank
1 as it will be the selected bank!
You have 3 options for loading a channel list
into the SynXPrg:
1.
To
load an existing filed channel list press the Read File button. If the File
Name data box is empty at the time you press the Read File button, an Open file
dialog box will appear prompting you to select a file name. If you have entered
the name of a frequency definition file in the File Name dialog box, the
specified file will be opened if it exists.
2.
You
can load a channel list by uploading the current channel information from the
SynXFlash module by pressing the Read Module button. You should press one of
the Band radio buttons (Low, VHF or UHF) before pressing the Read Module button
so that the program can be certain how to handle the frequency list returned
from the module.
3.
If
you want to start a new list from scratch, press the New. This will set up a
new, blank list of frequencies that you can update. You should press one of the
Band radio buttons (Low, VHF or UHF) before pressing the New button.
After loading the channel list, you can make
changes to it. The first thing you may want to check is the setting for the PIN
switches as they are applied to the VCO. The VCO/PIN information can be
modified by pressing the Setup Pin button.
The VCO/PIN Setup dialog controls which of
the SyntorX’s pin switches will be applied as a function of frequency and mode
(transmit or receive). For example, with the PIN setup shown in the picture
above, if a receive frequency less than 155 MHz is called for neither pin
switch will be turned on and the VCO will be commanded to a frequency equal to
the receive frequency plus the IF offset. The high side offset is indicated by
the Inj. Hi check box being checked. If a receive frequency less than 176 MHz,
but greater than 155 MHz, is requested the V1 PIN switch will be turned on. In
general, the default setting of the pin switch table should be acceptable, but
the program does allow for modifications to the table for non standard
operations. Pressing the Default radio buttons will cause preset ranges to be
displayed. The significance of the V0,V1 pin switches changes with different
frequency SyntorX transceivers. That is, in the receive mode on a VHF radio the
V1 pin switch is off to select the lower frequency ranges and on for higher
frequency ranges, but this is not the case with a Low Band Syntor X.
Once a VCO/PIN setting has been made, and
saved by pressing the Save button, this VCO/PIN setting will be linked with the
channel list, so if you save the channel list with the Write File button the
update pin table will be saved with it.
The Order of channels may be modified by
highlighting a channel in the channel list, single left click on the channel,
and then pressing the Up or Down buttons to move the position of the channel in
the list.
To modify a channels setup, double click the
channel in the channel list. Double clicking a channel will bring up the
Channel Editor dialog box
The Channel Editor dialog allows you to
modify the frequency and operational modes of a given channel. After making
changes to a specific channel you must press the Update button for these
changes to be saved. If you leave the Channel Editor dialog by pressing the
Cancel button, any changes to that channel will be lost.
After the channel information is changed, and
you have exited the channel editor, you will probably want to save your changes
by pressing the Write File button. As with the Read File command, if there is a
file name in the File Name data box, the file will be written with that file
name. If the File Name box is blank when you press the Write File button, you will
be prompted to browse for an appropriate file name to save the information to.
To save the updated channel information to
the SynXFlash nodule, press the Write Module button. It takes about 15 seconds
to erase and write the new channel information to the SynXFlash module.
Programming Notes:
The easiest way to familiarize yourself with the operation of the SynXPrg program is to install the kit into your radio with the computer attached and try out the various features while the radio is in operation. If you do this, after accessing the SynXFlash module, either with a read or write command, you may need to cycle the channel buttons on your control head for a given channel to be recognized. The SyntorX reads channel information when it wants to, and the upload / download of information may temporarily confuse the radio. The Revision C SynXFlash modules FCHG (Frequency Change) output line, if connected to the appropriate point on your SyntorX’s personality board, will fool the radio into thinking that the channel buttons have been cycled automatically.
Ref- I generally like to use a
reference frequency of 5 KHz, but the frequency generating algorithms will work
with either. If a given frequency can’t be achieved with the specified
reference frequency the algorithm will get as close as it can, but this
operation is not desirable. You should choose the reference frequency that is
evenly devisable into the operating frequency.
Low Power- The low power check box,
when checked, will command the transmitter to operate in a low power setting on
the specified channel if the transceiver is equipped with the low power option
hardware. Not many of the radios that I have used have been so equipped.
Timeout
Seconds- Indicates
the maximum allowed key down time for a given channel. If you enter 0 seconds,
the transmission will continue as long as the radio is keyed. If you don’t want
to allow the transmitter to operate on a given channel, set the transmit
frequency to 0 and select the Xmit Freq radio button in the Xmit Offset group.
Scan Type- There are quite a few option
here and the operation is dependent on the accessory group (control head)
connected to the radio. If you don’t want to scan at all, just press the No
Scan radio button and you are finished. If you want to set up a channel to have
scanning capability, you will need to select one of the three scan modes,
Single Priority, Double Priority or Non Priority, and then select which
channels will be included in the scan. Priority channels are set up on the
Channel Editor dialog in the Priority 1 and 2 data boxes. Put the first
priority in Priority 1 and the second, if used in Priority 2. Non priority scan
channels to include are selected by pressing the Scans button.
Each channel that has a check mark in its box will
be included in the non-priority scan. In the above example, channels 1-15 will
be scanned, channel 16-32 are excluded. I excluded channel 16 because, in my
channel setup, it is programmed to a weather channel that would always cause
the scanning to stop when it chosen. Finish entering the Scan Modes selected
and press OK to save and continue.
Selecting the Fixed check box will cause the radio
to scan all selected non-priority channels. If you have the System 90s scanning
control head, and you uncheck the Fixed check box, then the scan controls on
the Systems 90 accessory will be able to select / deselect scannable channels.
Channel scanning is enabled by either a control wire
in the cable set or Jumper JU1 on the SyntorX personality board. If you want to
enable channel scanning and you don’t have the Systems 90 accessories, you will
need to install JU1 on the personality board. If you do have the Systems 90
accessories, remove JU1 and its function will be controlled by the Pri button
on the scan head. If the Pri button is pressed in, scanning will be enabled as
long as the scanning criteria for the selected mode is properly set.
When the Talk Back check box is selected, the
channel that is currently selected becomes the transmitting channel when the
transmitter is keyed up.
Squelch- There are three possible
squelch modes. The first, PL-PL is the standard selection and allows the given
channel to mute and unmute if the selected squelch tone is present or not. The
second, PL+Sig-PL will cause the radio to unmute if the appropriate tone is
detected and the receive signal strength exceeds the squelch threshold. In this
mode, the receiver will mute when the PL tone is no longer detected. The last
squelch mode, PL+Sig – PL or Sig will cause the radio to unmute if the
appropriate tone is detected and the receive signal strength exceeds the
squelch threshold, the radio will mute if the receive signal strength falls
below threshold or the PL tone is no longer detected.