This article is copyrighted (c) 1998 by Bill Cheek. Permission to reprint for FREE access and FREE use by others is automatically granted so long as this entire article, including signature box at the end are retained intact and unaltered. A TUTORIAL ON THE CE-232 SCANNER/COMPUTER INTERFACE'S AUTOLOGGER FUNCTION INTRODUCTION ============ The CE-232 Scanner/Computer Interface is a 2.5" x 3" electronic board that goes between an IBM-PC/compatible computer and a scanner, for a host of very powerful capabilities. The CE-232 is a -smart- RS-232 Interface controller and data acquisition system for some scanners and at least a drudgery-free automatic programmer and remote controller for all supported scanners. The CE-232 eliminates a lot of the drudgery and labor in scanning by its ability to "AutoProgram" up to 999 memory channels from a plain ASCII text file in a short time, error-free and exactly the way you want the scanner configured. The CE-232 also allows control of the scanner from the computer's keyboard; a strong plus for handheld scanners and those with hard-to- operate keyboards like the PRO-43, PRO-2035 and PRO-2042! The CE-232 is a one-way controller and AutoProgrammer like described above for MANY scanners, including the PRO-2042, PRO-2035, PRO-2022, PRO-43, PRO-39, PRO-37, PRO-34, PRO-26, etc. The CE-232 is a TWO-WAY controller and data acquisition system for the time-honored PRO-2004, PRO-2005, and PRO-2006 scanners which have unique circuitry that allows the CE-232 to do MUCH more than just AutoProgram and Remote Control, including AutoLog data on "hits", REJECT undesired signals, LOOKUP data about a certain frequency, and much more. AUTOLOGGER OVERVIEW =================== The CE-232 can AutoLog for virtually unlimited periods of time, any and all activities encountered by the scanner, regardless of mode. Each -event- (started by a squelch break) is logged to a plain ASCII text file as a line of data containing the following information at a minimum: CHAN/SRCH BANK: a number FREQUENCY: in MHz MODE: AM, NFM, or WFM DELAY: status, (D) set or (blank) not LOCKOUT: status, (L) set or (blank) not FUNCTION: Prgm, Man, Scan, Search Up, Search Down STEP: Search increment, kHz, if applicable DATE: of event (YYMMDD) START TIME: of event (HHMMSS) DURATION: of event (HHMMSS) (and more): several *user-definable* parameters including but not limited to S-metering; Extended Memory Block usage; on/off status of the User Switches, and much more. Autologging can be turned on or off at will, manually or even by automated means with logical operators using the Script function. Autologged files are automatically opened and named with a date/time logo, similar to: 96070812.LOG meaning: 1996, July 8, 12th hour (noon).LOG. Each hour, a new log file is opened and the old one closed & saved. Autolog files can be AutoProgrammed back into the scanner's memory at will with no manipulation or changes; just the press of a couple of keys! This means that you can do a SEARCH function all night or day while you're away and then at your leisure, AutoProgram in each new found frequency quite simply, hands-off, in a matter of minutes! The AutoLogger is a feature exclusive to the PRO-2004/5/6. DETAILS ======= The CE-232 AutoLogger feature allows the user to automatically log all activity detected and processed by the scanner during a period that starts when SQuelch breaks and ends when SQuelch resets. The F9 key controls the AutoLogger function. The Setup utility (F6) lets you to specify a drive and path for AutoLog (*.LOG) files. FILENAME: The AutoLogger composes its filename at the start of a Log session, using current year, month, date and hour, in this format: YYMMDDHH.LOG (eg: 97091622.LOG) where: YY = Year (1997) MM = Month (09 = September) DD = Day (16th) HH = Hour (22 for 2200) (22nd hour of the day or 10:00pm) .LOG = Fixed default extension - you can't alter it. A new *.LOG file is created and opened at the start of each hour! The previous *.LOG file is then closed. AutoLog entries are not written to the file until complete (ie; activity stops). If start and stop times are in different hours then the entry is recorded based on the start time of the entry. Turning the AutoLogger off before activity stops results in the entry being recorded with the current time as the stop time. This is handy for making quick notes about an interesting signal - just turn the AutoLogger on then off to record data concerning that signal to the current AutoLog file. NOTE: The AutoLogger does not recognize activity unless it lasts longer than five internal updates or CPU counts from the scanner (just a fraction of a second). This is to allow the display to settle and avoid incorrectly formatted entries. It also allows time for CE-232's AutoReject feature to reject a signal before attempting to log it. Script files that call the IDLE command to control the AutoLog function should use the form: IDLE UNTIL COUNT = n {where n is the desired number of counts} Six (6) is a good Count number (5 or lower can result in inaccuracy) An option is available to log Extended data. Extended data consists of the auxiliary hardware inputs and outputs (OUTSW,INSW,OUTBYTE,INBYTE). This could be useful if you have extra channels via a bank switch memory expansion scheme controlled by the CE-232 Interface's hardware ports. S-Meter readings can also be logged in this fashion. The Extended data can then be used to tell you which bank the frequency was in when detected. AutoLog entries are recorded in a text file, one line per detected event, usually based on squelch opening for starts and squelch resets for end of record. The following format is used: Standard Logging Format: (Essential data desired by most scannists) A,BBB,CCCC.CCCC,DDD,E,F,GGGG,HHHH,IIIIII,JJJJJJ,KKKKKK, <--Format A| B | C | D |E|F| G | H | I | J | K | <--Field 1, 3 , 9 , 3 ,1,1, 4 , 4 , 6 , 6 , 6 , <--# chars Example STANDARD AutoLogged lines in a file: A B C D E F G H I J K , 3, 142.0250,nfm, , ,SrUp, 5,970916,221230,000003, , 3, 142.3250,nfm, , ,SrUp, 5,970916,221238,000005, Explanation A - Reserved field consisting of one character which is always logged blank by the AutoLogger; used by the AutoPrograming function only and can be up to 12 characters. Retained in the AutoLogger file solely for compatibility with AutoProgrammer files. B - This field consists of three characters and represents the channel number or search bank number. (See Field G) C - This field is the frequency and consists of nine characters (including the decimal point). eg: 1234.6755 (MHz) D - Receive Mode (wfm, nfm, am); three characters E - Delay: (blank = delay off , D = delay on); one character F - LockOut: (blank = LockOut off , L = LockOut on); one character G - Op Mode: Scanner Operating Mode: three or four characters as shown below: SrUp: Search up SrDn: Search down Prgm: Program Man: Manual Scan: Scan H - Search Step (kHz): one, two, or four characters, including decimal: 5 12.5 50 or 30 I - Date: six characters: YYMMDD J - Start Time of signal: six characters; 24 hour format (HHMMSS) K - Duration of signal: six characters; 24 hour format (HHMMSS) L-O Extended Logging Format Option: (Optionally added to end of above AutoLog format) | Standard Log |<-----Extended Log Data----->| | Data from above ,LLLL,MMMMMM,NNNNNNNN,OOOOOOOO, | A thru K | L | M | N | O | | 44 , 4 , 6 , 8 , 8 ,<----# of chars Example of Standard plus Extended AutoLogged lines in a file: <----------------Standard---------------------------->|<---------Extended---------->| A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O , 3, 142.0250,nfm, , ,SrUp, 5,970916,221230,000003,0001,100101,00100100,01100110, , 3, 142.3250,nfm, , ,SrUp, 5,970916,221238,000005,0110,100111,00011101,01001010, Explanation L - OUTSW: Status of the four User Switches; 4-chrs; 0=off; 1=on M - INSW: Status of the 6 user Status Inputs; 6-chrs; 0=low; 1=high N - OUTBYTE: Status of the 8-bit Output port; 8-chrs; 0=low; 1=high O - INBYTE: Status of the 8-bit Input port; 8-chrs; 0=low; 1=high Note: It is easy to "export" AutoLog files to a database manager or spreadhseet. Database and spreadsheet programs have the ability to import and export comma-delimited ASCII text files in the formats used by the CE-232's AutoProgrammer and AutoLogger. The AutoLogger can also print its output to paper; a feature useful primarily with dot-matrix printers since one line at a time is printed with a carriage return and a line feed , (but not a form feed) immediately after an event is recorded. Pro-shops and control rooms find this a useful feature; hobbyists may or may not. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION ====================== The CE-232's AutoLogger function creates comma-delimited databases "on the fly" that can be immediately used as AutoProgrammer files, or can be imported by a database or spreadsheet of choice. Database and spread- sheet programs readily accept comma-delimited files. This affords superb opportunity for labor-free data processing and other record keeping to support hobbyist and commercial scanning applications. It's a cinch to evaluate days or even weeks' long search results and spectrum studies. --------------------------------------------- Bill Cheek - President/CEO/Publisher COMMtronics Engineering/World Scanner Report Box 262478 ~ San Diego ~ CA ~ 92196-2478 --------------------------------------------- Copyright (c) 1998 by Bill Cheek, December 6, 1998 =====================[End of Article]===============================