VarAC v8.2.0 support for (tr)uSDX

[Constrainted]

I just noticed as I was looking for Kenwood TS-480 in the rig pulldown that VarAC v8.2.0 has support for (tr)uSDX. In fact, I was unsuccessful getting CAT working with the TS-480 settings. The truSDX setting seems to work a little better. There is a little scrambling in the mode/bandwidth field of the display when some commands are sent. Something is sent at PTT but it gives a strange output.

The good news, VarAC has a CAT commands file, and the entry for truSDX may explain some of the problems:

[(tr)uSDX]
CmdType=TEXT
PTTOn=TX1;
PTTOff=RX;
ModeUSB=MD2;
ModeUSB_D=MD9;
ModeFM=MD4;
SetFreq_Data_method=TEXT
SetFreqVfoA_Cmd=FA{};
SetFreqVfoA_param_length=11
SetFreqVfoA_hz_res=1
ReadFreqVfoA_Cmd=FA;
ReadFreqVfoA_Result_Data_method=TEXT
ReadFreqVfoA_Result_hz_res=1
ReadFreqVfoA_Result_Length=14
ReadFreqVfoA_Result_Freq_Start_Pos=3
ReadFreqVfoA_Result_Freq_Length=11
VarACStartCmd=
VarACExitCmd=

They just cut and pasted what they say is the Kenwood TS-480 Command set. There is no MD9 in the published truSDX command set and no distinction between USB and USB_D in truSDX, so ModeUSB_D=MD2 might be correct. TX2 is PTT for CW, TX0 sets PTT for all other modes. Also, some commands are terminated with a ; others are not. I think it is good to take advantage of the custom UA commands, too.

I edited and used the following command definition:

[(tr)uSDX]
CmdType=TEXT
PTTOn=TX0;
PTTOff=RX;
ModeUSB=MD2;
ModeUSB_D=MD2;
ModeFM=MD4;
SetFreq_Data_method=TEXT
SetFreqVfoA_Cmd=FA{};
SetFreqVfoA_param_length=11
SetFreqVfoA_hz_res=1
ReadFreqVfoA_Cmd=FA;
ReadFreqVfoA_Result_Data_method=TEXT
ReadFreqVfoA_Result_hz_res=1
ReadFreqVfoA_Result_Length=14
ReadFreqVfoA_Result_Freq_Start_Pos=3
ReadFreqVfoA_Result_Freq_Length=11
VarACStartCmd=
VarACExitCmd=

But it still does not pull PTT effectively. There is a sound like a relay opens and then closes right away. Do we have to set TX delay in the radio for CAT commands? I run WSJT-X without that. I'll keep working a bit.

73 Constrainted

[Constrainted]

Firmware version R2.00x on truSDX.

[Constrainted]

Frequency and mode changes are orderly with the new commands.

73 Constrainted