To: QST Subject: MJF-1278 Software Documentation P R E L I M I N A R Y Instructions for 1278.EXE MFJ-1278 (R) Terminal Program Distributed by KA3DXX, Severn, MD USA 1. MACHINE REQUIREMENTS a. Hardwire Required: IBM (R) PC, or 100% compatible operating under PC(MS)-DOS 2.0 or higher b. One floppy disk drive c. 150 KBytes available RAM d. Printer (optional) 2. SOFTWARE a. 1 - 5 1/4 inch floppy DS DS (360K floppy) b. 1278.EXE - Terminal Program c. OPEN.MFJ - Configuration file (use optional) d. CLOSE.MFJ - Configuration file (use is optional) 3. GETTING STARTED a. If the RS-232 (COMn:) port to which your MFJ-1278 is attached is configured as COM1: and you are capable of operating at 9600 baud, then you may accept the program default settings of COM1:9600,E,7,1 by simply typing: 1278 b. If you plan to use the OPEN.MFJ configuration file (described later) then you may include a SETUP command in that file. If you use the SETUP command in the configuration file, then it must be the first command in the OPEN.MFJ file. If you choose this method then execution begins simply by typing: 1278 c. If you do not want the default settings and do not wish to use a configuration file, or wish to override either the default settings in the terminal program or in the configuration file, then begin execution by typing: 1278 n,bbbb,p,s where n = port number, either 1 or 2 bbbb = baud rates of 300, 1200 2400, 4800, or 9600 p = parity of Even, Odd, or None s = number of data bits, usually 7 4. CONFIGURATION FILES a. Two configuration files are allowed as options to configure certain terminal parameters to your choosing both when initializing the program AND when terminating the program. b. Both files are simple ASCII files that may be created/edited with EDLIN (supplied with DOS) or any other ASCII text editor. c. Any valid MFJ-1278 command is allowed in the file to configure the MFJ-1278 to one's liking; several pseudo commands are provided for configuring the terminal program itself. d. Why use the configuration files at all? My personal experience with the RAM battery backup system in the MFJ-1278 is that if the power is turned on after having been off for only a short time, all values in the RAM resort to the default values. To avoid the nuisance of having to reset some of the values (including my call!) each time by hand, I have included all changes to the default values in the configuration file. If more than one operator uses the same MFJ-1278, then each can have his/her own OPEN.MFJ, thus customizing the unit for each call for each desired mode of operation. When I turn off the computer, but still want to be able to use the MFJ-1278 as a CW keyer, I include the command MODE CW in the CLOSE.MFJ file to leave the MFJ-1278 in the CW mode. (A corresponding MODE HP is included in the OPEN.MFJ file to restore the MFJ-1278 to HF Packet operation when the terminal program is next initiated.) 5. PSEUDO COMMANDS a. SETUP n:bbbb,p,s Overrides default values in terminal program. IF USED, MUST BE FIRST COMMAND IN OPEN.MFJ file. See par 3.c., above. (NOTE: a colon (:) is used here!) b. COLOR ON/OFF If you have an RGB monitor, by all means use COLOR ON c. FOREx n and BACKx n Set Foreground and Background Colors n = 0 BLACK = 1 BLUE = 2 GREEN = 3 CYAN = 4 RED = 5 MAGENTA = 6 BROWN = 7 WHITE Function Default FORE1 and BACK1 Receive Text White on Black FORE2 and BACK2 Xmit Text Green on Black FORE3 and BACK3 Command Line Black on White FORE4 and BACK4 Connect Line White on Black FORE5 and BACK5 Status Line Black on Brown FORE6 and BACK6 Separators White on Brown FORE7 and BACK7 Function Key Black on Cyan FORE8 and BACK8 MultiDCA*>WB4FLT (RR) Connect White on Red d. TIME ON/OFF Copy TIME from computer to MFJ-1278 during initialization e. LOGFILE name.ext Name of log file, including directory, if any f. LOG ON/OFF Set on if you want all events recorded. May also be toggled on/off with the F5 key. g. CONNECTFILE name.ext Name of connect file, including directory, where you wish call signs and date/time of connect to be recorded. h. CONNECT ON/OFF Enable/disable recording of connects. May also be toggled by F6 key. i. EDITOR name.ext Name of editor (or other program), including directory, to be executed when the F4 key is depressed. When named program finishes, control returns to 1278.EXE. 6. FUNCTION KEYS F1 MENU selection of all MFJ-1278 operating modes F2 STREAM rotate through the ten streams A - J F3 Exit to DOS F4 Execute EDITOR (or other program of choice..see CONFIGURATION FILES F5 LOG toggle logfile on and off F6 CONNECT..toggle connect file on and off F7 PRINT..toggle printer on and off F8 STATUS..performs a CStatus BUT remembers comnmand/converse state F9 Toggle multi-connect on and off. When multi is on.. the top status lines shows the call signs of connected stations by stream. A blinking letter indicates either a connect or disconnect in progress. F10 EXIT..the way home LeftArrow COMMAND mode RightArrow CONVERSE mode 7. SCREEN A split screen operation is used with four status lines. The largest part of the screen is dedicated to incoming text. The smallest, for outgoing text. In PACKET and AMTOR modes, the lower (outgoing text) screen is in paragraph mode, i.e. no transmission is made until the carriage return key is depressed. In the other modes, screen is in character mode, i.e., each characters is sent to the MFJ-1278 as it is typed. Under the default settings, the incoming text in the upper screen is displayed in white on black. The echoed outgoing text is displayed in green on black, thus improving readibility of the interleaved texts. a. Bottom line shows shorthand description of function keys. b. Lower status line shows COMMAND/CONVERSE state and status of LOG file, CONNECT file, and PRINTER options. c. Upper Status line shows call sign of most recent connect, and RETRY, USER, PACLEN, UNPROTO values. d. Top Status line shows value in MYCALL, current mode of MFJ-1278, and terminal (RS-232 port) parameters. NOTE: If MULTI is toggled on with F9, then the top line shows which stream is connected and with what call sign. A blinking letter only indicates that either a connect or disconnect is in progress. 8. GENERAL The program reflects the authors personal preferences in a terminal program and is tailored principally for packet, CW, and AMTOR. Modifications are, of course, possible and feed back of any sort is appreciated. ======================= AND HERE IS SOME MORE INFORMATION ================= To: ALL@MDCBBS Subject: Software for MFJ-1278/PC-XT Users Attention MFJ-1278/PC-XT or Compatible Clone Users: There is new terminal software designed specifically for use with the MFJ-1278 Multi-Mode Data Controller. It is free for "beta testing" from KA3DXX for a self-addressed stamped diskette mailer and diskette formatted for MS-DOS. This software was written by K3QAP (Dick) and is available exclusively via KA3DXX by U.S. Mail. NOTE: Although this software is designed specifically for use with the MFJ-1278, it may also be compatible with other MFJ TNC's. Users of other MFJ TNC's are invited to use the software. Preliminary instructions for the MFJ-1278 terminal program. 1. This is a preliminary version undergoing Beta testing by a group of interested radio amateurs. 2. To start the program, simply type 1278 The default is communcations port 1 at 4800 baud. IF THIS IS NOT SATISFACTORY for your system then type 1278 a,b where a is 1 or 2 b is 300, 1200, 2400, 4800, or 9600 EXAMPLE: MFJ 1,300 sets comm port 1, 300 baud See Also Par 5, below, for additional information 3. No file other than 1278.EXE is necessary, but two auxiliary files, which may be created by any text processor such as EDLIN, Q, WORDSTAR, etc., allow you to customize the setup of the MFJ-1278 to your own specifications. A sample file OPEN.MFJ is included and may be edited to your liking. Similarly a file CLOSE.MFJ allows a sequence of commands of your choosing to be sent to the MFJ-1278 before the MFJ program exits. 4. ANY legal MFJ-1278 command may be included in the file. Additionally, other commands allow you to turn color on/off, choose colors, select an text editor, name your connect file and your log file. 5.You may include a SETUP command in the OPEN.MFJ file to tell the MFJ which comm port to use when initializing. If you use this option, then the setup command MUST BE the first command in the OPEN.MFJ file. The format is SETUP 1,300,E,7,1 The command line option, described in par 2, above, overrides any file setup command. 6. AUTOSTAT. An interesting feature is toggled on and off by F9. When on, the status of each of the 10 streams and call sign of any connection is displayed on the top line of the screen. A blank means no connection, a blinking letter in reverse video indicates a connect/disconnect in progress, and a reverse video call sign indicates a current connection. This is particularly useful in multi station contacts. 7. KENWOOD. An option to remotely control a Kenwood transceiver has been removed from this version. 8. Hopefully, the remaining functions are self explanatory. The program shud not hang up regardless of what keys you may hit, with the exception of the MFJ-1278 command which sets the MFJ to transparent mode. This is not a defect in the software. 9. F10 is the way to exit. It gives you a second chance to change your mind. In my CLOSE.MFJ file, I issue a restart to insure that the transmitter is not keyed when I am not expecting it. (This can happen!) 10. Enjoy and let me know. Send comments or suggestions to better the software to K3QAP @ KA3DXX. 11. Since this is a preliminary version, please do not provide copies to others. The final product will be made available to amateur radio operators via KA3DXX. Hopefully an orderly distribution will allow us to keep track of who has what when modifications/updates are available. 12. Send self-addressed stamped diskette mailers and diskettes to: George H. Stickler - KA3DXX 8249 Quarterfield Road Severn, Maryland 21144