[chirp_devel] Marco: Chirp and FT-897D

[Dean Gibson AE7Q]

On 2013-04-11 09:46, Dean Gibson AE7Q wrote:
> Marco:
>
> Presently, Chirp communicates with the Yaesu FT-897D only in clone 
> mode.  It's been quite some time, but as I recall, one can read/write 
> memory in the FT-897 (and I think the FT-857 and FT-817 series as 
> well) using two commands (one for read, and one for write) that 
> provide a radio memory address and just transfer just two bytes of 
> memory.  As I recall, it was reasonably quick if the timing was right, 
> to transfer significant amounts of data in a short time.
>
> Are you planning to make that kind of change to Chirp?  That would be 
> more convenient for users than going into clone mode.  On the FT-897D, 
> you have to press two ("MODE") buttons that are very close to each 
> other and also close to a *knob*, as you power on the unit. It's a 
> little awkward, and even more so if one has fat fingers (I don't).  
> Then, if you accidentally remember the wrong pair of buttons and press 
> the two "BAND" buttons just below the two "MODE" buttons when you 
> power on, the radio executes the diagnostic "relay cleaning" operation.
>
> Just another "wild" suggestion ...

Upon closer examination of my old Java code from 2006 (in file 
SerialIO.java that I sent you, Marco), I see that two bytes is the 
*minimum* transfer amount.  You just have to be careful to not specify 
too long a transfer length (see the code).  The command to read blocks 
of memory is 0xBB (see function "get"), and the command to write blocks 
of memory is 0xBC (see function "update").

I know these are old radios (but still being manufactured and sold new), 
but this would be a nice improvement to Chirp's handing of these radios.

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