tk150 - Experimental Software for
the Standard VR-150 Receiver

Overview

The Standard VR-150 receiver is a variant of the Yaesu VR-120D model but is sold only in Japan. Distinguisting features include: 1000 memory channels, CTCSS squelch, CTCSS tone search, alarm clock, preprogrammed frequencies for Japanese trains with the ability to ignore idle tones, and an additional 25 MHz channel counter width.

tk150 is open source software designed for the Standard VR-150 receiver. Though tk150 is intended chiefly for Linux, MacOS X, and BSD users, it will work on Microsoft Windows (95 and later), too.

It supports Japanese version VR-150 receivers with an AH005M001 or AH011M001 EAN/JAN designation.

I do not own a VR-150, but I am working with VR-150 owners to develop tk150. The current, experimental version of tk150 can:

Read a memory image from a VR-150 receiver or from a .t15 file.
Write a memory image to a VR-150 receiver.
Using a graphical interface, display data from a memory image and permit changes.
Import/export memory channel data from/to a csv (comma-separated values) file.
Sort memory channels by frequency or by label within any bank or all banks.
Enable/disable an undocumented User Port menu and flag in the radio.

I implemented tk150 in the Tcl/Tk scripting language which enables it to run on a variety of operating systems. I am looking for beta testers to try tk150 in the MacOS X environment. The free Tcl/Tk interpreter software must be installed on your computer prior to using tk150.

tk150 is distributed free of charge, but it is neither shareware nor in the public domain. tk150 is a copyrighted work released under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation. tk150 is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details.

Memory Channel Files

tk150 can export memory channel data to a file. The memory channel data file is formated in csv (comma-separated values) format. The first line of the file is this heading:

Ch,MHz,Mode,Tone,Pref,Label

All the other lines will contain these fields:


Channel number (0 - 999)
Frequency in MHz
Mode, case insensitive (am, nfm, wfm)
Tone (optional CTCSS code, e.g., 67.0, 141.3, ...) 
Preferential flag p (optional)
Label (an optional 6-char name)

This is a sample memory data .csv file:

Ch,MHz,Mode,Tone,Pref,Label
2,462.58750,NFM,67.0,,"CIRCUS"
3,462.61250,NFM,254.1,,"TAXI"
4,462.63750,NFM,250.3,,
5,462.66250,NFM,241.8,,
6,462.68750,NFM,233.6,,
15,462.71250,NFM,0.0,,
21,162.40000,NFM,,,
700,6.03000,AM,,,"VOA"
701,6.16000,AM,0.0,,"VOA"
	...

You can use a separate text editor or spreadsheet program to create, edit, and print memory channel files. You cannot create or edit memory channel data files within tk150.

Computer Interface Adaptor

You will need a suitable TTL-to-RS232 level adaptor to connect the radio to your computer serial port. A direct cable connection won't work and could damage the radio and/or computer serial port hardware. I use an RT Systems CT29A cable, sold for the VR-500. RT Systems sales staff may be contacted at sales@cloningsoftware.com. (Note: I am not affiliated with RT Systems).

Tsunetaka Mitsuyasu describes, in Japanese, his 2-transistor home made interface. Mr. Skinny uses a MAX-232 IC based interface.

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Kempes van Ruiswijk and Lee M. for testing tk150 and supporting the project with useful suggestions and photos. Gary Webbenhurst helped test tk150 for the revision AH011M001 radio.

tk150 is undergoing development. To download a beta test version, including source code, click on the appropriate link to the left.

Revised April 6, 2004

tk150 - Experimental Software for the Standard VR-150 Receiver

Overview

Memory Channel Files

Computer Interface Adaptor

Acknowledgments

tk150 - Experimental Software for
the Standard VR-150 Receiver