tk3 - Experimental Software for
the ICOM IC-R3 Receiver

Overview

tk3 is open source software designed for the ICOM IC-R3 receiver. Though tk3 is intended chiefly for Linux, MacOS X, and BSD users, it will work on Microsoft Windows (95 and later), too.

I do not own an IC-R3, but I am working with IC-R3 owners to develop tk3. The current, experimental version of tk3 works both with USA/Canadian IC-R3 models and Japanese and European variants which employ 9 kHz AM BCB spacing. It can:

Read a memory image from an IC-R3 receiver, a native tr3 file, an IC3 file created using Butel's ARC3 program, or an ICF file downloaded from the Percon web database.
Using a graphical interface, display data from a memory image and permit you to make changes.
Sort memory channels by frequency or by label, within any bank or in all banks.
Import and export memory channel data from and to a CSV (comma-separated values file).
Write an image from the computer to the radio.

I implemented tk3 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 tk3 in the MacOS X environment. I have not tested it on other platforms, but it will probably work on them after little or no modification. The free Tcl/Tk interpreter software must be installed on your computer prior to using tk3.

tk3 is distributed free of charge, but it is neither shareware nor in the public domain. tk3 is a copyrighted work released under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation. tk3 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

tk3 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:

Bank,Ch,MHz,Mode,Step,Offset,Duplex,TSQL,CTCSS,Skip,Label

All the other lines will contain these fields:


	Bank number (0 - 7)
	Channel number (0 - 49)
	Frequency in MHz (.005 - 2999.995)
	Mode, case insensitive (am, nfm, wfm)
	Step in kHz
	Offset in MHz (0.000 - 159.995)
	Duplex (optional + or -) 
	Tone Squelch (optional t)
	CTCSS in kHz (e.g., 141.3)
	Skip (optional skip or pskip)
	Label (optional 6 characters)

This is a sample memory data .csv file:


Bank,Ch,MHz,Mode,Step,Offset,Duplex,TSQL,CTCSS,Skip,Label
0,0,460.3500,NFM,12.5,5.0000,+,t,162.2,,"Ingham"
0,1,460.3000,NFM,12.5,5.0000,+,t,162.2,,"IngI-2"
0,2,460.0750,NFM,12.5,.0000,+,t,162.2,,"Ing-Ta"
0,3,460.0250,NFM,12.5,.0000,,,67.0,skip,"MSP"
0,4,460.0500,NFM,12.5,.0000,+,t,162.2,,"Tri-Ct"
0,5,462.9750,NFM,12.5,5.0000,+,t,162.2,,"LCA"
0,6,463.0000,NFM,12.5,.0000,,,67.0,skip,"Med-1"
0,7,463.0250,NFM,12.5,.0000,,,67.0,,"Med-2"
1,0,153.7700,NFM,10,.0000,,t,173.8,,"Lan-FD"
1,1,153.8300,NFM,10,.0000,,t,162.2,,"Gen-Ta"
1,2,153.8900,NFM,10,.0000,,t,162.2,,"Flint"
1,3,155.1750,NFM,10,.0000,,t,127.3,,"FlintA"
2,0,423.4250,NFM,25,.0000,+,,67.0,,"AllenP"
2,1,423.1500,NFM,25,.0000,+,t,110.9,,"A-Hill"
2,2,423.0750,NFM,25,.0000,+,t,110.9,,"A-Hill"
		...

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 tk3.

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. You may 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).

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Irwin Shapiro for providing the IC-R3 memory image layout. Thanks to BlakkeKatte@yahoo.co.uk for publishing detailed information about the IC-R2 protocol and file layout on the web. Thanks also to Les Butler, Irwin Shapiro, and Wayne Turner for testing this software.

tk3 is undergoing development. To download a beta test version, including source code, click on the appropriate link to the left.

Revised April 6, 2004

tk3 - Experimental Software for the ICOM IC-R3 Receiver

Overview

Memory Channel Files

Computer Interface Adaptor

Acknowledgments

tk3 - Experimental Software for
the ICOM IC-R3 Receiver