This article is copyrighted (c) 1998 by Bill Cheek.  Permission to 
reprint for FREE access and FREE use by others is automatically 
granted so long as this entire article, including signature box at 
the end are retained intact and unaltered.

           A TUTORIAL ON 
THE CE-232 SCANNER/COMPUTER INTERFACE'S
        AUTOLOGGER FUNCTION

INTRODUCTION
============
The CE-232 Scanner/Computer Interface is a 2.5" x 3" electronic 
board that goes between an IBM-PC/compatible computer and a scanner, 
for a host of very powerful capabilities.  

The CE-232 is  a -smart- RS-232 Interface controller and data 
acquisition system for some scanners and at least a drudgery-free 
automatic programmer and remote controller for all supported scanners.  

The CE-232 eliminates a lot of the drudgery and labor in scanning by 
its  ability to "AutoProgram" up to 999 memory channels from a plain 
ASCII text file in a short time, error-free and exactly the way you 
want the scanner configured.  

The CE-232 also allows control of the scanner from the computer's 
keyboard; a strong plus for handheld scanners and those with hard-to-
operate keyboards like the PRO-43, PRO-2035 and PRO-2042!

The CE-232 is a one-way controller and AutoProgrammer like described 
above for MANY scanners, including the PRO-2042, PRO-2035, PRO-2022, 
PRO-43, PRO-39, PRO-37, PRO-34, PRO-26, etc.  

The CE-232 is a TWO-WAY controller and data acquisition system for the
time-honored PRO-2004, PRO-2005, and PRO-2006 scanners which have unique
circuitry that allows the CE-232 to do MUCH more than just AutoProgram 
and Remote Control, including AutoLog data on "hits", REJECT undesired 
signals, LOOKUP data about a certain frequency, and much more.


AUTOLOGGER OVERVIEW
===================
The CE-232 can AutoLog for virtually unlimited periods of time, any 
and all activities encountered by the scanner, regardless of mode.  
Each -event- (started by a squelch break) is logged to a plain ASCII 
text file as a line of data containing the following information 
at a minimum:

 CHAN/SRCH BANK:  a number
      FREQUENCY:  in MHz
           MODE:  AM, NFM, or WFM
          DELAY:  status, (D) set or (blank) not
        LOCKOUT:  status, (L) set or (blank) not
       FUNCTION:  Prgm, Man, Scan, Search Up, Search Down
           STEP:  Search increment, kHz, if applicable
           DATE:  of event (YYMMDD)
     START TIME:  of event (HHMMSS)
       DURATION:  of event (HHMMSS)
     (and more):  several *user-definable* parameters including 
                  but not limited to S-metering; Extended Memory
                  Block usage; on/off status of the User Switches,
                  and much more.

Autologging can be turned on or off at will, manually or even by
automated means with logical operators using the Script function.  
Autologged files are automatically opened and named with a date/time 
logo, similar to:  

96070812.LOG  meaning: 1996, July 8, 12th hour (noon).LOG.  

Each hour, a new log file is opened and the old one closed & saved.

Autolog files can be AutoProgrammed back into the scanner's memory
at will with no manipulation or changes; just the press of a couple 
of keys!  This means that you can do a SEARCH function all night or 
day while you're away and then at your leisure, AutoProgram in each 
new found frequency quite simply, hands-off, in a matter of minutes!

The AutoLogger is a  feature exclusive to the PRO-2004/5/6.

DETAILS
=======
The CE-232 AutoLogger  feature allows the  user to automatically log  
all activity detected and  processed  by  the scanner during a period 
that starts when SQuelch breaks and ends when SQuelch resets. The F9 
key controls the AutoLogger function.  The Setup  utility  (F6) lets 
you to specify a drive and path for AutoLog (*.LOG) files.

FILENAME: The AutoLogger composes its filename at the start of a Log  
session, using current year, month, date and hour, in this format:

         YYMMDDHH.LOG  (eg:  97091622.LOG)

where:   YY  = Year (1997)
         MM  = Month (09 = September)
         DD  = Day (16th)
         HH  = Hour (22 for 2200) (22nd hour of the day or 10:00pm)
       .LOG  = Fixed default extension - you can't alter it.  A new
                *.LOG  file is created and  opened at the  start of 
                each hour! The previous *.LOG file is then closed.

AutoLog  entries  are not written to the file until  complete  (ie;
activity  stops).  If start and stop times are in  different  hours
then  the  entry is recorded based on the start time of the  entry.
Turning  the  AutoLogger off before activity stops results  in  the
entry being recorded with the current time as the stop time.   This
is  handy for making quick notes about an interesting signal - just
turn  the  AutoLogger  on then off to record data  concerning  that
signal to the current AutoLog file.

NOTE:  The AutoLogger does not recognize activity unless  it  lasts
longer than five internal updates  or CPU counts from  the  scanner
(just  a  fraction of a second). This is to allow  the  display  to
settle and avoid incorrectly formatted entries. It also allows time
for CE-232's AutoReject feature to reject a signal before attempting 
to  log it.  Script files that call the IDLE command to control the 
AutoLog function should use  the form:   

IDLE UNTIL COUNT = n       {where n is the desired number of counts}

Six (6) is a good Count number (5 or lower can result in inaccuracy)

An  option  is  available  to  log Extended  data.   Extended  data
consists   of   the   auxiliary   hardware   inputs   and   outputs
(OUTSW,INSW,OUTBYTE,INBYTE). This could be useful if you have extra
channels  via  a bank switch memory expansion scheme controlled  by
the CE-232 Interface's hardware ports. S-Meter readings can also be
logged in this fashion.  The Extended data can then be used to tell 
you which bank the frequency was in when detected.

AutoLog  entries are recorded in a text file, one line per detected
event,  usually  based on squelch opening for  starts  and  squelch
resets for end of record.  The following format is used:

Standard Logging Format:  (Essential data desired by most scannists)

A,BBB,CCCC.CCCC,DDD,E,F,GGGG,HHHH,IIIIII,JJJJJJ,KKKKKK, <--Format
A| B |    C    | D |E|F| G  | H  |   I  |  J   |  K   | <--Field
1, 3 ,    9    , 3 ,1,1, 4  , 4  ,   6  ,  6   ,  6   , <--# chars

Example STANDARD AutoLogged lines in a file:

A   B     C      D  E F  G    H      I     J      K  
 ,  3, 142.0250,nfm, , ,SrUp,   5,970916,221230,000003,
 ,  3, 142.3250,nfm, , ,SrUp,   5,970916,221238,000005,

Explanation

A -  Reserved  field consisting of one character which  is  always
     logged blank by the AutoLogger;  used by the AutoPrograming 
     function only and can be up to 12 characters. Retained in the 
     AutoLogger file solely for compatibility with AutoProgrammer files.

B -  This  field  consists of three characters  and  represents  the
     channel number or search bank number. (See Field G)

C -  This  field is the frequency and consists of nine  characters
     (including the decimal point).

          eg:      1234.6755  (MHz)

D -  Receive Mode (wfm, nfm, am); three characters

E -  Delay: (blank = delay off , D = delay on); one character

F -  LockOut:  (blank = LockOut off , L = LockOut on); one character

G -  Op Mode: Scanner Operating Mode:  three or four characters as
     shown below:

     SrUp:  Search up
     SrDn:  Search down
     Prgm:  Program
      Man:  Manual
     Scan:  Scan

H -  Search Step (kHz):  one, two, or four characters, including decimal:
       
       5    12.5    50   or   30

I -  Date: six characters: YYMMDD

J -  Start Time of signal: six characters; 24 hour format (HHMMSS)

K -  Duration of signal: six characters;  24 hour format (HHMMSS)

L-O  Extended Logging Format Option:  (Optionally added to end of 
     above AutoLog format)

|  Standard Log      |<-----Extended Log Data----->|
|  Data from above   ,LLLL,MMMMMM,NNNNNNNN,OOOOOOOO,
|    A thru K        |  L |  M   |   N    |  O    |
|       44           ,  4 ,  6   ,   8    ,  8    ,<----# of chars


Example of Standard plus Extended AutoLogged lines in a file:

<----------------Standard---------------------------->|<---------Extended---------->|
A   B     C      D  E F  G    H      I     J      K      L     M       N       O
 ,  3, 142.0250,nfm, , ,SrUp,   5,970916,221230,000003,0001,100101,00100100,01100110,
 ,  3, 142.3250,nfm, , ,SrUp,   5,970916,221238,000005,0110,100111,00011101,01001010,

Explanation

L -  OUTSW:  Status of the four User Switches; 4-chrs; 0=off; 1=on

M -  INSW:  Status of the 6 user Status Inputs; 6-chrs; 0=low; 1=high

N -  OUTBYTE:  Status of the 8-bit Output port;  8-chrs; 0=low; 1=high

O -  INBYTE:  Status of the 8-bit  Input port;  8-chrs; 0=low; 1=high


Note:  It is easy to "export" AutoLog files to a  database manager or
spreadhseet.  Database and spreadsheet programs  have the ability  to 
import and export comma-delimited ASCII text files in the formats used
by the CE-232's AutoProgrammer and AutoLogger.

The AutoLogger can also  print its output to paper; a feature useful 
primarily with dot-matrix printers since one line at a time is printed
with a carriage return <CR> and a line feed <LF>, (but not a form feed)
immediately after an event is recorded.  Pro-shops and control rooms find 
this a useful feature; hobbyists may or may not.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
======================

The CE-232's AutoLogger function creates comma-delimited databases "on
the fly" that can be immediately used as AutoProgrammer files, or can
be imported by a database or spreadsheet of choice.  Database and spread-
sheet programs readily accept comma-delimited files. This affords superb 
opportunity for labor-free data processing and other record keeping to 
support hobbyist and commercial scanning applications.  It's a cinch to
evaluate days or even weeks' long search results and spectrum studies.

------------------------------------------------        --
Bill Cheek - President/CEO/Publisher            \      /
COMMtronics Engineering/World Scanner Report     \    /
Box 262478 ~ San Diego ~ CA ~ 92196-2478          \  / 
Voice: 619-578-9247 (1:30-5:30pm, PST, weekdays    \/
  Fax: 619-578-9247 (any time)                     /\ 
E-mail:  bcheek@cts.com                           /  \
ftp://ftp.cts.com/pub/bcheek                     /    \
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/bcheek /      \
------------------------------------------------        --

Copyright (c) 1998 by Bill Cheek, December 6, 1998
=====================[End of Article]===============================
