			Let's get ready to rumble ya'll ...

              -=[ Computer Controlled CW beacon, with WWW Interface ]=-


Makefile Notes
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To compile, edit the Makefile to suit your needs.
Then type 'make' and, if successful, 'make install'.   	



Program Notes
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

* A simple program to key your beacon using the parallel port of you computer.
  Will also allow anyone on the internet to send there own message.

* web_cw_beacon needs to be run as root, or suid root 'chmod 4110'.

* define BASE_ADDRESS to the address of your parallel port. Use 'dmesg'
  to find out if you don't know, or try:

  0x3BC, 0x278, or 0x378

* Edit 'web_cw_beacon.c'. You can set the dot/dash/delay times to whatever
  you want. Remember, times are in microseconds (1/1,000,000 of a second)
 
  You'll also need to edit the user id info of who should own MSG_FILE.
  This is done to prevent any user from entering their own message locally.

  You also have to edit the default interval between CW messages/IDs 
  (30 seconds) and what the default ID will be when there is no user input,
  (v v de callsign/b gridsquare li) or whatever.

* Edit /usr/local/etc/beacon.status to contain your current beacon status.
  delimit on/off status and frequency with a | symbol.

  Example:

  (in /usr/local/etc/beacon.status)

  on|50.069



Usage
~~~~~
(for command line version)

Usage: cw_beacon <options> [-f | -m]

	-f <filename>	Read message from a file
	-m "message"	Send "message" (needs quotes if you message has spaces)

Options:

	-d <delay>	Delay between CW characters, default is 1
	-s <speed>	CW speed, default is 5 words per minute
	-x att on	Allow you to switch in a attenuator pad, default is off

For use with the WWW interface use web_cw_beacon. This version starts keying
the default ID, while waiting for any user input.

You'll want to run web_cw_beacon continously in the background on the computer
you have your CW key circuit attached to.


Hardware
~~~~~~~~

See web_cw_beacon.gif or web_cw_beacon.gif.ps.

* The 74LS367 buffer is optional, but recommended. Be sure to bypass
  all control lines in and out of the computer with ferrite beads and
  capacitors. Add 5 volt zeners if you're real paranoid also.

* If you build and attenuator pad, be sure to use non-inductive resistors.
  (film, oxide, NOT wirewound)

* If you build the antenna switch, be sure the relay can handle RF power.


WWW Interace
~~~~~~~~~~~~

beacon.main.cgi		Beacon control main web page.

web_cw_beacon.cgi       Cleans up all user input info.
			Then writes it to a file, (MSG_FILE) for
			web_cw_beacon to take as input.

web_cw_beacon           Run this continuously in the background on the
                        computer that the CW key hardware is attached to.
		        It sends a normal CW ID every 30 seconds, then
		        when MSG_FILE exists, it gets read and keyed.

cw_beacon		Command line version.

Bugs/Contact
~~~~~~~~~~~~

www.dct.com/~multiplx
