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SWL for Yaesu FRG-8800 Operating Manual

Made by: SWL
Type: Operating Manual
Category: Remote Control
Pages: 11
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Operating Manual

SWL IR Remote Control for Yaesu FRG-8800

For

Firmware Version 1.43

Web Site: 

http://www.swl-remotes.com/

Support email: 

support@swl-remotes.com

May 30, 2005
Revision 2.51

 


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Overview

Thank you for purchasing the SWL IR Remote.  We are confident that you will get many hours of 
listening pleasure from your FRG-8800 using the remote.  Don’t hesitate to contact us at 

support@swl-remotes.com

 if you have any problems or questions.  We want your experience 

with our products to be as positive and enjoyable as possible.  We also appreciate any comments 
on how we can make our products better.

The SWL IR Remote is a microcontroller-based device that decodes the Infrared pulse stream 
from a Universal Remote control and converts it into the remote commands for shortwave 
receivers and transceivers.  Several versions of the SWL IR Remote are available for different 
models of Receivers and Transceivers.

The SWL IR Remote is connected to the FRG-8800 receiver using a 1/8in (3.5 mm) audio type 
cable with a 6-pin DIN male connector connected from the SWL IR Remote to the 6-pin DIN 
CAT port on the receiver.

Power for the SWL IR Remote is provided by the included wall power supply.  Alternatively, 9-
12Volts DC at 100ma max can be supplied to the power connector.  The center pin of the coax 
power connector is positive.  There is a blocking diode in the circuit, so reverse polarity will not 
harm the SWL IR Remote control unit.  Customers in Europe receive a DC cable that connects to 
the coax power jack on the SWL IR Remote control unit and has pig tail leads on the other end 
for connecting to a DC power supply.

All keys on the Universal Remote are indicated in this manual with bold type.  The keys used for 
radio control are the digits 

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Mute

Power

Enter

, and 

Last

 or 

Previous

.  

All references to the 

Last

 key also refers to the 

Previous

 key on the remotes that have that key.

Any Universal Remote control should operate the SWL IR Remote.  Follow the instructions in 
the remote manual to set the remote to operate a Sony TV.  The remote needs digit keys, 

Power

Enter

, and 

Last

 or 

Previous

 buttons.  The remote should be in TV mode to operate properly.  

Make sure you do not have Cable or VCR modes selected.  The codes from the keys when in 
Cable or VCR mode are different and will not operate the SWL IR Remote.

None of the settings are changed in the radio with the exception of memories that you write with 
the remote.  All settings are temporary in the remote control.  You can go back at any time to 
using your radio from the front panel.

Keep a copy of the Quick Commands Reference sheet by your remote as reference on the SWL 
IR Remote operation.

 


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Connection to Radio

Connect the 1/8in (3.5mm) audio type plug on the cable into the back of the SWL IR Remote and 
the 6-pin DIN connector on the radio jack marked CAT.  You do not need to use a FIF-RS-232C 
Level Converter with the SWL IR Remote.  The baud rate is fixed at 4800 and cannot be 
changed.

Plug in the wall power supply and plug into the back of the SWL IR Remote control box.  The 
power connector is located on the back left hand side of the control unit.  The SWL IR Remote 
draws very little power and does not include or need a power switch.

Note:

 Turn off the FRG-8800 and then power the receiver from the Universal Remote.  If the 

FRG-8800 is turned on with the remote, it must be turned off with the remote.  The front panel of 
the FRG-8800 is disabled when the CAT interface is enabled; e.g. when the receiver has been 
turned on with the remote.  To restore front panel operation, turn off the FRG-8800 with the 
remote and power back on with the power button.

Level Converter Option

Plug the DB9 cable from your computer into the back of the SWL IR Remote if you have the 
SWL IR Remote version with the Level Converter option.  The default baud rate for the Level 
Converter option is 4800.

 


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Remote Control Operation

Description

The following describes the operation of the remote control.  Refer to the Universal Remote 
Commands tables, or the Commands Quick Reference guides for specific features.

Once you begin to use the remote you will get very comfortable with the operation.  There is a lot 
of functionality achieved by just a few remote buttons.  The biggest problem you will have in the 
operation of the remote is the 

Enter

 key.  If you do not enter the codes exactly you will end up 

trying to enter a direct frequency.  Direct frequency entry can occur in either VFO or memory 
modes.

Power

The front panel on the FRG-8800 will not operate while the CAT interface is active, i.e. when the 
radio is powered from the remote.  The Volume, Attenuator, Memory, NB, and AGC controls are 
operable during remote operation.  Turn the power off with the remote to return to normal front 
panel operation.  You can also remove power from the FRG-8800 to return to normal front panel 
operation.

When the radio is turned off with the remote, certain status is saved to non-volatile memory and 
restored when power is turned back on with the remote.  The current tuning step is stored in non-
volatile memory.  The last frequency entered is kept in volatile memory and will be lost when 
power is removed from the control unit.  The current tuned frequency on the FRG-8800 will be 
reset to 10kHz when power is removed from the remote control unit.

Direct Frequency Entry

When entering frequencies directly, be sure to press a digit key before the first decimal point.  
The 

Mute

 button functions to mute the radio, as a decimal point when entering frequencies, and 

as a clear to abort any key entry to that point.  When using the 

Mute

 button as a clear, be sure to 

press it enough times to get the LED to blink twice.  This is confirmation that the clear command 
has been accepted.  When entering frequencies directly, the 

Mute

 key will operate as a decimal 

point only after a digit key has been pressed before the first decimal point.  As an example, you 
can enter 

0 Mute 3 Enter

 for 300KHz.  Pressing the 

Mute

 a second time during direct frequency 

entry will then enter 100Hz values.  To enter 15.235.500 you would enter 

1 5 Mute 2 3 5 Mute 5 

Enter.

  Zeroes are assumed when not entered.  You can enter 15.235.500 by pressing 

1 5 2 3 5

Mute 5 Enter

.  You can enter the frequency without any decimal places, but you need to enter all 

the zeros so the frequency is not misunderstood.  To enter 15.235.500 without using the decimal 
key, enter 

1 5 2 3 5 5 0 0 Enter

.

The SWL IR Remote assumes that you are entering frequencies in kHz.  Any frequency in kHz 
can be entered directly.  9565kHz would be entered as 

9 5 6 5 Enter

.  The decimal place (

Mute

is not necessary in this case.  The decimal place is only needed to save zero entries or optionally 
when entering a frequency less than 1MHz.  When entering frequencies below 1MHz, press a 
leading zero before the frequency and then 

Enter.

   For example: 

0 7 0 0 Enter

 for 700kHz.  Or 

use the 

Mute

 key as a decimal place before or after the frequency entry.  For example: 

7 0 0

Mute Enter

 for 700kHz or 

0 Mute 7 Enter

 for 700 kHz.

 


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After a frequency has been entered, you can then use the 

CH+/-

 to step the frequency in the VFO 

mode.  Frequency steps of 10Hz, 100Hz, 1kHz, 5kHz, 9kHz, 10kHz, 100kHz, and 1MHz can be 
used to adjust an entered frequency very quickly or step through stations with set frequency 
spacing.  The frequency resolution on the Yaesu FRG-8800 is 10Hz (frequency changes by 
25Hz).  Press a numeric key corresponding to the frequency step desired (see commands below), 
and then the 

CH+/-

 and the step frequency will be used.  The step frequency is kept and used 

again the next time the 

CH+/-

 keys are used.  The step is permanently kept when the radio is 

powered off and back on with the remote 

Power

 button.  The 

CH+/-

 keys will change the 

frequency when in the VFO mode, and change memories up and down when in memory mode.

Frequency pacing is the rate at which the frequency is increased or decreased when the 

CH+/-

keys are held down.  The pacing is a configurable parameter that can be set by the user.  You can 
speed up or slow down the rate at which the frequency changes by setting the frequency pacing.

The 

CH+/-

keys are used to step the frequency up and down when in VFO mode.  The first press 

of the 

CH+/-

in this mode will be slightly delayed.  If the key is held down it will then begin 

stepping the frequency at the current slewing rate.  Use single presses of the 

CH+/-

keys to move 

slowly up or down in frequency.  Hold the keys down continuously to step the frequency very 
quickly.

If the FRV-8800 VHF Converter installed in the FRG-8800, you will be able to enter frequencies 
in the range of 118MHz to 173MHz.  You must first enable the VHF Converter operation with 
the 096 configuration command.

Direct frequency entry is the same for the VHF converter as in HF operation.  You will need to 
enter one more 

Mute

 for the additional decimal point when entering frequencies above 100 MHz.

The FRG-8800 interface is unidirectional.  Because of this the remote has no way of knowing the 
current frequency setting on the display.  When the SWL IR Remote control unit is first powered, 
it sets the frequency to 10MHz.  You can then move around from there and the remote tracks the 
frequency.  The current frequency is kept as long as the remote control unit is powered.  If the 
power is removed, the frequency goes back to 10MHz.

Last Frequency Recall

The last directly entered frequency can be recalled.  Use this when looking for other frequencies 
being used by a shortwave broadcaster.  You can set a frequency directly, enter another 
frequency, and return to the original frequency.  You can then enter another frequency and return, 
etc.  The last frequency entered is lost if power is removed from the remote control unit.  It is kept 
if the radio is powered off.

Tuning Steps

Pre-set Tuning Steps can be selected by entering a single digit before using the 

CH+/-

 keys on the 

remote.  The tuning step stays until changed again by the user.

Five User Tuning Steps can be defined for special tuning requirements.  Set these tuning steps to 
half the value of your filters.  Tuning off frequency by half the filter bandwidth will improve 
audio response without degrading the signal or losing synch lock.  For example if you have a 
2.4kHz filter, set User Tuning Step 1 to 1.2kHz and then tune off frequency when the 2.4kHz 
filter is selected.  This procedure is similar to using a PBT control, but you can see on the display 

 


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how much off frequency you are tuned.  You could also set a User Tuning Step to a small value 
and use it to quickly zero-beat the frequency in SSB mode.

User tuning steps can also be used to enter additional steps for the Wideband converter.  For 
example, you may want to set a User Tuning step to 2.5kHz for tuning in the higher frequencies.

Memory Operation

The FRG-8800 memories are not available using the remote.

Mute Operation

There is a lot of functionality in the 

Mute

 key.  The 

Mute

 key is used during frequency entry as a 

decimal point.  Any time a digit key is pressed before the 

Mute

, the control unit then understands 

the 

Mute

 to be a decimal point.  At any time you can press the 

Mute

 key to clear any keys 

pressed.  The 

Mute

 may have to be pressed several times to get the LED to blink twice, 

indicating that the keys have been cleared.  If the radio mutes then you can be sure that the 
sequence is cleared.  The remote needs to know whether the 

Mute

 is being used for a decimal or 

it is intended to be a clear.  A clear function is interpreted by the remote control by multiple 
presses of the 

Mute

 key.

 


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Universal Remote Commands

Radio Power
Power

Radio power on /off.

Direct Entry of Frequencies (Examples)
0 8 3 0 Enter

830kHz

0 Mute 7 Enter

700kHz

5 0 0 Mute Enter

500kHz

3 Mute 2 5 9 Enter

3259kHz

1 5 Mute Enter

15000kHz

1 5 Mute 2 3 Mute 5 Enter

15230.5kHz

1 5 2 3 5 Enter

15235kHz

9 5 6 5 Enter

9565kHz

3 Mute 5 Enter

3500kHz

Mute (Mute) (Mute)

Clear key entry during numeric entry.  LED will blink twice.

Frequency and Memory Channel stepping

VFO Mode

CH+

Freq+ by tuning step

CH-

Freq- by tuning step

Tuning Steps
x

 before 

CH+/-

 to set a tuning step.  It stays until changed again.

2

10Hz

3

100Hz

4

1kHz

5

5kHz

6

10kHz

7

100kHz

8

1MHz

9

9kHz

User Tuning Steps

before 

CH+/-

Last Used User Tuning Step

0 x

 before 

CH+/-

User Tuning Step (

x

=1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

Enter Commands – Toggles/Selects radio features
6 Enter

FM mode.

7 Enter

AM, AM/N modes.

8 Enter

LSB, or USB modes.

9 Enter

CW/CWN modes.

0 0 Last

Recall last directly entered frequency.

 


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Configuration Parameters

0 9 4 Enter

Set Frequency Pacing

x x Enter

Value from 1 to 99 to control pacing.  1 is the fastest and 
99 is the slowest.

0 9 5 Enter

Set Configuration Parameters to Factory Defaults.

Enter

Reset Configuration Parameters to Factory Default.

Frequency Pacing

30

VHF Operation

Disabled

0 9 6 Enter

Enable/Disable Optional Mode Selections

6 Enter

Disable VHF operation (Factory default).

7 Enter

Enable VHF operation (FRV-8800 option must be 
installed).

0 9 7 Enter

Define User Tuning Steps

x Mute f f f f Enter

The User Tuning step x (1, 2, 3, 4, or 5) is defined as frequency 

ffff

converted to f.fffkHz.  You must enter all digits, even zeroes; e.g. define 
Tuning Step 2 with a value of 1.4kHz would be 

2 Mute 1 4 0 0 Enter

.  

The display on the radio will show the value as 2.140.000Hz when you 
are done to confirm the entered value.  It is best to set these tuning steps 
with the receiver on and in the VFO mode.  These steps are saved in non-
volatile memory and are never changed except using this configuration 
mode.

 


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LED Operation

The LED provides feedback on the mode and operation of the SWL IR Remote.

Communications Error

Because the FRG-8800 communications is unidirectional, there is no status or response from the 
receiver.  The LED will never slow blink.

Clear Input

After the 

Mute

 is used to clear key entries the LED will blink twice.

Confirmation of Command

After a valid command has been issued the LED will blink once and go out.  The LED will 
appear to be on continuously when the 

CH+/-

 is held because the commands repeat and the LED 

doesn’t always time out.

Configuration Mode

When you enter the parameter configuration mode, the LED will blink continuously at a fast rate 
until the configuration operation is completed or canceled.

 


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RS-232C Level Converter

Description

The RS-232C Level Converter option connects to a computer through the DB9 connector on the 
back of the SWL IR Remote unit.  Just plug your computer into the SWL IR Remote and you can 
use any software program that can communicate with your receiver.   The FRG-8800 Level 
Converter is fixed at 4800 baud and cannot be changed.

Operation

The Level Converter takes in characters from a computer and sends them on to the radio.  Most 
Level Converters just convert the electrical signals from RS-232C to TTL as required by the 
radio.  The SWL IR Remote has two serial channels (called a UART).  One connects to the radio 
using TTL level signals.  The other channel is converted to RS-232C level signals and connects to 
a computer.

 


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Troubleshooting

Nothing happens when using the Universal Remote.



Make sure the radio is powered.



Verify that the Universal Remote is in the TV mode.  Check that the remote control box 
is connected to the wall power supply and that the wall power supply is connected to the 
AC supply.



Check the batteries in the Universal Remote and change if necessary.



Verify that the TV mode of the Universal Remote is set for a Sony TV.

The LED on the remote control unit blinks fast.



The configuration mode has been selected and the operation needs to be completed.  Push 

Mute

 to cancel the operation or 

x x Enter

 to complete the operation.  See chart above on 

the configuration command parameters.

Some buttons on the control work, and some don’t.



Verify that the Universal Remote TV mode is selected.  If CABLE or VCR modes are 
selected, only a few buttons will work.  The power and mute will work in both modes.  
None of the other keys will work in cable or VCR mode.



Operate the buttons with more time between button presses.  There is a 100 msec delay 
between key presses so the remote control unit can tell if the button on the remote is held 
continuously or has been released and pressed again.  Each press of the remote will cause 
a continuous stream of IR pulses to be sent (the LED on the Universal Remote will be lit 
continuously).  The remote control unit knows that the button has been released if the IR 
pulse stream stops for 100 msec or longer.

Erratic Operation of the remote



Check the batteries in the Universal Remote and replace if necessary.



Be sure to aim the Universal Remote at the front panel of the control unit.  The IR sensor 
is behind the front lens to the left of the LED.  This is more critical the further you are 
away from the remote control box.



Confirm that the interface cable is connected securely to the radio and the SWL IR 
Remote control box.



Check the power connection to the back of the SWL IR Remote control box.