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Software Upgrades

Each series 6000 and 6100 direction finder processor is shipped with a complete set of PC software to permit setup, communication system debug and operation. Free upgrades of the latest version of these programs are available for downloading by our customers. You may also order an upgrade kit consisting of all the latest software, firmware and printed manuals by contacting the factory or your international distributor. 

DDF6000/6001 Direction Finder Software

Windows  RDFCMD V1.2.2

This program replaces previous DOS versions of RDFCMD, the utility program that was used to set up and test the DDF6000. The program can read out, decode and display all front panel and internal parameter settings, then  change these values from the user friendly menu. Receiver commands can also be tested. WinRDFCMD and BearingTrack can be run simultaneously at the control site when BearingServer is running at the the remote site.

In version 1.1.1 the following features were added:

• Extensive support for R8500 receiver commands including power turn on, volume control, etc.
• The program is now capable of working over a network connection. 
• The 5921 display mode on J2 of the Series 6000 can be enabled or disabled.

Version 1.2.2 added support for all versions of the Series 6000 firmware through version 4.24. Improvements included

• Program setting are now stored so the user does not have to change setting each time the program is used.

WindRDFCommand is included in the BearingTrack installer. (Download the latest BearingTrack software listed below).

BearingTrack V4.2.8

Version 4.0 is a major upgrade of this Windows based program that is used to control remote DDF6000 direction finders and display bearing information.  Bearing Track requires a 500MHz processor with at least 128 Mbytes of RAM, a serial port and Windows  2000, or XP operating system. To use the warning sounds, a Windows compatible sound card is required. The monitor and video card must have at least 800 x 600 resolution. 

The following new features are available in Version 4.0:

• Communication between the PC and remote sites is continually monitored. When a site does not respond to a polling command, a DOWN message is displayed and an audio warning periodically sounded. The program continues to operate with the remaining sites, and if the down site communication is restored, the program immediate resumes display of its bearings. If two or more sites are DOWN, a different alarm is sounded periodically to alert the operator. 
• Sites may be connected to Bearing Track via a serial data link, an intranet or Internet connection or by radio modem.
• An event log can be created to allow the history of communication status to be reviewed. This file can be viewed with any text editor. 
• An administrative password may be added to protect direction finder settings, channel settings and other optional settings.
• The bearing may be calibrated while the program is running. This feature can be accessed by right clicking on a site.
• Site setup has been simplified.
• The size of the icons used for the sites may be changed.
• The width of the displayed bearing line is now selectable.
• All program timers used for display blanking, alarms, communication delays, etc. may  be adjusted for optimum system performance.
• A log file viewer is included to display the log file entries in reverse order (most recent entries first).
• A priority channel may be optionally enabled, and the system will revert to this channel after a specified time interval.
• Frequency scanning can be selected to allow different frequencies to be monitored and bearings to these RF sources logged.
• Latitudes and longitudes may be displayed in either deg-min-sec or deg-min format.
• 24-bit color map images can now be displayed.
• An improved help file is included.  

In version 4.0.4, the following features were added:

• Optional administration password protection of the bearing calibration function.
• The bearing display at the bottom of the screen is held until the LOB is blanked. The font of the bearing changes depending on the polling response.
• A single keystroke print screen was added (F1).

Version 4.0.5 corrected a bug that affected the cal signal commands in the df settings dialog.

Version 4.0.6 corrected a bug that could cause the program to crash when it was used with Bearing Track Server version 1.0.3.

Version 4.0.7 corrected a bug that inhibited antenna switching on Rev. D direction finders.

Version 4.0.8 added the capability to fix the channel scan time interval.

Version 4.1.0 adds a playback capability. You can now replay the recorded bearings. The date, time, sites, lines of bearings, etc. can be displayed in real time, fast forward, fast reverse, single stepped, or stopped. 

Version 4.1.1 corrected some bugs that were causing occasional list out of bounds, poll frequency and playback errors. 

Version 4.1.2 adds the capability to use the MultiTech DSVD modems that provide simultaneous voice and data over a single telephone line (dial up connection only). Setup of these modems is described in the application note Using the MultiTech 5600DSVD Modem for Simultaneous Voice and Data from Remote DF Site.

Version 4.1.3 fixed a debug file error and modified the cursor position format. 

Version 4.1.4 added the capability to disable sites in playback, delete old files, separate log file types by folder and save zoom level and scroll positions in the program initialization file.

Version 4.1.5 uses an improved serial communications routine that greatly reduces the number of site time-out errors.

Version 4.1.6 added a receiver frequency tuning dialog that permits changing the remote receiver frequencies without entering a new channel.

Version 4.1.7 added pulse mode and self test settings to the DF dialog.

Version 4.1.8 displays the frequencies if the frequency received from BearingTrack Server does not match one of the defined channels. Otherwise it displays the channel name. This version also added support for serial ports COM5 through COM8 in additional to COM1-4.

Versions 4.1.9 and 4.1.10 corrected bugs that could cause BearingTrack to crash during frequency changing operations.

Version 4.2.0 added the Virtual Site Feature that permits lines of bearings to be manually entered (from, for example, a mobile DF running AutoTrack).

Version 4.2.1 - Improved channel scanning allows more versatile set up of channel scans. Easier channel frequency entry. Automatic switching of antennas based on frequency of channel. Added channel import feature to allow import of channel frequencies and names from a comma delimited text (.csv) file. NOTE: Installing Bearing Track 4.2.1 also installs the separate utility program that transfers memory data from an attached ICOM R8500 receiver and converts it to an editable csv file that can then be used by BearingTrack (or AutoTrack).

Version 4.2.2 added support for the AOR 5000 receiver. It will also work with the AOR 8600 receiver but requires user calibration of the DF. DF firmware version 4.23 or greater is required to use either of the AOR receivers.

Version 4.2.3 corrected a site polling bug in 4.2.2.

Version 4.2.4 corrected another site polling bug and it changed the way virtual sites were saved and their lines of bearing displayed.

Version 4.2.5 added a debug window for viewing communications to and from the remote sites. Also the telephone modem warning box was removed, and a bug was fixed that could cause random characters to be displayed in the status bar.

Version 4.2.6 fixed the bug that caused occasional errors in the windows status bar at the bottom of the screen.

Version 4.2.7 fixed a bug that occasionally caused BearingTrack to use large amounts of CPU time

Version 4.2.8 allows a site IP address to be entered as a URL (to accommodate dynamic IP addresses).

To download and install Bearing Track, proceed as follows:

1. Download the file btk428.exe into a temporary directory. Note that this file is about 12.0 Mbytes in size and includes the installer program and help files. It also includes the latest version of Map Fix and BearingServer.
2. If you are upgrading from Bearing Track 4.0.X, simply run btk428.exe and the installation will proceed. Skip steps 3 - 5.
3. If you are upgrading from  version 3 of Bearing Track, first save your INI file by copying it into the temporary directory. Then remove the previously installed version of Bearing Track by running the Remove Program application in Windows.
4. Install the new program by running the previously downloaded file btk428.exe.
5. Copy the old INI file into the same directory where the Bearing Track program is installed.

BearingServer Version 1.0.7

This program is used when a series 6000 direction finder is to be connected to an intranet or the Internet. Bearing Track Server requires a 500 MHz processor with at least 8 Mbytes of RAM, a serial port and Windows 2000 or XP operating system. In addition the DDF6000 or 6001 to which it is connected must contain firmware version 4.0 or higher. (The version number is displayed upon power turn-on in the DF's bearing window). It is possible to run both Bearing Track and Bearing Track Server simultaneously provided the PC meets the requirements listed for both programs.

The following new feature was added  in version 1.0.3:

• The IP address is displayed by the program to assist in setting up the network.

Version 1.0.4 corrected a bug that could cause Bearing Track version 4.0.5 to crash.

Version 1.0.5 added a feature that broadcasts the frequency data whenever a new client connects to the server or whenever the frequency is changed. 

Version 1.0.6 periodically polls the receiver for its frequency and sends it to all clients. Message handling between the direction finder and server was also improved.

Version 1.0.7 fixed a bug that under unusual conditions could cause the server to stop sending serial port messages to the direction finder.

BearingServer is included in the BearingTrack installer. (Download the latest version of BearingTrack listed above).

Map Fix Version 2.1

This program is used to convert bit map images into a form that can be used by Bearing Track and Auto Track. Map Fix requires a 500 MHz processor with at least 128 Mbytes of RAM,  and Windows 2000 or XP operating system.

The following new features are available in version 2.1:

• Latitude and longitude can be entered in either deg-min-sec or deg-min format.
• The map scale checking has been revised to be more tolerant of minor fixing errors near the Equator.
• The number of colors used on the map is checked for compatibility with AutoTrack

MapFix is included in the BearingTrack installer. (Download the latest version of Bearing Track listed above).

RDFCMD Version 3.0.3 and TERM Version 3.0.1

These are utility programs used to set up direction finder CIV addresses and other internal parameters and to test the serial communications to the unit. They are DOS programs that can run on any PC. RDFCMD version 3.0.3 has some new menu items to agree with the latest serial commands used by the DDF6000. For developers interested in writing their own application programs to communicate with the DDF6000/6001, we provide the C language source code of these programs. Please note that WinRDFCMD provides a far easier user interface to use than these older DOS based programs. These programs are included in the BearingTrack installer. (Download the latest version of BearingTrack listed above).

DDF6100/6002 Direction Finder Software

AutoTrack Version 2.0.9

This program is used with the Series 6100 to display and log bearing data with a lap top PC. Auto Track requires a 500 MHz processor with at least 128 Mbytes of RAM,  and Windows 2000 or XP operating system. 

The following features have been added in version 2.0:

• The channel entry dialog was improved
• Added a remote receiver tuning dial dialog that includes the ability to tune ICOM receivers to any frequency and then save it in the channel menu.
• Improved the direction finder bearing display so it can be resized and made semi-transparent.
• Added mapping options to allow user flexibility in displaying estimated emitter location and user location.
• Allows a user to enter a virtual site allowing another user to radio in a location and bearing.
• Added enhanced data logging and the ability to view the log files from within AutoTrack.
• Added feature allowing the recording and playback of the actual data.  (Sample playback and map files are included in the installation).
• Added dialog to display incoming COM port data.
• Added many new keyboard shortcuts including shortcuts for selecting maps and channels.
   

Version 2.0.1 fixed a bug that affected the convergence of the GPS data.

Version 2.0.2 - Automatic switching of antennas based on frequency of channel. Added channel import feature to allow import of channel frequencies and names from a comma delimited text (.csv) file.

Version 2.0.3 added support for the AOR 5000 receiver. It will also work with the AOR 8600 receiver but requires user calibration of the DF. DF firmware version 4.23 or greater is required to use either of the AOR receivers.

Version 2.0.4 added default calibration values for the AOR 5000 receiver which was missing from version 2.0.3.

Version 2.0.5 corrected a bug that affect bearing updates on the map display. Also added default cals for AOR 8600 receivers.

Version 2.0.6 corrected a compatibility problem that occurred with the most recent GPS receivers (those shipped after December 2006).

Version 2.0.8 adds a new option to remove the bearing line from display of current site in a user settable time (nominally 5 seconds) when no bearing is received. This prevents false bearing lines from being drawn when turning corners. Several bugs were fixed including:

a. Fixed compass decoding problem so AutoTrack can be used with NMEA compasses other than ours
b. Fixed a compass rollover error that causes bearing line to disappear at certain headings
b. Made change to keep receiver choice splash screen from coming up each time the program starts after user selects other as the receiver.

Version  2.0.9 added the following features:
1. Additional Receiver Control
- Added Squelch Control
- Added Volume Control
- Added Attenuator Control
2. Added ability to disable compass
3. Additional Direction Finder Control
- Added Self Test
- Added Factory Default command
4. Map Menu Arrangement
- Added hierarchical map menus
5. Modified Help files and manual updates
 

To download and install AutoTrack,

1. Download the file AutoTrack209.zip into a temporary directory. Note that this file is about 40 Mbytes in size and includes the installer program and help files. It also includes the latest version of Map Fix.
2. Unzip the file and run the setup program.

Map Fix Version 2.1

This program is used to convert bit map images into a form that can be used by Bearing Track and Auto Track. Map Fix requires a 500 MHz processor with at least 128 Mbytes of RAM,  and Windows 2000 or XP operating system.

The following new features are available in version 2.1:

• Latitude and longitude can be entered in either deg-min-sec or deg-min format.
• The map scale checking has been revised to be more tolerant of minor fixing errors near the Equator.
• The number of colors used on the map is checked for compatibility with AutoTrack

MapFix is included in the AutoTrack installer. (Download the latest version of AutoTrack listed above).

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