BC 246T Control & Programming Tool


BC246t.tcl Running on Mac OS X Intel

Downloads

Overview

BC246T Control & Programming Tool is designed using TCL/TK for the following computer operating systems:


Linux (Tested with Fedora Core, Ubuntu, Slackware & Mandriva)


Windows XP & Windows 98 not VISTA with the TCL/TK toolkit installed. Use the provided link to download the required program.


Macintosh This program will work with Macintosh OS X PPC and Intel. You will need a USB to Serial port converter to connect the radio. You might also need to change the MAC OS X Aqua TCL/TK and Install Active State ActiveTCL. Please read the MAC OS X Setup text file in the .tgz download file for instructions on how to test and enable serial port communications in MAC OS X.

BSD or other UNIX Systems This program should work with other UNIX type systems. When you start the program go to the options menu select Setup and enter your custom serial port, web browser and terminal command.

This program is released under the GPL License and is copyrighted software. This program is free for any use.


BC246T.tcl will create or edit the following items in the radio:

Search Ranges
Opening Message
WX SAME ALERT Names and Codes

Motorola Type II 800, 900 MHz, VHF, UHF and Motorola Custom 800 MHz Rebanded
LTR
EDACS
Conventional Systems.
Talk Group numbers and names via a file upload and TCL/TK widget screen.

Please see the Screen Shots to see how to upload data to the BC246T.
Setup and Use:
  1. untar or unzip the file and all files will be extracted to bc246t folder/directory. Run the program bc246t.tcl. For Unix/Linux make sure that bc246t.tcl is executable

    chmod 555 bc246t.tcl

  2. Make sure you have write permissions to the serial port for Linux. You can either add the user to the group or
    chmod 666 /dev/ttyS# as root. 
    Common Computer Port names and paths:

Windows     Linux/UNIX      BSD      Mac OS X
---------------------------------------------
COM1:       /dev/ttyS0      cuaa0    /dev/cu.#####
COM2:       /dev/ttyS1      cuaa1
COM3:       /dev/ttyS2
COM4:       /dev/ttyS3
    The first time you run bc246t.tcl a popup window will appear to set up the baud rate, serial port, web browser and X terminal. Select Save Settings. Now restart the program then press the Connect button.

  3. If the scanner display screen freezes when you press the Connect button then:
    a. You don't have write permissions for the serial port.
    b. You are using the wrong serial port.
    c. You have the wrong settings for the communication port in the radio. (9600, 19200, 38400 or 57600).
    d. The Computer to radio cable is not connected properly.

  4. Make sure the radio is in Hold mode before using the WX, Search or Priority buttons.

  5. The Function Key is turned on and held on so when you press FuncKey On then you must press FuncKey Off to properly access the scanner controls. On the display Func appears and the Func Key On Lettering changes to red to tell you that the function is locked on.

  6. The web browser is set in settings Pop Up Screen and then saved in the file settings.ini. You can change the web browser used by simply typing in the name of any browser including the path if you need to in the setup screen.

    firefox (For any computer system with the browser in your computer PATH)

    /path/to/browser (For any *nix computer system where you need to define the browser in your computer)

    "C:/progra~1/netscape/netscape.exe" (This example is for Windows. The slashes must be forward / or use two backward slashes \\ or loading the browser will fail.)

    In Mac OS X the browser is set to open so that the default web browser for OS X will be used. You can change this by providing the full path to the web browser /Applications/safari.app/resource/safari

  7. This program is a modification of the Original BC-780XLT Control Utility and is released under the GPL.

Release History:

0.9-beta September 27, 2009
* Corrected Motorola Custom Band Plan error * Corrected SAME WX bug

0.8e-beta August 7, 2009
* Added support for Motorola Custom Rebanded Systems

0.8d-beta Feb 26, 2007
* Fixed Bug in startupmac.sh script

0.8c-beta Feb 18, 2007
* Fixed Bug for uploading V/UHF motorola trunked systems w/ Base Frequencies

0.8b-beta Jan 14, 2007
* Fixed Minor Bug for uploading conventional systems files

0.8a-beta Jan 14, 2007
* Fixed Minor Bug for editing System headers

0.8-beta Jan 1, 2007
* You can now directly enter talkgroups and names via a window. (See the Screen Shots Web Page for information.)

0.7b-beta Dec 16, 2006
* I added 30 frequency entries for Motorola Trunked Radio Systems. Empty frequency Boxes require a 0 (zero)
* When you add frequencies in the conventional screen window always leave the 0 (zero) in empty frequency boxes.

0.7a-beta Dec 9, 2006
* This a minor code edit, I made numerous technical radio command responses from the radio into easy to understand text.
* Added delay for USB devices. If you need a longer delay set qpl(21) in bc246t.ini to a higher number. Minimum is 10 milliseconds.
* Included instructions for Setup on MAC OS X for the TCL/TK Libraries & serial port testing.
* Removed Start button adding a Connect button that changes to Connected with successful Computer to radio Connection. Press this button before attempting add or edit a system to the radio.

0.6-beta Nov 12, 2006
* Uploads to the scanner are now saved in System type, system name.csv file ie: CNV_DallasTX.csv M82S_dallasTX.csv. This will allow a user to reupload the data easier if they have to reset the scanner or edit the system.
* Changed menu's and changed save settings. Allowed easier change of font to plain for systems without lucidatypwriter font.
* Reorganized upload menus, credit to person that submitted them.
* Changed settings.ini file name to bc246.ini for easy identification.
* You no longer have to enter in U/VHF Motorola type 2 Base frequencies in 8 digit format. ie: 04062500 406.25 will work properly.

0.5b-beta Aug 5, 2006
* Merged bc246t.tcl and test.tcl into the bc246t.tcl to make it easier to run the program on all computer systems.
* Created a zip archive for easier installation in Windows 98/XP systems and converted all files to windows format.

0.5a-beta Dec 16th, 2005
* Added programming screens for Conventional, EDACS, LTR and MOTOROLA TYPE II
* Added Support to upload a comma seperated file .csv for talkgroups for any type of trunked system: talkgroupnumber,talk group name
* You can easily add conventional frequencies by a file upload to any conventional system.
* Added support for VHF/UHF MOT II Systems. Enter frequencies 160.1500 as 01601500, steps of 15 kHz as 1500 and offset as normal in the programming screens.
* Included sample upload files.

0.5-beta Dec 16th, 2005
* Added a popup window for easily changing the settings for web browser, serial port, radio baud rate and *nix X terminal.
* Tweaked the log function and changed the log names to LOG*.csv to more easily identify the files on the computer.
* Added a function in the options menu to automatically resume scanning if the radio is switched to Scan Hold Mode. Useful for when editing the settings and the scanner is stopped for the downloading and uploading information.

0.4d-beta Dec 12th, 2005
* Changed Logging Files to CSV Format.
* Removed two test menu items incorrectly included in 0.4c release.
* Renamed several menu items to make it clear what they are for.
* The first time you run the program it now prompts you to set up the bauds and serial port.
* When you select the minicom or winXP hyperterminal programs the BC246T.tcl program exits.
* Fixed Several Search Ranges Window Display Bugs and added a label for the columns.
0.4c-beta Dec 9th, 2005
* Logging for radio activity and talk groups now saves information to the files bc246t.log and tgid.log accurately.
* Added Busy/Wait indicator to main display.
* Added ability to change radio opening message with editor.
* Fine tuned Search Ranges Source Code. User must remember to use four digits after the decimal point ie: 28.0050
* Added WX Channel SAME Codes Editor.
* Changed the way the web browser is selected and user can now set it in the settings.ini file.
* Added "Scanner Settings" Menu.
* Added the ability to set the Key Beep on the Radio.
* Added the ability to set the Battery Save Function on the radio.
* Added the ability to set the radio's back light settings.

0.4b-beta Dec 6th, 2005
* Minor Bug Fixes.

0.4a-beta Dec 5th, 2005
* Added Support for Macintosh. According to Apple TCL/TK is included with their latest OS X release. You will need to use a USB to serial converter connected to the radio cable. Please email me and let me know if this program works with macintosh! kilowattradio@gmail.com
* Added capability to read and write custom search ranges with the radio and save to a file.
* Added front end to add radio systems, not functioning at this time.
* Added the file settings.ini to save settings to, this replaces the earlier settings.tcl file.

0.4-beta: Dec 3rd, 2005
* Added Menu items and Option settings menu.
* Rearranged the keypad.
* Added settings.tcl to save settings, program now requires it's own directory.
* Added support for Windows.
* Added terminal support for Linux program minicom and Windows XP Hyperterminal.
* Created items to start and stop the display of radio information and activity.
* Created Logging for diagnostics and talk groups of raw data only, not for reliable logging. In the future I will add accurate logging.
* Added web browser support.
* Added radio memory use display and opening message display.

0.3-beta: Nov 15, 2005 Changed the display to show active Systems and Groups in numerical order.

0.2-alpha: Nov 14, 2005 Added Display of active icons from the radio Func, BATT, L/O, ATT, PRI, CC (Close call) and LOCK are now displayed.

0.1-alpha: Nov 12,2005 Initial Release

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