Host Computer Setups

To access these questions, in the RCP> prompt, type: Site Host

Connection type for host computer I/O: Network

Multicast address: 224.0.0.3

Port number: 30785

Network interface: lo

Baud rate for host computer I/O: 9600

This sets the baud rate for serial communication with the host computer. Available choices include 1200, 2400, 9600, and 19200.

Data format transmitted by host computer: XMT05

Data format received by host computer: RCV05

RCP8 can send and receive many serial protocols. Use these questions to match the transmit and receive protocols that coincide with the host computer.

Process incoming servo control packets: YES

Answering NO to this questions disables the interpretation of control packets that are received by RCP8, while still allowing BITE interrogation packets and chat packets to be treated normally. This makes it easier to setup and analyze the antenna servos using the chat mode on the host computer.

RCP8 transmission rate: 2.50 records/sec

Antenna data packets are transmitted by RCP8 at this fixed rate. Choose a rate that makes the best tradeoff between:

• Providing the host computer with up-to-date angles
• Relieving the host computer of unnecessary I/O flooding

RCP8 transmits Time-of-Day records: YES

Time between Time-of-Day records: 30 sec

You can optionally transmit the INU's time-of-day to the host computer if RCP8 is connected to an INU. Typically, this process is executed every few minutes.

RCP8 transmits internal BITE packets: YES

ID of internal BITE packets: 0x01

This question decides on the transmission of internal BITE status packets. These should be enabled if the host computer must monitor any of the information contained in these packets.

RCP8 transmits AUX status BITE packets: YES

Xmt ID of status BITE packets: 0x02

RCP8 receives AUX control BITE packets: YES

RCP8 transmits analog voltage Q-BITE packets: YES

ID of analog voltage Q-BITE packets: 0x06

Simulate the incoming channel voltages: NO

Rcv ID of control BITE packets: 0x03

Set-up the transmission and reception of auxiliary status and control BITE packets.

These setup questions for the auxiliary control and status bits are organized so that the associated host computer I/O is configured independently of the (optional) assignment of hardware electrical lines to those bits. These questions ask whether RCP8 send/receive auxiliary status/command BITE packets to/from the host computer. The C[0:63] and S[0:63] variables have many different uses within RCP8, so all 64 bits are always included in the 13-byte fixed-format BITE I/O packets. See related questions under Site Custom. See Customer-specific site setups.

Dead-Host-Computer detection time: 5.0 sec

This determines the required I/O inactivity time before RCP8 disables the antenna motion. Once RCP8 is under the control of the host computer, the computer may crash or the program, which interacts with RCP8, may cease to function for other reasons. In such cases, it may be important to not allow the antenna servos to operate in accordance with the last computer command. For example, if the host computer requested a large antenna velocity prior to crashing, it makes little sense to continue honoring that request.

Default user interface: REMOTE-HOST-CHAT

The local TTY I/O can either be with the plug-in TTY or with the host computer with the chat-mode packets during the initial RCP8 power-up. This question sets the power-up default.