FAQ

How do I ... ?
1. Turn on/off radio
2. Set alias for channel
3. Enter additional information for channel
4. Record sound in mp3 format
5. Monitor preset channels
6. Choose preset monitor command
7. What are these $FREQ and $TIME in preset command
8. Rename folder in channel database
9. What do these edit boxes in Monitor dialog mean

1. Turn on/off radio
In radio control dialog, click POWER buttons. QtPCR will pop up several choices.

2. Set alias for channel
In radio control dialog, double click on area just above frequency display. That area will become a text box, and you can enter anything in that box. Hit Enterafter finishing.

3. Enter additional information for channel
In radio control dialog, double click on area below mode display (e.g AFC, AGC, NB ). The bandscope will become a text box. Enter any info in the box and double click below mode display again.

4. Record sound in mp3 format
You need mp3 encoder. One good choice is a program called "lame". Once you download and compiled it, make sure you can record sound while not using QtPCR

After making sure "lame" runn properly, choose "mp3" preset in monitor dialog.

5. Monitor preset channels
In monitor dialog, you have to add channels into monitoring list. This can be done by clicking "Add" buttons in the dialog, or click "Monitor" button in channle dialog.

One powerful feature in QtPCR is that it can execute script program when events happpen. In monitor dialog, you will notice edit box Start, On, Off, and Stop command. You can enter any command in the box by first click Option button. After editing all command, click Option again.

You can load preset command set by clicking "Load" button. As a tutorial session, try loading file "freq.mon" and use "echo" preset command. Study the command for a while , you'll see how it works easily

If you are new to Linux, BE CAREFUL when you edit these command. List any automatic script, if you are not careful, the effect is unpredictable.

6. Choose preset monitor command
In monitor dialog, load preset command file by click "Load". See example file "freq.mon" Once you loaded the command sets, click preset combo box.

7. What are these $FREQ and $TIME
Just like a shell has its own variable, QtPCR also has internal variable that you can use when exeucte shell script. These variables are, for example, $FREQ, $TIME, $ONPID, $OFFPID, $STARTPID, $STOPPID. Look in "monitor.cpp" subroutine MonitorDialog::ExecuteCmd for details.

8. Rename folder name in channel database
Double click the folder

9. What do these edit boxes in Monitor dialog mean
"Elapse (msec)" is the maximum time QtPCR will stay in that channels when it is active. While in that channel, you can record sound and do many things. A good range is about 3000 millsecond.
"Step (msec)" is the time QtPCR will wait before moving to the next channel in case it is in-active. The smaller the faster and more efficient it becomes. A good range is about 100 millisecond.