Version 8.4 release notes

User manual

This version includes a 52 pages user manual in PDF format which was updated for version 8.4. You need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to display it. A shortcut to the manual is created during the installation. It it is missing for any reason, you can find the manual in the same directory as the program itself (usually: C:\Program Files\RXCLUS); its name is RXC84ENU.pdf.

Sorry, the manual is available in English only (but everybody is free to translate it into his language; I would be pleased to make this work available on my download page).

An italian help file is available from my download page; thanks to IW0HLG for this work! This was done for version 8.3, but well over 90% of the information remains up to date with version 8.4.

Supported languages

Versions 8.4 currently offers full support for 14 languages. Unfortunately, 2 translators didn't answer my mails any more and 1 is now a silent key, so I would be very pleased if somebody could take over the (very small) job for Slovenian, Bulgarian and Danish. Currently, those languages are still supported, but some new texts which were added in version 8.4 (for slovenian: also 8.3) will be displayed in English.

Fully supported languages are now (the translators are mentioned in brackets if not myself only):
english, french,german, italian (I1-21171), dutch (PA1M), norwegian (LA8AJA), polish (SP2ERZ), swedish (SM5KNV), czech (OK1RR), spanish (EA5FY+EA7UU), japanese (JG1OWV), finnish (OH3MKH), portuguese (CT1HMN), russian (UA9CR).
Thanks to all translators for their fine job !

Voice spelling: WAV files are included as English male and English female. I have also a version in French that I can make available as an option on my download page. If somedy is interested in recording such files in other languages, I can only encourage him (or her) to do so. The software is designed to accept translations in any language as long as a few simple rules are followed.

Is your language missing ? In this case, what about becoming a RXCLUS translator ? This requires no programming skills but just to load an existing language file (for example: the English file RXCMSG84.ENU file in RXCLUS main directory) into a text editor and translate some 400 lines (about 70% of them are just 1 or 2 words long) into your language. You are welcome to ask me for more information if you would agree to do that.

A translation is possible into all languages, even those using 2-bytes characters; this was already done successfully for japanese. This requires anyway some changes in the software itself to get a correct display of all texts, but I'm ready to do that again!

Expiration dates

All Windows version of RXCLUS have an expiration date, which can be seen on the "About" window. For recent versions, they are:

• versions 8.3 to 8.3g: 31-DEC-2007
• version 8.3h: 31-MAR-2008
• versions 8.3i and 8.4beta's: 30-JUN-2008
• version 8.4: 31-JAN-2010
  

Installing the Packet Engine (if required)

To use RXCLUS with a BayCom modem, a DRSI card, a sound card or any packet radio device other then an external TNC supporting a terminal mode, you need the Packet Engine from SV2AGW. You can find a link to it on the download page. Here is how to install it:

1. Download the archive agwpe.zip.
2. Expand the archive in a temporary directory (you don't need all the content).
3. Copy the files "AGW Packet Engine.exe" and "AGWPE.HLP" to your RXCLUS directory (or to another directory if you prefer).
4. Make sure no packet programm is running.
5. Start the Packet Engine ("AGW Packet Engine.exe"). It will ask you to configure a port and open a configuration window.
6. Enter the information about the packet device you are using, which port it is connected to and set the usual packet parameters like TXdelay (for BayComs, the speed to enter is the radio speed = 1200 Bd).
7. Stop the Packet Engine and restart it so that it reads the new configuration.
8. Now start RXCLUS.
9. Go to Options - Terminals and select "AGW Packet Engine" in the Interface section (the other sections will then appear grayed as those parameters are configured in the Packet Engine, not in RXCLUS).
10. Validate you choice with "OK" and RXCLUS should connect immediatly to the Packet Engine (if it is running, else you'll get an error message).
11. If your receiver is tuned to an active packet radio frequency, all received frames should be displayed on your terminal screen.
12. To initiate a connexion, type the command: <ESC> C callsign (<ESC> = press the Esc key), or <ESC> C callsign VIA digi1 digi2 ... to connect over digipeaters (the 'VIA' may be abbreviated in 'V' but may not be omitted). To disconnect, use just <ESC> D.

Remarks:

• If you intend to use regularly RXCLUS with the Packet Engine, it would be a good idea to start the Packet Engine automatically using Windows start folder.
  Alternatively, recent versions of the Packet Engine can be configured to start the packet program you want every time they are started.
• You will notice that the Packet Engine runs without any open window. The only thing you can see is 2 new icons in Window's system tray. To access its configuration and statistics, just click with the right mouse key on those icons.
• Only the basic functions of the Packet Engine are supported; this means those which allows you to use RXCLUS in the same conditions as with the integrated serial driver and an external TNC. For example, multiple simultaneous connexions are not supported.
• Please note that the Packet Engine is developed by SV2AGW, not by me, so any questions about its configuration should be sent to him (but please read his documentation and my documentation first!).

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