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                             RF550Control
                              Version 1.1
                    (C) 2026 Giuseppe Perotti, I1EPJ
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                              USER MANUAL
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Quick Start
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Before launching the program for the first time, install in the system the
digital-dream-fat.ttf font supplied in the fonts folder. Then launch the
program, configure the serial port where the Encoder is connected to.
The prefix /dev under Linux and \\.\ under Windows are optional; if
not present them will be automatically added. Then go to the Encoder
menu and select Connect. The program should connect to the Encoder
and start to run. If You want to disconnect the program from the Encoder,
then click on Encoder->Disconnect.

Menu items
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File menu
  Backup  encoder channels to file...: saves the encoder memories to a file.
  Restore encoder channels from file...: restores the memories saved in a file.
  Exit: Exits program.

Encoder menu.
  Connect: tries to connect to the encoder.
  Disconnect: if connected, disconnect from the Encoder.

Options menu
  Serial Port...: selects the serial port to use.
  TCP server address:port: set the hamlib-maybe compatible server address and port.
  Poll encoder: reads status every 300 ms to synchronize program with the receiver.
  Use encoder configuration: program uses the VFO encoder configuration.
  Numeric format: selects the USA or ITA format.
  Zero Suppression: sets not-significant zeros suppression ON/OFF.
  LCD Backlight: sets LCD Backlight if supported by the display.
  Save current options to encoder EEPROM: the name says all.
  Init EEPROM: writes in EEPROM an empty data structure.

Help menu
  Manual: shows the text you are reading.
  About: shows program info and license.

Using the program
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On the FREQ: line:
  Click: selects VFO mode and goes to the VFO frequency.
  Double click: Copies current memory frequency to VFO and goes there.
  Mouse wheel on frequency digits: changes frequency.

On the Mxxx: line:
  Click: selects memory mode and goes to the memory frequency.
  Double click: Stores VFO frequency in the current memory and goes there.
  Mouse wheel on memory digits: changes memory number and goes there.

Notes
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The TCP server by default listens on localhost at port 4538. When some other
application connects to the server a diamond-shaped indicator is shown and
will be hidden again when all clients have disconnected.

At first start after an encoder power on/reset the program must wait the
end of the encoder splash screen triggered by Arduino resetting when the
serial port is opened for the first time. This will take about 1s, so a fixed
delay of 1.5s is inserted before the program tries to communicate with
the encoder.

If the encoder is in "Waiting remote enable" state, the serial interface is
not yet active so no communication with the encoder is possible.
