



              


                              NEWINFO.TXT

               This  describes some of the latest third  generation  
          WEFAX  programs  I have created. They all  use  the  same 
          simple clipper interface described in September 1991 QST. 
          They differ from the 2nd generation in having cleaner map 
          and  satpix rendition, easier user interface,  and  rela-
          tively little dependence on processor speed. It is  aimed 
          at  the 286 and up IBM clone. Like all the previous  pro-
          grams  you must activate GWBASIC from DOS and  then  load 
          the program. Or you can make a batch file like this:

                         wm.bat (a one line batch file)

                              gwbasic.exe wxmap.bas

          which  will start the WXMAP program from the DOS line  by 
          just keying WM. Since there are a lot of laptops now with 
          a  640x480  VGA screen with 16 or more gray  shades,  the 
          satpix  program,  WXPIX, is configured  specifically  for 
          that.  It also will work with any VGA or EGA  screen  and 
          will  provide false colors with a color screen.  The  map 
          program,  WXMAP,  works within the 640k  computer  normal 
          operating  space,  but the WXPIX  program  requires  more 
          memory so you must create a RAMDISK so you can access the 
          higher  memory.  This is done by adding a  line  to  your 
          machine's CONFIG.SYS . For a machine with 2 mb. of  memo-
          ry, add:

                    device=c:\dos\ramdrive.sys 1024 512 64 /e

          If you have 4 mb. then use:

                    device=c:\dos\ramdrive.sys 3072 512 64 /e

          Some  later versions of DOS may use a slightly  different 
          format to form a RAMDISK, so check your DOS book.

               While  the earlier programs required you to POKE  in 
          modifications to the program to adapt it to your machine, 
          we  have  simplified  that by just  cataloguing  all  the 
          choices in a SYSTEM CONFIGURATION list which is contained 
          in the last lines of the program. Typically, you LOAD the 
          program  and LIST 1000-2000 to see this list. If you  are 
          using  the COM1 port and your RAMDISK is labelled  D:  it 
          will probably work as is. The Gross Timer number, GT, may 
          have to be lowered a small amount to get line SYNC. After 
          you have some map or satpix copy, you can then adjust the 
          Line Timing, LT, to exactly square the picture (if neces-
          sary). After you have settled on a working configuration, 
          just SAVE (ie,hit F4) the program under  it's same  name. 






          Note  that you can change the CONFIGURATION list  without 
          saving  it and see how it works. When you return to  BASIC 
          the modified program is still loaded so you type F1  (ie, 
          LIST)  1000-2000 and make further mods and RUN  (ie,  hit 
          F2)  another map again until you are satisfied. THEN  you 
          can SAVE the new configuration.

          WXMAP.BAS 

               This uses EASICGAB.ASM, EASIVGAB.ASM,  EASIATTB.ASM,  
          and  SAVEB.ASM  machine language  programs, so  they  all 
          must  be in the same directory as WXMAP.BAS. This  program 
          is hi-resolution with each line divided into 960  pixels. 
          Since only 640 pixels/line can be seen at a time, it  has 
          provisions  for scrolling  across the map field. You  can 
          shrink the map in CGA mode to see a larger piece. You can 
          SAVE the map to any designated disk for later viewing  or 
          printing  or  you can print it out immediately.  You  can 
          schedule  it to copy a map anytime in the next  24  hours 
          (sked  time  entered  in 24 hour time)  with  or  without 
          initial  synchronizing. You can watch the map  being  re-
          ceived,  so adjusting  the tuning for best  reception  is 
          easy.  Satpix  are copied with this program in  only  two 
          shades--black and white. It only uses a modest amount  of 
          memory  but has hi resolution. A suffix is  automatically 
          added to any SAVEd file to tag which screen format it was 
          recorded in (VGA, CGA, etc).

          SEEMAP.BAS

               This  uses SEEB.ASM  machine language to  implement. 
          It detects the  file name suffix designator and adapts to 
          the format used to record the map you are trying to  see. 
          As  in WXMAP, you can scroll the map to put the  starting 
          point for printing in the upper left corner of the screen 
          and hit P lightly (only once) to start printing. When you 
          have as much map as you want, hit any key to stop  print-
          ing.  The  printer  finishes it's current  3  pass  cycle 
          before it actually stops.

          MAPSKED.BAS

               This  uses  the same machine  language  programs  as 
          WXMAP.BAS. It can be scheduled to copy up to 5 maps  over 
          the next 24 hours, each map being automatically SAVEd  to 
          whatever  disk  you specify (in Path part of  File  Name) 
          under 5 different file names. When you have time, you can 
          review  them with SEEMAP and choose to Print  the   file, 
          retain  the file or, discard the file.  All times are  in 
          24  hour format. Remember to set your computer  clock  on 
          time. Typically you set the sked turn-on time a minute or 
          two  early  and  call for SYNChronizing  to  account  for 
          schedule  slop at the transmitting end. If you  miss  the 
          SYNC  period,  the next map with a SYNC  period  will  be 
          copied.







          WXPIX.BAS

               This   program   uses  3VGA.ASM,   VU960A.ASM,   and 
          SAVEPIX.ASM machine language programs. It copies satpix's 
          and also maps in 16 shades of gray (or 16 colors). It  is 
          960  pixel hi resolution and you can see ground  features 
          with  proper sun angles. The visual photo's have a  black 
          sky  background and the IR photos have a white  sky  back-
          ground.  In gray shades, black is hot and white is  cold. 
          The higher the cloud, the whiter it shows on IR. You  can 
          always  hit H key to Halt copying whenever you wish.  The 
          screen   gives  a rolling display of the last  480  lines 
          sent. After picture is first copied hit Q or V to  switch 
          to a viewing and scrolling mode. You can position whatev-
          er  part  of the pix you want to SAVE to the  upper  left 
          corner of the screen and SAVE all of the subsequent lines 
          or perhaps only one screen full (ie, 480 lines) or  maybe 
          one  screen full in the Shrink mode (960 lines). The  pix 
          can be S(hrunk) by hitting S and then eXpanded by  keying 
          X.  Since you are generally only interested in a  portion  
          of  the picture, you can include the DATE/TIME as a  file 
          name---for  example  a pix at 1230Z on May  31  might  be 
          given file name 31MY1230. This eliminates having to store 
          the pix header and saves storage memory. These pix  files 
          can be compressed also to further reduce storage  memory. 
          While  64  shades are available in some of  the  previous 
          programs,  16 shades suffices for most purposes and  uses 
          half  the memory. Note that you can also copy MAPS in  16 
          shades  and they will be somewhat more readable  in  poor 
          conditions than the WXMAP Black/White maps. This  program 
          also will work on any VGA machine since 16 color  640x480 
          is  identical  on all  machines. The SVGA cards  are  not 
          standardized at all.
               If you copy a map with this program and want to save 
          it  on  paper  instead of saving it in a  file,  you  can 
          scroll the upper left corner where you want to start  and 
          tap P to print it. Be sure your printer is turned on with 
          paper in it. The printed map will be the same quality  as 
          from  WXMAP.  Printing  can also be  initiated  from  the 
          SEEPIX program below.  

          SEEPIX.BAS

               This  uses VU960A.ASM machine language  program.  It 
          has several color palettes available including grays. You 
          can  even create your own palette. LOAD the  program  and 
          LIST 97-120 to see the #1 palette along with instructions 
          for  changing it. If you  find one you like  just  reSAVE 
          the  program.  This is a simple program,  so  LIST  (then 
          ENTER) it and study the lines. You can find the line with 
          the  Default file name and change it to your own  RAMDISK 
          designator, for example.

          TX16.BAS







               This  program transmits any 16 shade picture or  map 
          copied  with program WXPIX.BAS. It uses machine  language 
          program TX16.ASM. Hardware connections to the transmitter 
          are described on the opening screen. While an inexpensive 
          transformer is mentioned there, any isolation transformer 
          will work. I actually use my fone patch as isolation  and  
          just feed the capacitive coupled output from pins 7 and 5 
          of  the 9-pin serial port directly into the terminals  of 
          the patch where the fone line  normally connects.
               Like WXPIX.BAS, this program has a SYSTEM CONFIGURA-
          TION  located  at lines 1000 to 2000. You just  LOAD  the 
          program  and  LIST 1000-2000. The values for all  of  the 
          items has already been determined in WXPIX so just trans-
          fer  them  to  this program and reSAVE it  with  the  new 
          values.  Be  sure  to get the values for LT  and  for  GT 
          determined  carefully in WXPIX to get perfectly  vertical 
          pictures without any sync breaklocks.
               The picture file, FILENAME.960, must be converted to 
          the  proper  format  and transferred to  the  RAMDISK  as 
          PIX.WX  before  the transmission can begin.  The  program 
          960TOTX.BAS  (with associated 960TOTX.ASM) does this  for 
          you.

          CTX16.BAS

               This is a combined file conversion and  transmission 
          program. It uses  both 960TOTX.ASM and TX16.ASM. It  will 
          generally  be the program to use. The  separate  programs 
          are  more  convenient for a single floppy  drive  machine 
          where the pix files are stored on floppies. 

               I  have 3rd generation SVGA 64 shade WEFAX  programs 
          now but they are included in a package that copies  Color 
          SSTV  (with  the same simple clipper interface  shown  in 
          September  1991  QST) and the whole package  is  not  yet 
          ready for distribution.

          COMMENTS

               As with the previous programs we have developed, you 
          can freely make copies for others to use, but ONLY if  no 
          charge is made for the copies. This is NOT shareware,  so 
          please do not send any money.

                                             Have fun,
                                             Ben--K3BC
          September 18,1993
            


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