AOR ARD9800 User manual

®
ARD9800
FAST RADIO MODEM
Multi-Mode and Digital Voice Interface
Operating manual
AOR, LTD.

1
Thank you for purchasing the AOR ARD9800 Multimode And Digital Voice Interface.
The ARD9800 is designed to con ert your HF radio equipment to a multi mode
and digital oice radio without performing any modifications to your transcei er.
Please read through this instruction manual and familiarize yourself with the
operation of the ARD9800. We suggest you to keep this instruction manual for future
reference.
We belie e you will enjoy using the ARD9800 as an enhancement to your enjoyment
of amateur radio.
AOR, LTD.

2
Feature :
 Digital oice communications using existing analog 2 way radios. The ARD9800
uses the same audio frequencies (300 Hz ~ 2500 Hz) as microphone audio to
modulate the oice signal. This allows you to use an analog radio as a digital oice
transcei er.
 Digital oice communications in the Single Side Band (SSB) mode. The automatic
frequency clarifier function adjusts frequency drift automatically in the SSB mode.
(Approximately up to +/- 125 Hz). Utilizes the ODFM (Multi Carrier Modulation)
circuit that is effecti e against Multi-path or Selecti e Fading.
 Automatic digital recei e. Automatic oice signal detector recognizes the recei ed
signal as analog or digital, automatically switching to the appropriate mode.
 Digital Slow Scan TV (SSTV). Built-in ideo capture function (NTSC or PAL
depending on ersion). Compresses the signal into our original adapti e JPEG. Send
and recei e images (similar to analog slow scan TV, but higher resolution) in the
Digital mode. Built-in ideo output connector (NTSC or PAL depending on ersion)
allows iewing the picture on an external monitor.
 Built-in high grade Vocoder (AMBE). Uses high grade digital oice compression to
deli er quality digital oice communications.
 Built-in FEC error correction. A powerful error correction circuit deli ers stable and
reliable communications.
 Data communications on the HF band Data communication is possible on the HF
(High frequency) bands at no extra cost. (Speed may be limited by regulations in
certain jurisdictions.)
 Small and compact unit. Easy to operate. Simply connect the ARD9800 to the
microphone jack. No complicated or risky radio modifications are necessary.
 Utilizes a uniquely designed high performance DSP (Digital Signal Processor)
engine.
 Battery operation possible for field use.

3
Precaution
To pre ent fire, personal injury, or unit damage, please obser e the following
precautions:
 Do not attempt to adjust this unit unless instructed to do so by this manual.
 Do not expose the unit to direct sunlight or place the unit close to heating appliances.
 Do not place the unit in excessi ely dusty, humid or wet areas.
 We are not responsible for any damages to the radio equipment due to improper
settings or interface.
 We are not responsible for any loss of communications due to an unexpected change
in propagation or the operating en ironment.

4
Table of Content
Page
Supplied Accessories ---------------------------------------------------------- 5
Controls and functions -------------------------------------------------------- 6
Front Panel ------------------------------------------------------------------- 6
Rear Panel -------------------------------------------------------------------- 8
Top Panel ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 10
Internal View ------------------------------------------------------------------ 10
Bottom View ------------------------------------------------------------------ 11
Interfacing the ARD9800 ------------------------------------------------------ 12
Connection to a Radio ----------------------------------------------------- 12
Connection to a Microphone -------------------------------------------- 13
Connection to a PC -------------------------------------------------------- 13
Connection to a Power supply ----------------------------------------- 13
Connection to an external speaker ------------------------------------ 14
Presetting ----------------------------------------------------------------- 15
Output Le el to Radio Transcei er -------------------------------------------- 15
Microphone Le el ----------------------------------------------------------------- 16
User ID Setting ------------------------------------------------------------------- 17
TX Channel Setting --------------------------------------------------------------- 17
Operation ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19
Voice Communication ----------------------------------------------------- 19
Digital Voice Communication ------------------------------------ 19
Analog Voice Communication ---------------------------------- 19
Data Communication ------------------------------------------------------- 19
Recei e --------------------------------------------------------------- 19
Transmit ------------------------------------------------------------------ 19
Digital Image Communication ------------------------------------------ 20
Recei e ------------------------------------------------------------------ 20
Transmit ----------------------------------------------------------------- 20
Specifications ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 21
Control Commands ------------------------------------------------------------- 22
Command List -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 24

5
Supplied Acce orie
The following items are pro ided in the box:
Accessory Quantity
Microphone 1
PC interface cable 1
Speaker Cable 1
DC Power cable 1
8P metal plug (for radio cable) 1
Instruction manual 1

6
Control and Function
Front Panel
a. Power on/off witch
b. TX witch
Press this switch to capture image and send. When the Video Through
Function is acti ated (AVT command is ON), pressing this switch will
enable output of the ideo signal connected to the Video Input to be
bypassed to the ideo output so that you can monitor the ideo image. Press
this switch again to capture the image and then transmit it through the radio
equipment.
When the Video Through Function is de-acti ated (AVT command is OFF),
pressing this switch will automatically capture the ideo image and then
transmit it through the radio equipment.
Refer to : Operation -- Digital Image Communication at page 20 for details.
c. 2 color LED
Illuminated red The unit is in the transmit mode
Blinking red In the digital communication mode, it blinks while
the header information is being sent. (approximately
one (1) second)
Illuminated Green The unit is in the recei e mode
Unlit The unit is in the recei e standby mode or in the
analog oice recei e mode.
d. Statu LED (STA LED)
It is lit when unsent data remains in the memory.
It is lit with orange color when Video Through Faction is acti ated in digital
ideo communication mode.
It is not lit when Video Through Function is deacti ated by the dedicated
command (AVT_OFF) though PC. Because, TX switch acti ates a sequential
faction of capturing and transmission.
It is also lit with orange color when unsent data is remained in the memory in
the data transmission mode.
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7
e. Speaker volume adju tment
Adjustment for internal speaker output le el. When an external speaker is
connected, external speaker le el is also adjusted.
f. Operation Mode LED (3 color )
Indicates the current operation mode:
Green color Digital Voice mode
Red Color Analog Voice mode
Orange Color Data Communication mode
Not lit Digital Image Communication mode
g. Tran mitting channel (Rotary Switch)
It consists of 16 channels. Each channel can be programmed with a
Transmitting ID for distant station, NetMask, etc. Freely programmable
depending on the communications scheme.
h. Overload indicator
Lit when the microphone input is o erloaded.
A proper microphone input le el will light the LED from time to time when
speaking into the microphone at a normal oice le el. The microphone le el
can be changed by adjusting the microphone le el controller.
Refer to Level Adjustment - Output Level to Radio Transceiver at page16
for details.
i. Mode witch
Select the Digital oice mode (10101) or the Analog oice mode (~) When
the Analog oice mode (~) is selected, ordinary analog oice communications
will be made. In the recei e mode, howe er, the ARD9800 will automatically
detect the mode of the incoming signal and decode signals accordingly. The
LED indicates the appropriate operation mode.
j. Microphone connector
Connect the supplied microphone to this connector. Below are the pin
assignments of the connector.
1. Speaker output (SP-OUT)
Monitor output signal is present at this pin.
2. BIAS
Power source for an electric condenser type of microphone. 5V DC
through 2.2KΩ resistor.
3. GND
Chassis ground
4. TX
Grounding this pin will enable the transmit mode.
(Same operation as the TX switch on the front panel.)

8
5. D/A
Grounding this pin will force the unit to the digital oice
communication mode. When this pin is left open, the operation mode
will be set by the mode switch on the front panel.
6. MIC PTT
PTT (Push To Talk) input.
7. MIC GND
Microphone ground signal
8. MIC IN
Microphone signal input
Rear Panel
k. Communication Connector (mini DIN 8 pin)
A communication connector for PC (RS-232C)
Pin Number Signal Signal Direction
1 TX ARD9800----->PC
2 DTR ARD9800----->PC
3 DSR ARD9800<-----PC
4 GND GND
5 RX ARD9800<-----PC
6 RTS ARD9800----->PC
7 CTS ARD9800<-----PC
8 NC No Connection
Shell FG Frame ground
Baud Rate: 9600bps
Data Length: 8
Start bit: 1
Stop bit: 1
Parity: None
Synchronization: Asynchronous
Flow control: Hardware
SP
DC IN
AOR,LTD.
+-
OUT
IN
RADIO
IN OUT
VIDEO
klm n op q r

9
l. VIDEO - IN connector (75Ω
ΩΩ
Ω)
Connect a ideo signal source such as a digital camera.
m. VIDEO – OUT connector (75Ω
ΩΩ
Ω)
Connect a ideo monitor to this connector to monitor the recei ed image or a
picture to be sent.
n. RADIO Connector
Using the supplied 8 pin connector, connect the ARD9800 to your radio
equipment. You will need to wire a cable according to the microphone
connector specifications of your radio (refer to your radio’s manual).
Below are the pin assignments of the ARD9800 connector.
Pin number Signal Detail
1 MIC GND Microphone ground
2 MIC OUT Microphone Output
3 PTT (H) PTT (Push To Talk) output (High le el)
4 PTT (L) PTT (Push To Talk) output (Low le el)
5 NC No connection
6 NC No connection
7 GND Ground
8 NC No connection
Note: M C GND and GND must not be connected together in the ARD9800
connector, or RF feedback will result.
o. SP IN Connector (3.5 mm mono jack)
Connect to the radio equipment’s speaker jack. (Input le el: 0.5 V – 5 V p-p)
Note: Output signal from the accessory connector of the radio may not be
high enough to use for this purpose.
p. SP OUT Connector (3.5 mm mono jack)
Connect an external speaker to this jack to disable internal speaker.
q. DC IN Connector (EIAJ Type 4)
Connect to a regulated power supply. (10.7 ~ 16.0 V DC, Center pin – positi e)

10
For lower oltage battery operation, set the internal jumper terminal for battery
operation, and then connect external batteries.
Warning: If you ha e changed the internal jumper for low- oltage battery
operation, battery oltage must be within the range of 5.6 ~ 6.5 VDC. DO
NOT apply 12.0 V or se ere damage will result, and the warranty will be oid!
Note: There is no low battery voltage detector built-into the ARD9800.
r. FG Screw
Frame ground
Top Panel
s. Internal Speaker
Internal View
(PCB design subject
to changes.)
t. Factory etting jumper
Must be set between 2-3. (Do not change this setting at any time.)
s

11
. Battery operation elector
Place the jumper between 1 – 2 (NOR) for normal operation. Change it
between 2-3 (BATT) for battery operation.
Warning: If you ha e changed the internal jumper for low- oltage battery
operation, battery oltage must be within the range of 5.6 ~ 6.5 VDC. DO NOT
apply 12.0V or se ere damage will result, and the warranty will be oid!
Note: There is no low battery voltage detector built-into the ARD9800.
w. Internal peaker etting
Jumper setting
1 – 2 Acti ates internal speaker (default)
2 -- 3 Disable internal speaker
Speaker output is a ailable from the pin #1 of the microphone
Connector.
Note: The SP OUT (external speaker output) has priority regardless of the
above jumper setting.
x. Output level etting
Jumper setting
1 – 2 Normal le el (default) (LOW)
2 – 3 High le el (HIGH)
In case the microphone output le el is too low to dri e your radio
equipment, place the jumper to the 2-3 position.
Refer to Presetting - Microphone Level at page 16 for details.
Bottom View
y. Output Level Adju tment
Refer to Presetting - Output level to Radio Transceiver at page 15 for
details
y

12
Interfacing the ARD9800
Connection to a Radio
Before using your ARD9800, you will first need to wire the cable between your radio
equipment and the ARD9800.
For your con enience, an 8-pin of a microphone connector for the ARD9800 is included.
You will need to prepare, howe er, your own microphone connector for your radio
equipment.
Below are the pin assignments of the 8-pin RADIO connector on the rear panel of the
ARD9800.
Pin number Signal Detail
1 MIC GND Microphone ground
2 MIC OUT Microphone Output
3 PTT (H) PTT (Push To Talk) Output (H le el)
4 PTT (L) PTT (Push To Talk) Output (Low le el)
5 NC No connection
6 NC No connection
7 GND Ground
8 NC No connection
Note: M C GND and GND must not be connected together in the
ARD9800 connector, or RF feedback will result.
Both a microphone plug and a cable for your radio transceiver are required to be
prepared at the user side.

13
Connection to a Microphone
A speaker microphone is included with your ARD9800. Howe er, if you wish to use
your own microphone with the ARD9800, you may do so by wiring your microphone
to the ARD9800. Below are the pin assignments of the microphone connector of the
ARD9800.
1. SP-OUT (Speaker output)
Monitor output signal is present at this pin.
2. BIAS
Power source for an electric condenser type microphone.
5V DC through 2.2KΩ resistor
3. GND
Chassis ground
4. TX
Grounding this pin will allow to transmit .
(Same operation of the TX switch on the front panel.)
5. D/A
Grounding this pin will force the ARD9800 to the Digital
oice communication mode. When this pin is left open, the
operation mode will be set by the mode switch on the front
panel.
6. MIC PTT
PTT (Push To Talk) input.
7. MIC GND
Microphone ground signal
8. MIC IN
Microphone signal input
Connection to a PC
A PC interface cable is included with the ARD9800. Parameter settings can be made
by using terminal software.
Refer to Control Commands at page 22 for details
Connection to a Power Supply
To operate your ARD9800, use a regulated power supply. The operating oltage must
be within the range of 10.7 ~ 16.0 V DC (approximately 200mA).
A DC power cable is also included with the ARD9800.
Color Polarity
RED Positi e (+)
BLACK Negati e ( - )

14
Refer to nternal View: Battery operation at page 11 for details
Warning: If you ha e changed the internal jumper for low- oltage battery operation,
supplied oltage must be within the range of 5.6 ~ 6.5 VDC. DO NOT apply 12.0 V or
se ere damage will result, and the warranty will be oid!
Note: There is no low battery voltage detector built-into the ARD9800.
.
Connection to an External Speaker
If an external speaker is desired, connect it to the SP OUT jack. This will also disable
the internal speaker.

15
Pre etting
Output Level to Radio Tran ceiver
This le el has to be supplied properly to the radio transcei er for operation.
1. Connect the supplied hand microphone to the ARD9800 first. Then connect
your radio to the RADIO terminal on the ARD9800 by using your prepared
connection cable certainly. Turn ON the ARD9800.
2. Make sure that the output level adju ting volume (y) is set to minimum.
3. Select the mode witch (i) to [10101] position as digital.
4. Press PTT switch on the supplied hand microphone.
5. Adjust microphone gain control on the radio transcei er to suitable le el.
Particularly, it is recommended to adjust the le el that acti ates ALC function.
If the ALC function acti ates too much, it might create audio distortion. As a
result, the communication with a distant station might be compromised.
6. Adjust the output level located on the bottom side of the ARD9800 when the
microphone gain control on the radio transcei er does not adjust for sufficient
le el.
7. If the microphone gain is still not enough e en though you proceeded as per
step (6.), turn OFF the ARD9800 fir t and go to tep (8).
8. Remo e the upper co er of the ARD9800 and locate the jumper pin for Output
level etting. Change the jumper pin (The default is inserted between 1-2) to 2-
3 for high le el. Put the co er back into place.
Proceed again with steps 1 to 6.
9. If the microphone gain is still not enough, set the ATT command to OFF with a
terminal software . Then try again steps 1 to 6.

16
Microphone Level
The microphone le el has been properly adjusted at the factory with the pro ided
microphone. Therefore, no further adjustment is needed for normal operation.
If you wish to use your own microphone, you will need to wire your microphone
connector to match the pins of the ARD9800, and then adjust the microphone le el as
described in the following steps:
1. Connect your microphone to the Microphone connector on the ARD9800.
(Note: The microphone cable to the radio MUST be unplugged at this time.)
2. Select the mode witch (i) to [10101] position as digital.
3. Select [0=zero] of transmitting channel [CHAN].
4. Turn ON the ARD9800 while pressing the TX switch. It will be blinked Status
LED with orange color. It indicates the ARD9800 is now placed into
microphone le el adjusting mode.
5. You can speak into a microphone by pressing PTT button. Rotate the
transmitting channel [CHAN] to clockwise until the [OVER] LED is lit in
some times synchronizing to the speaking le el.
6. After you recognize the suitable microphone le el at the abo e stage, press TX
switch while pressing PTT button. The TX LED will be lit in orange color and
it is now memorized this new setting alue in digital mode.
7. Release the PTT button and select Mode switch to analog (~) position.
8. The microphone le el adjustment in Analog mode is normally not required.
Then press TX switch while pressing PTT button.
Howe er, if audio signal le el is weak at the distant station, you can take same
process from 1 to 4 as abo e e en though it is for analog mode. And press TX
switch while pressing PTT button to confirm with the new setting alue.
9. Turn the power OFF of the ARD9800 to terminate the microphone le el
adjusting mode.

17
U er ID Setting
The ARD9800 pro ides a function of user ID that allows assigning an own identifying
number. In operation with digital mode, you can assign the ID number for the specified
destination’s station along with NETMASK (Group Code) and SQUELCH (DCS)
functions together. Thi function i only effective in digital mode.
TX Channel Setting
The ARD9800 pro ides 16 channels (A~F, 0~9). You can assign each channel for ID,
NETMASK and SQUELCH parameters indi idually. Depending on scene your
communications, you can select the channel number. Take following steps to perform the
channel setting.
1. Connect the supplied PC interface cable between ARD9800 and PC.
2. Set up terminal software on your PC.
3. Select the TX channel [CHAN] where you want to assign the ID, NETMASK
and SQUELCH parameters.
4. In the command prompt of the terminal software, type ACP<CR>.
For example,
cmd>ACP<CR>
CH:A_ID:BBBBB_NM:CCCCC_MD:D
cmd>
<CR> Carriage Return to confirm the command entry.
A Channel number that you selected [CHAN] switch.
_ Space
BBBBB Destination ID. You can only assign the number
of 00000 to 99999.
CCCCC Assign the NETMARK acti ity. You can only select 0
(=zero) or 1.
1= Acti ate
0= Deacti ate
Note that 1 indicates as F on the terminal software.
D Acti ate or Deacti ate Digital Squelch function.
1= Acti ate
0= Deacti ate

18
Communication pattern
Tx 1 Rx 1
ID:12345 UID:12345
NM:FFF00 MD:1
MD:1
Tx2 Rx 2
ID:12345 UID:12355
NM:FFFF0 MD:1
MD:1
Tx3 Rx3
ID:12345 UID:12348
NM:FFFFF MD:1
MD:1
Tx4 Rx4
ID:12345 UID:13345
NM:FFFFF MD:1
MD:0
Rx5
UID:12345
MD:0
Note: All adjustments must be properly performed before operation.

19
Operation
Voice Communication
Your ARD9800 is capable of Digital Voice Communications and Analog Voice
Communication. In the recei e mode, the ARD9800 will automatically recognize
the type of communication, and set the appropriate operation mode.
In the transmit mode, the operation mode can be selected by using the front Mode
switch.
Digital Voice Communication
Set the mode switch [10101 - ~] upward to the digital mode position. [10101]
Press and hold the PTT switch of the microphone. The STA (Status) LED will flash
for about 0ne (1) second while sending a data header signal. When the LED stops
flashing, speak into the microphone normally.
Analog Voice Communication
Set the mode switch [10101 - ~ ] downward to the analog mode position. [~]
Press and hold the PTT switch of the microphone, and speak into the microphone
normally.
Data Communication
Run a terminal software program to control the ARD9800, and to enter control
commands.
Refer to Control Commands at page 22 for details
Two different types of data, ASCII data or binary data, can be used.
Both data can be mixed as communication data.
Receive
Enter the command [ACO] to go into the con erse mode.
The recei ed alid data will be decoded and displayed on the PC screen.
If recei ed data is missing, (which may occur during poor propagation conditions)
“garbage” data may be displayed on the PC screen.
Tran mit
Enter the command [ACO] to go into the con erse mode. Type text from the
keyboard, then hit the enter key at the end of the text.
NNNNNNNN [CR]
NNNNNNNN ASCII character
[CR] Carriage Return
Note: The maximum data length is 2046 bytes per packet.