MFJ Multi-mode Data Controller MFJ-1278B User manual

MFJ-1278B MULTI-MODE TABLE OF CONTENTS
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................... 1
COMPUTER INTERFACING......................................................................................4
MFJ Starter Packs .................................................................................................. 4
Computer Interface with MFJ Starter Pack............................................................5
Computer Interface without MFJ Starter Pack.......................................................5
SERIAL PORT SIGNALS............................................................................................5
COMPUTER WITH SPECIFIC SERIAL INTERFACES............................................6
Apple Macintosh.................................................................................................... 6
Commodore C64, C128 and VIC-20...................................................................... 7
IBM PCjr................................................................................................................ 7
Radio Shack Color Computer ................................................................................8
Color Computers.................................................................................................... 8
IBM PC/XT/AT/386/486 and compatibles Computer ...........................................8
Other Computers with Nonstandard Serial Ports....................................................9
TERMINAL SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS............................................................ 10
Apple Macintosh.................................................................................................... 10
Apple II, II+, IIe, IIc .............................................................................................. 10
Commodore C64, C128 and VIC-20...................................................................... 11
IBM PCjr................................................................................................................ 11
IBM and Compatible Computers ...........................................................................11
Radio Shack Color Computer ................................................................................12
Radio Shack Model 100/102 and NEC 8201......................................................... 12
MFJ-1278B SERIAL PORT PIN FUNCTIONS...........................................................12
COMPUTER BAUD RATE .........................................................................................13
Autobaud................................................................................................................ 13
Changing Terminal Baud Rate............................................................................... 14
VERIFYING SERIAL PORT OPERATION................................................................ 15
PARALLEL PRINTER PORT......................................................................................16
Printer Port Connection.......................................................................................... 16
Printer Consideration .............................................................................................17
Printer Port Test..................................................................................................... 17
RADIO INTERFACING...............................................................................................18
MFJ-1278B Radio Ports ........................................................................................18
RADIO PORTS CONNECTION.................................................................................. 19
HANDHELD RADIO CONNECTION ........................................................................20
RADIO INTERFACING METHODS ..........................................................................21
Method 1: Direct Connection to Microphone and Speaker.................................... 21
Transmit Audio Level Adjustment for Method I Interface ............................... 21
Setting the Receiver Audio Input Level
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22

MFJ-1278B MULTI-MODE TABLE OF CONTENTS
FSK CONNECTION.....................................................................................................29
GETTING STARTED ..................................................................................................30
First Steps............................................................................................................... 30
Basic Commands ..............................................................................................30
SERIAL PORT CONFIGURATION............................................................................ 31
Parity and Word Length......................................................................................... 32
Echos...................................................................................................................... 32
New Lines and Line Wrapping...............................................................................33
THE MFJ-1278B MULTI-MODE MODEM................................................................33
OPERATIONAL MODES............................................................................................ 35
Verifying Operation Status.....................................................................................35
Mode Switching With the MODE Command.........................................................35
Radio Port Switching .............................................................................................36
MEMORY BUFFERS................................................................................................... 36
Loading the Memory Buffers.................................................................................37
Transmitting the Memory Buffers.......................................................................... 37
Buffer Serial Numbering........................................................................................37
Memory Repeat and Buffer Repeat Time...............................................................38
Chaining the Memory Buffers................................................................................ 38
TUNING INDICATOR.................................................................................................39
PACKET OPERATION................................................................................................ 40
VHF Packet............................................................................................................ 40
A Connecting and Disconnecting Exercise.......................................................40
Digipeating .......................................................................................................42
Unsuccessful Connections ................................................................................43
Monitoring Channel Activity............................................................................43
Your First Packet QSO..................................................................................... 45
Starting the QSO .........................................................................................45
Digipeating.................................................................................................. 46
Monitoring on the Air..................................................................................47
Special Input Characters...................................................................................47
BASIC HF PACKET OPERATION.............................................................................49
HF Packet Operation Hints ....................................................................................50
PACTOR....................................................................................................................... 51
What is Pactor?...................................................................................................... 51
PACTOR Operation............................................................................................... 51
FEC Unproto operation.......................................................................................... 52
PACTOR ARQ ...................................................................................................... 53
Changeover.......................................................................................................53
Monitoring........................................................................................................ 53
Monitoring AMTOR ARQ requests....................................................................... 54
Exiting PACTOR Mode
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54

MFJ-1278B MULTI-MODE TABLE OF CONTENTS
CONNECT............................................................................................................. 56
SPEEDup/SPEEDdown .........................................................................................56
AUTOMATIC ON-LINE COMPRESSION.......................................................... 56
FLOW CONTROL.................................................................................................56
AMTOR while in PACTOR mode......................................................................... 56
Amtor Detection in Pactor......................................................................................57
PACTOR STATUS INDICATORS..............................................................................57
PACTOR MAILBOX ................................................................................................... 58
Setting Up your Pactor Mailbox............................................................................. 58
General Overview ..................................................................................................60
Detailed Pactor Mailbox Overview ..................................................................63
Mailbox Messages.................................................................................................. 67
CW OPERATION......................................................................................................... 68
Receiving CW........................................................................................................ 69
Transmitting CW....................................................................................................70
Transmitting from Memory Buffers.................................................................. 71
CW Weighting.................................................................................................. 71
Tuning your Radio ................................................................................................. 72
Random Code Generator........................................................................................72
Setting Up the for Code Practice ......................................................................73
CW CONTEST MEMORY KEYER OPERATION..................................................... 74
Sending CW with External Key Paddle .................................................................74
MODULATED CW OPERATION............................................................................... 75
BAUDOT RTTY & ASCII OPERATION.................................................................... 76
Setting Up for ASCII and RTTY Operation ..........................................................76
RTTY and ASCII Receiving.................................................................................. 77
RTTY and ASCII Transmitting.............................................................................. 77
BAUDOT RTTY OPERATION HINTS...............................................................78
Commercial RTTY Reception..........................................................................79
AUTOMATIC SIGNAL ANALYSIS........................................................................... 80
ASA OPERATION................................................................................................80
MARS OPERATION.................................................................................................... 82
Configuring for MARS ..........................................................................................82
Operating MARS with MultiCom for IBM............................................................ 83
The MARsmode Command..............................................................................83
MARSMODE 1-QSO Mode ......................................................................84
MARSMODE 3-Storage Mode.................................................................. 84
AMTOR OPERATION................................................................................................. 85
Mode A "ARQ"...................................................................................................... 85
Setting up for Mode A Operations....................................................................85
Operating Mode A............................................................................................86
Monitoring Mode A, "ARQ"
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87

MFJ-1278B MULTI-MODE TABLE OF CONTENTS
Summary of AMTOR Contact Sequence...............................................................90
NAVTEX OPERATION............................................................................................... 91
Navtex Stations and Frequencies ...........................................................................91
Navtex Operation................................................................................................... 91
FAX OPERATION....................................................................................................... 94
FAX Formats.......................................................................................................... 95
FAX Frequency...................................................................................................... 96
FAX Installation..................................................................................................... 96
Printer Connection .................................................................................................96
Receiving FAX....................................................................................................... 97
Receiving FAX to the Printer...........................................................................97
Display FAX Picture on Computer Screen & Save it to Disk........................... 99
Two Level FAX Picture Format.................................................................. 99
Multi-level FAX Picture Raw Data Format................................................. 100
Transmitting FAX.................................................................................................. 101
Two Level FAX Transmitting........................................................................... 101
Multi-level FAX Transmitting..........................................................................102
Creating FAX Pictures for Transmitting................................................................104
SLOW SCAN TELEVISION OPERATION................................................................105
SSTV Formats........................................................................................................ 106
SSTV Installation................................................................................................... 106
Printer Connection............................................................................................ 106
Receiving SSTV Pictures.......................................................................................107
SSTV Printing to the Printer............................................................................. 107
Printing SSTV Pictures to the Screen............................................................... 110
Saving SSTV Pictures to Disk..........................................................................111
Terminating SSTV Printing..............................................................................111
Transmitting SSTV Pictures................................................................................... 111
Creating SSTV Pictures for Transmitting ..............................................................112
ADVANCED PACKET OPERATION.........................................................................114
SPECIAL CHARACTERS ........................................................................................... 114
PACKET OPERATING MODES................................................................................. 115
Command Mode..................................................................................................... 115
Entering Data-Transfer Modes...............................................................................116
Converse Mode...................................................................................................... 117
Transparent Mode.................................................................................................. 118
FLOW CONTROL........................................................................................................ 119
XON/XOFF Flow Control .....................................................................................120
Hardware Flow Control..........................................................................................121
Type-in Flow Control............................................................................................. 121
DETAILED VHF PACKET OPERATION.................................................................. 121
Station Identification
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121

MFJ-1278B MULTI-MODE TABLE OF CONTENTS
Packet Timing................................................................................................... 125
Radio Baud Rate............................................................................................... 126
Special Protocol Timing...................................................................................127
Monitor Functions.................................................................................................. 127
Real-Time Clock and Time Stamping.................................................................... 128
Multi-Connect Guide..............................................................................................129
Setting the MFJ-1278B to Normal Operation...................................................129
How do I Invoke Multi-Connect?.....................................................................129
Easy-Mail Mailbox................................................................................................. 130
Setting Up your Easy-Mail Mailbox................................................................. 131
Mailbox Operation............................................................................................ 136
Additional Mailbox Features ............................................................................ 140
Forwarding:................................................................................................. 140
Eliciting Reverse Forwards: ........................................................................141
Remote Heard Log: .....................................................................................141
Chat Mode:.................................................................................................. 141
Page SYSOP:...............................................................................................141
Remote SYSOP:.......................................................................................... 142
Mailbox CText:...........................................................................................142
Idle Timeout:............................................................................................... 142
Abort: ..........................................................................................................142
Mailbox Messages............................................................................................142
Slotting and Acknowledgment Priority..................................................................144
Description........................................................................................................ 144
New Parameters................................................................................................ 146
Other Related Parameters ................................................................................. 148
Initial Parameter Settings Summary.................................................................. 149
What to Expect ................................................................................................. 149
Packet Picture Transfer.......................................................................................... 151
Printing Packet Pictures thru Built-in Printer Port............................................ 151
Using PKTPIX ............................................................................................151
Packet Picture transfer to the computer screen.................................................151
DETAILED HF PACKET OPERATION..................................................................... 152
Radio Setup for HF Packet Operation ..............................................................152
Operating HF Packet......................................................................................... 155
MFJ-1278B KISS MODE, TNC-2 MODE, HOST MODE..........................................161
KISS INTERFACE FOR TCP/IP..................................................................................161
COMMAND PREFACE............................................................................................... 163
ENTERING COMMANDS .......................................................................................... 163
Command List........................................................................................................ 164
COMMAND NAME ........................................................................................164
Defaults
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164

MFJ-1278B MULTI-MODE TABLE OF CONTENTS
Link Status Messages............................................................................................. 302
MFJ-1278B SPECIFICATIONS...................................................................................305
GENERAL DESCRIPTION .........................................................................................306
DETAILED CIRCUIT DESCRIPTION .......................................................................307
Oscillator................................................................................................................ 307
Dividers and Baud-rate Generator.......................................................................... 307
CPU Complex........................................................................................................308
Serial Interface.......................................................................................................308
Watch-dog Timer................................................................................................... 309
Modem................................................................................................................... 309
Power Supply......................................................................................................... 309
RS-232C HANDSHAKING PROTOCOL.................................................................... 310
JUMPER FUNCTIONS................................................................................................ 312
PARALLEL PRINTER PORT PIN FUNCTION,J12...................................................315
TTL INTERFACE PORT PIN FUNCTION,J5............................................................ 316
MULTI-LEVEL INTERFACE CONNECTOR,J13......................................................317
EXTERNAL MODEM INTERFACE CONNECTOR -J14.........................................317
MODEM DISCONNECT HEADER, J4.......................................................................318
HF TUNING INDICATOR ..........................................................................................320
GENERAL TESTS .......................................................................................................321
Step 1: Power Supply............................................................................................ 322
Step 2: Obvious Problems..................................................................................... 322
Step 3: Assembly Problems...................................................................................322
Step 4: Cabling Problems......................................................................................323
SPECIFIC SYMPTOMS............................................................................................... 323
Symptom: TNC appears dead ...............................................................................323
Oscillator and Reset Circuits ............................................................................323
Digital Logic Lines........................................................................................... 323
Symptom: Modem won't calibrate or key transmitter............................................324
Symptom: Uncopyable transmitted or received packets........................................325
TERMINAL INTERFACE TROUBLESHOOTING.................................................... 325
Symptom: MFJ-1278B won't sign on to the terminal............................................ 325
Symptom: The MFJ-1278B appears to be signing on but only gibberish is
printed on the terminal ........................................................................................... 326
Symptom: The MFJ-1278B signs on OK but won't accept commands ................. 326
Symptom: The MFJ-1278B appears to have "lock-up" i.e. not responding to any
commands .............................................................................................................. 326
EXPLANATION OF PROTOCOL...............................................................................327
Physical Layer........................................................................................................ 327
Data Link Layer .....................................................................................................327
HDLC FRAMES........................................................................................................... 328
AX.25 LEVEL TWO
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329

MFJ-1278B MULTI-MODE TABLE OF CONTENTS
Comprehensive Alignment Procedure....................................................................340
Set Modulator Tones Using Built-in Calibration Software............................... 340
Demodulator Center Frequency Alignment ......................................................341
Tuning Indicator Alignment...................................................................................342
CW MODEM TUNE-UP PROCEDURE ..................................................................... 346
Detailed CW Demodulator Alignment Procedure.................................................. 347
AUDIO OUTPUT CALIBRATION .............................................................................350
Audio Output Level Adjustment Procedure........................................................... 350
HF RADIO ALIGNMENT ...........................................................................................352
FIRST METHOD: NOISE AVERAGE FREQUENCY ............................................... 352
SECOND METHOD: FILTER SKIRT AVERAGE FREQUENCY............................ 353
CONVERTING THE MFJ-1278B TO "LIKE-TNC 2"................................................ 354
MFJ-1278B 2400 BPS PACKET..................................................................................356
2400 BPS PACKET SETUP.........................................................................................356
2400 BPS Receive Audio Setting........................................................................... 357
2400 BPS Transmit Audio Setting......................................................................... 357
JUMPER FUNCTIONS AND LOCATIONS............................................................... 358
COMMAND SUMMARY............................................................................................362
MFJ-1278B/1278BT PARTS LIST ..............................................................................373

MFJ-1278B MULTI-MODE TABLE OF CONTENTS

MFJ-1278B MULTI-MODE INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to the exciting world of Amateur Digital Communications. By choosing the MFJ-
1278B, you have chosen the most versatile and powerful Multi-mode Data Controller
manufactured for the Amateur Radio Service.
The MFJ-1278B interfaces your radio with any personal computer that has an RS-232 or
TTL level Serial Port and a terminal program. While most communications programs will
work, MFJ recommends the use of MFJ Starter Pack for those who have IBM or compatible,
Macintosh, Amiga or Commodore C64/128 computers. With an IBM or compatible
computer, the MFJ Multicom terminal program gives you some added features that a standard
terminal program just can not offer. Features such as color SSTV, color FAX, 16 gray level
FAX, and color VGA packet picture transfer, just to mention a few. Multicom is menu
driven, making it easy to operate all modes offered by the MFJ-1278B. Dedicated functions
keys are programmed to operate most functions with a single key stroke.
Even though the MFJ Multicom programs offered for other computers may have features
different from the IBM version, they do offer features that will make operating the MFJ-
1278B very fun and very easy.
This compact versatile controller employs the genuine TAPR TNC 2 AX.25 protocol packet
firmware plus many added features to receive and transmit VHF packet, HF packet, AMTOR,
CW, ASCII, RTTY, color FAX, and color SSTV. The new 16 gray level fax board built in
the MFJ-1278B gives you the ability to receive and transmit color SSTV and multi-gray level
FAX pictures. In addition, MFJ-1278B lets you monitor the new and growing NAVTEX
broadcasting system. The MFJ-1278B also has a Contest Memory Keyer mode.
Also a feature which so many have asked about, Pactor has been added to the operating
modes. The new Pactor mode gives the user operating features such as Digital Memory
ARQ, full On-Line Data Compression, FEC Unproto operation, just to mention a few.
Also included with the PACTOR mode is a PACTOR Mailbox. With the Pactor mode also
comes the ability to monitor AMTOR ARQ connect requests.
The MFJ-1278B offers the most versatile mailbox available when compared to the mailbox in
other controllers. This mailbox allows a dedicated mailbox callsign so that the mailbox stays
on while you operate packet. Other features like auto forwarding or reverse forwarding of
mail to and from other BBS systems, remote sysop access, sysop paging, mailbox ctext, chat
mode and a "has mail" LED indicator. The MFJ-1278B has 32K mailbox memory which is
user expandable to 128K or 512K by simply replacing the mailbox memory IC -- a feature
that no other controller offers.
You also get MFJ's 20
-
segment, 10 Hz Precision Tuning Indicator that makes tuning simple

MFJ-1278B MULTI-MODE INTRODUCTION
The new "packet collision prevention" features -- Prioritized Acknowledgments and Slottime
are installed. This new technology helps prevent many packet collisions inherent in the
current packet protocol.
The EPROM containing the MFJ-1278B firmware, previously 512K bits, has been expanded
to 1 Megabits giving the MFJ-1278B twice the room to grow in.
You also get a Key Paddle input jack so you can use your MFJ-1278B as an Iambic Keyer or
Memory Keyer. The ten user-programmable memory buffers are provided for use with the
contest memory keyer function. In addition you also get contest serial numbering and a
random code generator.
A speaker jack lets you plug in a speaker and monitor transmit and receive audio and CW
side tone as it is received and transmitted by your MFJ-1278B. The speaker output also
provides for the packet connect signal alarm.
A Centronics compatible parallel printer port (DB-25) lets you directly interface your printer
to the MFJ-1278B for printing received text, Packet, FAX and SSTV pictures.
The MFJ-1278B provides dual radio ports for HF and VHF operation. These dual radio
ports let you connect 2 radios at the same time in any combination. Independent transmit
audio output controls provide even further flexiiblity. This will enable the user to
individually adjust the audio output for each radio port. The radio ports are not dedicated to
either VHF or HF operation. They are totally independent of each other.
You also get a Threshold control for optimizing your demodulator filter for the different
modes of operation. This is a very useful tool when trying to receive signals during bad band
conditions.
A 20-pin header provided for the MFJ-1278B to operate packet at 2400 or 9600 baud packet
by simply plugging in an optional modem board. The MFJ-1278BT already has a 2400
modem installed. If your MFJ-1278B does not have the 2400 modem installed, it can be
purchased separately (MFJ-2400) and installed by you. With the 2400 modem installed, your
MFJ-1278B can operate 300, 1200 and 2400 packet. You may also purchased the MFJ-9600
modem board that allows the MFJ-1278B to operate at 9600 baud packet.
The list goes on.... This is just a few of the features available. In short the MFJ-1278B offers
you tons of features that the other multi-mode controllers just can't match. This in
conjunction with the new MFJ Multicom (TM) software will put you leagues ahead in the
ever changing field of Ham Radio Digital communications.