Pro-96 Serial Line Protocol?

[lifechild]

Hi all.

Several months ago I bought a Pro-96 and have been successfully using it ever since. However, now I'd like to be able to manage banks with my computer. I know there's software for this--such as Win96 or Scancat--but there's one problem. I have a Linux box at home, and there doesn't seem to be any Linux software for programming the Pro-96, as near as I can tell from Googling around. I think it shouldn't be too hard for me to write either a full application with a GUI or a Pro-96 management library on top of which others could make whatever GUI they want, but I'd need to know all the gory details of the serial protocol the Pro-96 uses. I was able to find a <A HREF="http://www.strongsignals.net/access/docs/pro-96_9600_cc_dump.pdf">PDF document</A> at the Strong Signals site that explains how to use the Pro-96 to dump control-channel data streams over the serial line, and that did give me a little bit of good information to start with, but it doesn't explain the commands needed to upload/download banks and channels, etc., which is more what I'm looking for. Does anyone have any ideas where I might look? Is there a technical manual available from Radio Shack that might explain how an application talks to the scanner? I have a feeling I'd get a glazed look if I just walked into my local Shack and asked the clerk this, as they weren't even sure what a Pro-96 was when I first went in looking for one. Any help is appreciated.

Thanks.
--Andy

 

[pro92b]

I'd need to know all the gory details of the serial protocol the Pro-96 uses.

Then you need to buy a license from Radio Shack and sign a non-disclosure agreement. The information is not in the public domain.

 

[rescue161]

OR, you can set up a cheap PC with Windows. Honestly, you can get a PC for less than $20.00. If you're lucky, it'll be a laptop.

If you're that much against Windows, then you're stuck programming by hand or doing as "Pro92B" suggested...

Good luck.

 

[pro92b]

OR create a small Windows partition on the PC (desktop?) and use it only for scanner software. Linux should have a boot loader to allow access to the Windows partition.

 

[MacombMonitor]

There are several Windows emulators for Linux, have you tried any of them?

VMware
Win4Lin
Wine (FREE)

Or as one of the previous posters suggested, set up a cheap Windows box. I recently aquired a PIII-550 system, minus the monitor, for $40.00! It works great. You wouldn't even need a keyboard, mouse, or monitor, as you could control it via your Linux box.

 

[Al42]

Or download Win96, set up a serial port capture daemon and figure out the protocol.

 

[MacombMonitor]

Almost forgot, Dual-Boot would be another option!