by pd0rhm@amsat.org ( UI-View32 is written by Roger Barker G4IDE )
VicinityAlarm notifies the user when APRS stations come within a predefined range.
The user can define the range, so defining a circular area in which every APRS station will be picked up. A sound can be made heard.
Stations in the alarm range can be "acknowledged" : the alarm for the station is then disabled. Reversibly stations can be "re-armed"
The alarm sound can be changed by replacing the VicinityAlarm sound file.
Using VicinityAlarm |
top |
At startup:
VicinityAlarm reads the
StationID of the local UIView station (Your Callsign)
Then at
interval of 30 seconds:
VicinityAlarm
reads the Station list. For each station the distance from that station to your
station is determined.
If the distance is less then the alarm range, and the station is not in the
acknowledged list, the station is added to list of stations in alarm.
An alarm is sounded when the Alarm, audible alarm menu option is
selected.
Menu options |
top |
| Menu | Option | Sub-Option | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| File | Exit | Exit the program. All settings are saved, all windows are closed. | |
| Alarm | Bring to front on alarm | If enabled the program will popup as the topmost window on your desktop if in alarm | |
| Audible alarm | Check this menu option if you want a hear a sound when one or more stations are in alarm. | ||
| Help | Help or F1 | This will show the online help information. | |
| About | This will show the About screen | ||
| Check for Update | This option will check on the internet if a new version is available. If this option fails to run the best place on the internet to check for updates is the uiview group at yahoo | ||
| popup menus | Acknowledge | Used in window "Stations within alarm range". This will move the station to the "Acknowledged Stations" list. | |
| Re-arm | Used in window "Acknowledged Stations". This will remove the station from the "Acknowledged Stations" list. |
Installing VicinityAlarm |
top |
You install VicinityAlarm by these steps:
Extracting the files from the ZIP archive to the UI-View32 folder (the folder that holds uiview32.exe)
This is the list of files that are used by VicinityAlarm:
| Directory | Filename | Remarks |
| UIView32 | VicinityAlarm.exe | the program file |
| UIView32 | VicinityAlarm.ini | the .INI file that holds the programs settings |
| UIView32 | VicinityAlarm.lst | this file holds the acknowledged stations, these stations will be reloaded as 'acknowledged' when the program is restarted |
| UIView32 | VicinityAlarm.html | The documentation file |
| UIView32 | VicinityAlarm.xtr | The XTR file, this file adds the program to the Files menu of UI_View32 |
| UIView32\Wavs | Va_siren.wav | the sound file, replace this file with a your own alarm sound. |
| UIView32\Wavs | Siren.wav | this is the default alarm sound file shipped with UI-View32. This file is used if Va_siren.wav is not present. |
Settings (.INI file) |
top |
Most of the values and options you enter in the VicinityAlarm screen are saved in the VicinityAlarm.ini file.
When you close down the program or when you select menu ‘File, Save settings’ these values are saved.
When you start VicinityAlarm , these values are restored from the VicinityAlarm.ini file.
The followings items are stored in the VicinityAlarm.ini file:
| Item | Meaning/purpose | Default value |
|
Section [SETUP] | ||
| LEFT | Left position of the top left corner of the VicinityAlarm window | If value of LEFT is outside screen area LEFT will be calculated so that the window is centered on the screen. |
| TOP | Top position of the top left corner of the VicinityAlarm window | If value of TOP is outside screen area TOP will be calculated so that the window is centered on the screen. |
| MINIMIZED | True if the VicinityAlarm window is minimized | FALSE |
| MIN_DISTANCE |
This is the radius of the boundary. Depending of your km/miles settings in UIView | 10 |
| BRING_TO_FRONT | If true the program will popup when in alarm | TRUE |
| AUDIBLE_ALARM | This will play the sound in VA_SIREN.WAV or SIREN.WAV when a station is within the boundary | TRUE |
!!! If you are not sure what you are doing, DO NOT edit the VicinityAlarm.ini file !!!
Error messages |
top |
| Error message | Meaning |
| Another instance of this program is already running | You tried to start VicinityAlarm while it is already running |
| Error getting station callsign from UIView32.INI | There should be an entry for stationid in the UIView32.ini file. |
| You should select a station first | You are about to acknowledge or re-arm a station, but you did not select a station properly. First select a station, and then use your RightMouseButton to acknowledge or re-arm the station. |
Release Notes |
top |
Prior to the first release the software was tested by Dean G7PKF and Jordi.EA3CIU. Thanks.
Test version 0.5.1 release date 31-dec-2002
I received some useful comments from Martin PE1RPO.
Bugs reported
New features
Test version 0.5.2 release date 1-jan-2003
Bugs reported
New features
Test version 0.5.4 release date 3-jan-2003
(version 0.5.3 was used for testing , Thanks Martin!)
Bugs reported
New features