One aspect of the message data base is that the user can change the message assignments relatively quickly. Thus, a variety of messages can be entered into the "data base" and the user can choose from a series of "pre-canned" messages and change their function assignment as the need requires. This may be done periodically to change the ID bulletins (or any other function), or it can be done automatically with the scheduler.
4.7.1 Repeater Identification
There are four types of ID "slots" in the FF-800 firmware. These "slots" define where the
ID will be sent, and what message will be used for the ID. The slots are defined as
follows:
| COS ID: | Sent when a COS is active. |
| Anxious ID: | Sent just after loss of COS, before the courtesy tone. |
| Pending ID: | Sent at the end of the hang time. |
| Manditory ID: | Sent if the repeater is idle (no COS and no PTTs active) AND there has been a COS since the last ID. |
| COS ID: | Sent when ID time has expired. |
| Anxious ID: | Sent if loss of COS occurs within anxious timer window (timer #15) |
| Pending ID: | Sent if the end of hang time occurs within the pending timer window (timer #16) |
| Manditory ID: | Sent when the ID timer reaches zero. |
There is also a tail message feature available on the FF-800 that allows the user to program up to 8 tail messages (these messages are sent at the end of the hang time). The tail messages can be individually enabled or disabled just as with the ID bulletins. The FF-800 will also rotate through the active tail messages. The rate of tail messages is controlled with the TAIL TIMER (timer #0). This allows the user to limit how often the messages are sent. If a tail message is interrupted with an active COS, it is stopped -- However, the tail timer is still reset and when a tail message comes due again, it will be taken from the next message in the rotation.
4.7.2 Special Words
There are several "words" in the FF-800 vocabulary that are used for special functions.
These are called "phrase commands" or "phrases" and they can be used in the same manner
as speech words. Phrase commands allow the user to include various pieces of
information into their messages (such as time, temperature, date, etc...). Some phrase
commands require additional information to function, this information is entered following
the phrase command. The following list describes each phrase command, and its
associated parameters (if any):
4.7.3 Message Command Functions
Text Edit Access: CONFIGURATION
(cnfg) (580)
Response: "T X T Enter"
This command places the controller into message edit mode. In this mode, all DTMF entries are interpreted as edit commands. These edit commands allow the system operator to enter the words of a message. The user can test all or part of the message at any point of the edit process. Each word is entered as a 1 to three digit number followed by a star (*) -- appendix E contains an alphabetic word list including the code numbers required by this command. The user may enter any number of words during a single transmission as long as the 31 digit tone buffer is not exceeded.
If an entry begins with a (*), it is an editor command. The following commands are supported:
| (*0n) | delete the last "n" words |
| (*1) | test last entry |
| (*2) | test current message |
| (*3nn) | save to message# "nn" and exit (nn = 100 stores to CALL message) |
| (*4) | abort edit (no save) |
There is an activity timer that aborts the edit mode if no DTMF entries are made within 30 seconds. Thus, it is advisable that the user plan their messages in advance to speed the entry process.
EXAMPLES: {unlock control and configuration security}
DD580
"T X T Enter"
34*230*25*
"Speed Telephone Call"
118*176*
"At" {time}
*2
"Speed Telephone Call At" {time}
*04
"Speed"
25*
"Call"
*2
"Speed Call"
*310
"T X T Complete"
The message is stored in message slot # 10.
DD580 Example 2, call sign entry
"T X T Enter"
75*69*#0*70*71* enter call sign characters
"K E 0 F G"
*01 last character wrong, delete
"K E 0 F"
70* correct last character
"F"
*2 test entire entry
"K E 0 F F"
*3100 save to call sign
"T X T Complete"
The message is stored in slot # 100 (call sign). Note that multi-digit
numbers must be entered "phonetically" as shown above because the text
interpreter does not recognize sequential numbers.
Message Assign Access: CONFIGURATION
| Name | (ff) | Default message |
| Emergency auto-dial 0 | 0 | Emergency One |
| Emergency auto-dial 1 | 1 | Emergency Two |
| Emergency auto-dial 2 | 2 | Emergency Three |
| Emergency auto-dial 3 | 3 | Emergency Four |
| Emergency auto-dial 4 | 4 | Emergency Five |
| Emergency auto-dial 5 | 5 | Emergency Six |
| Emergency auto-dial 6 | 6 | Emergency Seven |
| Emergency auto-dial 7 | 7 | Emergency Eight |
| Emergency auto-dial 8 | 8 | Emergency Nine |
| Emergency auto-dial 9 | 9 | Fire Emergency |
| CW Short ID | 10 | [ID] (in CW) |
| CW Long ID | 11 | D E [ID] / R (in CW) |
| Voice Short ID | 12 | [ID] |
| Voice Long ID | 13 | This Is [ID] Repeater |
| ID Bulletin 1 | 14 | B B 1 |
| ID Bulletin 2 | 15 | B B 2 |
| ID Bulletin 3 | 16 | B B 3 |
| ID Bulletin 4 | 17 | B B 4 |
| ID Bulletin 5 | 18 | B B 5 |
| ID Bulletin 6 | 19 | B B 6 |
| ID Bulletin 7 | 20 | B B 7 |
| ID Bulletin 8 | 21 | B B 8 |
| TAIL 1 | 22 | Severe Weather Alert |
| TAIL 2 | 23 | H I (in CW) |
| TAIL 3 | 24 | The Temperature is (degrees F #1) |
| TAIL 4 | 25 | Power Amps Temperature (degrees F #3) |
| TAIL 5 | 26 | T Five |
| TAIL 6 | 27 | T Six |
| TAIL 7 | 28 | T Seven |
| TAIL 8 | 29 | T Eight |
| OUT 1 | 30 | Out One |
| OUT 2 | 31 | Out Two |
| OUT 3 | 32 | Out Three |
| OUT 4 | 33 | Out Four |
| OUT 5 | 34 | Out Five |
| OUT 6 | 35 | Out Six |
| OUT 7 | 36 | Out Seven |
| OUT 8 | 37 | Out Eight |
| OUT 11 | 38 | Out Eleven |
| OUT 12 | 39 | Out Twelve |
| OUT 13 | 40 | Out Thirteen |
| OUT 14 | 41 | Out Fourteen |
| OUT 15 | 42 | Out Fifteen |
| OUT 16 | 43 | Out Sixteen |
| OUT 17 | 44 | Out Seventeen |
| OUT 18 | 45 | Out Eighteen |
| IN 1 | 46 | In One |
| IN 2 | 47 | In Two |
| IN 3 | 48 | In Three |
| IN 4 | 49 | In Four |
| Auto-patch | 50 | Telephone Call |
| A/P disconnect | 51 | Call Complete At (time) |
| Auto-dial | 52 | Speed Call |
| A/P off line | 53 | Telephone Off Line |
| Control A/P logon ackn. | 54 | Control Up |
| Time Out | 55 | Machine Time Out |
| State 1 | 56 | Machine Set One |
| State 2 | 57 | Machine Set Two |
| State 3 | 58 | Machine Set Three |
| State 4 | 59 | Machine Set Four |
| State 5 | 60 | Machine Set Five |
| State 6 | 61 | Machine Set Six |
| USER 1 | 62 | U M One |
| USER 2 | 63 | U M Two |
| USER 3 | 64 | U M Three |
| USER 4 | 65 | U M Four |
| USER 5 | 66 | U M Five |
| USER 6 | 67 | U M Six |
| USER 7 | 68 | U M Seven |
| USER 8 | 69 | U M Eight |
| A TX on | 70 | A T X |
| B TX on | 71 | B T X |
| C TX on | 72 | C T X |
| D TX on | 73 | D T X |
| A RX on | 74 | A R X |
| B RX on | 75 | B R X |
| C RX on | 76 | C R X |
| D RX on | 77 | D R X |
| A off | 78 | A Off |
| B off | 79 | B Off |
| C off | 80 | C Off |
| D off | 81 | D Off |
| A T/R | 82 | A T R |
| BT/R | 83 | B T R |
| C T/R | 84 | C T R |
| D T/R | 85 | D T R |
| Re-dial A/P | 86 | Repeat Call |
| Secondary Patch 1 | 87 | X Telephone Call |
| Secondary Patch 2 | 88 | Y Telephone Call |
| Secondary Patch 3 | 89 | Z Telephone Call |
| Secondary Patch Off | 90 | Telephone Call Abort |
Message Assign examples: DD55517 interrogate status of ID bulletin #4 "One Seven A S N Off" default is assigned DD55517*10 assign to message #10 "Set One Seven A S N One Zero" DD55518*20* assign a DVR track "Set One Eight D V R Two Zero" DD55516# revert to default assignment "Set One Six A S N Off"Message Play Access: CONFIGURATION
Message Play allows the user to interrogate the contents of any of the message slots.
User Message Play Access: General
{#11} (AA8) (message#) (message#) = 1 through 8
Response: speaks the contents of the specified User message
User Message Play can be used to set up a series of user bulletins for various user defined information areas. Users could then get repeater status, information on group activities, weather information, etc... . Also, these messages can be used as annunciators for complicated macro commands (simply store User Message Play into the macro first, then enter the speech suppress command). Message Assign functions 61 through 68 identify the user messages.
Set CW Frequency Access: CONFIGURATION
(cnfg) (565) ; (f)
Response: "C W Frequency" + (f) and sends the call sign in CW.
Sets the global frequency of the CW generator. (f) = 0 - 2550 hz, if (f) = 0 the CW generator is disabled. This value is not affected by the [CW] phrase command which sets the local CW frequency. The CW generator always defaults to the global frequency until a [CW] phrase command is encountered.
Set CW Speed Access: CONFIGURATION
(cnfg) (560) ; (s)
Response: "C W Speed" + (s) and sends the call sign in CW.
Sets the global speed of the CW generator. (s) = 0 - 40 WPM. This value is not affected by the [CW] phrase command which sets the local CW speed. The CW generator always defaults to the global speed until a [CW] phrase command is encountered.
CW Examples: DD565 interrogate frequency "C W Frequency Six Zero Zero" plus CALL in CW DD5651000 set new frequency "Set CW Frequency One Zero Zero Zero" plus CALL in CW DD560 interrogate speed "C W Speed Two Zero" plus CALL in CW DD56030 set new global speed "Set C W Speed Three Zero" plus CALL in CWTail Message Enable Access: CONTROL
The tail messages are enabled and disabled with this command. The FF-800 will rotate through all of the enabled tail messages at an interval specified by the tail timer (timer#0). See Message Assign and Text Edit for details on configuring tail message contents.
ID Bulletin Enable Access: CONTROL
(cntl) (452) (n) ; (on/off)
Response: "B B On" or "B B Off"
The ID bulletins are sent just prior to the repeater ID for the pending and manditory IDs. The controller will rotate to the next enabled ID bulletin each time the bulletin is sent. Bulletins 1 through 6 are assigned to the pending and manditory IDs, while bulletins 7 and 8 are the welcome bulletins, these are sent just prior to the Anxious ID if there has been no repeater activity for the duration of the activity timer (timer #5). The welcome bulletins are rotated separately from the normal ID bulletins.
Examples: CC4501 interrogate tail message #1 "T A L Off" CC45011 set tail #1 = on "Severe Weather Alert" default message for tail #1 CC4521 interrogate ID bulletin #1 "B B Off" CC45211 turn on ID bulletin #1 "Set B B On"ID Force Access: CONTROL
If this command is issued without the parameter (t), it will force an ID time out which will cause the FF-800 to identify. The (t) parameter is included if the user wants to force the ID timeout after (t) seconds ( (t) = 0 to 9999). Note that this does not change the value in the ID timer register (timer #4). Also, note that the ID time out can be forced to a very long time period -- the user should exercise care when setting the ID time out. After the time out, the timer is reset from timer register #4.
Examples: DD459 force immediate ID responds with the repeater ID DD459100 set ID timeout in 100 seconds ID occurs after 100 seconds If the user sets a time out using this command, and there is repeater activity before the time out, the FF-800 may ID before the time set by the user (depending on the settings of the ID window timer registers).
