ShackLAN Control Center
Getting Started
The new ShackLAN Control Center software is designed to be used by small and
large stations. It is very configurable to meet the needs of a small
station with just a few antennas and large stations with many antennas
and stacks on multiple towers.
Although designed primarily for small 7" or 10" touchscreen displays it
will run just fine on a standard display with a mouse. Unless a small
touchscreen display is set as the primary display the touch function
will most likely not work correctly. For this reason, and several other,
a dedicated computer is recommended for touchscreen operation. The small
BeeLink computers are ideal. Control Center was actually developed on
one of these small computers.
Display size and type
The
first thing you should do is set the display parameters. There are four
window sizes available. For small touchscreens, choose the one matching
the native resolution of the screen. For most 7 and 10 inch screens this
will be 1024. The 800 choice is good for standard displays but you may
choose anyone you wish. Enable the Touch function for touchscreen
displays. This will turn on the virtual screen keyboard for entering
text. Restart the program when finished for the new size to be applied.
Mode of operation
Control Center has two different modes of operation. The Direct mode is recommended for most users with a single antenna switch. Larger stations with multiple switches should choose the Macro mode of operation. Most users will find that the Direct mode is the best option for them. Click on the Gear icon in the upper left of the main screen to open the Setup window. There are two options in the Op Mode box. Choose Direct or Macro. Choosing Direct will also enable the Target button. If you are going with the Direct mode you next need to setup the Targets. A Target is simply the ShackLAN unit that Control Center will send commands to for antenna selection. Click on the Target button and go to the next step.
Setting the targets
After
clicking on the Target button the Target Definitions window will appear.
This window shows the current Target configuration. Click on the Set
button for the radio you wish to set up. The Configure Target window
will appear. This is where you define the Target parameters.
First
select your controller in Device Box. Choose Switch if not using any
controllers and want to send antenna selection commands directly to the
antenna switch. Next set the Unit #. Normally this will match the radio
number. Now set the Switch #. Except for very specialized installations
this should be set to #1. Select None if that radio number is not
present. Click on OK when finished and repeat for any other radios in
your station setup.
Assign antennas
Click
on the Default Antennas button in the Setup window to access the Antenna
Assignments window. It is recommended you enter custom names for your
antennas instead of using the default names of "Antenna 1', 'Antenna 2,
etc. Not only does it show a descriptive name on the antenna selection
buttons, it also makes a bit easier to assign antennas to bands. The
easiest way to enter antenna names is to select the antenna from the
list and click on the Set Name button. Start a name with / to hide the
button for unused ports on the antenna switch. It is now time to assign
a default antenna to each band. This is the antenna that will be
automatically selected when Control Center is in Auto mode.
This is where naming your antennas comes in handy. Select a band by
clinking on it in the list or by using the Up/Down buttons. Next select
the desired antenna by clicking on it in the list or by using the
Up/Down buttons. Click Save when you are finished. Next you need to set
up the radios.
Set up the radios
Click
on the Radios button in the Setup Window to access the Radio Setup
window. The buttons in the Radios to Control box toggle on and off when
you click on them. Only turn on the radios you are using with Control
Center. You may give a radio a name by pressing and holding a radio
button.
There are two other options in this window. They affect operation of all
radios. The first option is Auto on Band Change. If enabled, this
function will place Control Center in Auto mode for a radio when a band
change is detected. The helps prevent transmitting into a wrong antenna
after a band change as the default antenna for the new band will be
automatically selected.
The second option is Show on Band Change. This option will automatically
select a radio and make it the active radio when a band change is
detected. Now for the last step before you are ready for operation.
ShackLAN network connection
Access
the Communications setup window by pressing the Comm button in the Setup
window.
There are options for connecting to the ShackLAN network via USB or by
Ethernet to a EI-2 interface.
Most uses will connect via USB to any of the ShackLAN devices. Select
the desired USB port by clicking on it in the list or by using the
Up/Down buttons. If using the Up/Down buttons you must click the Apply
button to select the port. For older devices such as the Bandmaster 3 or
Bandmaster 4 you must also click on the Legacy button to interface with
these older devices. You should now have a green indication of connected
to the ShackLAN network.
You must select Disable in the Available Ports list when connecting via
a EI-2 interface. Before connecting to a EI-2, enter the host name or IP
address and the port number. Remember to set port forwarding on your
router for the desired port number.
Next: Assigning controllers