CAT stands for Computer Aided Transceiver and it's the way VQLog can synchronize automatically the frequency and mode with the rig. This means that when you change the frequency or mode in your rig, these changes are automatically shown in VQLog's QSO input fields. Also, when you change the frequency or mode in VQLog they can be updated automatically in the rig.
The implementation of CAT is different for each brand and model of rig. This is the reason of the CDF files, that contain indications and parameters specific of a certain rig and that allow VQLog to know how to communicate with it.
Important: Before trying to connect your rig with VQLog make sure you have read and understood how to configure CAT in VQLog.
Available CAT Definition Files, ONLY for VQLog 3.1 (build 548) or later:
Omnirig:
Mapping digital modes to USB / LSB modes in the rig
Mapping digital modes to USB-D / LSB-D modes in the rig
FlexRadio & Open HPSDR: Any SDR rig using PowerSDR 2.x or later (See the FAQ page for detailed information)
FlexRadio & SmartSDR with the Flex-6300, Flex-6400 , Flex-6500, Flex-6600, Flex-6700, Flex-6700R (Some users have reported that it necessary to set the "Flow Control" value to "None)
FlexRadio & PowerSDR: any FlexRadio rig using PowerSDR (See the FAQ page for detailed information)
Kenwood:
R-5000, TS-50 , TS-140S , TS-440, TS-450, TS-480, TS-570D, TS-570S, TS-590S, TS-590SG , TS-690, TS-711, TS-790, TS-811, TS-850, TS-870S,
TS-890S, TS-930, TS-940, TS-950, TS-950SDX, TS-990, TS-2000Icom with CI-V Transceive=ON (recommended):
IC-271 , IC-275, IC-575, IC-703, IC-705, IC-706, IC-706MKII, IC-706MKIIG, IC-718, IC-725, IC-728, IC-729, IC-735, IC-736, IC-737, IC-738, IC-746,
IC-746PRO, IC-751A, IC-756, IC-756PRO, IC-756PROII, IC-756PROIII, IC-761, IC-775, IC-775DSP, IC-820, IC-821, IC-910H, IC-970 (A/E/H),
IC-7000, IC-7100, IC-7200, IC-7300, IC-7400, IC-7410, IC-7600 , IC-7610 , IC-7700, IC-7800, IC-7850, IC-7851, IC-9100 , IC-9700, IC-R10Icom with CI-V Transceive=OFF:
IC-271, IC-275, IC-575, IC-703, IC-705, IC-706, IC-706MKII, IC-706MKIIG, IC-718, IC-725, IC-728, IC-729, IC-735, IC-736, IC-737, IC-738, IC-746,
IC-746PRO, IC-751A, IC-756, IC-756PRO, IC-756PROII, IC-756PROIII, IC-761, IC-775, IC-775DSP, IC-820, IC-821, IC-910H, IC-970 (A/E/H),
IC-7000, IC-7100, IC-7200, IC-7300, IC-7400, IC-7410, IC-7600, IC-7610 , IC-7700, IC-7800, IC-7850, IC-7851, IC-9100 , IC-9700, IC-R10Yaesu:
FT-450, FT-710, FT-736R (see *1), FT-747GX, FT-817, FT-840, FT-847, FT-857, FT-897, FT-890, FT-891, FT-900, FT-920, FT-950, FT-990, FT-991,
FT-1000, FT-1000MP, FT-1000MP Mark-V, FT-2000, FT-DX101, FT-DX3000, FT-DX5000MP , FT-DX9000, FT-DX1200Elecraft:
Ten Tec:
Omni VI plus (See the FAQ page for detailed information)
Copyright notice: These CDF files are intended to be used only with VQLog program. Their direct or indirect use in other programs or the extraction of their contents for other purposes is strictly forbidden and will be prosecuted.
How to use these CDF?
Download the file corresponding to your rig, by clicking on its link above.
Unzip it and place the extracted .MDB file into the \CAT subfolder of VQLog in your hard disk.
Run VQLog, go to "Configuration - Rig control (CAT)" and select it in the "Parameter file" list box.
Make sure you have read and understood how to configure CAT in VQLog.
If you are a registered user and need a CDF for other rigs please contact VQLog's support and I will do my best to develop it in a short time, but please read the following considerations first:
CAT implementation made by Kenwood is simple and powerful, with little or none differences between rigs. Thus creating a CDF for a Kenwood rig not listed above should not be a big problem.
The CAT implementation made by Icom makes use of the CI-V interface that is available in almost all modern rigs. It's also more or less common to all Icom rigs, but not so powerful as Kenwood's. Anyway creating a CDF for an Icom rig not listed above should also be easy.
I like Yaesu rigs a lot, but I have to say that their
implementation of CAT is nothing but a bad joke for software developers.
Almost each model has it's own version of the CAT protocol that has nothing
to do with the version of other models. This means that supporting a rig not
listed above could mean not only creating a CDF file, but recoding a lot in
the program. I can't guarantee that a certain model of Yaesu will be
supported by this version of the program.
Connection of the Elecraft K2 is possible through the accessory KIO2 RS-232 Interface, as its CAT implementation is compatible with Kenwood TS-570.
Also, if you notice some wrong behaviour in the CDF of your rig then contact VQLog's support with detailed information on the problem.
(*1) The FT-736R does not allow bidirectional communications. Once the CAT system is enabled you can only control the rig from the computer. The tuning knob and other buttons of the rig are blocked. This is the way Yaesu implemented the CAT in this rig.