Elecraft P3 Programmer's Reference - Manual

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ELECRAFT P3 PROGRAMMER'S REFERENCE
Rev. A4 (See Appendix A for change history)
Command Set Overview
The P3 provides a set of remote-control commands to control the most important instrument functions
(Table 1). Details on individual commands start on page 2.
Table 1. P3 Control Commands.
Name Description Name Description Name Description
= Product ID #FNX Function key execute #PT Pass-Through mode
#AVG Averaging time #FXA Fixed auto-adjust mode #QSY QSY to current marker
#BMP Bitmap upload #FXT Fixed or Tracking select #REF Reference Level
BR Baud rate set #LBL Labels on/off #RST Reset the P3
#BR Baud rate set #LD Internal use only #RVF SVGA FPGA revision
#CTF Center frequency #MFA Marker A frequency #RVM Main firmware revision
#DSM Display mode #MFB Marker B frequency #RVS SVGA firmware revision
#ER Internal use only #MKA Marker A on/off #SCL Scale
#EW Internal use only #MKB Marker B on/off #SPN Span
#FNL Function key label #PKM Peak mode on/off #TP Internal use only
#PS Power status/control #VFB VFO B cursor on/off
The Command Tester screen of the P3 Utility computer program is a convenient way to try individual
control commands. You can also define macros, which allow sending strings of P3 and/or K3 commands
with a single mouse click. The Capture Image screen uses the #BMP command to upload the current P3
screen to a standard bitmap graphics file. See the P3 Utility help facility for details.
When a K3 is connected to the RS232 XCVR port, both K3 and P3 commands can be sent from the same
computer program. For example, #RVM; returns the revision number of P3 firmware and RVM; returns
the revision number of main firmware in the K3. Sending those two commands is a handy way to check
the connectivity of the two RS232 ports on the P3. If you get a response to #RVM; then the PC port is
connected; if you get a response to RVM; then the XCVR port is connected as well.
Command Format
Commands sent from the computer to the P3 are considered either GETs or SETs. GET commands are
used by the computer to get information from the P3; the P3 will then provide an appropriate response
message (RSP). SET commands are sent by the computer to change the instrument's configuration or
initiate an event. Commands with an incorrect format or an out-of-range parameter are ignored. A SET
can be followed by a GET to verify the new settings.
SET commands use 2 or 3 characters, optional data fields, and a terminating semicolon (;). Examples:
#AVG05; Computer turns on averaging with a time constant of 5.
#DSM1; Computer selects spectrum+waterfall display mode.