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CAT control and rig software
Controlling the radio from a computer.
Controlling the radio from a computer.
CAT (computer-aided transceiver) is a data link that lets software read and change a radio's settings: frequency, mode, power, transmit/receive and more. It is how a logging program knows what band you are on, and how a mouse click on a spot can tune your radio. Some manufacturers use their own name for it.
The computer sends short messages; the radio answers. Each manufacturer has its own command set. Some use readable text commands ending in a semicolon, others use compact binary frames, and some share one wire among several devices, each with its own address. You do not need to know the commands: rig-control software contains the driver for your model. A well-known open library for this is Hamlib, used inside many programs.
One program owns the port. Two programs cannot open the same serial port at once, so a shared rig-control program talks to the radio and offers the other programs a way to read and set it. Many logging and digital-mode programs can do this themselves, or hand off to a rig-control layer.
| Task | What CAT adds |
|---|---|
| Logging | frequency and mode filled in automatically |
| Digital modes | the software sets the dial frequency and mode, and can key the transmitter |
| Spotting and band maps | click a callsign, the radio tunes to it |
| Memory management | edit and back up memory channels on a computer; see Memories and scanning |
| Remote operation | change frequency and power from far away; see Remote stations |
| Antenna and amplifier control | other gear follows the radio's band |
If software can key your transmitter, then a crashed program or a wrong setting can too. Set the radio's time-out timer so it stops transmitting after a few minutes, and stay at the station when software is in control. The licensee remains responsible for every transmission; see Control operators and control points.
Audio does not travel on the CAT link. For digital modes you also need a sound path to the computer; see Computer and sound-card interfaces.