Skip to content

5. Reference Application (QT)

Jump to bottom
sumps edited this page Oct 31, 2018 · 3 revisions

iKonvert Test Tool Application

To help developers support the iKonvert gateway in the most efficient and cost effective way possible, Digital Yacht have created a QT based Application that demonstrates and provides source code examples of how different commands can be used to control and read the gateway.

As well as providing all of the source code, we have compiled and included a Windows executable of the QT App. It does not need installing just run the iKonvert_Tool.exe file and you will see this window.

Opening Screen

If the gateway is the only USB Serial Port device connected then it will automatically select it and set the baud rate to 230400. If it shows a different COM port, then click the Settings cog-wheel and this window will open.

Settings Dialogue

In the settings window you can select…

  • The COM port, baud rate and other serial port settings
  • "Local echo" mode so that commands you send are displayed in the terminal
  • "Normal" initialisation mode or if un-ticked "All" mode will be selected
  • Base64 encoding display (default is HEX for ease of reading)
  • Whether the Network Status Messages are displayed (can create too much clutter)
  • The CSV log file you want to replay and the PGN TX rate it replays at
  • Which RX and TX PGNs are included in the gateway's TX/RX Lists
    • All ON - ticks all PGNs
    • All OFF - unticks all PGNs
    • Load - displays the current lists stored in the gateway
    • Save - updates the gateway's TX/RX Lists with the currently display PGNs
    • Reset – does a factory reset

Once you have configured the settings you want, click the OK button and the commands will be sent to the gateway and you will be able to see them in the main Terminal Window.

Settings Applied

From left to right, the icons are;

QT App Icons

Now you can initialise the gateway and make it go "On Bus" by clicking the Connect icon and you will see lots of RX PGN Sentences appear, along with the Network Status Messages (N.S.M), if you have set these to display in the Settings.

Connected to the network

You can make the gateway go "Off Bus" by clicking the Disconnect button and you can clear the terminal window by clicking the Clear icon.

You can record all of the received PGNs to a CSV file for future playback by clicking the Record button and then stop the recording by clicking the Stop button to the right of the Record button.

You can playback the CSV file by selecting the file in the Settings window and also the TX rate in milliseconds and then clicking the Play button. To stop playback click the Stop button to the right of the Play button.

You can transmit a System Time PGN (126992) by clicking the Time button – it takes the date and time from the computer's real time clock.

You can send any TX PGN that you construct and copy to the clipboard by clicking the Send button.

The QT Test Tool App has been compiled for Windows and the executable will run on any Win7/8/10 PC. Full source code is provided if you wish to compile the QT app for LINUX or Mac.

iKonvert Developers Guide V1.02

Clone this wiki locally