To home page

Radio Simulator based on SIMRAD® RT64 VHF radio and SIMRAD® DSC1400 DSC class D controller





  • About the simulator
  • Operating system
  • Standalone version
  • Hardware requirements
  • Installation notes
  • How to use
  • Networked version
  • Hardware requirements
  • Installation notes
  • How to use
  • In separate documents, click here to read :
  • Instructor program (simulator of DSC messages)
  • SIMRAD® RT64 VHF radio
  • SIMRAD® DSC1400 DSC class D controller
  • About the simulator

    The simulator is intended to simulate marine radio and DSC exchange. It is based on two different types of modules : an instructor program used to keep list of radio simulators and simulate sending messages to them, and simulators of radio and DSC equipment.
    The equipment simulators send and receive DSC messages and simulate radio exchange by transferring voice over network between computers (available only in networked versions).
    All modules have built-in help files on functionality and rules of use which are activated by Help menu item in the insturctor program and by F1 key press for the equipment simulators.

    Operating system

    Written for Windows 2000, XP and Vista.

    Standalone version

    Standalone version is installed on only one computer, and this is why the voice radio exchange is not possible. However, all radio controls pertinent to this class of equiment are available for practice. The DSC message exchange is available in full, between the DSC message simulator and the DSC set.

    Hardware requirements for standalone installation

    No special hardware is required, only standard computer components. The requirements to the computer itself are very low, nothing special. The list of additional components is as follows :

  • sound card
  • headphones with microphone or loudspeakers with microphone
  • Installation notes

    To install the software, place files setup.exe and install.dat in the same directory and run setup.exe. The software is installed into the specified folder.
    Some possible problems are as follows :

  • Check right setting for sound card using Start/Control panel/Sound and audio devices (the equipment must issue noise and other sounds).
  • How to use standalone version

    The software is run by clicking its desktop icon. Standalone simulator starts two modules : the "instructor" software able to simulate sending and receipt of DSC messages and simulators of radio and DSC controller. Read help files and try equipment controls, send messages to and from the simulator.

    Networked version

    Networked unstallation enables the instructor to stage exercises close to reality, as all radio voice and DSC messages propagate through the whole network and can be heard, intercepted an intervened by all students, like in real ether.

    Hardware requirements for network installation

    No special hardware is required, only standard computer components. The requirements to the computer itself are very low, nothing special. The list of additional components is as follows :

  • sound card
  • headphones with microphone or loudspeakers with microphone
  • network switch
  • network adapters on each computer
  • network cables
  • Installation notes for network version

    Select a single computer in the network, which will be master to be used by the instructor. Place files setupmaster.exe and install.dat in the same directory and run setup.exe. The software is installed into the specified folder.
    Using setupslave.exe and the same install.dat, install the software on all student computers.

    Please read this about installing and testing audio devices and network.

    How to use networked version

    Each student workstation can be run in either standalone or networked mode. However, it is recommended to start simulator software on master computer first, if the instructor plans to use networked mode.
    Each student starts the program on his computer by clicking the icon, then he is asked in which mode to run the software, in standalone (disconnected from all other stations with a separate simulator of DSC messages on his computer) or in networked (connected to other stations and controlled by the instructor from master computer). The students use equipment controls to implement tasks set by the instructor and read theoretical documents available in help files. They are accessible by using Help menu in the simulator of DSC messages or by clicking on an equipment window to get its focus ant then hitting F1 key.