Copyright: Help File Copyright ® 1991,93,95 FineWare
Citation: SWBC Interval Signals for Windows Help ® 1991,93,95 FineWare


 Help Contents

Copyright © 1991, 93, 95  FineWare

Thank you for choosing SWBC Interval Signals.  This help file is intended to serve as an on-line users manual, showing what the software will do, and how to run it.

Through out this help file, you will see the SWBC Interval Signals icon in the help topic title.  Clicking on it will bring you back to the next higher level in the help system.

Introduction

About SWBC Interval Signals

System Requirements

Warranty and License Information

How to...

Play interval signals

Register SWBC Interval Signals

Contact the Author

Commands

Interval Signal List Box

Play Button

Pause Button

Stop Button

Repeat Button


 About SWBC Interval Signals for Windows

Interval signals have been used by international broadcasters for years.  Theories on their use have been discussed for years.  In reality, these markers serve various purposes.  For one, the interval signal is used as a means for filling dead air.  Using a distinct sound or tune, the station broadcasts an interval signal, before signon, and between segments, to both keep a channel clear and/or use something other than a carrier for transmitter tuning.  To the shortwave listener, it basically means that a particular station is coming on the air.  In short, the interval signal can be used, as such, as an identifier of a particular station.

Information regarding the interval signals of shortwave broadcasters is an often overlooked means of identifying a particular station.  This software was mainly intended to supplement other sources for this information, while providing a sense of shortwave listening enjoyment on your PC.  The sound files in the registered package of SWBC Interval Signals consist of over 70 interval signals and introduction tunes.  Instead of providing raw printed music, however, the data file is constructed such that it may be played either through your PC's sound system or speaker.

As many stations as possible have been represented in the registered signal set.  When stations have more than one identifiable signature tune, they have been included as well.  In cases such as the BBC, the tones of B, B and C are used as their true interval signal in their non-English services as reproduced here.  The External English services of the BBC use a series of bow bells, vice the more recognizable "Lilibulero."  Whereas these last two were omitted from the DOS version of SWBC Interval Signals, both of these have been included; as well.  Likewise, the Voice of Russia has numerous signature tunes, particularly to identify the language of the service.  The registered version of the software has a total of five interval signals for the Voice of Russia.

The more obscure interval pieces have been included in the registered version of SWBC Interval Signals basically because they sound nice.  It was felt that the artistry used in the much unappreciated and overlooked format of interval signals almost demands exposure in a collection such as this.  Perhaps, this is what inspired the pirate station, We Love Interval Signals (WLIS).

* Note:  The combined size of the entire library of interval signals is approximately 11 Mb of data.  This presents a problem when trying to widely distribute all of the interval signals.  It is for this reason that the shareware version of SWBC Interval Signals for Windows includes a reduced interval signal set.  The remainder of the library may be obtained by registering this product.  Please refer to How to Register SWBC Interval Signals for Windows for information on how to obtain the remainder of the interval signal library.


 System Requirements

The minimum system requirements for operating this software are a 286 based MS-DOS Computer running Microsoft Windows 3.10; with VGA video, and a minimum of 1Mb RAM.  A mouse is optional, but desirable.

Since the interval signals included in with this software are based upon the RIFF WaveAudio format, the user must have either a sound card or use a PC-Speaker software driver installed on the system.


 Warranty and License Information

This and all of the other files contained in the distribution file ISWIN2.ZIP are provided as shareware to be used and disseminated in an unmodified form.  The author requests that no fee be charged by any agent other than FineWare (Mark J. Fine), for the enjoyment or use of this software.  Neither the author nor his associates are responsible for any results of using this software or hardware modification recommendations included in this document on any computer system or radio receiver, whether used or performed either properly or improperly.  The user hereby agrees that he is using this software/modifying his hardware at his own risk.

This and all of the other files contained in the file ISWIN2.ZIP are provided as is, with no warranties, express or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of fitness for a particular purpose, and all such warranties are expressly and specifically disclaimed.  In no event should the author or any of his associates be responsible for any indirect, special, incidental or consequential damages or lost profits to you or any other person or entity regardless of the legal theory, even if the author or any of his associates have been advised of the possibility of such damage.

No person or entity is authorized to expand or alter either these warranties or this agreement; any such representation will not bind the author or his associates.

The user is licensed to operate SWBC Interval Signals free of charge, for the purposes of inspection, for a period of sixty (60) days.  After the 60 day period expires, the user is expected to pay the nominal registration charge of thirty United States dollars (US$30).

Support of this shareware product ensures its continued development and dissemination.  As a bonus for registering SWBC Interval Signals for Windows, the user will receive the full interval signal library (approximately 11 Mb of interval signals!).

See How to Register SWBC Interval Signals for Windows for more information on product registration.


Nice Try!

You are already at the highest level of the help system.


 Playing the Interval Signals

All that is required to run SWBC Interval Signals for Windows, is to click on the associated icon in the Program Manager, or the ISWIN.EXE entry in the File Manager.  The program will then search the disk for all of the interval signal files.  For each file found, the name of the station will appear in the programs list box.  The user can then play an interval signal by highlighting a station name in the list, and pressing the Play Button, or by simply double-clicking on the station name.

For a full description of all controls, either click on a feature in the above picture, or select one of the following:

Interval Signal List Box

Play Button

Pause Button

Stop Button

Repeat Button


 Registering SWBC Interval Signals

The user is licensed to operate SWBC Interval Signals for Windows free of charge, for the purposes of inspection, for a period of sixty (60) days.  After the 60 day period expires, the user is expected to pay the nominal registration charge of thirty United States dollars (US$30), primarily to cover media and shipping charges.  In exchange for registering SWBC Interval Signals for Windows, registered parties will receive the remainder of the interval signal library.

To register SWBC Interval Signals for Windows v2.00, print this help topic (from the menu bar, select File | Print), fill out the form below and return it with a check or money order in the appropriate amount.

Checks or money orders drawn on a United States bank may be made payable to MARK J. FINE and can be sent to the following address:

MARK J. FINE

c/o FineWare

11252 Cardinal Drive

Remington, Virginia 22734-9684


 Contacting the Author

The author would appreciate any comments regarding the improvement of this software or any bug reports (nobody's perfect).

The author may be contacted by calling the FineWare Support Conference (#16) on The Cats Meow BBS, Warrenton, Virginia (1-703-349-9553, Name used on BBSs: MARK FINE).  Jon Poisel, the new owner of TCM, has graciously provided this support conference for users of Smart R8 Control, as well as other FineWare products.  It is anticipated that users will be able to use the FineWare Support Conference as a forum for rapidly acquiring software updates, information on SWBC Interval Signals developments as well as a means to exchange up-to-date shortwave data.

In addition to TCM, updates to this software may be found at the following land line BBS and FTP sites:

TRS Consultants Conference Area (#50) of Pics OnLine BBS	1-609-753-2540 1-609-753-1549 1-609-753-2605 1-609-753-2618
Grove Systems BBS	1-704-837-7081 1-704-837-9200 1-704-837-5957 1-704-837-5183
VOA Frequency Division BBS	1-202-619-1494
oak.oakland.edu	/pub/hamradio/pc/ham-utils
NIC.funet.fi	/pub/dx/software/msdos/misc

The author may also be contacted via any bulletin board system currently participating in the following national BBS conference echoes:

RIME (RelayNet) SCANNERS/SWL Conference (route using '->CATSMEOW', R/O capable, public key 26936)

FidoNet Shortwave Conference (NetMail address:  1:265/109)

The author also tends to hang out in the following message areas in Cyberspace:

USENET Rec.Radio.Shortwave Newsgroup (via the University of Texas USENET gateway:  Rec-Radio-Shortwave@cs.utexas.edu)

Drake R8 List (DrakeR8@terra.pwd.hp.com)  [Note:  Send a SUBSCRIBE message to DrakeR8-Request@terra.pwd.hp.com to join the list]

In addition, the author may also be contacted by mail at his home address (phone calls are discouraged):

MARK J. FINE

c/o FineWare

11252 Cardinal Drive

Remington, Virginia 22734-9684

Comments should be constructive and contain detailed descriptions of what the user would like to see included in this software.  If a bug report is in order, please include information such as computer make and model, version and make of DOS & Windows used, a hard copy of the user's AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS files, as well as detailed descriptions of the nature of each problem.  All constructive comments and bug reports will result in a prompt, courteous response.


 Interval Signal List Box

The list box contains the station names for all of the available interval signals.  The interval signal for that station can be played by either highlighting a station name in the list, and pressing the Play Button, or by simply double-clicking on the station name.

In some instances, a station may have more than one interval signal for each service.  For these, the station name is annotated with the language of the service used.  Shortwave shorthand is used to annotate EE for English, SS for Spanish, FF for French, and RR for Russian.

In other instances, the station may no interval signal at all.  Nevertheless, the station may have a distinct intro tune that is used at signon or signoff.  These have been annotated with the word intro.


 Play Button

The Play Button is shown as a button with a sideways triangle, pointing to the right on it.  Pressing the Play Button when a station name is highlighted in the List Box will initiate playing of that interval signal.  Once the interval signal is playing, the user can press the Pause Button to pause it, or the Stop Button to stop it.  If the Repeat Button is pushed, the interval signal will simulate a real interval signal, by repeating itself over and over again.

If the computer is equipped with a sound card, the word PLAYING will appear above the list box while an interval signal is playing.  This feature is not available for users running the program with a PC-Speaker driver (a synchronous device).  In this case, the cursor will change to an hourglass, until the interval signal is completed.


 Pause Button

The Pause Button is shown as a button with two vertical bars on it.  Pressing the Pause Button will interrupt the playing of an interval signal.  It can be re-initiated by pressing the Pause Button again, and stopped by pressing the Stop Button.

The Pause Button is only available if the computer is equipped with a sound card.  The word PAUSED will appear above the list box when interval signal playing is paused.


 Stop Button

The Stop Button is shown as a button with a square on it.  Pressing the Stop Button will stop the playing of an interval signal.

The Stop Button is only available if the computer is equipped with a sound card.


 Repeat Button

The Repeat Button is shown as a button with two curved arrows on it.  By activating the Repeat Button, the desired interval signal will automatically play again after it concludes.  Deactivating the Repeat Button or pressing the Stop Button will restore normal, one-time playing.

The Repeat Button is only available if the computer is equipped with a sound card.