Hardware
Raspberry Pi 3 Model B, with or without a 3.5 inch diagonal Waveshare touchscreen. Alternatively, the TX can be controlled over the network from another computer. The use of a keyboard and monitor connected directly to the Pi is not supported.
The RPi will control an ADF4351 Synthesizer with a 10 or 25 MHz Reference Oscillator, and can accept video input from an EasyCap type USB capture device and from a Pi Camera.
Currently the RPi will output a dirty (ugly) QPSK signal on 437 MHz for testing, send I and Q signals to the Portsdown Filter/modulator board, and control a DATV Express in DVB-S mode.
For use as a basic DVB-S H264 LeanDVB signal monitor, an RTL-SDR is required.
Modes
In IQ output mode, the Pi will transmit MPEG-2 or H264 from the RPi Camera, the EasyCap or the on-board test card at up to 4 MS/s.
In DATV Express mode, it will transmit MPEG-2 or H264 picures from the RPi Camera, the EasyCap or the on-board test card at 125 KS/s - 4 MS/s
In "ugly mode" it will encode from these sources reliably at 125KS/s and sometimes at 333KS/s.
In streaming mode, it will send pictures from the RPi Camera or EasyCap to the BATC Streamer, or to any other compatible streamer.
With an added RTL-SDR, the included LeanDVB receiver will display strong DVB-S H264 signals of up to 1000 KS/s.
In Stream Display mode, it will display any selected BATC Stream on the touchscreen with audio from the RPi 3.5mm jack.
A signal Generator function can be selected from Menu 2 of the Touchscreen.
The FreqShow Spectrum Viewer can be selected from Menu 2 of the touchscreen.
Future Enhancements
I have a very long list of things to get working properly. Here are the highlights:
- Display transmitted image on the LCD in all modes
- Add sound channel to H264 video modes - Now available on Portsdown Stretch!!
Your comments welcome
Dave, G8GKQ
Version 201612310 Introduced a blank background behind the receive display, which in now part of the core capability.
Version 201701020 introduced automatic selection of EasyCap input and TV standard.
Version 201701080 introduced installation of Waveshare Touchscreen drivers during install, disabled the screensaver and added a screen logo at next boot.
Version 201701190 Added stability improvements allowing 4MS SR, increasing reliability and reducing lock-ups. It also adjusted the touchscreen display to be centered in the screen
Version 201701230 Added an Advanced Setup Menu. The fallback IP address was disabled, and the update script made more resilient to internet connection problems.
Version 201701270 Added the ability to set the reference frequency and power for the ADF4351. It also corrected the selection of Carrier and Carrier Null modes, improved band switching and added menu items for future enhancements.
Version 201701280 Bug fix for new ADF4351 functionality introduced in 201701270
Version 201702020 New version of pi-sdn for button-initiated shutdown without error messages. Install and update improvements to allow easier testing and subsequent fielding of development versions.
Version 201702060 Introduced basic support for the DATV Express modulator board
Version 201702090 Introduced support for updated DATV express_server software. PTT capability and full SR range.
Version 201702100 Completed the DATV Express capability, including Port switching, and tidied the switching between touchscreen and console.
Version 201702110 Bugfix for DATV Express
Version 201702190 Enabled streaming modes, lip-sync for MPEG-2 and switchable viewfinder.
Version 201703060 Added the capability to adjust the frequency and SR for the touch screen presets.
Version 201704030 Enabled IPTSIN mode and the transmission of contest numbers without a camera.
Version 201704050 Update package lists before upgrade (bugfix for 201704030)
Version 201704080 German Menus. Waveshare B display support and TonTec selection bug fix
Version 201704160 Revised boot-up procedure, Display IP Address on splash screen. Update new build Jessie baseline.
Version 201705200 Enabled the Pi Cam auto-shutter and improved the Shutdown button functionality.
Version 201705301 Added a second Touchscreen menu with a shutdown button and enabled Contest mode operation from the touchscreen
Version 201706301 Adds a number of menu options and the ability to run beta software using a recompiled version of ffmpeg.
Version 201707120 Adds a PAL composite video output mode from the RPi and corrected the test card sizes.
Version 201707222 Adds the ability to transmit MPEG-2 and stream from an EasyCap. Video and sound switching is provided.
Version 201707311 Adds an Info screen on Menu 3, and sound pass-through in "Vid Out" mode.
Version 201708150 Adds dedicated repeater streaming modes and video still capture.
Version 201710081 Adds RTL-SDR functionality and keyed transmit.
Version 201710280 Added the basic signal generator
Version 201711031 Adds the touchscreen calibration.
Version 201711271 Adds an HD Pi Camera MPEG-2 mode and a static MPEG-2 test card.
Version 201712181 Included a total re-write of the touchscreen touch response function and added 480p MPEG-2 modes.
Version 201801012 Adds the FreqShow Spectrum viewer and basic support for the Element 14 7 inch screen.
Version 201801061 Adds the ability to use DATV Express or switchable attenuators with the SigGen and tidies RX switching
Version 201802041 Includes a major menu rewrite and add the facility to use the attenuator and transverters.
Version 201802202 Minor bugfixes including C920 WebCam functionality
Version 201803061 H264 HD streaming from C920. Additional HD, widescreen and test card modes
Version 201803181 Revised C525 webcam reset logic. Corrected audio switching bug. Added C910 Webcam Support
Version 201804020 Added functionality (including software update) from the touchscreen.
Version 201804061 Adds FreqShow and VideoView functionality and other minor improvements for the Element 14 7 inch Screen
Version 201804251 Adds an RTL-FM Receiver on Menu 2 and improves visibility of the DATV Express Firmware load
Version 201805150 Adds a locator bearing calculator and improves the Composite video output facility.
Version 201807041 Adds an independent LeanDVB Receiver Menu, and a Receive LO Generation Capability.
Version 201807091 Introduces performance improvements for the LeanDVB receiver
Version 201807151 Adds the ability to display any BATC Stream.
Version 201807293 Improves the BATC Stream Viewer and adds the ability to control a repeater input based on the stream status.
Version 201809051 Corrects the bug that prevented display of streams after looking at the system info.
Version 201809151 Adds the capability to set up and select streamer outputs from the touchscreen and sets the rtl-fm gain.
Version 201810311 Exceptional upgrade to provide streamer nightly reboot and possible improved streamer audio.
Last updated 31 October 2018. DGC