BATC Forum

I have a long list of enhancements that I would like to include in future Portsdown software releases and am making good progress with a second screen on the LCD to allow Shutdown, Reboot and other functions to be selected from the Touchscreen. I'm also working with Evariste to introduce a sound capability with H264 video.

However, there are a number of features that I would like to include and I'm sure someone out there has the knowledge of what's required without me spending days on them. Here are some current requests:

- If the Portsdown is started without a network connection, it takes longer to boot, as it waits for network (WiFi or wired) attempted connections to time out. How can I configure it so that it waits less time for a network connection?

- I would like to be able to generate a .jpg of contest numbers, callsign and locator on-the-fly, so that these could be used for contesting. Is there simple application to do it?

Grateful for any assistance - either through the forum or by direct e-mail.

Thanks

Dave, G8GKQ

For generating images I use the convert utility from the imagemagick package:
convert -background blue -fill yellow -pointsize 72 label:M1BKF m1bkf.jpg

Hi Dave,
How about using the 'convert' utility, from the Imagemagick toolkit, for the serial numbers?
# sudo apt-get -y install imagemagick
# convert -size 640x480 xc:white -gravity Center -pointsize 200 -annotate 0 '1234' serial1234.jpg
You could put Callsign and Locator above or below using gravity North or South maybe?
73
Dave

Thanks both

I will try Imagemagick. You will note that I already have Menu and config entries for contest numbers, so once I have checked the conversion, it should be a "simple" matter of selecting the right .jpg and putting it on the Desktop for display (or even getting it into avc2ts in a more elegant way).

Dave, G8GKQ

Dave

Imagemagick does the job nicely. Thanks; coming soon in a release.

I'm still waiting for any ideas on my other question:

- If the Portsdown is started without a network connection, it takes longer to boot, as it waits for the network (WiFi or wired) attempted connections to time out. How can I configure it so that it waits less time for a network connection?

Dave, G8GKQ

Hi Dave have a look at this it might point you in the right direction to help boot time with no network attached.

http://raspberrypi.stackexchange.com/qu ... ernet-wait

John