Portsdown 2018 Stretch Software News

[radiogareth]

Thanks Dave, I was checking that port, but nothing found even with the lid off and a whip aerial on my MT right next to the box. Just wondering if my Lime is faulty 'on that channel' or faulty full stop.....

[radiogareth]

In an attempt at finding out if my Lime is working I've downloaded the latest Express DVB and followed the instructions therein. Although the PC says its installing the device and reports success, it appears under 'other devices' as a "LimeSDR" complete with a warning triangle, which says driver provider unknown. Attempts at letting windows find a driver fail. No mention of FTDI under USB devices. Even downloading the driver package from FTDI and running it doesn't help. Limesuite however connects fine to my lime. WIll a 'portsdown' upgraded Lime work unchanged with Express DVB?
Trying to narrow things down here....
Gareth

[G4GUO]

https://wiki.myriadrf.org/LimeSDR-USB_d ... stallation

[radiogareth]

Thanks, on that now....and the latest drivers work fine
Gareth

[radiogareth]

Well it clearly is transmitting from Express DVB as I can see it on my RSP spectrum analyser. Can't get a picture lock on MT out of it though. However, back on the Portsdown, its now working fine on 23 and 13 with a quick-to-lock signal too. Neither of my Plutos now seem to work with Express DVB, not even as a carrier only, so back to the install instructions for them to refresh my failing memory.
Its been wonderfully simple to make the Lime work with the Portsdown, no idea where my 13cm signal went but its here now. Windows drivers remain a real PITA....
Interesting, since the Portsdown update I'm getting 'pops/cracks on the received audio. They don't seem to be related to screen animation, data rate or anything I can pinpoint. Same with Portsdown or LimeSDR as output device. No audio source in use at the moment. Could we have a 'music on hold' option perhaps

*** Correction, its not now working on 13cm *** but it does transmit at 1990MHz, the highest I can go with my spectrum analyser. Probably not much help as below 2GHz its using the low port anyway.

Something not right somewhere

But a cracking MER and signal/spectrum (1000SR) on 1255

1255.PNG (121.29 KiB) Viewed 3766 times

[GI4DOH]

Great feature Dave with LimeSDR Mini working here at SR2000 and SR4000 on 2405.5GHz on Portsdown with RPI 3B+.

My understanding is that the PTT from the Portsdown via the 4-Band Decoder board should still be working but it doesn't operate when I have 'Lime Mini' selected - not even when used on lower bands. PTT is fine when output to Portsdown is selected.

Am I missing something here?

73 Richard GI4DOH

[G8GKQ]

Hi Richard

Thanks very much for spotting this problem. I had forgotten to update the PTT code when I changed the way that the LimeSDR is driven in the last update.

So, the PTT should turn on, but it does not. I know how to fix it, and will try to get a fix out in a few days.

Dave

[G8GKQ]

New Portsdown Stretch Software Release 201812290

This minor update corrects the bug that prevented the RPi GPIO PTT operating with the LimeSDR. Thanks to Richard GI4DOH for reporting this.

The only other change is to re-arrange some of the menu buttons to a more logical arrangement. The buttons for navigating between Menus 1, 2 and 3 being the most obvious change. Thanks to Noel G8GTZ for the suggestions.

Dave, G8GKQ

[GI4DOH]

Many thanks Dave - PTT now operating after LimeSDR Mini has had time to settle just as you intended.
HNY to all
Richard GI4DOH