BATC Forum

I have just released a major update to the Portsdown 4 software. It brings in a number of long-overdue bugfixes and also some new features.

The headline new features include DVB-T transmit using a LimeSDR (previously only available on a Portsdown 2020) and a band viewer using the receiver in the LimeSDR. Details of the Band Viewer are here: https://wiki.batc.org.uk/Portsdown_Band_Viewer and I have included a screenshot below.

The headline bugfix is that 1.7 MHz DVB-T receive has been made to work. There are also a number of changes to improve reliability when using the Pluto. The full changelog:

• Set GPIO pin 21 low on Portsdown selection (is high for Langstone)
• Enable ext attenuator with Pluto and make changes immediate on entry
• Cure Transmit over-run with Pluto Test Card
• Check Pluto available when required
• Menu-driven Pluto Firmware check
• Menu-driven Pluto CPU Check and Update
• Trigger and monitor Pluto reboots when required
• BugFix Langstone install feedback to user
• Bugfix 1.7 MHz DVB-T reception
• Add Experimental LimeSDR Mini Band Viewer
• Add Experimental LimeSDR Mini DVB-T TX capability

Thanks to Phil M0DNY for the basis of the Band Viewer and to everyone (too numerous to mention) who has come up with suggestions for improvements.

Please report any bugs here.

Dave, G8GKQ

Yet again an excellent update and the lime band viewer is excellent well done all

73 John

a couple of dumb (I hope not too much...) questions:

a) today I switched on my Portsdown 4 for the first time since June last year when I made a few tests mainly with the Langstone. The software loaded is A27 dated 10 June 20: can I update it simply using the built in update function? (the same apply to my Portsdown 2020...)

b) I am going pack all the parts together for the first time in one box. I will use the recommended dongle for the Langstone and the Easy-Cap for the Portsdown for my analogue camera: which audio input should I use? I mean...do I need 2 separate microphones: one for the Langstone and one for the Porstdown?

thanks in advance for your patience!!!

best 73
de
i2NDT Claudio

Hi Claudio

The Portsdown A27 software was an interim experimental build. You cannot update it. You need to build a new Portsdown 4 card and then load the Langstone software.

You can select the audio to come from the same USB dongle as the Langstone uses. Just go to "Audio" and select "USB Mic".

Dave

thanks Dave!

Claudio

well, I built my new card following the instructions on the github BATC page:
downloaded the 2021-03-04 release of Raspios Buster Lite and than downloaded and installed ver. 202104270.

as I am not yet ready to transmit...I am playing with the RX.

I have connected my MiniTiounerExpress receiver and I am able to receive and display signals on the 7" display using the "Play with ffmpeg VLC" option. audio is also OK on the "USB dongle" (I am using the USB dongle recommended for the Langstone).

"Play with OMX Player" and "Play with VLC" option do not give any display. ONX gives only audio but not VLC.

I have also problems with the Langstone which I reported in this thread:
viewtopic.php?f=129&t=7242&p=27508#p27508

Claudio

Claudio

The QO-100 beacon (and a number of other stations using SR Systems encoders) do not display correctly unless you use the "Play with ffmpeg VLC" option. I was tempted to delete the other 2 buttons, but I think that there are some circumstances where they work and the ffmpeg VLC option does not.

Dave

I see!
great! at least it was not my fault!!! hahaha
I am always very worried when have to deal with Linux...

Claudio

after having played with the built in Longmynd and my MiniTiounerExpress I unsuccessfully tried to load again the Langstone. I did it several times even rebuilding the Porstdown card twice!
it happens that when I hit the "Install Langstone now" button it seems it is loading something...but after several minutes it goes back to menu 39 and the button is still blue! and there is no Langstone directory...
if I hit the button again after less than 30 seconds it reboots! but it doesn't work. when I checked the LangstoneTX.log I always got this:

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/home/pi/Langstone/Lang_TX.py", line 11, in <module>
from gnuradio import analog
ImportError: No module named gnuradio

but today I got this!!!
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/home/pi/Langstone/Lang_TX.py", line 11, in <module>
from gnuradio import analog
File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/gnuradio/analog/__init__.py", line 35,

in <module>
from am_demod import *
File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/gnuradio/analog/am_demod.py", line 22,

in <module>
from gnuradio import gr
File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/gnuradio/gr/__init__.py", line 44, in

<module>
from top_block import *
File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/gnuradio/gr/top_block.py", line 30, in

<module>
from hier_block2 import hier_block2
File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/gnuradio/gr/hier_block2.py", line 25,

in <module>
import pmt
File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/pmt/__init__.py", line 58, in <module>
from pmt_to_python import pmt_to_python as to_python
File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/pmt/pmt_to_python.py", line 22, in

<module>
import numpy
File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/numpy/__init__.py", line 142, in

<module>
from . import core
File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/numpy/core/__init__.py", line 71, in

<module>
raise ImportError(msg)
ImportError:

IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ THIS FOR ADVICE ON HOW TO SOLVE THIS ISSUE!

Importing the multiarray numpy extension module failed. Most
likely you are trying to import a failed build of numpy.
Here is how to proceed:
- If you're working with a numpy git repository, try `git clean -xdf`
(removes all files not under version control) and rebuild numpy.
- If you are simply trying to use the numpy version that you have installed:
your installation is broken - please reinstall numpy.
- If you have already reinstalled and that did not fix the problem, then:
1. Check that you are using the Python you expect (you're using

/usr/bin/python),
and that you have no directories in your PATH or PYTHONPATH that can
interfere with the Python and numpy versions you're trying to use.
2. If (1) looks fine, you can open a new issue at
https://github.com/numpy/numpy/issues. Please include details on:
- how you installed Python
- how you installed numpy
- your operating system
- whether or not you have multiple versions of Python installed
- if you built from source, your compiler versions and ideally a build log

Note: this error has many possible causes, so please don't comment on
an existing issue about this - open a new one instead.

Original error was: libblas.so.3: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory

which completely knocked me down! hahaha

Claudio

Hi Caludio

Is there sonmething that I can include in the install script to stop this problem happening?

Dave