BATC Forum

Hi all,

Apologies if this is a newbie issue!

Using (latest) Portsdown 4 software version 202311130 with Minitioune v2 to receive my test 'ugly' transmission from a headless Portsdown 3.

SIgnal locks but then touchscreen goes blank (parameters displayed but no receive video).

Portsdown 4 displays PiCam and a TX testcard OK.

Using the same Minitioune on my Ryde receiver to receive the same test transmission works perfectly.

Just wanted to check that I hadn't missed something obvious before digging in further.

Thanks,
Malcolm
M0MBO

Try the OMX player, I have a very vague recollection that the 'dirty' signal is trickier to decode.....
Gareth

Thanks Gareth.

Yes, the OMX stream viewer works fine.

Still think there's an issue if Portsdown 4 shows a lock on the 'ugly' TX, but no video.

And works fine on Ryde.

Malcolm

The 'Ugly' transmission is so named because it is NOT standards compliant.

You should not expect every receiver work with it.

'Ugly' mode uses an odd harmonic of a waveform generated by the GPIO pins.

Clive G3GJA

Thanks Clive and yes, understand that the ugly mode is not ideal by any means.

Have now tried feeding Portsdown 4 with QO-100 beacon and same result, locks but no video.
Using my Ryde receiver with same feed works fine.

So I'm thinking this may be an issue with either Portsdown ver. 202311130 or my configuration of same.

Is there an earlier version I could try?

73,
Malcolm
M0MBO

Hi Malcolm

The beacon only displays using "ffmpeg VLC" on a Portsdown 2020 or "RECEIVE" on a Portsdown 4. This is because the beacon (as with most SR Systems encoders) transmits non-standard H264. It does not work with OMX Player or straight VLC.

Dave G8GKQ