Langstone Update

[g4eml]

A further update. (probably the last for a few days!)

Added RIT and changed Volume and Squelch button actions. Now a single button to select, then use tuning dial to adjust.
Added Rx bandwidth indicator to top of spectrum display.
Improved FM IF filtering and squelch.
Increased overall volume.


73
Colin G4EML

IMG_0854[1].JPG (1.54 MiB) Viewed 5476 times

[g4eml]

Colour Waterfall added by Rob M0DTS.

Also Audio AGC added to SSB Rx. (Found I needed it after being nearly deafened by this local signal in the UKAC!)

IMG_0855.JPG (1.68 MiB) Viewed 5425 times

Colin G4EML

[g8gtz]

Excellent works well - the Farnham 23cms beacon used to splatter across the waterfall but not anymore. And the colour display is "cool"!

Noel

[i2NDT]

I discovered that my audio dongle will arrive after May 16...even if it comes from UK (ordered on April 25).
so I decided to tamper with the SSB_TRX.by file to make it accept a dongle I already had.
just changed this "hw:CARD=Device,DEV=0" with "hw:CARD=AUDIO,DEV=0" in a couple of lines and after rebooting...It worked!
full display with all buttons working (mouse as well) and a beautiful black and white waterfall (I did it yesterday morning).
unfortunately after a few minutes de display froze!
I guess my mods were not smart enough! hahaha
BTW...just to spend my "locked" time at home I would like to try the previous version of the software: is it possible to downgrade to the pre-waterfall version?

Claudio

[g4eml]

Hi Claudio,

There is no simple way to revert back to an old version. It can be done but it needs a good knowledge of GitHub.

I doubt it is needed. If you have modified the audio card selections and it starts to work it is unlikey there is a big problem.
I might be worth checking the power supply as the Pluto is very sensitive to power problems.

Colin.

[i2NDT]

github is something I don't really understand...hehehe
so is it advisable to use and external powered USB hub?
or I can power the pluto through its own USB psu port?
I am a little afraid mixing voltages...in both cases the two voltages will be in parallel.

Claudio

[g4eml]

Hi Claudio,

I do not use a separate power supply, I just power the Pluto from the Raspberry pi. So I would suggest just trying again. Does it always fail after the same amount of time? Does it fail when you do anything in particular?

However I do have a very good power supply for the Pi which can deliver up to 5 Amps. You don't need a powered hub. If the Pluto does need a separate power supply you can just plug it into the second connector on the Pluto. The internal circuitry will switch the power over to that socket.

Colin.

[i2NDT]

I plugged the pluto into one of the USB3 ports and now the GUI is working fine!
the PSU is the official Raspi 3 Amps.
but I have a problem with the audio...
attached is the recording in FM at 144.600 with the RX plug terminated with a 3dB attenuator and no antenna.
I than switched on my generator in FM, 1kHz modulating tone and 3kHz deviation and the resulting sound was similar to a CW transmission of dots...
after some 10 minutes the system crashed!
considering I am using a "no name" audio dongle I don't know if it is worth to further investigate.

Claudio

[g4eml]

Hi Claudio

I have never heard it sound like that. Does the waterfall display look correct?

You may have to wait until your new sound device arrives.

Colin.

[i2NDT]

the waterfall looks OK but I want to make more tests.
and, actually, it's advisable to wait for the the good dongle to arrive.
I am also thinking of a more powerful and clean PSU to feed the PI, the dongle, the pluto and the screen separately.
at present it's the PI which feeds all the devices!
any suggestion on that?

Claudio