Langstone Update 08/11/20

Forum for discussion about the Langstone Microwave Transceiver that shares some features with the Portsdown. Wiki: https://wiki.microwavers.org.uk/Langstone_Project
g4eml
Posts: 674
Joined: Thu Apr 26, 2018 9:36 am

Langstone Update 08/11/20

Post by g4eml » Sun Nov 08, 2020 7:06 pm

Two new items have been added to the Langstone code.

1. Semi break-in for CW mode. It is no longer necessary to press the PTT before using the key. Pressing the key when in CW mode will now automatically switch the Langstone to Tx. After a short delay with the key up it will return automatically to Rx. This delay is adjustable between 500 and 2000 ms from the setup menu. Due to the amount of time it takes to switch between Tx and Rx shorter delays or full break-in are not practical.

2. Additional method to activate the Dial Lock. If you do not have a Middle mouse button then you can now activate or remove the Dial Lock by pressing both mouse buttons simultaneously.

Colin G4EML

radiogareth
Posts: 1215
Joined: Wed Jan 06, 2016 9:46 am

Re: Langstone Update 08/11/20

Post by radiogareth » Sun Nov 08, 2020 7:58 pm

Excellent, but the keyer doesn't work in CWN mode. Just another line??
Gareth

g4eml
Posts: 674
Joined: Thu Apr 26, 2018 9:36 am

Re: Langstone Update 08/11/20

Post by g4eml » Sun Nov 08, 2020 9:08 pm

Good point... I had forgotten about CWN.

Should be fixed now...

Colin.

radiogareth
Posts: 1215
Joined: Wed Jan 06, 2016 9:46 am

Re: Langstone Update 08/11/20

Post by radiogareth » Mon Nov 09, 2020 7:16 am

Wonderful :-)
Gareth

ON7KGK
Posts: 9
Joined: Mon Feb 15, 2016 8:47 am

Re: Langstone Update 08/11/20

Post by ON7KGK » Mon Nov 09, 2020 12:30 pm

Dear Colin,

Thank you for this nice piece of software. Would it be possible to add a zoom button for the waterfall ?
Sometimes it is necessary to zoom in to see a very small signal from a beacon for example.
I see the small signal with sdrconsole, and with the langstone i can ear it but nothing on the waterfall.
Thank you.

73's from Mike ON7KGK

g4eml
Posts: 674
Joined: Thu Apr 26, 2018 9:36 am

Re: Langstone Update 08/11/20

Post by g4eml » Mon Nov 09, 2020 1:28 pm

Hello Mike,

I am not sure if it is possible to do that easily or how effective it would be. I will have to do some experiments to see if it is worth doing.


Colin.

w0iy
Posts: 27
Joined: Sat Jul 04, 2020 2:38 am

Re: Langstone Update 08/11/20

Post by w0iy » Thu Nov 12, 2020 6:46 am

Would it be possible to have a manual gain control on the waterfall? That might help finding weak signals.

g4eml
Posts: 674
Joined: Thu Apr 26, 2018 9:36 am

Re: Langstone Update 08/11/20

Post by g4eml » Thu Nov 12, 2020 10:12 am

There is already an FFT reference level adjustment and I find that careful adjustment of this can improve the display of weak signals. By adjusting so that that the noise is just on the threshold of a visible colour change it makes small signals stand out more.

I doubt that a gain adjustment would help much. It would increase the variations due to noise as well as the signal so would probably not make it any easier to see.

What might help would be some averaging of the display, that might cancel out the noise and make signals stand out. However it would need a lot more processing, so might not be practical.

radiogareth
Posts: 1215
Joined: Wed Jan 06, 2016 9:46 am

Re: Langstone Update 08/11/20

Post by radiogareth » Sun Nov 15, 2020 7:32 pm

Having now used the Langstone AND Portsdown today for Q100 QSOs (a double first) I'm wondering if it would be possible to use the morse key input as PTT when in voice modes? Although I have wired my front panel for a 4 pin standard mic, I'm getting great use out of an old carphone hands-free unit which has great AGC, but of course no PTT. So if I'm wandering around the shack talking, I can use the on-screen PTT, but if I'm sitting in front of the rig it would be handy to press my microswitch morse key as a PTT if I'm using this particular mic.
I hope that makes sense....
Thanks
Gareth

g4eml
Posts: 674
Joined: Thu Apr 26, 2018 9:36 am

Re: Langstone Update 08/11/20

Post by g4eml » Sun Nov 15, 2020 8:22 pm

Probably the simplest way to do that would be to just physically link the PTT and Key inputs together.

Post Reply

Return to “The Langstone Microwave Transceiver”