Pluto Blues

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EA7KIR
Posts: 86
Joined: Tue Feb 09, 2021 3:38 pm

Pluto Blues

Post by EA7KIR » Thu Jan 20, 2022 7:41 pm

It's a new Type C/D and it came with version 0.32 firmware. Before doing anything clever, I connected it to the Mac using USB. It mounted and I could see 3 files and 1 folder...

config.txt
img
info.html
LICENSE.html

The info.html will open in the browser. I'm intending to use this thing over the LAN, so I reconnected with an OTG and was able to browse to pluto.local and see the same html file. I could also login with ssh root@pluto.local and password analog.

Back to the USB connection, and feeling brave, I decided to upgrade the firmware. I right clicked the Firmware Update button to save it as a ZIP file (recommended) to the USB device and then ejected the device as instructed. When the LED finished flashing, the Pluto re-mounted itself. Sure enough, it now reported that version 0.34 was installed.

All this without installing HoRNDIS on the Mac. They do say it's optional and it's not supported on macOS versions later than 10.15. I'm on 12.1.

Moving on.

Logging in with ssh was becoming a pain, because the Pluto looses the keys when powered off. There's fix for this...

device_format_jffs2
device_persistent_keys

The first command format/erases the mtd2 partition. This went as expected. The second is supposed to take some time and printout a result, but it didn't. Nevertheless, It's now possible to cycle the power without loosing the keys. I then changed the password and that worked too. Then I tried executing usb_ethernet_mode = ncm, but that command doesn't exist.

Strange things happen.

When I eject the Pluto it remounts itself almost immediately, so I have to be quick to disconnect it to avoid being notified than the device wasn't ejected properly.

At this point I was expecting to browse to other pages, so I decided to start all over agin and reinstall version 0.32. That didn't work, so I reinstalled 0.34 again.

I was also expecting to use the default password, but that, and the ssh key thing, is still lurking somewhere inside the Pluto. I was hoping for a 0.34 factory default.

Where next?

This is where I need some guidance. Should I plough on and install some DATV firmware? If so, which version, with what patch, and from where? And how? Those fortunate enough to be up on QO-100 will know the difference between the various F5OEO's versions and F5OEO's Perseverance, but I can't figure out what the difference is - or even if they are one of the same.
Michael EA7KIR

g8gtz
Posts: 1732
Joined: Wed Apr 07, 2010 6:26 pm

Re: Pluto Blues

Post by g8gtz » Fri Jan 21, 2022 5:31 pm

Hi Michael,

There's a step by step guide I wrote to resurrecting a Pluto - I know it's written for Windows users but it has all the links and process you need to get it working on DATV - note it does matter which F5OEO firmware you run if you are intending to run it with Portsdown.

viewtopic.php?f=103&t=7473&p=28042&hilit=dfu#p28042

You may also find the article by Mike G0MJW in CQ-TV 273 page 20 useful reading if you want to run it without Portsdown and direct from OBS and I believe that is not so fussy about F5OEO firmware version.

73
Noel - G8GTZ

EA7KIR
Posts: 86
Joined: Tue Feb 09, 2021 3:38 pm

Re: Pluto Blues

Post by EA7KIR » Sun Apr 24, 2022 5:40 pm

Months later and finding time to play with the Pluto. I need to ask, in which order should the pre-amp and filter be?

Pluto --> CN0417 --> OPA_BPQO100TX --> PA with max i/p 80mw for 100w out.
or
Pluto --> OPA_BPQO100TX --> CN0417 --> PA with max i/p 80mw for 100w out.

For QO-100 DATV, does Pluto have an 'optimum range' of output powers giving acceptable distortion?

Finally, if I needed to insert an attenuator, where would be the best place to place it?
.
IMG_2645.jpeg
IMG_2645.jpeg (482.06 KiB) Viewed 6889 times
Michael EA7KIR

g4eml
Posts: 673
Joined: Thu Apr 26, 2018 9:36 am

Re: Pluto Blues

Post by g4eml » Mon Apr 25, 2022 8:39 am

The CN0417 board already has a 2.4GHz band pass filter on its input so there is no point in having another filter in front of it. The output is unfiltered. Based on this I would fit the filter after the CN0417.

To produce a good DATV signal the Pluto gain needs to be set a little below maximum. About 80% gain seems to be OK.

The Pluto output level already has a good range of adjustment. The only reason for fitting an additional attenuator would be to ensure that each of the following amplifiers is not being driven too hard. The position would depend on where the overdrive was occurring.

Colin G4EML

EA7KIR
Posts: 86
Joined: Tue Feb 09, 2021 3:38 pm

Re: Pluto Blues

Post by EA7KIR » Tue Apr 26, 2022 1:53 pm

Thank you, Colin, for answering all my questions so perfectly.
Michael EA7KIR

EA7KIR
Posts: 86
Joined: Tue Feb 09, 2021 3:38 pm

Re: Pluto Blues

Post by EA7KIR » Sat Apr 30, 2022 5:22 pm

I'm sure I once understood IP networking, but now I'm completely lost. Before I even attempt to install the F5OEO firmware, please could someone explain why I'm unable to access the Pluto via http or ssh at 192.168.2.1 or 192.168.2.10 ?

I can access it with ssh root@pluto.local, but not with ssh root@192.168,1.40 - the address given by the DHCP server on my router and the address returned with ping pluto.local

I can open the info.html file via USB by double clicking it and I can open http://pluto.local/index.html

But info.html is not exactly the same as index.html, because the internal links, such as /config.txt, don't work from /index.html.

Apparently, Pluto defaults to 192.168.2.X (but not for me) when most people are more likely to be using 192.168.1.X, but defaults to DHCP - apparently.

If you find any of this confusing then I'm not alone, but I'm hoping there's someone out there who isn't.
Michael EA7KIR

g0mjw
Posts: 2327
Joined: Sat Sep 20, 2014 9:15 am

Re: Pluto Blues

Post by g0mjw » Sat Apr 30, 2022 5:34 pm

Are you connected by Ethernet? If so you need to use the assigned address. The 192.168.2.1 address is for when it is connected via USB on a PC. That's a local network to that PC and not accessible outside without additional work.

Mike

EA7KIR
Posts: 86
Joined: Tue Feb 09, 2021 3:38 pm

Re: Pluto Blues

Post by EA7KIR » Sat Apr 30, 2022 5:50 pm

I've been trying both ethernet and USB, so hence the long post. However, I would much prefer to be using ethernet if that's possible. Logging in over ssh lands me in /root as expected. I find the official online documentation to be out dated, ambiguous and confusing. As stated in my long OP, I have managed to upgrade the Pluto firmware to 0.34 - confirmed as follows.

Code: Select all

mike@iMac-2015 ~ % ssh root@pluto.local 
root@pluto.local's password: 
Welcome to:
______ _       _        _________________
| ___ \ |     | |      /  ___|  _  \ ___ \
| |_/ / |_   _| |_ ___ \ `--.| | | | |_/ /
|  __/| | | | | __/ _ \ `--. \ | | |    /
| |   | | |_| | || (_) /\__/ / |/ /| |\ \
\_|   |_|\__,_|\__\___/\____/|___/ \_| \_|

v0.34
https://wiki.analog.com/university/tools/pluto
# pwd
/root
total 4
drwxr-xr-x    2 root     root             0 Aug 20  2021 bin
drwxr-xr-x    7 root     root          2860 Jan  1 00:00 dev
drwxr-xr-x   10 root     root             0 Jan  1 00:00 etc
-rwxr-xr-x    1 root     root           462 Aug 20  2021 init
drwxr-xr-x    4 root     root             0 Aug 20  2021 lib
lrwxrwxrwx    1 root     root             3 Aug 20  2021 lib32 -> lib
lrwxrwxrwx    1 root     root            11 Aug 20  2021 linuxrc -> bin/busybox
drwxr-xr-x    2 root     root             0 Oct 31  2016 media
drwxr-xr-x    4 root     root             0 Aug 20  2021 mnt
drwxr-xr-x    2 root     root             0 Jan  1 00:00 opt
dr-xr-xr-x   61 root     root             0 Jan  1 00:00 proc
drwx------    2 root     root             0 Jan  1 00:00 root
drwxr-xr-x    5 root     root           320 Jan  1 00:00 run
drwxr-xr-x    2 root     root             0 Aug 20  2021 sbin
dr-xr-xr-x   12 root     root             0 Jan  1 00:00 sys
drwxrwxrwt    5 root     root           160 Jan  1 00:00 tmp
drwxr-xr-x    7 root     root             0 Aug 20  2021 usr
drwxr-xr-x    4 root     root             0 Aug 20  2021 var
drwxr-xr-x    3 root     root             0 Jan  1 00:00 www
# 
So what next?
Michael EA7KIR

g0mjw
Posts: 2327
Joined: Sat Sep 20, 2014 9:15 am

Re: Pluto Blues

Post by g0mjw » Sat Apr 30, 2022 6:06 pm

Be specific with your question. If it is on USB you can comment from the 192.168.2.xxx network. If it is on ethernet you can connect from 192.168.1.xxx network. so that's all working properly. You CAN NOT access the USB drive it sets up when plugged in via USB when connected via Ethernet because it is a USB drive, not a network connection.

g0mjw
Posts: 2327
Joined: Sat Sep 20, 2014 9:15 am

Re: Pluto Blues

Post by g0mjw » Sat Apr 30, 2022 6:10 pm

Are you asking how to load the F5OEO firmware?

https://wiki.batc.org.uk/Custom_DATV_Fi ... _the_Pluto

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