Talking to Pluto

[EA7KIR]

Again, I'm somewhat confused and need help.

Within Pluto's F5OEO page at pluto.local/pluto.php, it's possible to set the Modulator parameters and toggle PTT.
Within OBS Studio Settings, it's also possible to do more or less the same thing.

I'm seriously hoping it won't be necessary to edit both every time I want to change something.

For testing, my setup is very basic: OBS -> Pluto over the LAN.
So I'm asking: Do I forget the Pluto page and just use OBS, or what?

[g0mjw]

You forget any of these settings in OBS and read the Wiki and articles in CQTV explaining exactly how to set this up. DATV Easy is a good starting option.

[EA7KIR]

You forget any of these settings in OBS and read the Wiki and articles in CQTV explaining exactly how to set this up. DATV Easy is a good starting option.

The PA is connected to a 100w dummy load, because I don't want to mess with the transponder until I think things is working. The only way I'm likely to know this will be to see an increases in PA current as I start the OBS stream. I don't have a spectrum analyser and I can't afford to buy everything at once, but I have read lots of articles and forums for the past 15 months.
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I think it should be working, but it's not. Not even when I reluctantly increase the power levels.
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[G8GKQ]

Michael

The first thing to do is across-the-shack testing on 2409.75 MHz without the PA in circuit. Tune the MiniTiouner to 2409.75 MHz, put bits of wire on the Pluto and MiniTiouner as aerials for coupling and see if you can receive your own pictures.

Dave

[g0mjw]

Dave is correct, test it across the shack without the PA first. You actually do have a spectrum analyser, the Pluto can do that with satsagen software, but of course it is being used for the TX. If you have a RTL dongle you could use that, or even a 2m or 70cm radio if you set the TX frequency in the band you should see the low output from the Pluto if you connect a small antenna to the pluto TX out.

I see you are using RTMP to the Pluto, you can do it that way and it will work, but there are better options which allow you to control it from the Pluto web page rather than the OBS stream and to use H265 encoding, which is more efficient at lower symbol rates.

I would suggest looking at DATVEasy first. viewtopic.php?t=7693 it handles the part for generating the transport stream to send to the Pluto. It interfaces well with OBS via the virtual camera plugin. You can get that up and running and if you like test it is working by sending the transport stream to VLC running on your PC rather than the Pluto. Once you can generate a transport stream then move on to transmitting it.

When you send the transport stream to the Pluto, set the pluto for UDP in. It depends on the firmware you have installed exactly what the Pluto webpage looks like. Test it without the PA first. Then when ready, slide the power slider to minimum, select transmit and then raise the power slowly.

[EA7KIR]

Thank you Dave. This is a great suggestion.

It would be extremely difficult to bring everything down to the shack, so I'll take a length of coax up to the roof and extend the Pluto output to the receiver. I should kick myself for not thinking of that myself.

I also like Mike's second post, so now I have options. Bye the way Mike, I've extended the feed arm and replaced the SMA patch cable as you advised. Pictures will follow when I find time. This increased the MER by about 3db, so I guess the dish might also needs a tweak.

Since my previous post, OBS has been dropping out. IAbout a week ago, in the shack with only the Pluto, the Pluto analysis page was displaying data and OBS was rock solid. It will be a major setback if these suggestions prove the Pluto to be broken. I was hoping to join this Thursday's net.

My Mac and 2 RPi software is mostly working, so I should be able to stumble on-air eventually. I'm aware of these external encoders and one is on the list of things to do next - along with an RTL dongle, a bias-tee, and a host of other things.

But I still need to find out how best to communicate with the Pluto. From the outset I'd assumed it would be UDP, or maybe SSH, so perhaps I was wrong and I'll need to write an HTTP client. The documentation isn't vey helpful for this, so if you know of a better source, please tell me.

Again, thank you to both, but be sure I'll be back.

[g0mjw]

Pluto and power supply - that's often the issue. You need a Y cable with an ethernet adapter, I assume you have one, if not it may work but appear unreliable. The other thing to watch it the length of the ethernet cable. I found my adapter could not drive a >10m length of cable reliably, so I have a network switch nearby. As things grow you will need a switch anyway, to support the power monitor, second webcam, third webcam, relay board...

I use a script, but you could use DATV Easy, to send the TS to the Pluto. The control is entirely via the Pluto built in web server. In my case this window with the 0303 firmware.

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Here are the setup page settings I use, the most important are DATV mode and the Remux Force compliant. For SSB use you need passthrough mode and sometimes a reboot. Don't forget to save settings. It is a little fussy at times but Evariste did a superb job developing the firmware.

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[g0mjw]

My Mac and 2 RPi software is mostly working, so I should be able to stumble on-air eventually.

I only just spotted this. If you are using a Mac I expect most PC software options like DATV Easy won't be available, or will be via emulation but might not work as expected. You can still use a script I assume, so it should still work that way.

Mike

[Basil]

I see you mention using a network switch near to the USB to LAN adapter dongle Mike, I didn't think a dumb switch increased a LAN signal strength, may I ask how this works please? I may have to relocate my shack and that will involve a much longer LAN cable to the Pluto.

Thanks and good luck to Michael, I hope you resolve your issues and make the net later. I have managed to brick my Pluto, and it's looking like it needs ministrations beyond my ability. (JTAG access).

[g0mjw]

I didn't say dumb switch, I mean something like a Netgear GS105. It's done by magic smoke inside the custom chip.

Mike