Portsdown Software Update 201907070

Discussion about this major DATV Project. See https://wiki.batc.org.uk/The_Portsdown_Transmitter
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Portsdown Software Update 201907070

Post by G8GKQ » Sat Jul 13, 2019 10:02 am

I have just released a new software update, which overcomes the "3.5 inch Touchscreen does not work any more" bug caused by a change in the Raspbian software on Thursday. Unfortunately, the work-around temporarily disables the Composite Video output, but I am hopeful that this will be fixed in a month or so.

The only significant new feature is basic support for the LimeNET Micro https://www.crowdsupply.com/lime-micro/limenet-micro. A standard Portsdown SD Card can now be used in a LimeNET Micro without the need for reconfiguration. However, Portsdown functions such as the Lime Report and Lime Firmware update do not yet work - these require more testing before I can upgrade the whole Portsdown system to the latest LimeSuite release. More details here: https://wiki.batc.org.uk/Portsdown_with ... eNET_Micro

There is also some preparatory code for integrating the LongMynd MiniTiouner Linux receiver code within the Portsdown, but not all the components of this are yet available.

My advice is not to take this software update UNLESS you want to use a LimeNET Micro, or your Portsdown is broken having tried to update since Thursday 11 July. [If you have this problem, log on through ssh, press ctrl-c to stop the scrolling messages, type 'menu', enter, and select update on the Menu].

Dave, G8GKQ

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Re: Portsdown Software Update 201907070

Post by g0mjw » Sat Jul 13, 2019 10:26 am

Hi Dave

This is great. I have a LimeNet Micro but not an SD card for it as I am using the much faster internal flash. Looking forward to progress on this. I wasn't aware I could use the touch screen on it. Is it the same 7" one I have with my PI?

Mike

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Re: Portsdown Software Update 201907070

Post by G8GKQ » Sat Jul 13, 2019 10:51 am

Hi Mike

Yes, the standard RPi 7 inch display and a Pi Cam V2 (but not the V1).

Dave

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Re: Portsdown Software Update 201907070

Post by g0mjw » Sat Jul 13, 2019 11:15 am

Excellent - This could make a good portable system then. I will look for a suitable enclosure and order a PICam V2. It would be useful if the ability to control a Jetson Nano was not lost - purely selfish reason is I don't want to buy another touch screen!

Meanwhile - do I just run the standard install commands in the console to install into the flash?

Are you planning to show it at McMichael?

Mike

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Re: Portsdown Software Update 201907070

Post by G8GKQ » Sat Jul 13, 2019 5:08 pm

Hi Mike

It can still control a Jetson Nano, but you'll need a stand-alone LimeSDR Mini to take the output of the Nano and generate the signal. You might be able to achieve this by changing the jumpers and feeding USB back into the LimeNET Micro - but that detracts from ease of use, so I hadn't investigated it.

Follow the instructions here https://wiki.myriadrf.org/Getting_Start ... r_uSD_card but load the correct Stretch Lite image as recommended on the Portsdown GitHub. Remember to put the ssh file in the /boot folder before reconfiguring the hardware to boot up. Then log in through ssh as usual, and run the 3 Portsdown install lines. It should all then work, but I have not tested this.

I will be bringing it to McMichael tomorrow.

Dave

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Re: Portsdown Software Update 201907070

Post by g0mjw » Sat Jul 13, 2019 6:14 pm

I might wait and see - but I was only meaning to use it as a controller as I only have one touch screen. First I think I will find a case for it. I am not sure what OS I have in it, but it is running Evariste's software OK. Not used it since late April.
Mike

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Portsdown Software Update 201907070

Post by F1CJN_alain » Thu Jul 25, 2019 4:23 pm

This update is great with my Portsdown / 7"screen and Jetson.
But on my Portsdown/3.5 "Tontec I have lost the screen with the last issue 7070.
Even when I update from the Tontec screen,then try to recover by SSH , then by menu/sh and Tontec. Nothing on the screen
Even when I make a new full fresh install on a new SD card and the menu.
73's
Alain F1CJN

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Re: Portsdown Software Update 201907070

Post by g0mjw » Thu Jul 25, 2019 4:41 pm

Mine is working now - I have the 7" screen, a minitiouner and a LimeNet Micro in the box, along with PSU and a USB hub. I was just looking at implementing an audio amplifier until I realised I could get one from Ebay for £2.
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Re: Portsdown Software Update 201907070

Post by G8GKQ » Thu Jul 25, 2019 5:25 pm

Hi Alain

The raspberry pi software team have broken support for some displays in an update that was issued around 11/12 July. The Portsdown update 201907070 fixes the problem for the Waveshare display, but unfortunately not for the TonTec display (and it also disables composite video output). I am just testing another fix, and will publish details if it works.

Dave, G8GKQ

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Re: Portsdown Software Update 201907070

Post by g0mjw » Thu Jul 25, 2019 5:36 pm

G8GKQ wrote:
Thu Jul 25, 2019 5:25 pm

The raspberry pi software team have broken support for some displays in an update that was issued around 11/12 July.
Do they work for Microsoft ? Normally breaking things with untested updates is their speciality.

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