Portsdown 4 BandViewer for Pluto

[G8GKQ]

I have just released Portsdown 4 update 202211202 which includes BandViewer support for the Pluto SDR in addition to other enhancements:

• In addition to the previously existing support for the LimeSDR, Airspy R2 and RTL-SDR, use of the Pluto SDR is now supported. This enables native coverage from 70MHz to 6GHz and less sensitive "5th Harmonic mode" coverage up to 30GHz. Full details here https://wiki.batc.org.uk/Portsdown_Band_Viewer
• BandViewer screens can be viewed (with a 1 second refresh rate) in the Portsdown Web Control browser window. Simply enable Web Control and point your browser at the Portsdown's IP address. Note that this is view-only, so if you rely on web control you will be stuck in bandviewer and unable to exit without using the touchscreen.
• The proof-of-concept for the Parkside Digital Multimeter Display (and future logger) in included. This allows the Portsdown to display and log readings from a cheap Digital Multimeter that is seasonally available from Lidl in the UK and Germany. Full details here: https://wiki.batc.org.uk/Portsdown_DMM_ ... and_Logger
• Lastly, the recommended base operating system for new builds has been amended to the latest Buster Legacy release, 2022-09-22.

Please report any problems found here.

Dave, G8GKQ

[g6hfs]

Hi Dave,

Thanks for the update

Brian

[G3GJA]

Hi Dave

I've tried the Pluto Band Viewer on both Portsdown 4 systems I have, one with the Pluto connected via Ethernet and the other via USB.

Both produce a black, unresponsive screen.

Accessing via the Web interface shows the Pi Screen on the Touch button on both.

Pluto firmware is the standard version compatible with the PD4

Clive

[G8GKQ]

Hi Clive

Have you set the Pluto's IP address in Portsdown Menu 3, Pluto Config, Set Pluto IP for Portsdown?

I have not tested the network-connected configurartion, so that may not be supported, but it should work for USB.

Dave

[g6hfs]

Hi,

Can confirm works via usb on Pluto

Brian

[G3GJA]

Yes, the Pluto IP config is set to is set to the Pluto's address on the network connected version.

If I browse to that address on the same network I can see the Pluto's web interface.

On the USB version, the IP address is set to the default 192.168.2.1. The Pluto transmits normally so the IP setting should be right.

Clive

[G8GKQ]

Hi Clive

None of the beta testers had any issues, but that's not to say that there isn't a problem.

Please confirm the Firmware version on your USB-connected Pluto. It should either be the Analog Devices stock firmware or V0.31-4-g9ceb-dirty. Later versions of Evariste's firmware (those that will serve a web page) are not supported.

Dave

[G3GJA]

Hi Dave

The firmware is the v0.31-4-g9ceb-dirty on both Portsdowns.

The web page is supported with this firmware in both Plutos although the USB connected one can only be seen if it is plugged into a Windows PC rather than the Portsdown on 192.168.2.1

The main Portsdown is on 192.168.1.100 and the Ethernet adapter for the Pluto is on 192.168.1.101

The 101 IP address shows the web page if browsed to.

Thanks for the help

Clive

[G3GJA]

I should add that the Langstone works fine using 192.168.1.101 on the Ethernet connected Pluto

Clive

[G8GKQ]

Apologies Clive

I have never seen that web page (something to do with my PC configuration?), but I can see the files on the Pluto that generate it.

If you run the script

Code: Select all

/home/pi/rpidatv/scripts/utils/ubvp.sh

in a terminal window, you might see a relevant error message that could help us.

Dave