No output at TX

PA3AIN

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Jan 19, 2021, 10:19:22 AM1/19/21

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Hello,

Since 13 January I own a Hermes Lite 2 from the latest batch..

I had several time problems with no output after starting up and running PowerSDR_mRX_PS_v3.4.9.0. Sometimes first in only CWX, later in CW and by tuning.

I found two workarounds:

In the setup/Hardware config/Appolo Control via disabling/enabling Filters and Tuner.
When workaround 1 has no results I have reload the latest RBF file (hl2b5up_main.rbf 20201212_72P8).

Since today both workarounds doesn’t work.

I have checked the connector between the board and the filter board. It looks OK.

Have someone a solution for this problem??

Greetings,

Johan PA3AIN

PA3AIN

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Jan 19, 2021, 11:04:45 AM1/19/21

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Hello,

The behavior was also in SparksSDR and SDR-console. I think it is also a hardware or gateware problem.

After reload a good working database in PowerSDR and thereafter some "playing" with the filter settings looks it now working.

But I see no reason why this happened during normal operating.

On this moment looks the problem solved.

Johan PA3AIN

Op dinsdag 19 januari 2021 om 16:19:22 UTC+1 schreef PA3AIN:

Joe LB1HI

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Jan 19, 2021, 11:07:03 AM1/19/21

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Hi Johan,
Try to mark "enable tuner" on/off as the last step.
It is hard to say why this is so.
(Every time if some action is performed on filters ("Alex") it turns off the PA.
Then you have to check and uncheck "enable tuner" again.

Steve, can anything be done about it?

73, Joe

Duncan Clark

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Jan 19, 2021, 1:50:16 PM1/19/21

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In message <34bfe5c6-83c7-4957...@googlegroups.com>,
PA3AIN writes

>I had several time problems with no output after starting up and
>running PowerSDR_mRX_PS_v3.4.9.0.

Might be much easier to use Reid's updated version specifically done for
Hermes Lite

https://github.com/mi0bot/OpenHPSDR-PowerSDR

https://github.com/mi0bot/OpenHPSDR-PowerSDR/releases/

Duncan
--
Duncan Clark
G4ELJ

Duncan Clark

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Jan 19, 2021, 1:52:28 PM1/19/21

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In message <34bfe5c6-83c7-4957...@googlegroups.com>,
PA3AIN writes

>I had several time problems with no output after starting up and
>running PowerSDR_mRX_PS_v3.4.9.0.

Might be eaier to use Reid's HL2 specific updated version.

Steve Haynal

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Jan 20, 2021, 1:27:32 AM1/20/21

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Hi Johan,

I agree with the other posts that you probably don't always have the onboard PA enabled. It is easiest to enable this if you use Reid's updated PowerSDR. You can also watch the YouTube videos linked to on the software wiki page. As a check, you can measure power out of RF1 if there is none on ANT. You should always see signal on either RF1 or ANT during TX. The maximum on RF1 is just under 20dBm.

73,

Steve

kf7o

Alan Hopper

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Jan 20, 2021, 2:52:35 AM1/20/21

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Hi Johan,

there are two common causes of no output from spark, the first is the pa not enabled in radio settings and the second is that the drive defaults to 0. The drive has caught me out a few times.

73 Alan M0NNB

PA3AIN

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Jan 20, 2021, 3:40:22 AM1/20/21

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Thanks all for the response.

Yesterday evening it works well on the laptop as on the computer (not the same time!).

(PowerSDR, SparkSDR and SDR-Console).

This morning i started the laptop and running WSJT-X. I was yesterdayevening stopped with WSJT-X on the laptop with PowerSDR (3.5.0 Beta)

I stopped the program on the laptop and started on the computer PowerSDR.

Result: no output on PowerSDR, SparkSDR (with power-setting on 243) no output. Also on SDR-Console.

After that: also no output on the laptop.

I have all the workarounds tried without result. (Including HL2 setup and flash the gateware)

I don’t know what the problem is. It looks, that some settings on the HL2 are changed after the computer switch, but it could be a other problem.

Greetings,

Johan PA3AIN

Op woensdag 20 januari 2021 om 08:52:35 UTC+1 schreef ahop...@googlemail.com:

Joe LB1HI

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Jan 20, 2021, 8:57:38 AM1/20/21

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Hi,

I had similar problems. The way around was to install the BETA version on a separate hard drive and a separate Windows version.

73, Joe

Alan Hopper

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Jan 20, 2021, 10:32:27 AM1/20/21

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Hi Johan,

just a thought, what does the temperature display when it won't tx? If this was misreading it could stop tx.

73 Alan M0NNB

Steve Haynal

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Jan 21, 2021, 1:32:44 AM1/21/21

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Hi Johan,

Also, do you see any output into a dummy load measured by a scope on either RF1 or ANT when TX is not working for you?

73,

Steve

kf7o

PA3AIN

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Jan 21, 2021, 2:17:48 AM1/21/21

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Hi Steve,

After the hint from Joe to running PowerSDR on only one computer and a good night overthinking all that what I saw, I have the follow conclusion and results:

When the problem, was the SWR on PowerSDR about 600:1.

When i BOTH computer shutdown and the hole circuit swithed off from mains the problem was over.

It looks that there somethings happens with a switch (T/R???).

I think, that there probably a service of instance is still running on one off both computers.

When I PowerSDR, after stopping the program, restart i receive the message “There are other PowerSDR instances running.” .

The problem is, I think, not HL2, but a instance from PowerSDR tht slil running after closing the app.

But I can't see in the task manager which process that is.

Greetings

Johan PA3AIN

Op donderdag 21 januari 2021 om 07:32:44 UTC+1 schreef softerh...@gmail.com:

Steve Haynal

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Jan 22, 2021, 12:58:00 AM1/22/21

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Hi Johan,

Just a few comments to hopefully help you debug. How are you determining the HL2 is in transmit? Via software, the TX LED on the HL2 or RF output from one of the connectors? The TX LED is probably the most useful:

https://github.com/softerhardware/Hermes-Lite2/wiki/External-Connections#leds

Does the TX LED go on when you enable transmit from software?

Does the TX LED go off when you exit the software? It should, if it doesn't then it might confirm your theory that some other job is still running.

If the the TX LED does not go off when you exit the software, does it go off if you disconnect the ethernet cable? It should, as a watchdog timer will not be renewed. If not, then it may indicate a hardware issue.

How high is the temperature? TX is disabled when the temperature reaches 55C.

There is a TX inhibit. (See the schematic at www.hermeslite.com.) This needs a pullup resistor which is installed at the factory. It may be that this resistor is missing or you have high enough RF energy in the shack that it is triggering this TX inhibit input.

73,

Steve

kf7o

Steve Haynal

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Jan 24, 2021, 3:52:05 PM1/24/21

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---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Johan Schepers <pa3...@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Jan 22, 2021 at 1:36 AM
Subject: RE: No output at TX
To: Steve Haynal <softerh...@gmail.com>

Hi Steve,

After some research: The only problem is a process (or thread) of PowerSDR that still is running after close PowerSDR. It blocks a switch.

After a restart it is OK.

This thread (or process) blocks the PA. The drive works.

This is a wellknow problem in C# and perhaps also in C++ You must give a envoriment exit command by closing the latest form!

The Hermes Lite 2 is OK!

Greetings,

Johan PA3AIN

Op donderdag 21 januari 2021 om 07:32:44 UTC+1 schreef softerh...@gmailcom:

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