SparkSDR - HL2 - HR50

[devon...@gmail.com]

When I use my Hardrock50 amp coupled to the HL2 using Quisk and change bands, the HR50 'follows' and automatically switches band.

I use the serial interface as here...

https://github.com/softerhardware/Hermes-Lite2/tree/master/hardware/companions/db9

and here...

https://github.com/softerhardware/Hermes-Lite2/wiki/docs/HL2HR50.pdf

When I use SparkSDR, no matter what I try, the HR50 no longer 'follows' band changes and I have to manually change band on the HR50.

Stop SparkSDR and start Quisk and the HR50 'follows' again (no powerdown or anything else).

Anyone else observe this or is it just me?!

Nigel  G4ZAL

[Alan Hopper]

Hi Nigel,

what filters do you have selected in spark? the ... above the frequency display.  It is recommended to use one of the N2ADR options, some don't switch filters on receive but will on tx and other options will engage the lowest lpf above the highest receiver that you are using.  Otherwise I may have missed something special about the serial interface.

73 Alan M0NNB 

[Kristofer Danner]

I'll see if I can duplicate this. The only thing that happens on the serial interface is the HL2 sending FAxxxxxxxxxxx each time you tune to a new frequency, like FA00003600000 = 3.6Mhz and I thought this was all handled in gateware. Previously I have only used Spark when skimming, without the HR50 amp.

KD

[devon...@gmail.com]

Hi Alan,

Filters selected are 'n2adr-hpf-lpf'

Digging a bit more I've noticed that if I give a blip on Spark software PTT and then change up and back down a band, the HR50 will now 'follow'.

If I completely shut down Spark and then start Spark again, the HR50 doesn't follow band chages until I go throught 'PTT blip-change band-change band again' and the HR50 will once again follow all band changes until I shutdown Spark.

 

Nigel

[Kristofer Danner]

I am seeing the same behavior that Nigel is. Interestingly, if the amp has a different filter enabled than what is required for the initial frequency that Spark is tuned to when first opened, it does switch to the correct filter just that one time. However after that, yeah, no switching until after a PTT.

KD

[Alan Hopper]

I think I might know what is going on, I need to read up on what the serial if does but if it is using the tx frequency to set the serial output I can see the problem.  As Spark was written for multiple receivers from the start it does not set the tx frequency until you ptt because it would have to guess which receiver frequency you wanted to tx  on.  I could possibly set tx frequency to whichever receiver has focus, I shall ponder on this.

73 Alan M0NNB

[Alan Hopper]

Hi,

are the HR50 filters in path during receive? If they are I guess I should set the frequency to the highest rx during receive to allow multiband reception, if not then I guess the foreground receiver frequency should be used.

73 Alan M0NNB

[Kristofer Danner]

I would say they are not after looking at pg 43 here: https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=ZGVmYXVsdGRvbWFpbnxoYXJkcm9jazUwYmV0YXxneDoyMzcwOWI0MjFiZDYzMmE4

Appears RF_IN goes right through the de-energized relay DPDT_0 to RF_OUT.

KD

[Alan Hopper]

Hi KD,

Thanks, In that case I'm not sure that this really matters as the frequency will be right when you tx as long as it all happens quickly enough but I will try to make it track the foreground receiver for the next release.

73 Alan M0NNB

[Kristofer Danner]

Hi Alan, it's actually a bit more complicated than that. Example I just did here:

1. HR50 has 160M filter enabled

2. Start Spark, it defaults to a 20M frequency, amp changes to 20M filter

3. Change to 80M in Spark, amp remains on 20M filter

4. PTT, amp still remains on 20M filter

It's only after that when the amp then changes filters as needed. So that first PTT would be a situation where the amp is on the wrong filter, and also would be way out of tune if it has the internal ATU, as it would still be tuned for the previous 20M frequency in this case. Maybe could damage the amp if a long enough/out of tune enough TX.

Anyone using multiple receivers really should either be disconnecting the amp, or setting the keying mode to off, plus if the optional ATU is present, setting it to bypassed.

KD

[Alan Hopper]

Hi KD and Nigel,

that does sound a problem, maybe the tx freq is changed just too late, I'll make a test version with tx freq updated for the active rx and see if that fixes it. What os are you both using. Using multiple receivers does tend to create complications as most kit is not designed with it in mind but hopefully we can make it seamless although the atu is an interesting problem.

73 Alan M0NNB

[Kristofer Danner]

Alan, mostly Debian here, sometimes Windows 10.

KD

[devon...@gmail.com]

Hi Alan,

Windows 7 & 10 for me.

I currently only use Spark with one receiver and use it for FT8/4 using WSJT-X

I like Spark as I can make it fit on one screen along with WSJT-X and both s/wares play nicely together.

I first noticed the issue when changing Rx from 40M to 20M and clicking on an FT8 call my HR50 was still on 40M and none too happy.

Happy to test anything you come up with.

Nigel

[Alan Hopper]

Nigel & KD,

there is a w10 test version here http://www.ihopper.org/radio/download.aspx?file=sparksdr2_0_5_3_win64.zip it is not a complete solution and might not be perfect if jumping around multiple receivers but should at least confirm if I'm correct about the cause and ,if so, should work for most uses.

73 Alan M0NNB

[Joe LB1HI]

Hi,

I fully confirm, Alan.

Selecting one of the N2ADR lpf or lpf and hpf in the drop-down menu is a must because when selecting J16, the order of  filters is completely different. It does not correspond to the matrix used as for N2ADR.

73, Joe

[devon...@gmail.com]

Hi Alan,
Good news and bad !
Downloaded and ran the patch s/ware above and in Win10-64 it works and the HR50 follows Rx band changes (no need to PTT etc).
In my Win7-64 machine, Spark knows the HL2 IP address and clicking the Power button appears to start as button goes green, but no waterfall trace or audio and no audible 'click' or connection on the HL2 - LED's on front of HL2 are Run & 75 flashing, Tx & 100 solid.

Will test some more later...

Nigel

[Alan Hopper]

Hi Nigel,

that's good to know, I'll leave the fix in for the next release.  If you are trying to run the 64 bit version on win 7 it won't work, I'm surprised it lets you get that far (I must have broken the check at some point). It uses a networking feature only available from win 8.1. 

73 Alan M0NNB 

[Kristofer Danner]

Hi Alan, it tests good here also.

KD

[Alan Hopper]

Hi KD and Nigel,

thanks very much for reporting and helping with this. 

73 Alan M0NNB