PowerSDR/IF Stage v1.19.3.4 Released!

[Scott M]

I am happy to announce that we have just posted PowerSDR/IF Stage
v1.19.3.4 to the download website:

http://www.wu2x.com/sdr.html

A couple quick highlights: Its based on PowerSDR 1.19.3. This includes
"wide band image rejection" and support for Windows XP, Vista and
Version 7, both 32 and 64 bit. I will include the release notes at
the end of this post and it is repeated on the download website.

-Scott (WU2X) and Chad (W1CEG)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PowerSDR/IF Stage v1.19.3.4 (2-15-2010)

New Features:

1. [Issue 104]: Based on PowerSDR v1.19.3
1. Automatic Wide Band Image Rejection
2. Support for 64 bit operating systems
3. Support for Vista and Windows 7
4. Many bug fixes over v1.19.0 for skin support
2. [Issue 85]: Direct connection for Yaesu rigs (tested with
FT-2000 and FT-950 only)
3. [Issue 103]: Optimization of direct connection support for
Kenwood rigs with OEM CAT control boards
4. Removal of unused DLL's (potential computer resource savings
(CPU/Memory))
5. [Issue 107]: Configuration data files (database.xml,
databaseIF.xml, etc.) are now written outside of the installation
directory, to a common application data area ( C:\Documents and
Settings\<username>\Application Data\PowerSDR IF-Stage v1.19.3\* )
6. [Issue 118]: Added CWL, CWU, FSKL, and FSKU IF mode Offsets in
Setup IF
7. [Issue 124]: Added new debugging console that can be dynamically
enabled to help us determine the source of bugs
8. [Issue 79]: Added support for FT, MD, and TQ for future use.

Bug Fixes:

1. Many fixes for Elecraft K3 direct connection (Multiple Issues in
Bug Database)
1. [Issue 96]: 6 Meter IF Offset will now be in automatic
aligment
2. [Issue 66]: Modes will remain sticky when switching bands
with the PowerSDR/IF Stage band buttons
3. [Issue 120]: Improved IF Center adjustment on mode changes
4. [Issue 90]: CW pitch from PowerSDR/IF Stage is
automatically added to the CW offset - no need to put pitch frequency
in the CW IF Offset box
5. [Issue 68] : K3 MOX no longer comes on when PowerSDR/IF
Stage is started
2. Setup IF settings not being recalled correctly after restarting
the program - multiple settings such as I/Q will now be reloaded
properly
3. [Issue 116]: New warning message box when PowerSDR/IF Stage
can't communicate with external rig after connection to the COMM port
4. [Issue 122]: New warning message box that rig type cannot be
switch when PowerSDR/IF Stage is powered on
5. [Issue 115]: Reset / Import / Export buttons now work in the
Setup IF menu
6. [Issue 123]: Added european minimal locale support -
database.xml is primed with a european style data to avoid crashing
upon application startup with numbers format exception
7. [Issue 41]: Improved polling performance on VFO-B
8. [Issue 67]: PowerSDR/IF Stage no longer hangs when closed
9. [Issue 76]: Fixed problem where meter does not fall back
immediately when switching from TX to RX

[YVES A. (AL) FEDER]

Congrats Scott and many thanks for the new version.

1. Is it possible to just port over all the choices made in my working
installation of 1.19.0.2?
The new version installed to a separate directory. Or do I re-enter
all the info in the new version?

2. For my TS-950S (original version) can I run rig control directly
now or best still through HRD?

Thanks very much and 73,
Al W1UX

[George]

I was just looking Sunday night to see if there was a new version yet.
Thanks!
I just downloaded and got it running here. I had to do some tweaks to
ASIO4ALL to give it the same setting as I had with version 1.19.0.2
but that's not the fault of PowerSDR.
This version seems to work great so far. I will let you know if I find
anything...

Thanks Again,
George, W5JDX

[Steve Ellington]

I think you just download and let it install over top the old version. A
short installation instruction for updating would be nice. Maybe I missed it
on the web site?

Steve
N4LQ

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14:35:00

[Roger Stein]

Thanks Scott, very nice! Up and running smoothly...great bug fixes as well, now handling the sidetone pitch so well and no longer hanging on exit much appreciated.   

 

A quick change in LP-Pan to handle the auto start pointing to the new version directory was minimal.

 

Now to 'play'!!!

 

73, Roger K7SJ

 

K3 #75  LP-Pan #20

[Edward Dickinson, III]

Thanks Scot and Chad!

73,
Dick - KA5KKT

[Chad Gatesman]

1. As stated in the release notes, the database.xml and databaseIF.xml files are now located under "C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Application Data\PowerSDR IF-Stage v1.19.3".  If you want to use your old settings, copy your database.xml and databaseIF.xml files to that directory before launching the new PowerSDR/IF Stage.

I would not recommend copying them into the new PowerSDR/IF Stage installation directory.


2. I would encourage you to try out the direct rig control for the TS-950.  I've made several enhancements in that area.  Although not perfect (because of the TS-950's slow CAT command processing), I think it is as good if not better than using with HRD.  Of course, that's left up to the operator to really decide.

-Chad, W1CEG

[John Huffman]

Thanks guys!

Great to see a new version.

Only glitch so far is with CAT control. I use DXLab Commander to get
the frequency and mode for my logging program. I set PowerSDR-IF CAT
control to COM17 and Commander to COM7 (my N8VB vCOM pair that has
always worked before). Commander correctly reads mode, s-meter, and VFO
B. But, VFO A is all zeros.

May be operator error, most things are. Anyone else with same issue?

73 de K1ESE
John

[Chad Gatesman]

John, the CAT Control under Setup is part of the original PowerSDR software, and I don't think any of our IF Stage modifications would affect that.  It's possible there could be a bug with the PowerSDR version we are now working with, but that would be odd.

I don't have any experience with that setup, but if someone else could chime in that may be using the CAT Control interface to link PowerSDR/IF Stage with another application, that would be great.  Hopefully it's operator error as you mentioned...

-Chad, W1CEG

[y.a.federw1ux]

 

 

Works like greased lightning direct com port control TS950S thanks Chad

Al W1UX

[Larry Phipps]

I can verify this "bug". I hadn't noticed it before because LP-Bridge
does not poll the CAT port for FA;

Chad/Scott, it appears that Flex has either discontinued support for
some of the Kenwood commands, or it is a bug in the base code. The Flex
specific versions of the missing commands commands still work, for
instance ZZFA; and ZZPA; work, but FA; and PA; don't.

This is not a problem for LP-Bridge, but it will be for any regular
logger connected to the CAT port. I did my testing with the "TS-2000"
selection. Maybe "TS-480" would work. Checking "Allow Kenwood AI
Command", PowerSDR will send FA and FB data... that might be an
acceptable workaround for some loggers.

73,
Larry N8LP

> .
>

[Scott McClements]

I think I saw a bug report on the FlexEdge reflector that Ham Radio
Deluxe wasn't working with the latest PowerSDR 1.19.3, so I am
guessing they have a bug to fix. -Scott, WU2X

[Chad Gatesman]

Great to hear!

-Chad, W1CEG

[Steve Ellington]

Working great with LP-Bridge and K3. I'm especially happy to see the highly visible IF filter and the Alpha slider to brighten it up. CPU usage is about the same as the previous version.

As for installation....I just downloaded and let it install. Then fired up LP-Bridge then started PowerSDR-IF (new version). After it initialized, I went in under the Setup IF tab and changed rig to K3 and Port to 19 (matching LP-Bridge). It just worked. I'll be checking out the other modes later.

Thanks!

Steve
N4LQ

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[Ted Roycraft]

One thing I noticed with the new version is that after it runs for a few minutes, suddenly the screen becomes full of images, i.e. there is a mirror image of every signal displayed.  If I shut it down and then bring it back up, the images disappear for a few minutes, then come back.  I am still able to run the old version of PowerSDR/IF and when I do that, it behaves properly with no images displayed.  Also, CWSkimmer doesn't show images.

My audio card is an EMU-1212.

Has anyone else noticed this behavior?

73, Ted, W2ZK

[John Huffman]

Larry, Scott -

Had no luck with TS-480, TS-50, TS-2000, or PowerSDR options. Same with
"Allow Kenwood AI Command".

My workaround is to use N4PY for rig control. N4PY out to the
COM7/COM17 port. PowerSDR set for COM17 in IF menus and no CAT.
Commander reads Pegasus.in and Pegasus.out files from N4PY. All works
great.

73 de K1ESE
John

[Larry Phipps]

Good solution, John.

[RickW]

Many thanks Scott and Chad.

I have it working very well with my Ten-Tec Orion. (I'm using LP-
Bridge along with N4PY software.) So far all I've had to do was the
"Level Cal".

I was wondering HOW to set-up the Auto Image Rejection or is it just
that ... Automatic? Do I need to inject a very strong frequency
somewhere near the centre frequency and run the "RX Image Rejection
Cal"?

Thoughts appreciated.

Thanks again.

73, Rick
VE7TK

[Deni]

Yes Ted I notice this too, however I'm using an EMU 0202.
I found I could clear the image problem by changing bands on my K3 and
then back again, this usually clears it.

I'd be interested to hear if you find any fix for this, it's early days
I guess.

73, Deni
F5VJC

[Ted Roycraft]

Deni,

I think I found a workaround for my problem.  I had set the Buffer Size (Setup->Audio->Primary->BufferSize) to 4096 and with that setting I was observing the problem.  I changed the buffer size to 2048 and I have not seen the problem since then.  I'm guessing there was a buffer overrun somewhere in the code.  I hope this helps you.

73, Ted, W2ZK

[Scott McClements]

I was waiting for this question ;)

It does run all the time. There is correction factor that is stored on
a band basis. All I have read so far is you can "help" it along by
doing the regular automatic image rejection routine - on each band.
There isn't a panel that shows any information about its status or the
correction being applied.

I also read they are still working on it right now. Unless I look
deeper into the code, we will probably have to wait for PowerSDR 2.0
to be released with documentation for a clear description.

-Scott, WU2X

FlexRadio hasn't clearly explain how the fcution

[Scott McClements]

This is a good find. I am wondering if there is a bug because of the
4096 buffer size. We added this buffer size option in PowerSDR/IF
Stage, its not in the regular PowerSDR, so it is possible that there
is a bug in the WBIR code related to this. Its very possible.

-Scott, WU2X

[Larry Phipps]

After extensive testing of latency last week to respond to a posting on
the Elecraft reflector about latency, I settled on a buffer size of 2048
and a manual latency setting of 2ms for the E-MU 0202 for minimum
measured delay of the audio through the software, but that may just be
optimum for my systems. It also seemed to be the most stable setting.

Larry N8LP

[Chad Gatesman]

Larry, adjusting the DSP buffers also affect latency.  You may want to play with them.  You compromise sharper filtering for less latency.

-Chad, W1CEG

[George]

I am using a Softrock Lite USB Xtal with a Sound Blaster Live
External. Because it's not a supported card, I am using ASIO4ALL.
I use a buffer size of 4096 and sample rate of 96000. I have not
experience any problems with this.

George, W5JDX

[UR4IX, Yuri]

Scott, You have done much useful work!

It does not work Automatic Wide Band Image Rejection. After the
program starts about one minute everything is normal.The program then
equates the mirrored strip on the amplitude.
In version 19.02 manual setting to work properly.
What I do not correctly configured?
Can I get a manual configuration RX Image Rejection?

UR4IX, Yuri.

> > Cal"?- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[UR4IX, Yuri]

Workaround found: If you set the maximum gain the sound card, then
Automatic Wide Band Image Rejection begins to work!
But it is not correct. To use any sound card, please return the manual
configuration “RX Image Rejection” in future versions!

VY TNX, Yuri.

> > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -

[Larry Phipps]

Apparently WBIR is level sensitive. Maybe your sound card is set too
low, or maybe you need to do the level calibration in PowerSDR/IF. What
sound card are you using? Are you using LP-PAN or SoftRock? What level
in dBm do you see on the display now when you tune in an S9 signal?

PowerSDR/IF is built on top of the latest Flex Radio program. If they
add manual adjustment back, the PowerSDR/IF will have it. Otherwise it
won't. In order to make it easy to upgrade PowerSDR/IF when Flex make
changes, Scott and Chad have correctly decided to not alter the base
code of PowerSDR.

73,
Larry N8LP

UR4IX, Yuri wrote:
> Workaround found: If you set the maximum gain the sound card, then
> Automatic Wide Band Image Rejection begins to work!
> But it is not correct. To use any sound card, please return the manual

> configuration �RX Image Rejection� in future versions!

[UR4IX, Yuri]

Thanks Larry!
I use a HP dv7 laptop and his sound card modes 24x96000 or 24x192000
and analog SoftRock Lite II.
I connected it all with my IC-756PRO3. Now the scope on the
transceiver does not interest me any more! :-)))....
To properly work the program I am forced to increase the sensitivity
of 20-30 dB. But it not scary. I am not interested in the testimony of
S-meter, above all, to view correctly reflects the status of the
band.
I have another suggestion for programmers: synchronize horizontal
scrolling panoramas and waterfall. Now, when even slightly changing
the frequency, lost communications panorama and the history (the
waterfall). It is not convenient.

Yuri UR4IX

[Larry Phipps]

It sounds like the IF tap on the IC-756 is lacking gain. You probably
need an IF buffer amp to provide a higher signal to the SoftRock to
obtain normal levels and WBIR operation.

Larry N8LP

[UR4IX, Yuri]

Perhaps. I will try to raise the gain of operational amplifiers in
SoftRock...

[gw0etf]

I also get the images suddenly appearing now and then with v1.19.3.4
but for me it seems more frequent with the 2048 buffer size and get
the impression it's better with the 4096 setting; re-starting always
fixes the problem. Using an M-Audio D44 here.

Just teething problems I'm sure and I think the program is
superb...thanks!

Stewart Rolfe, GW0ETF

PS. I've also noticed I need to manually set the IF offsets to get
sync even though I'm using a K3......

[Larry Phipps]

Either you are running some very old K3 firmware, or you have a comms
problem. PowerSDR/IF continuously polls for offset data and applies it.
You should not need to use the individual offsets... just one Global
Offset setting.

Larry N8LP

[Chad Gatesman]

Or he has I and Q swapped (if he's not using PowerSDR/IF Stage to listen).  Or he has a 6kHz offsetted LP-PAN, and doesn't know it.  I've had to explain that to a few people as it doesn't look like there is any explanation or how to tell which LP-PAN you have on your website.

-Chad, W1CEG

[Larry Phipps]

Yes, it's possible that the wires could be crossed if you only use it
for visual display. Most LP-PANs for K3 use a 6kHz offset. Page 17 of
the manual tells which value to use.

Larry N8LP

[gw0etf]

Larry,

I misunderstood the setup instructions and thought that *no* offset
info was needed for the K3 and it would all be picked up magically
from the CAT. I had 1020Hz in the individual mode offset boxes in the
IF SETUP for the K3 audio to sync with the soundcard audio. I've now
put 1020Hz into the <Global Offset> and left the others at zero and
that works just as before ie perfectly. Even the cw is zero beat with
the pitch set the same in both PSDR and K3...impressive.

Using a modified Softrock v6 (original) with a Z10000B and M-Audio
D44.

Sorry for the confusion.....

73,

Stewart, GW0ETF

[Chad Gatesman]

This probably means that your LO Center is incorrect.  You need to change the LO Center Frequency to your Softrock center frequency.

-Chad, W1CEG

[John_N1JM]

I've been getting this mirror effect since switching to Win7 and the
latest PSDR-IF using a Infrasonic Quartet(with the latest driver).
Changing audio buffer size doesn't seem to cure the problem. Sometimes
it stays away longer than other times.

John N1JM

On Feb 19, 7:16 am, Scott McClements <mccleme...@gmail.com> wrote:
> This is a good find. I am wondering if there is a bug because of the
> 4096 buffer size. We added this buffer size option in PowerSDR/IF
> Stage, its not in the regular PowerSDR, so it is possible that there
> is a bug in the WBIR code related to this. Its very possible.
>
> -Scott, WU2X
>

[Aaron]

I'm getting the same issue. Setup as follows...
FT-950
IF-2000
LP-PAN
EMU 0202

I thought this was only isolated to running 192K but I have had it
happen with all sample rates. Sometimes changing the sample rate
fixes it, sometimes not. Sometimes even restarting the program will
not fix it.

Anyways I was told there was a bug with the Power SDR software...
hopefuly fixed in a release or two.

Aaron
KD4GSL

> > > 73, Ted, W2ZK- Hide quoted text -

[John Merrill]

What bugs me is that I don't think it was there when I had it on my XP
PC - same hardware, same software except the Quartet had an earlier
driver version. I didn't notice it anyway.

[Ted Roycraft]

I was (and am) running XP when I had the same problem (see the bottom of
this chain of emails). My problem has not reappeared since I changed
the buffer size from 4096 to 2048. I notice that doing this did not
help others though.

73, Ted, W2ZK

[Larry Phipps]

I have tried to reproduce this on my systems. I have an XP system with
ALL the recommended sound cards installed on it, and a dual boot Windows
7 32-bit / Vista 64-bit laptop with the E-MU 0202. I cannot recreate
this problem with any combination of systems or sound cards. I am seeing
80-100dB image rejection. Except on the laptop, I am using the same
drivers for all the sound cards as I have since they were installed. On
the laptop, I am using the latest E-MU 0202 driver.

In general, I use the following settings for audio...

ASIO driver
Buffer size of 2048
Sample rate of 192 kHz
Expert mode checked
Manual latency setting of 2ms

I do NOTHING as far as image rejection is concerned. I let PowerSDR/IF
v1.19.34 learn on its own. I DO NOT attempt to do the image rejection
CAL routine under the Calibration tab in Setup.

Larry N8LP

[John_N1JM]

I have switched back to the previous version and this problem appears
to have gone away. But time will tell :-).

[Chad Gatesman]

I suspect all these problems stem from the new WBIR which is clearly under development and is alpha code, at best.  I have not seen any problems as described in this thread, but I'm not running the same combination (I'm running WinXP, dual Xeons, E-MU 1616M, TS-940S).

I am hoping when we merge up PowerSDR/IF Stage with the latest PowerSDR code, we'll see more improvements with the WBIR.  I suspect we will, and there are rumors that there have also been some great improvements in the DSP functions (ANF, NR, NB, etc...).

-Chad, W1CEG

[Jeff Blaine AC0C]

Has anyone an set of guidelines for the optimization of the DSP control settings?

 

They have a great impact on the behavior - but I am at a loss to find the use of these controls well documented.  I'm sure that it's there somewhere, but I must be overlooking it.

 

Appreciate any comments back on it.

 

73/jeff/ac0c

[Chad Gatesman]

Have you looked in the PowerSDR manual?  I believed they are described in detail there.

-Chad, W1CEG

[Jeff Blaine AC0C]

Chad,

 

I would think there exists a Flex published powersdr manual.  However, have not seen a documents listing for the PowerSDR application.  Closest thing is for this Flex box or that flex box.  No specific entry on the PowerSDR application.

 

Would you have a link handy?

[Chad Gatesman]

Yes.  The PowerSDR documentation is part of the Flex radio manuals.  The Flex-3000 manual includes documentation for PowerSDR 1.18.x.  That's the latest version of the manual that I'm aware of.

-Chad

[Jeff Blaine AC0C]

Thanks Chad.  I have looked at that entry there but never pulled it down before.  Thanks.

 

And great job on the compact view option.  LOVE that. 

[Chad Gatesman]

Thanks.

Yeah, we're loving the collapsible display, and we know you guys will, too!  This release is taking a bit longer than we expected.  A few small bugs kept popping up during our release candidate testing, so it's drawn out the release a bit.  Hopefully we'll have a final release ready sometime this upcoming week for everyone.

We definitely put some hours in on this one, and I hope people appreciate the new features.

-Chad, W1CEG

[Paul Playford]

Thank you for your efforts Chad.  I am really looking forward to the collapsible display.

 

de Paul, W8AEF

 

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