SSDR - AutoZeroBeat on CW click tune

Al_NN4ZZ

Add an option to AutoZeroBeat the signal when click tuning.  This would be generally helpful and especially useful when using CwSkimmer.  If you are off slightly,  CwSkimmer will not decode properly.

This is discussed in this related posting:

https://community.flexradio.com/flexradio/topics/sdr_bridge_cwskimmer_and_the_panadapter_shake

This should be an option as there will likely be some users or situations where AutoZeroBeat is not desired.

Tim E., 
I couldn't find a request for this but if it is already on the list, you can close this one.

Regards, Al / NN4ZZ  
al (at) nn4zz (dot) com

W1RE

Good idea Al - I'm with you on this request having had similar results.

Jim K4JAF

Great idea, PowerSDR has this feature and really nice.  I hope it is added soon.   Jim K4JAF

Andrew O'Brien

It is a no-brainer as far as I am concerned, the zero beat button is PowerSDR is great for CW Skimmer use in conjunction with a Flex, so I hope it is soon added to SmartSDR. 

Al_NN4ZZ

Andrew and Jim,
Thanks for noting that this is a feature of PowerSDR.    I wonder how many other feature differences there are between PowerSDR and SSDR.  I didn't have the pleasure of owning any of the previous Flex radios (before the 6000 series) so maybe this request doesn't make sense but it seems like it would be helpful. 

Does anyone have a list or chart comparing the features of PowerSDR to SSDR?   Or maybe it is a list comparing the legacy radios to the 6000 series.  (sort of like the list comparing the 6300, 6500 and 6700 features).   It would also be nice to know if there plans to add the feature to SSDR at some point.   FRS would have to fill in the last column but even just the list might be useful.  


Feature                                                            PowerSDR         SSDR         Plans to add to SSDR
AutoZeroBeat on CW Click Tune            Yes                     No               Unknown
CWX                                                                    Yes                     No               Yes, in V1.3
etc


Regards, Al / NN4ZZ  
al (at) nn4zz (dot) com



 

Al_NN4ZZ

I should also add that I know SSDR will have features that aren't in PowerSDR and also areas where SSDR is better, improved, etc.   So this inquiry is not meant to be negative in any way, just educational.

Regards, Al / NN4ZZ  
al (at) nn4zz (dot) com

Jlawson40

Al. Good idea. I have used the zero beat feature of PowerSDR a lot. It would be great to have it with SmartSDR too. Another nice feature to have for us CW ops is the Save and Restore frequency of PowerSDR. John, W8AGS

Ken - NM9P

I think that Zero on click-tune is a natural and logical way to implement it without using a button.  Have a time window during which it will auto-zero, then leave it alone so it doesn't mess up a weak one whenever a strong station is nearby.

Ned K1NJ

  Save and restore was a very useful feature.  You could make note of a
frequency of interest (busy, weak dx), do other things, and easily return
a little later to see if conditions improved.  A simple, yet powerful device.

Ned,  K1NJ

np2g

great idea 

Al_NN4ZZ

John and Ned,
It sounds like the "save and restore" is a nice feature of PowerSDR.  Since it is not directly related to the AutoZeroBeat request it would be a good idea to add it as a separate idea so it could be voted up also.  It will get my vote for sure.

oops....I see that Ken just did add one!

Regards, Al / NN4ZZ  
al (at) nn4zz (dot) com

Steve N4LQ

I like it. Where/how does one "vote"?

Al_NN4ZZ

Steve,



Regards, Al / NN4ZZ  
al (at) nn4zz (dot) com

Steve N4LQ

Ahhh haaw & Duh...I've been wondering for a long time what "vote" meant. Now I know...Like! 

Al_NN4ZZ

Votng is not very clear.   I submitted an idea to the software folks to change the labels and they agreed and said they will (no date given).   Here is what I suggested instead of LIKE. 

Regards, Al / NN4ZZ  
al (at) nn4zz (dot) com

Steve N4LQ

I learned long ago why voting isn't clear!

Al_NN4ZZ

Since Snap tuning came up again recently, this would be a good feature to add to V1.5.  

Regards, Al / NN4ZZ  
al (at) nn4zz (dot) com

Sergey R5AU

agree, one of the most wanted and usefull in the future

Al_NN4ZZ

AutoZeroBeat would be especially helpful for use on the new Maestro console where tuning with your finger (instead of a mouse) will be challenging. 

Enzo recently added a related idea that may help get this done.

https://community.flexradio.com/flexradio/topics/cw-feature-requests-message-repeat-timeout-and-cw-t...

Regards, Al / NN4ZZ  
al (at) nn4zz (dot) com
6700 - HW V 1.5.0.65
SSDR V 1.5.0.145
Win10

Vincent Martin - N5ATM

I agree on the need for a zero beat function.  Auto would be even nicer.  When I was at HamComm in Texas this year, I actually asked someone at the Flex booth about this.  He is one of the programmers but I forgot his name.  He said at that time that this was in the works. Hopefully that is still the case.

Barry N1EU

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE provide the option to add a slight random offset to the zero beat.  There's nothing worse than a whole bunch of callers in a pileup all precisely zero beat.  N1MM Logger+ knows all about this and gives the option to add a slight random offset to all spots that you click on.

Barry N1EU

Greg

YES!!  I think I suggested this about 5 years ago.  Well...maybe two.   Click a sig in CW mode and auto zero beat + user selected CW deviation in Hz defined in the radio setup tab.  I think I suggested the former but not that latter originally.....but excellent point by Barry.

Sergey R5AU

YES as well ! Greg right, this topic was at beginning ....

Michael McGinty

I like this idea for auto tune. I like the idea of being able to offset the autotune in a pileup. Maybe this could be done with the TxIT control.

I added two other ideas in a topic Better+CW +Options. Here they are for your consideration and comment.

1. A breakin mode that is not QSK. Some times the noise between dit and dahs is a distraction, especially during rag chews. On the few occasions that I use my linear, it can't follow QSK at high speed. It's an ALS-1300 without the pin diode switching mod. This mode should operate like VOX with easily adjustable delay.

2. Most of my other rigs have two different keying mode for the built in keyer, IOMBIC and bug mode where only dits are automatic. I like this mode because it allows you to put more character in your fist. In the bug days, I could usual tell who was sending by there fists. Aussies almost always stood out with a distinct accent. Today almost everybody sounds the same, very automatic. Mechanical bugs are almost always a problem to adjust, so I don't use them much today even though I have several.

Thanks, Mike W6MVM

Ken - NM9P

For number 1, that is what the "Delay" does on the transmit panel next to the speed control. It allows you to customize how long the transmitter waits after the last character is sent before returning to receive. On some older rigs this used to be called "semi-breakin" mode.

Michael McGinty

Thanks, I'll try that.

Michael McGinty

Thanks Ken,
I tried the delay setting and it worked fine. Scratch that suggestion.

Chris Wesney

I have been using the zero beat feature with PowerSDR on AM for a long time. Its nice to have that in one click. I am bummed that it isn't in SmartSDR. I hope it is added soon.

Andrew O'Brien

I use it in PowerSDR in CW , usually to touch up things in CW Skimmer. I noted it was not in SSDR a couple of years ago and was surprised to discover that a zero beat feature is STILL not in SSDR
Andy K3UK

MH_Flexer

I would like to see this for sure, its been a request for three years.  Hope it gets implemented soon.

dj3cq

get used to it operating the K3, it's very useful for every cw op...