Hercules MIDI with 6300

W4WHL

Here is the CMD with labels added



Oh did I say it works GREAT!

William

W4WHL

David,

The midi does not change focus at all.  It is totally independent of mouse.  You can tune 2 slices and type in logs at the same time if you have enough hands

William

W4WHL

Ok I had a chance to work about 50 DX in the contest.  I have to say I love this CMD Micro! Its working great.

MH_Flexer

Hi William,

I just ordered one myself.  Thanks for getting us started, look forward to the code post after you take a hiatus and catch up on some sleep....

What do you use for labeling?

Duane

W4WHL

Here is the first version of the code for the CMD Micro.  All buttons and Knobs work as labled in the APP window.  Its not the cleanest code, but it works

https://www.dropbox.com/s/3hmwjx3j7irpi8z/CMDMicroFlex6k.zip?dl=0

William

W4WHL

I use this label maker http://www.amazon.com/Brother-Handheld-Label-Maker-PTH100/dp/B008HPTR9U/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1...

With  these lables (White print on Black)  http://www.amazon.com/Brother-Tape-White-black-TZe335/dp/B004I2I05S/ref=sr_1_23?ie=UTF8&qid=1427...

William

MH_Flexer

Thanks! I have a Ptouch labeler

W4WHL

Notes on the CMD Micro.

Start SmartSDR with a single slice only before starting the midi app.  Add an additional slice with the midi controller.  Cycle all the controls to sync them with SmartSDR.  At this point you can manipulate SmartSDR via the midi device or the mouse, however changing volume/rf gain/balance/AGCT with the mouse will cause the midi controls to be out of sync.  A simple cycle of the mid controls will resync them.

On the Micro the center A & B buttons provide three functions.

1.  They switch active slice.  This also switches active slice shown in the radio pane.
2.  They switch TX between slice A/B
3.  Select slice for buttons (ANT select, Filter select, Mode Select, DSP)

The micro has leds in all buttons, however only 6 can be changed via midi.

Vox - Turns blue when on
a<>b - blue when swapped
Step - blue 100hz
+RX - Blue when new slice added
PTT- Green when pressed

Filters are selected by mode.  Only popular standard widths can be cycled.  for custom widths, please use the mouse.

Three cwx memories are added for convenience, but all other CW functions such as delay/wpm/etc must be controlled in SmartSDR.

The Micro has limited buttons and controls, but I added what I feel are the most common.   Working splits is easy without ever touching the mouse.

If you are a casual OP that would like some knobs and a few buttons, the Micro is very nice.  And at $69 it is very attractive.  It's buttons are easily labeled, which is  BIG plus.

My Hercules may end up on ebay, so I can get another Behringer.  They just look and feel more radio like. 

William

Ken - NM9P

I just looked at your code for the new controller.  Some nice work, there.
I especially liked the way you used the + slice + to set the active slice and determine which slice your various commands will go to, like NR, NB, RX ant, etc... Slick.
I think I will use it...(with your permission!)
You made some good use of the boolean switches on several functions.

I didn't realize that setting the filters was so easy.  You did good work in selecting appropriate RX filter ranges for each mode.  
When I upgrade mine, I will make use of that too, but I may just use a single button and cycle through them, like I did the three different RX antennas in my version.

Next I need to figure ut how to change bands from the controller. That will be nice.
Well, it's off to Wiresharking again!

Again...nice work.

Ken - NM9P

Ken - NM9P

Just don't click any mode other than "Data Monitor," if you do, it locks up and needs to be uninstalled and re-installed.  At least on my computer running Win Tech Preview 10 it did!

I think it wants to be registered before it will use any other functions, and the lock out function is buggy.

W4WHL

Ken,

Thanks for the comments!  I have been using the CMD Micro exclusively during the contest, and it's doing a great job.

How is your controller working for you.  As I'm sure you are participating in the contest.

I'm not competing in this contest, but I am participating.  I have just 150 contacts as I had to work last night and today.  But it has been a good test of the midi controller.  I have to say, knobs and SDR is a killer combo.  I'm having a blast playing with this.

William

Ken - NM9P

Unfortunately, I am not able to do much in this contest.  I just got back about 5 pm from a Cub scount activity with my 7 year-old son.  We left yesterday and stayed overnight for their STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) program - six 40 minute classes that helped them earn "beltloops" and patches for their progress in Cub Scouts.

I haven't gotten any new programming done, either, but I have been pondering some new Ideas.  Only a little time to play before I must get back to work...

After Easter, I will have more time for major updates...

Ken - NM9P

DH2ID

GM William,

yesterday I went to our "Rock Shop" and bought a CMD micro, because my
FlexControl knob just does not do enough and I like your setup and program
for the CMD. I have some questions/suggestions concerning your setup:

1. Starting your program, mode seems to default to USB, is it possible to
    leave mode at the last setting?
2. Step size varies perfectly between 10 and 100Hz, but is not shown
    on the SSDR screen. 
3. If AGC-T is st to "off" for digital modes, your CMD sliders are not
    working. The sliders work for all other settings, like "fast, med,slow"
4. It would be great, if pressing "ATU" would start the tune button in SmartSDR,
    maybe as an alternative setting, for all those of us, who use an external
    Tuner.
5. Starting the program you have to input the SmartSDR IP address. Is it
    possible to get this address automatically?

I'm no programmer,alas, so I don't know how to change these
settings, but if you could find the time, you could maybe point
me in the right direction :-)

73 and thank you for the program,

Alex DH2ID

W4WHL

Alex,

Thanks for testing the software!  I appreciate the feedback, as I can't test everything.  Everyone operates differently.  See my responses below

1. Starting your program, mode seems to default to USB, is it possible to
    leave mode at the last setting? This is now fixed
2. Step size varies perfectly between 10 and 100Hz, but is not shown
    on the SSDR screen.   This is now fixed
3. If AGC-T is st to "off" for digital modes, your CMD sliders are not
    working. The sliders work for all other settings, like "fast, med,slow" This is now fixed
4. It would be great, if pressing "ATU" would start the tune button in SmartSDR,
    maybe as an alternative setting, for all those of us, who use an external
    Tuner.  I created a new version for Ex Tuner

I am compiling them and will post a link in a few.

William

W4WHL

Oh I forgot to answer this question:

5. Starting the program you have to input the SmartSDR IP address. Is it
    possible to get this address automatically?

Yes this is possible, but it requires a substantial amount of programming, which I don't really want to tackle.  FlexLib allows this easily, but I am not using Flexlib.  My program just uses the TCPIP API.  If you use a fixed IP (static reservation in your router)  It is simple to just modify the program to connect without asking.  So at this time, I do not foresee me attempting this.

What I may do is create a file that you can edit and just enter your IP, so you only have to do it once (or whenever you change it).  Let me think about this.  But I do not plan on adding IP discovery.  Its just too much work

William

W4WHL

I made a modification to the CMD Micro application.  Now there is a text file located in the application.windows64data directory called ip.txt.  Make sure you edit the correct one .  Just edit this file with notepad and add your IP address,. Now when you load the application, the IP will already be filled out.  You can of course change it if you wish, but you can now just hit enter.  This should make life easier.

The two versions are uploading as we speak (standard and external tuner)

William

W4WHL

Here are the updated downloads:

Fixed issues

AGCT now works in OFF
Mode does not default to USB
Step now displayed in SmartSDR
New Version for external tuner
Set default IP via text file

Standard -  https://www.dropbox.com/s/3hmwjx3j7irpi8z/CMDMicroFlex6k.zip?dl=0

Ex Tuner - https://www.dropbox.com/s/zk4cgrfotizi6ko/CMDMicroFlex6k_ExTune.zip?dl=0

William

DH2ID

William, thats absolutely smashing great! Thanks a lot!
Everything works fine.
I like the CMD micro because it integrates so well with my notebook
and because my shack is quite small.
73 from rainy Karlsruhe, Germany...
Alex DH2ID

Javier, KC2QII

William,

While trying out your CMDMicroFlex6K, I found out hat when in LSB, changing the filter size with either the + or - button, flips the filter to the USB side of the carrier!

To return the Flex6K audio filter back to the normal LSB operation, I reloaded an 40 Meter SSB profile I had previously saved.  Have not tested any other method to restore LSB so far.

Enjoying the CMD Micro!

Thanks,

Javier

Sergey R5AU

Hi Guys, what size of the buttons in mm on Micro? I wanna to prepare labels in advance while waiting for my one.

DH2ID

GE Sergey, small buttons are 15x8 mm and the big ones 15x15mm.

I did'nt put labels on the buttons, though,  but beneath them.

That doesn't look very pretty, but this way the labels don't peel off
easily. 

73, Alex DH2ID

Sergey R5AU

Got it Alex, thank you, my controller will joint me at Wednesday and I wanna be prepared :-)

Javier, KC2QII

Sergey,

The rectangular ones, like +, -, 1, 2, etc, are 14.5 wide by 5.5 mm high.  

The square ones, like CUE, SYNC, etc, are 12.75 x 12.75 mm.

 With those dimensions, you will cover just the black portion of the buttons.

Javier

DH2ID

William, I concur with Javier, who wrote:

...While trying out your CMDMicroFlex6K, I found out hat when in LSB, changing the filter size with either the + or - button, flips the filter to the USB side of the carrier...

I find exactly the same behaviour here.

73, Alex, DH2ID

W4WHL

Javier and all,

I solved the filter issue.  The issue is the APP does not poll the radio for mode.  If you switch filters before actually cycling the mode dial, the app assumes your still in USB.

I have modified the program to actually read the mode from the radio, so this issue should be a problem now.  I will test some more then recompile the APP.  Should have a new download shortly.

William

W4WHL

new files uploading now.  I'll post links in ~15 min.

W4WHL

Here are the new files with fixed filters.  Test them out and let me know!  I still need to clean these up.  But will do that after I get the testing results.

Standard -  https://www.dropbox.com/s/3hmwjx3j7irpi8z/CMDMicroFlex6k.zip?dl=0

Ex Tuner - https://www.dropbox.com/s/zk4cgrfotizi6ko/CMDMicroFlex6k_ExTune.zip?dl=0

DH2ID

William, thank you for the new files.
There is still some funny behaviour, but I think I have found what happens here:

1. Setting LSB, say on 40m, with SmartSDR, then pressing the filter button on
    the CMD -> still sets USB.
2. Setting LSB with the CMD mode knob, then pressing filter button, leaves
    mode in LSB.
3. Setting CW with SmartSDR, then pressing filter buttonon CMD -> sets
    CW-USB filter in SmartSDR.

I'll post some screen shots:

1. LSB set in SmartSDR:

 

2. LSB: Pressing filter on CMD:




3. LSB: Change mode from CMD:



=============================================================================
4. CW on 40m, set in SmartSDR:



5. Changed to LSB in SmartSDR, pressed filter on CMD, changes to USB:




So it all comes down to this: 

If you change mode from CMD, then filters, all seems to be ok.
Must be an interaction between SmartSDR settings and CMD
settings!?

73, Alex DH2ID

W4WHL

Alex, its just the Ex Tuner version.  I forgot a single line   This behavior is exactly what I fixed.  The other version works fine.

I fixed this Ex Tuner version and reuploading it now.  Sorry!

William

W4WHL

if your not using the ex tuner version, let me know and I will reupload that version too.  I tested both and they are working for me now

Edit I checked the download, the standard download is correct.  The Ex Tuner version was not the newest.  Its uploading now