No S-Meter through CAT in 1.6.17

KC2QMA_John · January 2016

I noticed that after the update I don't seem to be getting S-Meter readings from my 3rd party apps (HRD, Smartmeter) maybe I'm just missing something.
For example when a run HRD everything seems to work except the S-Meter?

Tim - W4TME · January 2016

CAT now has a logging feature that will show the bidirectional commands on the port. You can use this to determine what is happening at the port level.

KC2QMA_John · January 2016

OK this is a small sample of what I see:
(SMART S-Meter)
2016-01-11 16:58:44 COM4 (Smart S-meter) [sent]: ZZSM0;2016-01-11 16:58:44 COM4 (Smart S-meter) [sent]: ZZSM0;
2016-01-11 16:58:44 COM4 (Smart S-meter) [rcvd]: ?;
2016-01-11 16:58:44 COM4 (Smart S-meter) [rcvd]: ?;
2016-01-11 16:58:44 COM4 (Smart S-meter) [sent]: ZZSM0;
2016-01-11 16:58:44 COM4 (Smart S-meter) [rcvd]: ?;
2016-01-11 16:58:44 COM4 (Smart S-meter) [sent]: ZZSM0;
2016-01-11 16:58:44 COM4 (Smart S-meter) [rcvd]: ?;
2016-01-11 16:58:44 COM4 (Smart S-meter) [sent]: ZZSM0;
2016-01-11 16:58:44 COM4 (Smart S-meter) [rcvd]: ?;
2016-01-11 16:58:44 COM4 (Smart S-meter) [sent]: ZZSM0;
2016-01-11 16:58:44 COM4 (Smart S-meter) [rcvd]: ?;
2016-01-11 16:58:44 COM4 (Smart S-meter) [sent]: ZZSM0;

(Ham Radio Deluxe)
2016-01-11 17:01:09 COM4 (HamRadioDeluxe) [sent]: ZZSM0;2016-01-11 17:01:09 COM4 (HamRadioDeluxe) [rcvd]: ?;
2016-01-11 17:01:09 COM4 (HamRadioDeluxe) [sent]: ZZRM0;
2016-01-11 17:01:09 COM4 (HamRadioDeluxe) [rcvd]: ?;
2016-01-11 17:01:09 COM4 (HamRadioDeluxe) [sent]: ZZMD;
2016-01-11 17:01:09 COM4 (HamRadioDeluxe) [rcvd]: ZZMD00;
2016-01-11 17:01:09 COM4 (HamRadioDeluxe) [sent]: ZZGT;
2016-01-11 17:01:09 COM4 (HamRadioDeluxe) [rcvd]: ZZGT4;
2016-01-11 17:01:09 COM4 (HamRadioDeluxe) [sent]: ZZBS;
2016-01-11 17:01:09 COM4 (HamRadioDeluxe) [rcvd]: ?;
2016-01-11 17:01:09 COM4 (HamRadioDeluxe) [sent]: ZZDM;

Any ideas?

Tim - W4TME · January 2016

Looks like CAT is not responding to the ZZSM0; command. Let me check on something...

k3Tim · January 2016

Tim - W4TME · January 2016

OK, I have the answer. Since CAT is no longer restricted to Slice A, the command syntax changed.
Previously the syntax was ZZSM0; for the vfoA meter reading. The ZZSM CAT command no longer has an argument (the zero). In the test box for the CAT command, if you enter ZZSM; it will return the meter reading for the slice that CAT port is associated with.

You will need to contact HRD and the SmartMeter developers and let then know that the ZZSM CAT command syntax has changed.

KC2QMA_John · January 2016

Oh well that a bummer.
Guess I will just have to wait till everyone catches up with 1.6.
I will say the new logging feature made it easy to find the problem.

Thanks Tim, I'm sure you will have your hands full supporting the new update.

73'
John

Paul Christensen, W9AC · January 2016

Sorry for this tough question, but I think it's appropriate: Why wasn't this new incompatibility identified by the many users in the Alpha test group? I understand it's a volunteer-effort, but certainly some of them have 3rd-party S-meter applications. Thanks.

Paul, W9AC

KC2QMA_John · January 2016

I wonder if a "S-Meter legacy mode" check box could be added to SmartCAT?

KY6LA_Howard · January 2016

Because the Alpha team was concentrating on catching big bugs, profile incompatibilities and a large number of other issues that this minor FIXABLE incompatibility by Smartmeter authors slippe thru

Paul Christensen, W9AC · January 2016

Howard, understood but significant test time was given before the final release -- ample time to test any one of the highly popular apps like SDR-Bridge and Smart S-Meter for reasonable compatibility. In the case of the S-meter, it did not take a lengthy forensic study to see if it simply failed to open.

I see this differently if the incompatibility was addressed in the release notes -- like is often seen in Flex release notes. But Tim's answer implies it was just identified today -- and thus missed in alpha. That does not give me a warm feeling about how hard the software is test driven by the Alpha group.

If you're part of the Flex alpha group, thanks for your contributions. One person cannot identify every incompatibility issue, but for the group, this one should not have gone unnoticed.

KC2QMA_John · January 2016

It is any APP that uses the S-meter command set (ZZSM0) Now (ZZSM) in 1.6.

Not the end of the world but any current application the takes advantage of S-meter commands in now Dead in the water.

Hey Paul, saw your liner amp on your QRZ. WOW it's a work of art! one of the best looking amp builds I have seen in a while.

John

KY6LA_Howard · January 2016

Paul

Lots of things to test...so we sometimes miss the simple ones

I suspect no one in the Alpha Group is a heavy user of the S-Meter App...I have it myself but since its yet another ANALOG meter I rarely use it... So i did not test it..

Perhaps the Alpha Grouo needs a more comprehensive list of everything that needs to be tested for compatibility... even then we likely will miss a few as many people use orphan apps...

BUT - in this case the fix is very simple.. the App designers can quickly make the fix if they are motivated...

KC2QMA_John · January 2016

Howard,
It is any APP that uses the S-meter command set (ZZSM0) Now (ZZSM) in 1.6. not just the S-meter app.
Not the end of the world but any current application the takes advantage of S-meter commands is now Dead in the water until they make compatible with the new V1.6.

KY6LA_Howard · January 2016

As i said the fix is very simple for the APP Developers - remove the 0 from ZZSM.query

IN FACT the new version of ZZSM Command is significantly MORE Powerful because ZZSM is tied to the Slice rather than just generic slice A.

You can now implement a separate Analog S-Meter for each slice...

Tim - W4TME · January 2016

Exactly!

Dan -- KC4GO · January 2016

The FRStack 1.6.4 works correctly Mark updated his software. It's what drives the new squelch. I agree it's up to the third party folks to update their software.

KC2QMA_John · January 2016

WOW now that's was fast.

W9OY · January 2016

DDUTIL also works correctly. W9OY

Dan -- KC4GO · January 2016

I tested this it was working as was FRStack 1.6.4. I don't use or have the one you referenced. To many third party publishers to keep all their tools on the system.
I use this mostly to set the AGC-T

KC2QMA_John · January 2016

Yes FlexMeter Works as is should as it gets it's data over Ethernet.

K9DUR · January 2016

Tim,

A suggestion for the programmer (Bob T?). -- For backward compatibility, why not let SmartCAT recognize both ZZSM & ZZSM0 and simply ignore the "0" in ZZSM0?

73, Ray, K9DUR