Keeping a Slice Centered in Smart SDR While Tuning

Rich - N5ZC

As I was participating in the NAQP Sprint last night, I thought it would be very effective if the Slice  would stay centered in the display of the pan adapter.  

In other words I would like to have the slice stay static and have the frequency bar move as I tune.  This way I could see what is above and below my current frequency at all times.

As it is now if I tune up in frequency and get to the edge of the panadapter the frequency bar moves right to left and I can only see frequencies that are below me.

How about an option to keep the slice static in the center and have the frequency bar move as we tune so we can see what's on either side of the slice.

I'd like the same feature on the Maestro as well.  The Maestro operates a bit differently in that as you tune to the edge, the slice jumps back to the center.  This is a bit annoying.

Or does this feature already exist and I don't know how to set it?



Thanks in advance.

Rich - N5ZC

Bob - W7KWS -

Then, as in PowerSDR, the waterfall will smear as you tune making it hard to keep track of the stations.

Ken - NM9P

How about a third option... the display acts as it does when tuning, but after a set delay of 2-5 seconds, issues a display center command..... The only problem with this is that on wide receive filter modes, like SSB or jt65, a centered display will put some of the display off the screen when zoomed in, since the center command centers on zero beat.

Ray G3XLG

What Rich is asking for is exactly what I had with my SunSDR2PRO software & also its in their MB1 SDR software.

This feature is probably the thing I miss most about the Sun & the thing I most would like to change  in my Flex 6500

Bob is right it does "smear" on the waterfall but unless you are tuning across the band very fast, it was never a problem.

How do I vote for this to be incorporated as an option ?

Ray G3XLG

KY6LA_Howard

I use a macro from DDUTIL and a Genovation keypad to center the display during S&P Contrsting.

Harry White

I'm with Rich. I don't see smearing as a problem.

Harry K1RSA

Al_NN4ZZ

Hi Rich,
There have been several requests for this idea/option over the last 3 years.  Here are 3 or them below.   

This first one allows you to lock the slice anywhere on the panadapter (including the center) and have the pan scroll under it.  It also suggests a UI change that would let you easily turn it on or off and show the status of the pan lock.  

https://community.flexradio.com/flexradio/topics/my-frequency-on-the-panadpter?topic-reply-list%5Bse...

Here is a mockup from the idea above:




Here are 2 more related ideas and there may even be more out there as this comes up from time to time.   

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


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

Regards, Al / NN4ZZ  
al (at) nn4zz (dot) com
SSDR / DAX / CAT/ 6700 -  V 1.10.16
Win10

Tim - W4TME

This feature request is in our enhancement database as item #3777

Harry White

Tim, could you add some context to your statement? It's nice to know the requested feature is in your enhancement database and it's number is 3777. But what does that mean as far as it becoming a reality?
Thanks,
Harry
K1RSA

Tim VE6SH

The handiest external device I have found for the Flex is using DDUTIL and the Genovation keypad. I have three of the switches set up for "PAN CTR". PAN+" and "PAN-". I routinely have changed the macros to add the most used items to the top level of the keypad (firing CWX memories etc). Works with the Maestro as well.

Tim VE6SH

Clay N9IO

@Ken, @Tim, @Howard, et al...

I have been able to casually figure out how to program the Genovation VUSB keyboard now and it works. I have @Howard's 20m CW macro on the first key and it works.  So am OK on keypad programming.

Am happy to have found this thread and am hoping you fellows will have some more practical command lists that really work on the 6K series.
I am currently running the 6300 and a Maestro, 6600 coming later.

@Howard I downloaded your xml file and found a few commands that work, many don't for me so I have played around changed a few and got one or two more working but could really use a fast track list if you guys have figured out some more.

I am pasting these in the Setup with the xml file, saving them and trying in DDUTil's "MacBtns", this has proved to be a good way to experiment in DDUTil.

I have CW, TX1, TX2, DigUP, Tune ON, Tune OFF, NR ON, NR OFF so far.
Could use SSB, RTTY, NB ON, NB OFF, APF ON, APF OFF, ANF ON, ANF OFF, RX Ant 1, RX,Ant 2, XVTR, and ...

RTTY ZZMD09; brings up the old AFSK down offset, not true RTTY as it does today with current SSDR.

Wow, it would be a great asset to have a current SSDR DDUtil list available on-line.
The Genovation keypad along with the Flex Knob on DDUTil will be a fantastic addition to this once I get this all sorted out.

I suspect many of the commands in some of these xml files are spillovers from Flex 5K and earlier and don't work in the 6K series.

Have a happy 4th of July gents..
Clay N9IO

Tim VE6SH

Clay

Good to hear. I will send you my list as I have several of the commands you require.

Happy 4th

73

Tim VE6SH

Clay N9IO

Thank you so much Tim,  My @arrl.net address is good.

73'
Clay

Jay Nation

Clay & Rich

DDutil's DD6PCF9; macro command will "Center" the "active" slice's 0Hz passband indicator in the slice display. 

I use it in conjunction with a "Next Slice" macro button, DD6SNS;DD6STX;
Which selects the next slice and also makes it the TX enabled slice.

And also with  a pair of Zoom/UnZoom macro buttons Zoom DD6PZM+; and UnZoom DD6PZM-; which are also applied to the active slice.

I use them from either the Genovation Keypad or the MacBtns display in DDUtil. They work with both SmartSDR and Maestro.

The "current" list of DDUtil Macro commands are described at,
http://k5fr.com/DDUtilV3wiki/index.php?title=CAT#DDUtil_Command_Reference

reasonably well.

     SDRgadgets

#FlexRadio IRC chat

   73, Jay - NO5J

W9OY

CNTR PAN DD6PBW0:.019;DD6PCF0;

This is a DDUTIL macro command that centers the pan to the freq displayed and sets the pan bandwidth to 19khz which is the pan bandwidth on my monitor that displays 1khz graduations 



It does not do exactly what you request but it goes a long way to adding the functionality you seek.  I don't use the genovation keypad but just he DDUTIL macro screen



My macros are more complicated, but all you have to do is open the macro data base and put the above text into a line and see if you can fit it into your operating style.  You can have multiple screen views for wider pan shots which immediately can click back so it actually provides more information than simply a static center.  If you use DDUTIL to control your knob you can even assign the macro to one of the knob buttons.  

My macros include a lot of toggles so the labels reflect multiple linked macros I can toggle on and off  Like Ant1:RXB toggles between Ant 1 and RXB

73  W9OY

Jay Nation

Lee

Thanks! for the DD6PBW0:.019; hint. I think it makes it work mo'better!

     SDRgadgets

#FlexRadio IRC chat

   73, Jay - NO5J

Clay N9IO

To all on this thread thanks very much. Those few posts gave me a wealth of info particularly the DDUTil help pages I was not aware of.

Went to visit with my granddaughter, saw the fireworks in town with my XYL. Then proceeded to sit down and get busy, figured out around 40 good Macros. Could not get NB to work, NB turned out to be WNB in the list but it does work.

Going to bed now, tomorrow evening after work I will get the XML file together and post what I have so far.

@Tim I would still love to see what you have, thanks.

This DDUTil and Genovation Keypad are GREAT!

Clay N9IO

Clay N9IO

<?xml version="1.0" standalone="yes"?>
<macroData>
  <macro>
    <Button>20 JT65HF</Button>
    <Command>ZZFA00014076000;ZZMD07;</Command>
  </macro>
  <macro>
    <Button>CW</Button>
    <Command>ZZMD04;</Command>
  </macro>
  <macro>
    <Button>20 CW</Button>
    <Command>ZZFA00014010000;ZZMD04;</Command>
  </macro>
  <macro>
    <Button>20 PSK</Button>
    <Command>ZZFA00014070000;ZZMD07;</Command>
  </macro>
  <macro>
    <Button>Beam</Button>
    <Command>DDKS00;</Command>
  </macro>
  <macro>
    <Button>Vertical</Button>
    <Command>DDKS01;</Command>
  </macro>
  <macro>
    <Button>Dmy Load</Button>
    <Command>DDKS02;</Command>
  </macro>
  <macro>
    <Button>INV_ L</Button>
    <Command>DDKS03;</Command>
  </macro>
  <macro>
    <Button>Amp 1</Button>
    <Command>DDKMB100;DDAP1;ZZOA1;ZZOC1;</Command>
  </macro>
  <macro>
    <Button>Amp 2</Button>
    <Command>DDKMB101;DDAP2;ZZOA2;ZZOC2;</Command>
  </macro>
  <macro>
    <Button>Amp 3</Button>
    <Command>DDKMB102;</Command>
  </macro>
  <macro>
    <Button>TX Ant 1</Button>
    <Command>DD6RXA0:3;DD6TXA0:0;</Command>
  </macro>
  <macro>
    <Button>USB</Button>
    <Command>ZZMD01;</Command>
  </macro>
  <macro>
    <Button>LSB</Button>
    <Command>ZZMD00;</Command>
  </macro>
  <macro>
    <Button>AM</Button>
    <Command>ZZMD06;</Command>
  </macro>
  <macro>
    <Button>CNTR PAN20</Button>
    <Command>DD6PBW0:.020;DD6PCF0;</Command>
  </macro>
  <macro>
    <Button>CNTR PAN200</Button>
    <Command>DD6PBW0:.200;DD6PCF0;</Command>
  </macro>
  <macro>
    <Button>CNTR PAN</Button>
    <Command>DD6PCF0;</Command>
  </macro>
  <macro>
    <Button>NR ON</Button>
    <Command>DD6NRD0:1;</Command>
  </macro>
  <macro>
    <Button>NR OFF</Button>
    <Command>DD6NRD0:0;</Command>
  </macro>
  <macro>
    <Button>TX A</Button>
    <Command>ZZSW0;</Command>
  </macro>
  <macro>
    <Button>TX B</Button>
    <Command>ZZSW1;</Command>
  </macro>
  <macro>
    <Button>CNTR Zoom</Button>
    <Command>DD6PZM+;DD6PCF0;</Command>
  </macro>
  <macro>
    <Button>CNTR UNZoom</Button>
    <Command>DD6PZM-;DD6PCF0;</Command>
  </macro>
  <macro>
    <Button>PROC ON</Button>
    <Command>DD6SPE1;</Command>
  </macro>
  <macro>
    <Button>PROC OFF</Button>
    <Command>DD6SPE0;</Command>
  </macro>
  <macro>
    <Button>PROC NOR</Button>
    <Command>DD6SPV0;</Command>
  </macro>
  <macro>
    <Button>PROC DX</Button>
    <Command>DD6SPV1;</Command>
  </macro>
  <macro>
    <Button>PROC DX+</Button>
    <Command>DD6SPV2;</Command>
  </macro>
  <macro>
    <Button>FM</Button>
    <Command>ZZMD05;</Command>
  </macro>
  <macro>
    <Button>DIGL</Button>
    <Command>ZZMT02;ZZFI10;ZZVH0;ZZVC003;ZZVI06;ZZVO06;ZZVA1;</Command>
  </macro>
  <macro>
    <Button>DIGH</Button>
    <Command>ZZMT02;ZZFI03;ZZVH0;ZZVC000;ZZVI06;ZZVO06;ZZVA1;</Command>
  </macro>
  <macro>
    <Button>RX ANT 1</Button>
    <Command>DD6RXA0:0;</Command>
  </macro>
  <macro>
    <Button>RX ANT 2</Button>
    <Command>DD6RXA0:1;</Command>
  </macro>
  <macro>
    <Button>WNB ON</Button>
    <Command>DD6NBK0:1;</Command>
  </macro>
  <macro>
    <Button>WNB OFF</Button>
    <Command>DD6NBK0:0;</Command>
  </macro>
  <macro>
    <Button>APF ON</Button>
    <Command>DD6APF0:1;</Command>
  </macro>
  <macro>
    <Button>APF OFF</Button>
    <Command>DD6APF0:0;</Command>
  </macro>
  <macro>
    <Button>MUTE ON</Button>
    <Command>DD6AUM0:1;</Command>
  </macro>
  <macro>
    <Button>MUTE OFF</Button>
    <Command>DD6AUM0:0;</Command>
  </macro>
  <macro>
    <Button>TX ANT 1</Button>
    <Command>DD6TXA0:0;</Command>
  </macro>
  <macro>
    <Button>TX ANT 2</Button>
    <Command>DD6TXA0:1;</Command>
  </macro>
  <macro>
    <Button>SLICE B OFF</Button>
    <Command>DD6SRV1;</Command>
  </macro>
  <macro>
    <Button>SO2R Exit</Button>
    <Command>DDAD1;ZZOA1;ZZOB6;ZZOC1;ZZOF100;ZZRS0;</Command>
  </macro>
  <macro>
    <Button>Tune On</Button>
    <Command>DD6TXT1;</Command>
  </macro>
  <macro>
    <Button>Tune Off</Button>
    <Command>DD6TXT0;</Command>
  </macro>
  <macro>
    <Button>ATU ON</Button>
    <Command>DD6ATU1;</Command>
  </macro>
  <macro>
    <Button>ATU OFF</Button>
    <Command>DD6ATU0;</Command>
  </macro>
  <macro>
    <Command />
  </macro>
  <macro>
    <Command />
  </macro>
  <macro>
    <Command />
  </macro>
  <macro>
    <Command />
  </macro>
</macroData>

Clay N9IO

This is what I have so far.  Kep't most to the local (current slice 0)

Clay N9IO

KC2QMA_John

"Keeping a Slice Centered in Smart SDR"
Yes Please!

Steve K9ZW

How do the Macros handle the usual SmartSDR error-checking - like when there is more than the ham band selected and other out-of-band conditions?

Thanks & 73

Steve K9ZW

Clay N9IO

<Button>CNTR PAN</Button>
    <Command>DD6PCF0;</Command>
  </macro>

You will need DDUTil of course.

Joe N9VX

Apache Labs and the Elecraft P3 both have the ability to switch from Fixed mode to Scrolling mode with the click of a button. I really love this option.

Joe  N9VX

Jay Nation

Clay 
Keep in mind that you can Center any of the Pans by numbers 0-8 to the macro. Assigning 9, instead will center the currently selected/active Pan. 

     SDRgadgets

#FlexRadio IRC chat

   73, Jay - NO5J

Clay N9IO

Thanks Jay. You're right I should have caught that, will have to change them to 9.

Thanks for the heads up.

Clay N9IO

BTW, anyone know if there is a code for selecting RTTY?

The one I have seen only selects DIG Down not for current SSDR RTTY.

W9OY

but of course then you loose the history in the waterefall and I hate that

73  W9OY

Clay N9IO

Have RTTY working now:

RTTY
DD6FIL0:30:-0085:00400;
-------------------------------------------------------
DD6FIL Set Slice, Mode and Filter parameters (rev'd @ 32300)
  Form: DD6FIL P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7 ;
  Parm: P1 = Slice 0-7 {A-H} & 9 for active slice.
  Parm: P2 = Separator (:)
  Parm: P3 = Mode = 2 numerical digits {00=LSB,  01=USB, 02|03|04=CW,    05=FM,  06=AM,   07=DIGU, 
                                        09=DIGL, 10=SAM, 11=NFM, 12=DFM, 20=FDV, 30=RTTY, 40=DSTR}
  Parm: P4 = Separator (:)
  Parm: P5 = Filter Center = 4 numerical digits prefixed with either a ‘+’ or ‘-‘.
  Parm: P6 = Separator (:)
  Parm: P7 = Filter Width  = 5 numerical digits for the filter width in Hz.
  Uses: DD6FIL0:01:+0000:02500;
  Note: Above example sets slice 0 to USB mode and sets the filter center point to 0 Hz and filter width to 2500 Hz.
              Use slice = 9 (DD6FIL9...) to set parameters for the active slice.

KC2QMA_John

I think if I could ask for one simple convenience feature to be added to SSDR it would be the Slice Lock feature.
Will definitely come in handy in Ver 2.0 with the new movable/dockable windows feature!

Clay N9IO

I set my Genovation to do exactly as you have it  for Pan ctr and zoom +- Tim.  This is a nice aid along with all the other magic you can create with a Genovation keypad and DDUTil.  No SSDR updates required, CAT commands are easily accessible this way.  Thanks for you help.

Tim VE6SH

No worries! 73 Tim V29SH for the next 10 days