API: TX Antenna List Change

Ed.G

In upcoming releases of SmartSDR there are some changes to how the available TX Antennas are reported. 

Today, the radio API sends the RX Antenna list in the slice status updates. Valid TX antennas are not sent as status updates. 

In future releases, the radio API will send a new key=value pair in the slice status message named "tx_ant_list=ANT1,ANT2,XVTR" that allows clients to parse the available TX antennas. In FlexLib there will be a new property called TXAntList that can be used to fetch this list. For backwards compatibility this property will return the old default list if it encounters radios that do not provide the '"tx_ant_list" status update. 

This change is a result of new radio models having different TX Antenna selections that previous models. 

Steve Gw0gei

Can we assume that antenna and power genius and any other lan compatible manufacturer partners will be able to use this facility to improve automation options with so2r amps, antenna switches, and will it enable the N1mm team to bring in greater integration? Looking forward to hearing how future ssdr 2.xx versions will utilise such changes too.. Is the backward compatibility to ensure that 6300,6500 and 6700 radios will still operate as now? Some examples of use would be helpful for those of us trying to plan our system upgrades ahead. Thanks Steve gw0gei / gw9j

Eric-KE5DTO

This change specifically is to address differences in our radio hardware (e.g. multiple XVTR antenna ports on the FLEX-6600).  However, this change certainly does lend itself to allowing more flexibility in how we present and select antennas.  

Steve Gw0gei

Thanks Eric - as someone who is likely to be upgrading to the 6600 for contesting on hf and vhf this sounds like good news. The more flexibility we can have on rx and tx the better,