Remote operating and Node Red

Mike-VA3MW

Just to share, this is what my Dashboard looks like --- today.  Tomorrow it may be different.  

I'm just looking at the 'Template' in the Dashboard so I can see what I can do there.

Joe N3HEE

Sending CW and tuning the radio is pretty easy.  I need to play with the audio API commands to see if I can get audio to Node-Red.  There is a audio node for Node-Red that should work to get audio to the browser.

The guys at Beloud.US have developed a web interface for Flex on their pay for play stations.  That will be coming soon ! 

Mike-VA3MW

Joe N3HEE

Joe N3HEE

The sky is the limit with what you can do with this radio when it comes to software development. 

Joe N3HEE

Got Speech to Morse working tonight via IBM Watson speech to text node on Node-Red !  This is really cool but will have to figure out how to send punctuation and other Morse code prosigns and abbreviations.  Good start for now.

Mike-VA3MW

Mike-VA3MW

Alan

Joe N3HEE

Mike-VA3MW

Like Joe said.   

This is what the Flow looks like and it sends the TX Status to an MQTT server (not as hard as it sounds).  This seemed to be the easier way for me to change the topic to a control topic.  



This flow is a work in progress and I use it for a lot of testing.  

Here is the code.  Give a try and see if it helps you out  I think N6NU started this and I expanded on it.  You will have to change the IP address for the radio and the MQTT server.

Mike


[{"id":"a5a6f35f.a0a62","type":"tab","label":"FlexRadio","disabled":false,"info":""},{"id":"5332910e.2f411","type":"tcp in","z":"a5a6f35f.a0a62","name":"","server":"client","host":"192.168.110.76","port":"4992","datamode":"stream","datatype":"utf8","newline":"\\n","topic":"","base64":false,"x":203.01953125,"y":158.00390625,"wires":[["32af30a0.da29c","784db465.9bedfc","21676014.64315","4bb65a81.899f44"]]},{"id":"9f0dc4f.232cd38","type":"tcp out","z":"a5a6f35f.a0a62","host":"","port":"","beserver":"reply","base64":false,"end":false,"name":"","x":1003.01953125,"y":198.00390625,"wires":[]},{"id":"167dc49a.68cbab","type":"split","z":"a5a6f35f.a0a62","name":"","splt":" ","spltType":"str","arraySplt":1,"arraySpltType":"len","stream":false,"addname":"","x":323.01953125,"y":418.00390625,"wires":[["66b580f3.0a7a4"]]},{"id":"66b580f3.0a7a4","type":"switch","z":"a5a6f35f.a0a62","name":"","property":"payload","propertyType":"msg","rules":[{"t":"regex","v":"^freq=","vt":"str","case":false}],"checkall":"true","repair":false,"outputs":1,"x":463.01953125,"y":418.00390625,"wires":[["8d5baf1.32b805"]]},{"id":"8d5baf1.32b805","type":"function","z":"a5a6f35f.a0a62","name":"ParseFreq","func":"\nmsg.payload= msg.payload.split('=')[1]*100000;\n\nflow.set(\"FlexTXFreq\",msg.payload);\n\n\n\nreturn msg;","outputs":1,"noerr":0,"x":650,"y":420,"wires":[["b4944ad5.44dbd8"]]},{"id":"d63d2770.e41758","type":"mqtt out","z":"a5a6f35f.a0a62","name":"","topic":"FlexStatus","qos":"","retain":"","broker":"201e7171.0af3ee","x":1110,"y":500,"wires":[]},{"id":"b4944ad5.44dbd8","type":"function","z":"a5a6f35f.a0a62","name":"Devide Frequency by 100","func":"var Frequency=msg.payload/100;\n\n\n\nmsg.payload= parseFloat(Frequency).toFixed(2);\nreturn msg;","outputs":1,"noerr":0,"x":890,"y":420,"wires":[["d63d2770.e41758","b2a55269.8a30c","59f3c5b7.c2fbec"]]},{"id":"32af30a0.da29c","type":"trigger","z":"a5a6f35f.a0a62","op1":"C173|sub tx all","op2":"C173|sub tx all","op1type":"str","op2type":"str","duration":"60","extend":true,"units":"s","reset":"","bytopic":"all","name":"","x":563.01953125,"y":158.00390625,"wires":[["5039d92.c1ba328","5868bc45.056d54","12af30a0.75d09f","163c43e3.a5302c"]]},{"id":"b2a55269.8a30c","type":"trigger","z":"a5a6f35f.a0a62","op1":"","op2":"","op1type":"nul","op2type":"payl","duration":"10","extend":false,"units":"s","reset":"","name":"","x":730,"y":500,"wires":[["d63d2770.e41758"]]},{"id":"5039d92.c1ba328","type":"function","z":"a5a6f35f.a0a62","name":"SUB SLICE ALL","func":"// C172|sub slice all\nmsg.payload = \"C172|sub slice all\\r\"; \nreturn msg;","outputs":1,"noerr":0,"x":793.01953125,"y":178.00390625,"wires":[["9f0dc4f.232cd38"]]},{"id":"5868bc45.056d54","type":"function","z":"a5a6f35f.a0a62","name":"SUB CLIENT ALL","func":"// C172|sub slice all\nmsg.payload = \"C173|sub client all\\r\"; \nreturn msg;","outputs":1,"noerr":0,"x":803.01953125,"y":218.00390625,"wires":[["9f0dc4f.232cd38"]]},{"id":"12af30a0.75d09f","type":"function","z":"a5a6f35f.a0a62","name":"SUB TX ALL","func":"// C172|sub slice all\nmsg.payload = \"C202|sub tx all\\r\"; \nreturn msg;","outputs":1,"noerr":0,"x":783.01953125,"y":138.00390625,"wires":[["9f0dc4f.232cd38"]]},{"id":"784db465.9bedfc","type":"switch","z":"a5a6f35f.a0a62","name":"transmit","property":"payload","propertyType":"msg","rules":[{"t":"cont","v":"|transmit","vt":"str"}],"checkall":"true","repair":false,"outputs":1,"x":173.01953125,"y":418.00390625,"wires":[["167dc49a.68cbab"]]},{"id":"163c43e3.a5302c","type":"function","z":"a5a6f35f.a0a62","name":"SUB RADIO ALL","func":"// C172|sub slice all\nmsg.payload = \"C73|sub radio all\\r\"; \nreturn msg;","outputs":1,"noerr":0,"x":810,"y":260,"wires":[["9f0dc4f.232cd38"]]},{"id":"2cdb975d.660f78","type":"inject","z":"a5a6f35f.a0a62","name":"","topic":"","payload":"","payloadType":"date","repeat":"","crontab":"","once":false,"onceDelay":0.1,"x":410.51171875,"y":58.94921875,"wires":[["12af30a0.75d09f"]]},{"id":"59f3c5b7.c2fbec","type":"ui_text","z":"a5a6f35f.a0a62","group":"2dbe67ac.f10de8","order":9,"width":0,"height":0,"name":"","label":"6600 Freq","format":"{{msg.payload}}","layout":"row-spread","x":1130,"y":420,"wires":[]},{"id":"21676014.64315","type":"switch","z":"a5a6f35f.a0a62","name":"rfpower","property":"payload","propertyType":"msg","rules":[{"t":"cont","v":"|transmit","vt":"str"}],"checkall":"true","repair":false,"outputs":1,"x":180,"y":560,"wires":[["35cc47b5.351a98"]]},{"id":"35cc47b5.351a98","type":"split","z":"a5a6f35f.a0a62","name":"","splt":" ","spltType":"str","arraySplt":1,"arraySpltType":"len","stream":false,"addname":"","x":350,"y":560,"wires":[["e7e8db4.377d128"]]},{"id":"e7e8db4.377d128","type":"switch","z":"a5a6f35f.a0a62","name":"","property":"payload","propertyType":"msg","rules":[{"t":"regex","v":"^rfpower=","vt":"str","case":false}],"checkall":"true","repair":false,"outputs":1,"x":490,"y":560,"wires":[["edb3c81.600ee38"]]},{"id":"edb3c81.600ee38","type":"function","z":"a5a6f35f.a0a62","name":"ParsePWR","func":"\nmsg.payload= msg.payload.split('=')[1];\n\nflow.set(\"FlexTXPWR\",msg.payload);\n\n\n\nreturn msg;","outputs":1,"noerr":0,"x":710,"y":560,"wires":[["6e9b14da.a6563c"]]},{"id":"6e9b14da.a6563c","type":"ui_text","z":"a5a6f35f.a0a62","group":"2dbe67ac.f10de8","order":10,"width":0,"height":0,"name":"","label":"TX Power","format":"{{msg.payload}}","layout":"row-spread","x":1140,"y":560,"wires":[]},{"id":"4d6cb5be.c9a64c","type":"comment","z":"a5a6f35f.a0a62","name":"","info":" state=TRANSMITTING\n  state=READY","x":1620,"y":200,"wires":[]},{"id":"4bb65a81.899f44","type":"switch","z":"a5a6f35f.a0a62","name":"TX/RX State","property":"payload","propertyType":"msg","rules":[{"t":"cont","v":"state","vt":"str"}],"checkall":"true","repair":false,"outputs":1,"x":170,"y":660,"wires":[["50ad74fe.67e61c"]]},{"id":"50ad74fe.67e61c","type":"split","z":"a5a6f35f.a0a62","name":"","splt":" ","spltType":"str","arraySplt":1,"arraySpltType":"len","stream":false,"addname":"","x":310,"y":660,"wires":[["3b771b3c.5215e4"]]},{"id":"3b771b3c.5215e4","type":"switch","z":"a5a6f35f.a0a62","name":"","property":"payload","propertyType":"msg","rules":[{"t":"cont","v":"TRANSMITTING","vt":"str"},{"t":"cont","v":"READY","vt":"str"}],"checkall":"true","repair":false,"outputs":2,"x":430,"y":660,"wires":[["7d3c7d0d.97c674"],["ae295af8.9e4b38"]],"inputLabels":["i/p"],"outputLabels":["PTT Requested","UnKey"]},{"id":"7d3c7d0d.97c674","type":"change","z":"a5a6f35f.a0a62","name":"","rules":[{"t":"set","p":"payload","pt":"msg","to":"close","tot":"str"}],"action":"","property":"","from":"","to":"","reg":false,"x":700,"y":640,"wires":[["74bc71a6.a2d9e"]],"info":"The msg.payload is set to open or closed and\nsent to MQTT so that the Steppir controller\nwill know to open or close the gate.\n\nWhen Closed, the Steppir code will not send commands\nto the controller and hopefully not cause the \nSteppir to actually move while in TX"},{"id":"ae295af8.9e4b38","type":"change","z":"a5a6f35f.a0a62","name":"","rules":[{"t":"set","p":"payload","pt":"msg","to":"open","tot":"str"}],"action":"","property":"","from":"","to":"","reg":false,"x":700,"y":680,"wires":[["74bc71a6.a2d9e"]],"info":"The msg.payload is set to open or closed and\nsent to MQTT so that the Steppir controller\nwill know to open or close the gate.\n\nWhen Closed, the Steppir code will not send commands\nto the controller and hopefully not cause the \nSteppir to actually move while in TX"},{"id":"74bc71a6.a2d9e","type":"mqtt out","z":"a5a6f35f.a0a62","name":"To Steppir Control","topic":"control","qos":"","retain":"","broker":"201e7171.0af3ee","x":1010,"y":660,"wires":[],"info":"To Steppir Code"},{"id":"201e7171.0af3ee","type":"mqtt-broker","z":"","name":"","broker":"192.168.110.111","port":"1883","clientid":"","usetls":false,"compatmode":true,"keepalive":"60","cleansession":true,"birthTopic":"","birthQos":"0","birthPayload":"","closeTopic":"","closeQos":"0","closePayload":"","willTopic":"","willQos":"0","willPayload":""},{"id":"2dbe67ac.f10de8","type":"ui_group","z":"","name":"RF Info","tab":"d6ba9a2a.f3f0d8","order":2,"disp":true,"width":"5","collapse":false},{"id":"d6ba9a2a.f3f0d8","type":"ui_tab","z":"","name":"VA3MW Shack Control","icon":"dashboard","order":1,"disabled":false,"hidden":false}]

Alan

Thanks, Mike

I am able to understand everything in the flow except for how the commands to and from the Flex are formated.  Still working on that. 

I too have started using MQTT via Mosequeto on a Rasberry Pi.  It was easy to set up.

Your's and other's sharing are helping me to jump-start my understanding.  Thanks.

Alan
WA9WUD

Joe N3HEE

Bob G W1GLV

Joe N3HEE

I've had no luck getting Alexa to work with Node Red.  Has anyone been successful ?

Alan

Roberto EA2CNU

Mike-VA3MW

Hi Alan

That is interesting.  I don't see the same impact on the graphs.  I run several for temperature yet my CPU load stays about zero-ish.

I wonder what could be different.

Mike

Mike-VA3MW

The Steppir control is complicated and it was written by Andreas, N6NU.  I can email it to you if you wish.  It does require that you use MQTT.

I need to add some TX inhibit code to the Steppir so that if the Steppir is tuning that turn on TX Inhibit to keep the radio out of TX.  This, of course is a problem when using a 6600 when I want Ant 2/ Steppir to tune but still allow me to TX on Ant 1.

Have you started playing with NR yet?  If not, get familiar with it first before I share it.  If you jump in on the Steppir code you might find it a bit frustrating.

Mike 

Alan

Mike

I explained the observation and asked for help on the Node-Red forum.  Several responses came back saying that the Node-Red Graphs were know to be CPU and memory inefficient.  That is where I got the recommendation to look at Grafana.

Alan

Alan

Mike-VA3MW

Nice!  The video is well done too.  I will have to migrate to that for the remote for the point when the SD card crashes.

Roberto EA2CNU

Mike-VA3MW

Hi Roberto  

I don't think MQTT is really necessary, but by using it allowed for multiple stations to see what the steppir was tuned to.    Andreas may be able to explain why he did it that way, but his station is used for Multi-Multi operations.  

Mike 

Roberto EA2CNU

Mike-VA3MW

Roberto

That is the beauty of it.  You get to design it any way you wish and you are dependent on another persons preferences.  

Martin Boroff

W7NIK

I have couple questions,
 I have windows running on my system , what is the benefit for  Rasberry PI ?
If i  purchase a RPI  install it in the shack i can connect it to the network hub .

For  me to control the station, i will need to go thru windows . I do not want another monitor  

Basically the RPI is remote computer  and i control the station with one system? 
Now i have to start PSTrotator,  Wave node, software ,  smartsdr, , N!MM, 
this would be one mini computer with everything connected ? 
I am deciding if i should try it? 

John - K3MA

You do not need another monitor.  You can run the RPi without a monitor and telnet into it from you windows computer if you need to.  That is one of the advantages of the RPi along with the low power consumption, small size, low price and many more.  For $40 +/- it should not be a stressful decision if you want to experiment.

Martin Boroff

Or you can use VNC to get to the desktop of the Pi. One of the advantages of using node-red on the Pi , the UI is browser based and most functions don’t (maybe shouldn’t) require you to constantly look at them..