Remote operating and Node Red

Santiago Mejia HI8O

Thanks Dave for sharing not only the flows but also for spending quite a long time with me helping me sort things out. Really appreciate it. That's the spirit I like about Flex community.

I'm still having issues with my HF Auto flow, because It's not reading frequency although it's showing "UserCAT" on green (connected). But the Flex flow is working fine. I'm looking for a way to send that same info to my Green Heron Select 8 server for automatically antenna switching. Currently I use FRStack to send radio info to HF Auto and GH Switch but this could soon be done by Node Red.

Thanks everybody for making this community great.

73, Santiago

David Decoons, wo2x

See my post right below and check your email for a new HF Auto flow that I tested and is working when used with my new Flex Radio flow.

73
Dave wo2x

David Decoons, wo2x

Alan

David Decoons, wo2x

It should track active slice. Try selecting TX on a different slice. If it does not update, try changing the frequency on the newly selected slice. i will check this in a couple of hours. I do not have an HF Auto but can see the UDP packets being sent. 73 Dave wo2x

David Decoons, wo2x

I just tested it using two slices on different bands on the iPad SmartSDR app. I used a debug node right before the UDP node and it shows frequency follows whichever slice is set to TX. Remember, it takes up to two seconds to update when changing slices. 73 Dave wo2x

Alan

Thanks, Dave.  

Gave it a try looking at the TX Slice Frequency.  Yes, it works just like you say.

Also, it works with multiplex as expected showing the TX Slice Frequency of the "bound" client. (Last client to TX).

Alan

Santiago Mejia HI8O

Thanks a lot Dave. Tested new HF Flow and it's working fine. Now HF Auto follows radio thru Node Red. 

I started reading about Green Heron Switch to see if I can do the same. Green Heron uses UDP from N1MM and N3JFP for automatic antenna switch following radio frequency, so it's possible, just need to know how Green Heron receive the packet.

Santiago

David Decoons, wo2x

Which port or ports will Green Heron receive UDP packets on? you can change the port number in the HF Auto flow then edit the config file for HF Auto app to make sure that port is enabled to receive UDP packets. As far as multiFlex, it should follow the client that has TX control of the radio. I need to look into this because if client A is on 80 meters and client B is on 40 meters and both bands need the tuner, there will be a delay while the tuner tunes. That is a logistic problem you will need to discuss with your multiFlex users. In other words it is a limitation of the tuner when switching bands. I use the tuner in the KPA1500 and luckily I only need the tuner on one band. 73 Dave wo2x

Alan

or.....add a second or third UDP broadcast node pointed to the other IP:port(s) you want to receive the same frequency broadcasts from Node-Red.

Alan
WA9WUD

David Decoons, wo2x

I prefer to keep things simple when possible. If a single UDP port can be used by both HF Auto and Green Heron then change the port number in the HF Auto flow. Change the port on the UDP node to 12060. Change Green Heron to receive on 12060 (it is in the Green Heron manual). The HF Auto app should have receive on 12060 already set. Next step for me is to bind to specific clients to be able to parse info specific to clients. I already have successfully binded to a client and receive client specific info. It is just a matter of parsing the info. This will allow updating of the TX Power without transmitting first. When I run remote that is something I check before setting the amp to operate. If there is other info you would like to see from the radio let me know and I will see what I can do. 73 Dave wo2x

Santiago Mejia HI8O

Yes, that was my first attempt. I duplicated the UDP out node to transmit to the GH's listening port (12061) but it doesn't work. 

Green Heron is able to receive UDP on 12061 (via N1MM or FRStack) and also on 127.0.0.1:13040 via N3FJP. I simulated N1MM with FRStack to Port 12061 and it was working, but when sending the same with Node Red is not. I guess there is a protocol involved that I'm not aware of. Been reading Green Heron documents but not much help there.

My hope is to get it working so I don't have to open FRStack to automatically use GH., instead doing it with Node Red.

David Decoons, wo2x

Giving it some more thought, if GHE is set to loopback you would need a second UDP send node. Check your inbox in a few minutes. Dave wo2x

Santiago Mejia HI8O

Santiago Mejia HI8O

Alan, was trying out this flow but I'm not receiving any information from FRStacks. Any idea?

Santiago

Alan

Start, by checking your UDP Broadcast settings in FRStack.  View-options-UDP:

 1-I used the general UDP broadcast by adding a ".255" as the last number in my(your) unique IP address of the machine running Node-Red.  Be sure the Radio Meter Info is checked:



Set up the "UDP In" node on Node-Red to match the settings from FRStack





Alan
WA9WUD

Santiago Mejia HI8O

Thanks Alan. The fix was simple, I forgot to direct FRStack to the Raspi Ip address. As soon as I checked on that everything started working. Made some adjustments to meters (animation, peak holding, etc.,) to make a bit more mine.

Thanks a lot.

73,
Santiago

Mike-VA3MW

Hey All

Can I make a recommendation that if you have Flows you like and want to share that you take some time to add them to GitHub so that others can just pull them from Git?

Even if you haven't used it, you'll find it pretty simple and it is free.

thanks

Alan

Mike-VA3MW

Hi Alan

Yes but it is more that that.  We actually use it for Document collaboration as well.  So, for NodeRed files it is just fine.

There are several YouTube videos about using GitHub.  I don't have the skills with it yet to show anyone, but I am sure others might.

Mike

Alan

OK, here goes.  I uploaded all of my Node-Red Flows to GitHub.....I think.

Here is the link:  https://github.com/n61ab/Node-Red-Flows-WA9WUD.git

I invite others to look and let me know if this worked?

If yes, feel free to copy and modify as you like.  As you can see, I did the same in building my flows.  Any questions are welcome.

Alan

WX7Y

Santiago, your FLOW looks very cool and was wondering if you would share it with me and if you could Email me the File for this FLOW. I tried the text in the message but it didn't come through and is trunkated.

Thanks a lot
Bret
WX7Y
bret.wx7y@gmail.com

Santiago Mejia HI8O

Sure thing. Just sent it, check your email.

Santiago

Santiago Mejia HI8O

Just made mine, but not sure if it is working. Below is the link:

 https://github.com/hi8smx/hamradio/settings

Santiago

Alan

Santiago

I think you used the web link to your account page.  I cannot log into your account.  

Rather, you need to copy the link to your files to allow others to see:



Alan
WA9WUD

Santiago Mejia HI8O

David Decoons, wo2x

I will upload my flows this afternoon. I want to see if I can fix the Green Heron Everywhere UDP broadcast. I do not have one so will need Santiago’s help to test. Dave wo2x

Santiago Mejia HI8O

Sure, count me in. Whatever you need.

WX7Y

This is a great idea and will help us all but If I may suggest when uploading Flow's to Get-HUB if a brief description and picture of what the FLOW does would really help us new-BE's. I have had a lot of help From Alan, Dave and Santiago and so far I have an amazing (to Me) Node-Red site 

WX7Y