Analog S-meter option in SmartSDR PLEASE !

Jason NR0X

I'm working on an analog meter project, using an ESP32 microcontroller to connect to the flex, subscribe to metering data, and use it to drive an analog 3.3 volt meter.  I got it working, but for some reason it stops reading the metering date after a couple minutes.  The Arduino code is NOT pretty, though.  I got my programming license in a KrackerJack box!  Here is a quick video I made and just threw up on youtube.

Jason NR0X


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESbwspGDtuk

Bill -VA3WTB

Look like a fun project, the K4 group would be interested in this as well, many are not happy with the S meter bar graph as well...  already.

N8AUM

WOW !

Jason NR0X

Got a K4 I can borrow?    hihi!

Rich McCabe

Its too bad they went out of business.  Why is it no one really builds apps for the flex with that level of graphic detail?

I would love to see a "station monitor" with meters like this and the meter info data from FRstack.

KD2OM

I don’t care about an analog S-meter, how about a dBm or uV
scale on the radio without using SSDR?

Bill -VA3WTB

If your not using a M model, how would you see a scale readout? without SSDR?

KD2OM

 I have an M. With SSDR, I can set the meter to dBm, which unlike S units are a real measurement. I would be really happy if I could do the same with just the radio. Maybe it is possible to change the display but I haven’t figured out how. Another good value would be μV.

Steve KD2OM 

Bill -VA3WTB

Oh, you can't change that on the M model? to read dbm?

Jason NR0X

Doesn't the waterfall read in dbm?

N8AUM

 Very cool !  Wish I knew how to open a KrackerJack box! 

Brian Denley KB1VBF

Sure you can.  Just tap the s-meter to go through the options.

KD2OM

Tapping on the S-Meter just changes to other meters, like PO or Compression.

KD2OM

Yes in 10 dB steps visually. across the whole display so it is difficult to get exact values.

Jason NR0X

It also reads on the slice.  The software defaults to S units, but just click on it and change to dBm.

Bill -VA3WTB

I think he is talking about the M model radio front display.

Jason NR0X

That's how I got my license! 

Mark K1LSB

Steve KD2OM,

S-units most certainly are a real measurement.  An S9 is equivalent to 50 microvolts.

As I've stated repeatedly in multiple threads, an S-meter should report only the peak voltage measured within the passband, nothing more and nothing less.  Any nonsense talk of "integrating the power in the passband" (as the Flex meter does, according to the Flex engineers) corrupts the very definition of an S-meter. Any S-meter reading should be directly correlate-able to a dBm (or dBμV) scale on the edge of the spectrum display, but the Flex S-meter reading clearly changes according to the width of the passband, and so consequently has no correlation with the dBm scale in the spectrum display, which is patently absurd, and which prima facie renders any given Flex S-meter reading meaningless.

For a perfect example of a correctly functioning S-meter, see Simon Brown's SDR Console. His S-meter reading directly correlates with the dBm scale in the spectrum display, and doesn't change simply because the operator changes the passband width.

And with that said, I'm done here. I've argued the S-meter point ad nauseum in the Flex community forum, and it's abundantly clear to me that Flex is never going to change their "integrating the power in the passband" mentality on the issue.  And given that glaring basic engineering flaw and a number of other exasperating Flex-related issues, I've moved on. I no longer own a Flex (I own the latest Anan now), so I'm no longer stuck with waiting (and waiting, and waiting) for Flex to ever do the right thing.

I'll see myself out, and best of luck to you all.

73, Mark K1LSB

Jean Drolet

Good for you

KD2OM

Yes that is correct, the 6600M radio.

Jason NR0X

Strange, I edited my comment to ask if the Maestro interface was the same, but it seems the edit didn't take.  Sorry about that!

A brief look at pictures of Maestro screens on Google doesn't show the same thing as SSDR, so my suggestion doesn't apply here.

KD2OM

I think the Maestro is the same as the M radio

Brian Denley KB1VBF

I’ll just refer to Rob Sherwoods website if anyone wants the facts.  No non-sdr s-meter ever read peaks in the 500 hz passband, only the total power in that passband.  Just look at those vintage circuits.  There is a spec for the process.

Tim - W4TME

This post, which was for an analog S meter is under consideration.  Thank you to those who have provided constructive comments related to the feature request. Since this post has devolved into arguments and discussions not directly related to the feature request, I am inclined to close this post at this time.

Dean Davidson

this looks neat too bad i cant find a working link to try it.

N7WRH

I just ordered a 6400M (I owned a new 1000 years ago) and would GREATLY appreciate having the ability to enable a nice looking analog S meter on the display.