AGC-T proposal to FLEX

Sergey KN7K

There are many AGC-T discussion here and while I believe I would like to see it fully automated, as a minimum I would like to see a visual implemetation of AGC-T adjustment.

I understand it may require additional SW development.
Based on my contesting experience AGC is one of the features that I never touched on my other previous radios and Flex radios would benefit with more attention to AGC-T.

During WPX contest, when i tried to pull a weak station, strong station would show up nearby and would "****" my ears. It means I did not have it adjusted right. Also, as much as I have technical background, I do not beleieve I do adjustment properly every time.

Anyway, here is the idea illustrated in the image below.
I would adjust AGC-T Low to Max or Max to Low, SW would make a measurement and will show where you should be on the slope. I would make AGC-T popup window shown any time you touch AGC-T and show where you are.
See below - triangular shows that you are not on the slope.
Status can be shown "In Range" or "Not in Range" in the message below.
Green bar shows that you are on the slope.
I would make these triangular markers moving during adjustment.

Click on the image to expand.


Sergey, KN7K

Robert - KV4JO

Sergey posts a reasonable methodology for checking and adjusting quickly the AGC-T.  I do a lot of listening on many bands and would welcome a quick method of visually making (or checking) the adjustment of this important setting.

Thanks, Sergey

Robert, KV4JO

Al_NN4ZZ

Hi Sergey,
Here is another option to display the AGC-T setting....also mentioned in the automation idea.

https://community.flexradio.com/flexradio/topics/option-to-automate-the-agc-t-setting

Regards, Al / NN4ZZ  
al (at) nn4zz (dot) com

Bill -VA3WTB

Of course, unless we are hard of hearing, we can still simply listen and set the AGC-T were we like it. What I do is just set it to the knee, then move it to the left a bit till I find the best position for my conditions, takes like 3 seconds.

If and when they do make a visual scale, I would think they will just put a marker that moves on the slider control. Depending on conditions the marker moves to the best spot and you simply move the slider to it. Or have it on auto, nothing to adjust.

Sergey KN7K

Al,
I am not saying my proposal is better than yours and I have no idea if Flex even would suggest implementation of that.
My idea is visually clear when you are on the knee or not, when Automatic Gain is actually applied.
There are many people in that hobby without technical background and visual calibration would be very useful, same for others with technical background. As I said before, i can miscalibrate it easily.

Bill, you can do it by ear, but you have no idea how sharp is your radio knee and you can only assume that you reduce you level of the gain to the point where is Automatic Gain is still working. If your 3 sec adjustment take you outside of the knee, of coarse you reduce the gain, but there is no Automatic Gain applied when you have to pull weak signal or strong signal will suddenly show up.

In my opinion current AGC-T should be called SAGC-T = Semi Automatic AGC-T

Sergey, KN7K

ctate243

I like Sergeys idea a lot.  In contest conditions, moving bands in an agile manner very quickly, changing conditions etc.  Visual indicators are extremely useful.  taking time to adjust AGC-T can cost you points, the quicker it can be done the better.  Using what I feel is unused "space" in the panadapter, popups and translucent windows are all great ways to display more information.  Such popups have been used successfully in SSDR-M.  I think this is valid and support the addition of some form of this idea.

Peter K1PGV

I like this idea as well.  Bravo Sergey.

Joe N3HEE

I like this idea too.

Al_NN4ZZ

Hi Sergey,
Agree there are a number of ways to improve the AGC-T feature, some ideas have been "under consideration" for years.  I hope they implement the automated option and include some visual aids as well.

While adjusting by ear may be fine for some, it would be very nice to have the ADC-T automatically follow your preferred setting as conditions change.    ( band change,  condition on the same band changes, the antenna direction,  etc)

And a visual indicator of some sort would really help so, yes I like you proposal also.

Regards, Al / NN4ZZ 
al (at) nn4zz (dot) com