SSDR PGXL high SWR issue during RX

Sergey KN7K

Second day in the row I paid attention I have high SWR in SSDR PGXL window during receiving and it is going low during TX.
Yesterday I power cycle radio and PC, today I see the same issue again, sounds like a bug.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1B3i4eVqm4DjSDyd7E3B_3-_LZ0kV3BpZ/view?usp=sharing

Sergey, KN7K

Dan-N7HQ

Sergey, what version of the PGXL firmware are you running? 

73,
Dan

Sergey KN7K

Hi Dan,

PGXL ver 3.4.10
SSDR ver 3.1.12

Sergey, KN7K

NX6D Dave

I can't reproduce this problem, and I can't see anything in the code that would likely produce such a problem.  Would you please try running just the SSDR and Amp alone without any of the other programs?  I'm thinking that having multiple clients open on the radio may be scrambling something in the radio.  That's all I've got.

Sergey KN7K

Hi Dave,
I closed Stacks 3 and Slice Master and it did not help until I restarted SSDR. I did not do power cycle today.
I will keep eye on it, 
Thanks, Sergey

NX6D Dave

OK, we may be onto something.  Let's be very clear and careful.  Are you saying that when you restarted SmartSDR for Windows, leaving the PGXL untouched, the problem cleared?

If so, then please do the following:  The next time you see this, shut down SSDR and restart it.  Leave everything else unchanged.  Please let us know what happens.

Sergey KN7K

"Are you saying that when you restarted SmartSDR for Windows, leaving the PGXL untouched, the problem cleared?"

Yes

Bill -VA3WTB

Serg, I wonder if you may have a corrupted data base. that could be cleared easy and start a new data base.

Sergey KN7K

Dave,
Just found it happen again right after finishing FT8 QSO on 17m.
This time it seems associated with PGXL status:
- PGXL in Standby SWR does not show anything in RX mode
- PGXL in Operate mode, SWR going to a full scale even i am still listening.

Restart SSDR - same behavior.
Restart PGXL Utility - same  behavior.
I did not power cycle anything today, but will do overnight shutdown as I want to work in WPX tomorrow and need a clean start.
Video demonstration
https://drive.google.com/file/d/18oj3rpeahllu0Ub4YfDVxTYefMzgbx5p/view?usp=sharing

Sergey, KN7K

KA9CFD

What happens if you close the PGXL utility and toggle the amp from stand by to operate using the button on the amp?

I have not seen this on mine. Very strange. Looks like a help ticket to Flex is going to be needed. 

GL Jay KA9CFD

Sergey KN7K

Jay, I did not try it, my Amp located behind the desk in additional enclosure to minimize the noise, so it is not easy to get to.
Sergey, KN7K

Sergey KN7K

All cleared this morning after PC and 6600/Maestro power cycle.
I turn on other programs one by one and checked PGXL in Standby/Operate mode.
Cannot reproduce it now.
So, it is happened to me 2nd time this week, may be it was there before and I did not pay attention.
Not sure what trigger these events, but will keep an eye to see if I can pinpoint it to any activities.
Sergey, KN7K

NX6D Dave

Going from standby to operate doesn't have any effect on the logic that sends Return Loss data to the radio.

I've checked the data flowing to the radio for range/sign errors.  I can't find any.  In addition, whatever is causing this problem is rare, otherwise it would have been spotted and fixed long ago.

NX6D Dave

SmartSDR is a radio client.  The radio program is in the radio box and runs all of the time the radio is powered on.  It would be useful to try to isolate this problem to the radio program itself, or to the program when it is serving radio clients (SmartSDR, PGXL, others).

When the problem occurs, let's try restarting one element of the system to see if the problem tracks that element.  As I see it, the elements are PGXL (the hardware, not the Utility), the radio itself (the box, not SmartSDR or Maestro), SmartSDR and Maestro. A lot to test, but it's a pretty good bet that the problem will go away when one of these elements is cycled.

To keep the number of variables down, I would leave everything else running while cycling one component.  Let the various software entities get errors and recover.

Sergey KN7K

Another glitch, but different this time - Flex6600 shows Hi SWR when drive PGXL.
Initially I did not catch whats happening and fixed it with bands switch back and force, but later saw that 6600 somehow shows Hi SWR, that's probably why I could not get full power on PGXL.
Found this issue after station was in idle for about 5 hours.
Fixed by restarting SSDR.
Weird... Loosing a lot of time for  troubleshooting during contest.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/115FTbR7zOEnuk4-KqJ4fyY1UWJ-EmsAL/view?usp=sharing

Sergey, KN7K