FLEX API panadapter antenna select command not working

K6HN

Can anyone tell me why this API command is rejected by the radio?

C12|display pan s 0x40000001 ant=ANT1

I get this returned:

0x5000002D Bad field

KD0RC

Hi Gary, it took a bit of experimentation, but I figured out:

CD24 | display pan s 0x40000000 rxant=ANT1

This works on panadapter 0 on my 6400. I have not figured out how to set the TX ant. I assume I need a slice param for that.

Hopefully this helps.

Clay

Hello Gary,

As Len has pointed out, the SmartSDR API Wiki documentation does not always match the newer versions of software. I am running Version 2 and have found that to be true.

The method I have used to resolve the differences is to transcribe the radios TCP status messages and compare the name/value pairs with the Wiki documentation. Here is a link to my  list with one scu, one panafall and one slice receiver:

http://ab9a.net/flex_control/6600_messages.txt

It shows: display -> pan -> 0x40000000 -> rxant=ANT1

This agrees with the name/value pair Len discovered.

This system isn’t fool proof. There are name/value pairs in the list that are not settable there and are report only. And some name/value pairs that are settable there that aren’t in the Wiki documentation ie. slice rit and xit. But, comparing the list, with a little insight into the radio’s architecture:

Ant -> SCU -> Panafall -> Slice Receiver

And some experimentation will usually get you there.

73,

Clay, AB9A

K6HN

Thanks for the information and it does work with the rxant= command. I thought maybe it was a command format issue as there had to be a way to change antennas. I should have tried various combinations, but also thought maybe someone had already done that and would share their findings as you both did.

I'll keep that list handy and refer to it if I have problems in the future. Thanks for sharing it.

Gary

K6HN

KD0RC

Hi Gary,

Here is how you can set antennas using slice set commands instead of panadapter commands:

CD24 | slice s 0 rxant=ANT2

CD24 | slice s 0 txant=ANT2

Depending on what you are doing, one may be preferrable over the other. In any case, changing the TXANT looks like it needs to be done with the slice set command.

K6HN

Hi Len,

Thanks for the info, I was aware of those commands. I created a GUI client with a panadapter and it seems to have a separate antenna selection for the pan vs a slice. Maybe it's the way I am doing it, but it's all working well now.

KD0RC

Great to hear! Are you writing code for a controller like an Arduino or Pi or is this a windows app?

K6HN

Using node-red and these nodes.

Release of node-red-contrib-flexradio nodes v1.1! — FlexRadio Community

Node-red offers simplified programming for us non-skilled programmers. All I really need to know is basic Javascript.

KD0RC

Very cool!

K6HN

I found another command that isn't working for me.

'slice list'

I am trying to get a list of active slices in the radio.

KD0RC

Hi Gary, that command works. Here is the command and results:

"CD22 | slice list"

R22|0|0 1 | In this case, I have two slices open, 0 and 1.

R22|0|0 | In this case, I only have one slice open, slice 0.

R22|0|| And for completeness sake... No slices are open.

K6HN

Thanks Len. I must be doing something wrong. I'll look into it.

Clay

Hello Gary,

There is another way to get the use status of a slice receiver that’s not explicitly spelled out in the API:

Each slice has an “in_use=0/1” name value pair that it reports over the slice TCP status message. 

If you parse and capture the “in_use=“ state, you can query each slice receiver and maintain your own list.

73,

Clay, AB9A