KD0RC Flexicraft Utility

KD0RC

I wrote a little utility that I use with my Flex 6400 to automagically select RF output power based on band, mode and whether my KPA 500 amp is in operate or standby. It is similar to the functionality of DDUtil, but mine carries a power value for each mode because I found that my amp requires different amounts of drive for SSB than for CW (and I presume for other modes).

Randy, AA8R, asked me about running SO2R with one amp (an Elecraft KPA 500) such that when selecting the TX slice with the amp, the Flex RF output would be dropped to an appropriate level and when selecting the TX slice with no amp, RF output would go back to 100.

I noodled it over, and think that I can accomplish that with a little additional coding on my existing app. I have not made this app public because DDUtil has so much more functionality, supports more equipment and so forth. Now that Randy has a more specific need, I will go ahead and upgrade mine and make it available on GitHub.

Here is what the app looks like now:

I anticipate adding a field to the Amp panel so that you can choose which antenna port the amp is connected to. With the new setup, the power out will follow the selected antenna, mode and TX flag.

I have a few other items to add to the amp panel (things like a fault annunciator, fault reset and probably a few others). I also need to write a user manual. It has been quite a while since I wrote this, so I will take a little time to get myself re-acquainted with the code. In the meantime, I would encourage any discussion about it on this thread of the Flex Community.

I should have the existing version up on GitHub in the next few days so people can try it out to see its potential. This utility only works with Flex 6000 and 8000 radios and Elecraft amps and tuners (only the KPA 500/KAT 500 combo have been tested).

Mick W8BE

Nice,

What language are you writing this in?

KD0RC

Hi Mick, this is in C# using .net and Flexlib.

Erika - KØDD

Len that looks like it would work nicely. I have an ALPHA 9500 that doesn't connect via TCP/IP yet. But talks through USB or RS-232 to a computer… My end goal is getting the FLEX radios, my 6500 and an 8600 to start when I can get one… To talk through SSDR API like a PGXL. I'm not a programmer, but was a hardware / network person. Erika K0DD

KD0RC

Thanks! Yes, it works really well. I have been using it for a few years now and haven't thought about it much until Randy presented his single amp SO2R situation. Hopefully I can get it into presentable shape soon.

KD0RC

OK, V1.00 is now available on GitHub:

https://github.com/KD0RC/KD0RC_Flexicraft_Utility

This version is just my starting point, and does not yet support different schemes based on TX antenna. That functionality is next. There is no user manual yet, so if you try it, please don't hesitate to post questions here.

Note that at the moment, this app only supports two slices. I will add code to allow up to 8 slices soon. For anyone with an Elecraft amp and a 6500, 6600 or 6700 (or 8600 beta testers…) I would love to hear how it works once I get the multiple slices functionality working.

A big thanks to Randy, AA8R for alpha testing the setup from GitHub. We had some challenges, but it works!

KD0RC

I'm making good progress on Randy's suggestions. I anticipate having a new version out on GitHub next week sometime. Here is what the main screen looks like now:

The idea is that if you set TX on a slice with a TX ANT that has an amp connected (ANT 1 in this example), the Power tab settings will be in effect for operate and standby. If you set TX on a slice with a TX ANT that has no amp, you get the "No Amp Power" setting (50% in this example).

When you are running SO2R, but only have one amp, you can be on your run frequency on the antenna port with the amp, then select your search and pounce slice (no amp) without having to manually change output power back and forth. You do have to remember to click the TX on the slice flag, however!

David Decoons, wo2x

nice work Len!

KD0RC

Thanks, Dave, I appreciate it!

KD0RC

V1.01 is now available on GitHub:

https://github.com/KD0RC/KD0RC_Flexicraft_Utility/releases/tag/V1.01

****************************** Changelog ********************************
V1.01
Randy, AA8R's suggestions (Thanks Randy!):
Added check boxes to select which antenna port has an amp
Added box to set power when no amp is connected
Added an amp band indicator

Changed the labels in the Power tab from Amp and No Amp to Amp Op and Amp Stdby
Added about screen with a link to the Flexicraft Utility Github page
Cleaned up some messy code (ongoing...)

I still need to add some amp control and a user manual, but it is mostly done. If you try this out, please post back here with your thoughts (good or bad). Also, if anyone tries this with a KPA 1500, I would be very interested to know how it works for you.Thanks again to Randy, AA8R for his excellent suggestions and for giving the first beta version a shake-out.

KD0RC

I added the aforementioned amp control (especially as it relates to reporting and clearing faults) and am testing it now. In the meantime, Randy, AA8R is having a problem getting the Flexicraft Utility to play nice with his N1MM logging program.

I can't recreate the issue - everything works together just fine on my system. If anyone else has an Elecraft amp and N1MM, I would love to see if it all works together on your system.

Next step for me is to get started on the user manual. If you want to try it before that is done, I am happy to help you get it going in the event of any problems.

KD0RC

V1.02 is now available on GitHub:

https://github.com/KD0RC/KD0RC_Flexicraft_Utility

 * ****************************** Changelog ********************************

 * V1.02

 * Fixed bug where amp faults were not captured

 * Fixed bug where tuner faults were not clearing properly

 * Added red background to tuner fault status

 * Added TX inhibit to immediately stop TX upon encountering an amp fault

 * Added double-click on amp status to clear faults and re-enable TX

 * Added text to amp fault status box to match the amp front panel

 * Added red background to amp fault status

 * Added PA power out and SWR to the amp panel

 * More code clean-up

 * *************************************************************************

The User Manual is now on the main GitHub page (link above). The setup.zip file is in the releases (use the latest). The source code is also zipped in the release, but you do not need to download it - it is just there if you are interested in how FlexLib works or if you want to do your own spin-off of the project.