Antenna Genius 4.1.8 and OM module

Sergey KN7K

I finally installed version 4.1.8. Imported my settings from version 3.1.4 successfully.

However I cannot figure out how to make OM module switch outputs automatically, it basically let me switch them ON/Off/or choose a proper band manually only. It would stay on the wrong output if I would not switch it manually.

On ver 3.1.4. all worked automatically. If I switch to 80m, OM Module would switch to 80m, same for 160m.

Can someone give me some wisdom here, please.

Here is video demonstration -

https://drive.google.com/file/d/18e0_XzPhPw06-03_cVC3JKVPR6Nv5I3b/view?usp=sharing

Here are settings:

Thanks,

Sergey, KN7K

Bill AB7AA

I've had the same problem for months. Sent an email to 4o3a and got no response.

73,

Bill AB7AA

Sergey KN7K

Bill, did you try to go back to the previous version?

I posted that question on 4o3a forum as well.

Sergey

markoesc

Hi everyone,

Output relays on AGv4 firmware are fully configurable through the configuration panel so you can bind the output group to an Antenna or to Band(s).

If you bind your output group to an Antenna, that group will popup only when that antenna is selected or pre-selected as a TX antenna
If you bind your output to a Band(s), that group will popup (and activate relays) only when A or B is on that band(s)

Take a look at the Output relays in the Configuration screen

markoesc

Here is another example

markoesc

@"Sergey KN7K" In your example, on AGv4 firmware, you should make two separate Output groups.

Group 1 should be bound to band 80m, Group 2 to band 160m
Each group should have "Allow none of the outputs to be active" DESELECTED
Each group should have only one output button with relays configured per each band.

This way, as each group has only one button, groups themselves will NOT pop up, but the relays WILL BE selected in the background whenever you change bands. Beware that if you are on A 80m and on B 160m that both relays will be always ON.

I'm not sure how you configured this in AGv3, but as I recall, over there you could only configure outputs PER-ANTENNA, and you can do the same in v4?

Can you send me an export of your v3 and v4 configuration so I can take a look?

Regards,
Marko
Software Developer @ 4O3A

Sergey KN7K

Hello Marko,

Thanks for the information. I think i did it right, however i have intermittent delay when switching to 160m and sometimes when switching to 80m.

I use Flex6600 - Ant 1 always to Steppir, Antenna 2 is a Vertical that working on all bands as well.

On the video below you can see the noise level does not change whenI change band to 80m amd click on MOX - seems OK. When I switch to 160m it stays on 80m settings until i TX or click the MOX button - you can see the noise level changes. After that I can operate on 160m normally.

Sometimes i see the same when switch to 80m.

Here is the video

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yx0nQHM-w_oM6GN1txD01TXVoPpTY6oL/view?usp=sharing

Here is my current settings

Additional information: I use 80m settings for all other bands.

How can I resolve this issue?

Thanks,

Sergey, KN7K

markoesc

Let me review this and try to replicate and I will get back to you.

Tnx,
Marko

Bill AB7AA

Sergey,

I finally got mine to work. The trick was to have seperate groups for each band and to Bound the Group to a band (not antennas). My setup is different than yours, but in mine I needed to also use the Custom Bands because I switch relays for segments within the 80M band. You can rename the Groups (1-10) to help de-confuse their meaning.

73, Bill

Sergey KN7K

Hi Bill,

I tried the way you describe it. It works for me on all bands, however it still doing the same thing for me when I going to 160m or when I am going from 160m to any other band - I have to click on "MOX" button for a second or less and release, after that it works. Like on the video above.

In my case i have Output 2 enabled for all Bands and output 2,3 on 160m only. Somehow AG does not like that combination during switching and need MOX to activate it.

Waiting for Marko for possible solution.

Here is the way I tried today

Sergey, KN7K

Bill AB7AA

Sergey,

I have no problem switching into or out of 160m, however I do not need the output module to do this. Foe me it is all in the basic switcher.

Check to see that you don't have multiple VFO's open when switching. I'm sure that this will confuse the output module.

73, Bill

Sergey KN7K

Bill, I have no problem with automatic Bands switching that not involves OM Module.

Hi Marko, I keep experimenting with OM Module settings. Still cannot do automatic switching for OM Module on 160 and 80m. With below settings I still have to click to 80m or 160m button during the switch.

I cannot find a combination for automatic switching. Waiting for solution.

Thanks,

Sergey, KN7K

Bill AB7AA

Sergy,

I think that you have to define separate groups for 160 and for 80. Each can have the same antenna but it is the group that tells the OM module to switch. I have 4 separate groups for 80 each with it's own custom band and group definition. Now the OM module switches automatically when tuning up/down the 80m band to relay select different loading coils on the same antenna. Works well.

Bill

Sergey KN7K

Bill, I tried that and put image on August 30 ,separate group for 80 and 160. It does work, but only after I hit a MOX ot TX buttons, otherwise I see it does not switch as noise level is way too low after switch to another band. After MOX or TX button trigger for a second or less, it does switch properly, but again, it should do it automatically.

Sergey

Bill AB7AA

Sergey, Yes I think that I've seen this behavior too though I'm not sure which relay in the system is hanging up. In this case the buttons are lit up correctly as though the proper command has been issued but something didn't klick. But like you said, a transmit gets it to switch. Since I have the OM driving a Array Solutions 6 Pak switch and also a TG in line, I didn't know for sure where to attribute the fault. For sure though, if you don't have separate groups for each band then the OM won't switch.

73, Bill

markoesc

@Sergey KN7K I simply cannot recreate the issue whatever I do.

After some discussion with Ranko, we suspect that some of your hardware might cause the OM module's shift register not to process any changes.

What I want you to do is disconnect everything from your OM module and test this scenario by monitoring LED changes if they are immediate after you change the band. Please keep in mind that each band must have its own group (as I described earlier and as you did in the post where you sent multiple pictures).
Also, you can open the "View output relays" window from the menu and monitor there what AG is actually sending to the OM module's shift register, and compare it to the actual OM module LED

Once again, please export your configuration from Settings > Advanced options > Export configuration so we can test the exact scenario you have.

After detailed checking of the firmware, it is highly unlikeley that this is a firmware issue - I much more lean to some external problem especially as you observe it only on a single band and not across all bands. Considering that this is a common way people use the OM module with AG, and there was no similar reports of this kind, once again I suggest you disconnect everything from AG and OM and test your scenario so we can rule out any external issue.

Regards,
Marko

Sergey KN7K

Hi Marko,

Sorry for delay in response.

I disconnected all relays from OM Module and did the test you suggested. It still doing the same things.

I have to click MOX on the radio to trigger correct output from OM Module.

LED on OM Module behave the same way as on Output relays screen, so I better demonstrate it on video -

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aSDL7A-CKhhIjsz9EN2y-p1Pdyo2wDKu/view?usp=sharing

Also, here is the link for the export configuration -

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ID0n04wbHDa9mIfbUBnXwjLzlhL0KhVM/view?usp=sharing

I am basically trying to get pin2 enabled on all bands 80-6m, and pin 3 only on 160m without any MOX clicking.

Thanks for your help.

Sergey

markoesc

Hi @Sergey KN7K

I was finally able to replicate the issue with your configuration and will now look at why this happens.

Getting back to you soon.

Regards,
Marko

markoesc

@Sergey KN7K

Checkout private messages - I have sent you a version to test which should work…if it does, let me know to speed up the public release

Tnx,
Marko

Sergey KN7K

Hi Marko,

Version 4.1.15 seems like fixed the issue. I switched through all bands and at least 40 times. I rebooted AG, TGXL,6600 and repeated tests - everything works as it should now.

I will report back if i notice any issue.

Currently all good! Thanks a lot for a quick reply and fix!

Sergey, KN7K

markoesc

Thanks @Sergey KN7K

There will be a release of a new AG Utility soon…probably as v4.1.15 so feel free to re-download it when it's available

Regards,
Marko