CAT Tracking Issue

Tom OBoyle · May 1

After a recent Windows update, CAT has been acting weird. I have used CATSYNC for years to sync SDRs that I use for listening to my FLEX. So if I change frequency on the radio, the SDR follows. CATSYNC uses Omnirig behind the scenes to track the freqency.

I setup a seperate COM port in CAT for this purpose. It is COM12.

For several weeks now, CAT will grab the frequency that SmartSDR is set at when it first starts, not the current frequency. If I restart SmartSDR, CAT passes the correct frequency and tracks — in band only! If I switch bands, Omnirig does not track. If I turn off SmartSDR and turn back on, Omnirig tracks it in band again.

Just for reference, CATSYNC can support more than one rig, so I have my Kenwood setup on that different com port. The Kenwood and CATSYNC track perfectly.

Here is the Omnirig setup in CATSYNC

Here is the CAT setup in Flex

Any ideas?

73 de Tom, N9GUN

Eric-KE5DTO · May 2

We have had a couple of reports similar to this that we have captured for tracking in SMART-10633. We haven't yet been able to duplicate the issue though. If you have a set of steps that seems to cause the issue, that would be very helpful to us in getting this fixed.

Tom OBoyle · May 3

Hi Eric -

I can duplicate this every time. It's consistent.

Whatever the frequency value is when I start the SmartSDR software is the value presented to the Omnirig. It will follow in-band only from that frequency. It doesn't seem to matter when I start Omnirig - before or after the SmartSDR start, for it to happen.

To make it work, I start SmartSDR, choose my frequency (7.153 MHz), close SmartSDR. Reopen SmartSDR and start CATSYNC. It will sync and follow as long as I stay on 40M. I have not checked if mode matters. I use CATSYNC on SSB for a few nets I participate in.

If you want, we can get on a Teams/Zoom/Google Meet call and you or your team can watch how and when it happens. You can run any diagnostics software needed as well.

Let me know, as I'm happy to help.

73 de Tom, N9GUN

Eric-KE5DTO · May 12

Between this info and input from some other users, we have a fix pending. This will have to make it through our Alpha process, but we're headed in the right direction here. Thanks for your help in identifying the issue.

Tom OBoyle · May 24

Hi Eric -

Just an FYI.. I fired up N1MM for CQ WPX CW contest today and the problem applies there too. So I must change bands, shutdown SmartSDR, restart SmartSDR for N1MM to track.

Tom

RFord · May 25

I upgraded from the 6600 to the 8600. It's been less that 30 days with the 8600. I use N1MM weekly for small contesting. Whenever I use N1MM I have communication issues. This weekend was terrible. When I started N1MM for CQ WPX CW contest I checked my setting…no change on my end from the 6600 to the 8600.

I must change bands, shutdown SmartSDR, restart SmartSDR for N1MM to track.

James Kennedy-WU5E · June 2

I"m seeing the same thing, The very first time I fire up the whole system FLEX 8600, PGXL, TGXL and AGXL it tracks but as soon as switch bands AC LOG 7.011 fails to track Smart Meter fails to track. If I reboot the 8600 it fixes 80% of the time. This very irritating as I hope band to hunting DX and multi nets I follow.

This has been the same thing with the pervious version and 3.9.18

Jim

WU5E

RFord · June 2

This issue has not been fixed…I'm surprised beta team did not find this prior to the distribution. Today is my 30 day return mark with my 8600…I'm not sure which way I'm going to go. I've been with Flex a long time.

Eric-KE5DTO · June 3

The good news is that we were also able to duplicate the issue (SMART-11280) and have a solid fix for this. Unfortunately, this occurred after the v3.9.18 release. The fix is going through Alpha testing now and will likely be introduced in the next release. Now that we understand the root cause of what was going on, it is clear that this problem has been with us for some time, but it is a timing issue and only happens in certain configurations which made it hard for our team to replicate (and thus fix). For example, one customer had the problem when he didn't have his Maestro connected to his radio, but it would go away when his Maestro connected (due to changed timing).

The fix has been verified by this user in ALL situations, so I expect this to be a clean k.ill (apparently you can't say that word anymore) this time.

RFord · June 3

Thanks Eric for the information…I know software development is like try to change a flat tire on a moving car. Thanks for all you do…

John KB4DU · June 4

I never install Flex software until the fix for the fix is released. Mike assured us that the testing person would be involved in the ham software development.

EC5K · June 6

Yo tambien tengo el mismo problema desde la 38.23 y ahora con 3.9.18 con el 8600, pero para que me funcione de nuevo no reinicio Smart SDR solo el CAT, y para que siga funcionando cambio de Freq desde mi Log L32 o N1MM, asi funciona, si lo hago desde BAND Smart SDR se para.

Esperando una pronta solucion, un no cambio de banda en el log en un TEST es un gran problema.

73, EC5K Vic

Eric-KE5DTO · June 6

Gracias por el informe y la información adicional, Vic. También espero que podamos difundir la solución al público rápidamente.

Pierre_VE3KTB · June 9

Eric,

Is it likely that the problems discussed in the thread

SSDR/N1MM-Loss of Bi-directional Communication

are related to this?

Thanks,

Pierre VE3KTB

Eric-KE5DTO · June 11

Quite likely.

CAT Tracking Issue

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