SmartSDR 3.10.15 + TeensyMaestro

KD0RC · October 15

I successfully upgraded my 6400 to 3.10.15 under Windows 10. The upgrade went very smoothly. So far, all my utilities (using the Flex API) are working properly as are both versions of the TeensyMaestro.

The issue of CW parameters (delay, speed, sidetone vol and pitch) being reset seems to be fixed (yay!).

I see that the FM options still report Simplex, even when actually set to - or +. Once changed manually, the offset displays correctly. This does not prevent operation on FM, but it is very annoying.

Everything else that I have checked seems to be working well.

timhofbauer · October 16

Maybe I'm missing something. When I start Smartlink I don't see the option to upgrade to Smart SDR 3.10.15. I'm currently at 3.10.10 on my 8600

Mike-VA3MW · October 16

Hi Tim

You need to manually download it from here:

https://www.flexradio.com/ssdr/ssdr-for-windows/

johnn1jm · October 16

Installed here on my 6400. Went smooth no problems. Love flex. 8600 arrives Friday 10-17.

Martin_G4ENZ · October 16

I see on Yuri's SDC blog that the issues introduced with 3.10.10 aren't resolved in 3.10.15. I won't be updating until a fix comes along.

Martin - G4ENZ

g4ivv · October 16

Hello Martin, I can comfirm Yuri's findings.

I just did the update, 8600+Maestro-C. SDC skimmer still does not work and also streamed audio (RigAudio SDC feature) is crunchy/clicky. Disabling the (non-working) skimmer IQ streams removes the audio "crunchy" artifacts.

I then performed a full factory reset and reloaded my profiles. Same problem, SDC skimmer does not work and streamed RX audio is crunchy.

There seems to be some issues when both IQ and raw audio streaming are enabled at the same time, these worked perfectly in 3.9.19.

Jonathan G4IVV

Erik Carling EI4KF · October 16

SmartSDR 3.10.15:

SDC Skimmer can work, it was here for several hours, but essentially the problem introduced in 3.10.10 is still present as noted above. Once it fails it cannot be restarted, if it starts at all which it does not for most users.

SDC Auto Control AGC Threshold does not work properly with 3.10.15, related to the same IQ stream issue.

My 8400M fan profile is inconsistent and basically broken.

Since Flex have announced the end of version 3 releases, I have had to revert to 3.9.19 and will wait for version 4 (which without updates if no subscription is taken is just version 3 renumbered). Hopefully there will be proper fixes this time.

Not that Flex will take any notice, but would it not be a good idea for Flex to liaise with 3rd party software developers potentially affected by software changes? Yuri UT4LW would very much like to receive an advance copy for testing so that corrections can be made in advance of the official release. We could all be spared this unnecessary hiatus and disappointment.

Mike Steventon · October 16

All done and working just fine here, on 6600M!

g4ivv · October 16

I recently built a TeensyMaestro and that has been working flawlessly with 3.9.19, but since I updated my radio to 3.10.15 the TeensyMaestro tuning dials only randomly work. Nearly everytime I connect the TeensyMaestro they don't tune the radio (every other control works). Often changing bands or loading a different profile seems to start them working.

There's somthing very odd with 3.10.15, with functionality randomly working. In comparison, 3.9.19 was rock solid. I've done factory reset and also cold boots but these issues still persist.

Jonathan G4IVV

KD0RC · October 16

Hi Jonathan, what TeensyMaestro hardware and software versions are you using?

The original point-to-point wiring is hardware version 1 and the new NV0E PC board is hardware version 2.

You can see the software version by touching the main area of the screen, or by going to the misc menu and selecting show splash screen.

g4ivv · October 16

Hi Len,

It's a version 2 with latest firmware:

I'm just going to revert to 3.9.19…

Jonathan

KD0RC · October 16

Thanks Jonathan, I am about to release S/W version 2.002 today or tomorrow. In the meantime, I will check 2.001 to see if I can replicate the issue. I am not seeing it in V 2.001 Beta 4.

That is a great looking TeensyMaestro. I really like what you did with the 3D-printed button labeling!

g4ivv · October 16

Hi Len,

I have reverted to 3.9.19 followed by a factory reset and import of my profiles. Both TeensyMaestro and SDC Skimmers are working FB as expected.

I am most concerned about the issues with SDC skimmer + SDC contest audio, 3.9.19 is the lastest release that any of us SDC Contest users can run. I hope 3.10.15 isn't the final release before 4.x series appears, as I won't be able to move forward until this IQ+raw audio streaming is fixed.

Jonathan G4IVV

ps thanks for the build comments :-) I experimented with 3d printing cut-out letters and found that with 1mm thick PETG it was quite readable. I have all the sockets on the back similarly labelled.

KD0RC · October 16

Hi Jonathan, S/W V2.001 and 2.002 are both working perfectly for me with my 6400 on 3.10.15. I will check with Bill, K3CDY who also has an 8000 series radio and a TeensyMaestro V2 to see if he can spot any issues.

g4ivv · October 16

Thanks for checking Len,

Whats odd about 3.10.15 is that things seem to work for some people and not others. Also I have heard examples of SDC skimmer not working, then starting to work and later stopping again. It feels like there might be something uninitialised in the radio code, which could explain the variability between radios.

73, Jonathan

g4ivv · October 17

Hi Len,

Just a quick update on my TeensyMaestro issue, today just for a very short time I saw a similar symptom of the VFO encoders not working with 3.9.19. It wasn't anything like I saw with 3.10.15 but now I can't be 100% sure that was attributable to 3.10.15.

One thing that has worried me a little for a while is that the encoders are operating just below their minimum operating voltage of 5v, since most USB pwer supplies I measured at around 4.7v at the encoder. Today I have gone through my box of USB power supplies and switched to using the one that provides the most voltage, around 4.83 at the encoder. If I get chance I'll try that setup with 3.10.15. If they were just on the edge of working I guess a change in Teensy CPU load with 3.10.15 might explain the difference. I could add a small buck converter to increase the encoders supply voltage.

73, Jonathan

KD0RC · October 18

Hi Jonathan, the load on the Teensy board is not dependent on the version of SmartSDR, so I don't think that has any bearing. The Flex API did not change (other than perhaps some new things that the TeensyMaestro doesn't yet use).

One thing to check is your connections (solder joints and connectors) to be sure that they are solid. My original TeensyMaestro successfully uses 3.3 V on the optical encoders, even though the low end spec is 5 V. One or two builders had to connect their encoders to 5 V for reliable operation, but most work fine on 3.3. I would be surprised to find that 4.83 vs. 4.7 V would make any difference at all.

If you experiment with higher voltages, be very careful not to accidentally feed it to any of the 3.3 V lines - this is generally fatal to a Teensy board.

One other thing to check - make sure that the knobs are well tightened on the encoder shafts.

SmartSDR 3.10.15 + TeensyMaestro

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