Welcome to the new FlexRadio Community! Please review the new Community Rules and other important new Community information on the Message Board.
If you are having a problem, please refer to the product documentation or check the Help Center for known solutions.
Need technical support from FlexRadio? It's as simple as Creating a HelpDesk ticket.

Adjustable horizontal AGC-T bar in Panadapter

WA8SRA
WA8SRA Member
edited June 2020 in New Ideas
Both the PowerSDR-based HPSDR software, and the cuSDR64 HPSDR software implement a horizontal dotted or dashed line that runs from left to right across the Panadapter display. This line represents the current level of the AGC-T setting with respect to signal amplitude, and it can be moved up or down via the mouse which in turn changes the AGC-T setting. The converse is also true; change the AGC-T slider setting, and the line moves accordingly.

The ability to see a visual representation of the AGC-T level within the context of the current noise floor and signal levels, greatly aids in the understanding and adjustment of AGC-T.

I think this would be a great asset to SmartSDR

73, Dale
WA8SRA


13 votes

Open for Comments · Last Updated

Comments

  • k0eoo
    k0eoo Member ✭✭
    edited March 2017
    Yes, I would LOVE to see that AGC-T display on SSDR one of these days....
  • rfoust
    rfoust Member ✭✭
    edited March 2017
    Neat idea, I like it.
  • Al_NN4ZZ
    Al_NN4ZZ Member ✭✭✭
    edited March 2017
    Hi Dale,
    Do you have a snapshot of what this looks like?  

    I added an idea a few weeks ago to put the AGC-T numeric value on the panadapter bar.   Maybe a combination of the two would be worth considering.  Some like graphical representations and others like numbers, so having both covers all the bases.   Here is a link to the idea I referenced:

    https://community.flexradio.com/flexradio/topics/add_preamp_and_agc_status_to_the_panadapter_bar

    Regards, Al / NN4ZZ  
    al (at) nn4zz (dot) com

  • WA8SRA
    WA8SRA Member
    edited November 2015
    Hi Al,

    Here are a couple of screenshots:

    From cuSDR64 console:
    < http://www.hamsdr.com/personaldirectory.aspx?id=3505 >

    From OpenHPSDR PowerSDR mRX PS console:
    < http://www.hamsdr.com/personaldirectory.aspx?id=3506 >

    73, Dale
    WA8SRA



  • Al_NN4ZZ
    Al_NN4ZZ Member ✭✭✭
    edited June 2020
    Dale,
    I combined both ideas and made a mockup using the SSDR screen.  Does this capture it correctly?  I also updated the other idea since I don't know of any good way to combine them for the vote total. 

    Regards, Al / NN4ZZ  
    al (at) nn4zz (dot) com

    CLICK to view full size......





  • WA8SRA
    WA8SRA Member
    edited November 2015
    Hi Al,

    That looks perfect -- nice work!

    73, Dale
    WA8SRA

  • Stan VA7NF
    Stan VA7NF Member ✭✭✭
    edited March 2017
    Since the numeric doesn't have any meaning, why not display the signal level  (-98dbm rather than 44).  This especially makes sense on the flag and side display.
  • Ken - NM9P
    Ken - NM9P Member ✭✭✭
    edited December 2016
    I really like the concept, but I wonder....If you have multiple slices open on the same pan, with different AGC-T levels, would it start to get really confusing?  I often run 2 or 3 slices when DXing and have the AGC-T set more tightly on the "mob" slice as opposed to the DX station's slice because I don't need the extra noise, just an idea of the condition of the DX station's listening frequency band.

    Perhaps an alternative could be a change in color on the slice/filter **** that does the same thing?  Or some variation on the theme?  (A tic mark on the slice, a partial line that crosses the slice/RX filter **** for an inch or so each direction,  a tic-mark with a color change below it....)

    I am not sure that I would need a line all the way across the screen because the AGC-T only affects what is happening within my RX filter bandwidth.
  • pa0bie
    pa0bie Member
    edited July 2014

    I like the idea's about lines. I have already asked before the possibility of marker lines for measurements.  https://community.flexradio.com/flexradio/topics/marker_lines

  • Al_NN4ZZ
    Al_NN4ZZ Member ✭✭✭
    edited December 2016
    Hi Stan,
    Maybe show both values.   I'm guessing that the number from the slider position could remain constant and the actual signal level could vary based on conditions.  The slider number is basically a value of 0 - 100% of the available adjustment.   Does that makes sense?   

    - left of the line in the border show both (44 and -98dbm)
    - when hovering on the slider show the slider percentage (44)

    So here is another mockup.....

    Regards, Al / NN4ZZ  
    al (at) nn4zz (dot) com

    CLICK to see full size....

    image

      
  • Al_NN4ZZ
    Al_NN4ZZ Member ✭✭✭
    edited December 2016
    Ken,
    Here is another option.....also posted in the other idea.

    Regards, Al / NN4ZZ  
    al (at) nn4zz (dot) com

    image
  • N7AIG
    N7AIG Member
    edited July 2014

    Hi All,

    Like everyone else, I have been interminably confused by the meaning of the AGC-T slider on PowerSDR. It does function somewhat like an RF Gain control on other radios. Today I sat down and fed my Flex-1500 audio through VAC and into a PC Oscilloscope, and I finally have the facts, at least for the Flex-1500.

    First off, when AGC is engaged (i.e. not Fixed) the output is limited to around -3 dBFS. Fixed AGC allows the level to go beyond and into clipping if a strong enough signal is being received.

    Secondly, I found the following relation at AGC Slope = 0:

    Knee[dBm] = -10 - Preamp - AGCT

    So for example, when AGC-T is set to 70, the knee of the gain curve is at -80 dBm when the Preamp gain = 0. For Preamp gain = 10 dB, the knee goes to -90 dBm, and so on.

    I haven't checked the Flex-3000 yet, and I don't know about the Signature Series.

    - 73 de Dave, N7AIG

  • Al_NN4ZZ
    Al_NN4ZZ Member ✭✭✭
    edited December 2016
    The boxes with the AGC numbers could display when you hover on the line and disappear a few seconds later or when you move, just like the filter width display does.   Keeps the screen from being too busy.  

    Or if some folks like the numbers being visible all the time there could be a fade option.
    - 1 second
    - 5 seconds
    - never

    We know the developers like providing options....;-)

    Regards, Al / NN4ZZ  
    al (at) nn4zz (dot) com
  • Tim - W4TME
    Tim - W4TME Administrator, FlexRadio Employee admin
    edited March 2017
    I have added this to the feature request list.

Leave a Comment

Rich Text Editor. To edit a paragraph's style, hit tab to get to the paragraph menu. From there you will be able to pick one style. Nothing defaults to paragraph. An inline formatting menu will show up when you select text. Hit tab to get into that menu. Some elements, such as rich link embeds, images, loading indicators, and error messages may get inserted into the editor. You may navigate to these using the arrow keys inside of the editor and delete them with the delete or backspace key.