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Interlock / RCA TX REQ not active during TX!

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Ruediger Kolb
Ruediger Kolb Member
edited March 2020 in FLEX-6000 Signature Series

I want to use the Interlock / RCA TX REQ input for safety features, e.g. temporary SWR fault.

I was able to setup all the stuff (activation per band, active level etc.) BUT the "external" signal level is only handle at startup of a transmission.

DURING transmission the state of the input pin is meaningless!

 

This is in my opinion not useful.

Idea in general was, to remove/suppress driving power from transceiver to prevent rf power switching during faulty situations.

 

Does anyone find the same behaviour?

How you fixed the "mis-behaviour"?

 

Is there a plan to check also the RCA TX REQ pin during transmission from FlexRadio (e.g. interrupt handling in the firmware)?

 

Used HW, Flex-6500, SwVersion in use is 3.0.19 + Smorf Wattmeter

Comments

  • Kari Gustafsson SM0HRP
    Kari Gustafsson SM0HRP Member ✭✭
    edited March 2020
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    Hello, I plan to use same concept with Smorf wattmeter. But have not yet investigated it. You mean the RCA TX REQ is only a short pulse at start of TX? It then goes to normal (low or high?) when TX continous.
  • Sergey KN7K
    Sergey KN7K Member ✭✭✭
    edited March 2020
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    I agree this is not useful.
    I had ticket open and I was told that it works as designed.
    In my opinion it is not "Safe interlock" for my station.
    Here is my original post - https://community.flexradio.com/flexradio/topics/flex-steppir-and-ver3

    I think I understan FLEX logic - it could be useful in SO2R situation to let one operator to complete transmit before 2nd operator start transmit.

    However, in case of Steppir, all works if I start transmit during antenna tune - it will prevent transmit. But, if during transmit I by accident start to tune Steppir - it willl trasmit to antenna - no interlock.

    I did not hear about any plans to change that behaviour. Unless many of us will request it.
    Sergey, KN7K
  • Sergey KN7K
    Sergey KN7K Member ✭✭✭
    edited May 2019
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    I also have SM0RF and configured internal interlock to stop TX in case SWR>3.

    Sergey, KN7K
  • Ruediger Kolb
    Ruediger Kolb Member
    edited May 2019
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    Kari,
    the RCA TX Req state is checked when you want to transmit only.
    During transmission e.g. 300ms after PTT the state is not checked!
    Therefore no protection for other equipment -:)

    This is a software development item -> Therefore not difficult to implement.
    Either change for interrupt service or polling routine.

    FlexRadio task.
  • Kari Gustafsson SM0HRP
    Kari Gustafsson SM0HRP Member ✭✭
    edited May 2019
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    Hallo Ruediger, OK I see. I did not know. I hope Flex implements this as it is an important issue. 73 

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