Re: Having problems using G8JCFSDR with ElektorSDRShield
Thank you Peter .I already download yesterday and read the nice write up. When time permits I will add a LCD and rotary encoder. Will need to get a i2c version as I only have the ones without.
Bench full of projects here as well ??
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PE3ES / F4VTQ de Erwin
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Re: Having problems using G8JCFSDR with ElektorSDRShield
Hi Erwin
I've just released the G8JCFSDR Build 282 which supports using a rotary encoder for tuning, and a 1602 LCD for frequenmcy display.
73
Peter -? GM8JCF
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Locked
G8JCFSDR V 1.0 Build 282 Released
Hi The G8JCFSDR Build V 1.0 282 has been released, download from
Build 282 has many fixes and new features - see the for more details.
Higher IF sampling rates
? 48000 48KHz spectrum display width
? 96000 96KHz spectrum display width
? 192000 192KHz spectrum display width
? 384000 384KHz spectrum display width
assuming that your sound card can support these higher rates ¨C every soundcard I have used supports 48000, and most support 96000, with some supporting 192000, and very few (very expensive) supporting 384000.
Note that the AF output sampling frequency is always 48000 samples/second enabling one to use the inbuilt soundcard and speaker(s) of your system whilst using a higher specification sound card to capture the IF output from the SDR down converter.
Synchronous AM Demodulation
SAM. SAM demodulation can be of help when fading, QSB, causes the AM carrier to almost disappear into the noise. Also, when there is adjacent channel interference. QRM, SAM can be useful to select the opposite sideband to the one being interfered with.
??? SMD SAM Double Sideband, ie both sidebands used
??? SMU SAM Upper Sideband
??? SML SAM Lower Sideband
Additional Calibration Functionality
The SDRShield calibration window in Config has been augmented to provide additional functionality including an improved frequency calibration method.
The IQ Cal Freq facility when switched on generates a carrier 1 KHz up from the current tuned frequency on CLK0 of the SI5351.
??? If you have a V 2 SDRShield then attach a short length, eg 30cm, of wire to the CLK0 header pins.
??? If you have a V1 SDRShield then very good soldering skills are required if you want to use this facility, ie not recommended.
Follow the procedure for IQ balance/Image rejection described in 4.7.
The SMeter Cal Freq when switched on generates a 10 KHz square wave on CLK2 of the SI5351 as described in Burkhard Kainka¡¯s book, 7.2, ¡°SDR Hands-on Book¡±. The output from CLK2 is 3V3 pk-pk or 1.65 V RMS. SMeter levels are measured in micro-volts, uV, so we use an attenuator (see below)), and the fact that square waves are rich in harmonics to generate signals in the uV range at HF. This arrangement will generate an S9 (50uV) signal at 7MHz, S8 at 14MHz, S7 at 28MHz.
Rotary Encoder Tuning, 1602 I2C LCD
??? Use a rotary encoder for real hardware/knob tuning, and optionally an LCD for frequency display.
Connect a rotary encoder, eg ALPS EC16B2410408 RS 265-1723, A & B to pins 2 & 3 respectively and to OV.
Connect a 1602 I2C LCD, eg https://hobbycomponents.com/displays/74-i2c-serial-lcd-1602-module or of course eBay, to pin A4(SDA) and pin A5(SCL), you will also need to connect Vcc and GND to the I2C LCD module of course.
As always, all feedback would be most welcome
73
Peter - GM8JCf
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Locked
Run-time error '-2147467259 (80004005)'
Hi Windows 10, starting with build 1903, provides the option to disable access to your Microphone to desktop applications, use Winkey+I, Privacy, Microphone, then scroll down in the RHS pane until you see "Allow desktop apps to access your microphone",  Despite the description of "Microphone", this setting also affects the "Line" input which is used for I/Q input to the G8JCFSDR. If this setting is set to OFF, then when U click the power on button in the G8JCFSDR U will get the dreaded Run-time error '-2147467259 (80004005)'? message, and yet all the usual diagnostic tests, eg DXDiag.exe will say that your audio device(s) is/are working correctly. I recently worked with John Coulter - thank you John - to track down why he was getting this error message despite all the signs that his PC's h/w was working correctly and we finally tracked down the problem to this "new and improved" privacy setting ! So please make sure that you have "Allow desktop apps to access your microphonr" set to ON. 73 Peter
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Re: Having problems using G8JCFSDR with ElektorSDRShield
Hi Erwin
Thanks for the suggestions. However since the G8JCFSDR requires a PC to run and a PC is more powerful than any MCU, I do as little as possible (all real-time in the MCU) in the MCU and do the important stuff in the G8JCFSDR. I have also written an SDR which runs entirely on a Teensy 3.2 and for that a decent screen of at least 800 x 600 resolution would be needed so as to provide the spectrum scope of good enough quality for click(touch) and tune for example as provided on the G8JCFSDR (that's another project which has stalled on my workbencg :-(? )
The problem is not the screen attached to the UNO it's about the amount of code I have to write in the G8JCFSDR to provide all the extra functionality which a TFT display would allow for. The 1602 LCD only has 2 lines, so the amount of functionality is necessarily limited leading to simpler code in the G8JCFSDR. The UNO is really used in "dumb" terminal mode, eg Display a String at X,Y with Font Size F, and Colour C, eg on button state change send button number and state change to G8JCFSDR, eg on rotary encoder state change send direction to G8JCFSDR. All the stuff about what to display, where to display it, when to display it, how to react to a button state change event, what to do with a rotary encoder state change, is coded and executed in the G8JCFSDR which then just tells the UNO what to do. So my problem is that I need more time to program in the G8JCFSDR !!!
I think I may end up shipping Build 282 with support of the 1602 LCD only, and then later ship a future build which also makes good use of a low cost TFT (ili9341) display.
The LCD version should be very simple/cheap h/w.
1)? I2C 1602 LCD
2)? Cheap detent-free rotary encoder, 24 steps coupled with a 45mm knob, is more than good enough for really smooth tuning, and menu item selection
3)? 6 sp pushbutton switches
?????? Tune Step Select eg 1Hz, 10Hz, 100Hz, etc
?????? Mode Select eg AM FM LSB USB etc
?????? Preset Select, eg BBC Radio 4
?????? Band Select, eg Long Wave
?????? Menu - Enter/Exit Menu Mode
?????? Enter - Action Current Menu Item/Enter next level of menu item
I just have to make the time to complete this project, there are so many other interesting things to research into :-)
73s
Peter
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Re: Having problems using G8JCFSDR with ElektorSDRShield
Have you seen the Nextion displays like used in uBITx mods?
Very capable touch screens, different sizes, not too costly, libraries and code available.
--
PE3ES / F4VTQ de Erwin
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Re: Using a SDRplay RSP1A via the EXTIO TCP file
Hi Erwin
This is the key extio dll function which I need to implement in the G8JCFSDR
void __stdcall __declspec(dllexport) SetCallback(void (* Callback)(int, int, float, short *))
but behind that simple function lies a huge amount of change in the G8JCFSDR s/w. I've implemented just about all the other extio dll API calls but not this callback function which is the key to using the I/Q datastream from the device.
U should be able to use the RSP1 extio dll for tuning purposes and decode the audio using something else.
In the G8JCFSDR Config, with the SDRModel dropdown, select Extio_Generic.DLL, make copy of EXTIO_RSP1.DLL and rename the copy to EXTIO_Generic.DLL. That should do the trick.
I don't have an RSP1A so I don't know what will happen
Hopefully you will be able to confirm successful (or not) operation
73
Peter
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Re: Using a SDRplay RSP1A via the EXTIO TCP file
Thank you Peter for your reaction and explanation.
Let me try to reflect on my understanding of your answers.
An extio_*.dll file can be used to create the intermediate layer to tune the radio from the G8JCFSDR? software.
Question: why can I not use the RSP1A extio.dll to do this in the current version? I only want to use the subset of commands from the full extio world to do the tuning.
Is this a result of the way the extio.dll tuning capability is currently implemented?
I would love to understand the art (or science) of creating extio_*.dll for a given combination of hw and sw better, I find it hard to find that kind of information on the net.
This might be of interest to you and others :?
?written by a well-known radio-amateur I2PHD
And this :?
In the meantime I will use your software for my (new) Elektor SDR shield + Arduino ;-)
--
PE3ES / F4VTQ de Erwin
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Re: Having problems using G8JCFSDR with ElektorSDRShield
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Re: Using a SDRplay RSP1A via the EXTIO TCP file
Hi Erwin
The G8JCFSDR can use an extio_*.dll but only for tuning purposes. The capability to handle the IQ Data Avaliable callbacks has not been implemented in the G8JCFSDR. The G8JCFSDR was designed to work with DirectX soundcard i/o way before (2003) the concept of extio_*.dll existed and I haven't retrofitted the full extio_*.dll capability. DirectX is so heavily embedded in the G8JCFSDR that if I was to retroft extio_*.dll full support, I'd probably need to rewrite a fair chunk of the data aquisition code, not difficult just a lot of code to go through. It might be easier for me to produce 2 different G8JCFSDR s/w packages, one which supports only DirectX and one which supports EXTIO_*.DLLs, and then one day merge them back into a single package.
So in sum, the RPS1A is unfortunately not really workable with the G8JCFSDR as it stands - I've had a few requests to add proper EXTIO_*.DLL support, so maybe the time has come to bite the bullet and give it a go !!
Sorry I don't have more encouraging news for you
Peter
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Re: Having problems using G8JCFSDR with ElektorSDRShield
Hi Erwin
I've pretty much got the h/w controller working using just the UNO. The h/w controller supports us of a rotary encoder for tuning, tune Step, Band select, Preset Select (and general menu item selection) together with a 1602 LCD. It can also at the same time drive an SPI TFT display, but the functionality of that display altho it does everything the LCD does, is not as advanced as I feel it should be.
I did once consider buying an RFZero - very interesting setup - but felt that the RF Zero would distract me completing other projects first - the RFZero is packed full of goodies so lots to experiment with !!
Thanks for the suggestion
73
Peter
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Re: Having problems using G8JCFSDR with ElektorSDRShield
As a suggestion, you might consider using a Arduino Zero like the team of RFzero in Denmark is doing. Faster, cheaper and a lot more gpio pins etc. But same Arduino IDE/libs etc.
--
PE3ES / F4VTQ de Erwin
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Using a SDRplay RSP1A via the EXTIO TCP file
Dear all,
Just getting started with this very nice software.
Want to control my remote SDRplay RSP1A. I have the tcp extio server for this on a Raspberry Pi and can use it with HDSDR or SDRuno. But how can I select this extio file with G8JCFSDR. I find for instance a generic extio.dll as a choice in the drop down menu, but no config screen for this opens. Even though there is a very small E button saying : click to hide EXTIO GUI.
So even when not remote, I would still need to set the extio rsp1a as a choice.
What am I doing wrong? The last Manual has nothing on extio as far as I can tell.
--
PE3ES / F4VTQ de Erwin
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Re: G8JCFSDR 281 on Linux Mint
Hi Nikos
That is fantastic news indeed.
Hopefully once U get the serial port working, you will be able to tell us all that the G8JCFSDR can be got to operate under LINUX
To help check your serial port connectivity, if U open a terminal emulator to the port, baud rate 115200, 8data, 1Stop, No Parity, Line terminator CRLF, U can issue the command
v<crlf> and the SDR Shield will respond with the version number
f nnnnnn<crlf> where nnnnnn is the frequency in Hz to set the tuned frequency to will tune the SDR shield
f ?<crlf>? and the SDR Shield will respond with the current tuned frequency
73
Peter - GM8JFC
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Re: G8JCFSDR 281 on Linux Mint
Hello Peter ? Thank you for your replay and your advice, I will check it out and i will let you know. The program works with the WINE, the only problem is the serial port.
Nikos Magafourakis
SV9CVJ
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Re: G8JCFSDR 281 on Linux Mint
Hi Nikos
Welcome to the group.
As I understand WINE, the COM port mapping should be automatically handled by WINE, see I know very little about WINE, but hopefully the link will help U get the COM port working. Note that U must be a member of dialout or sys group to be able to access serial ports.
I'd really like to know how you progress with getting the G8JCFSDR to work on LINUX+WINE, and please don't hesitate to ask any further questions.
Apologies that I don't have a better answer to your problem.
73
Peter - GM8JCF
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G8JCFSDR 281 on Linux Mint
Hello Peter
I have installed G8JCFSDR 281 on Linux Mint DE4 with WINE for Elektor SDR-Shield2
and I have updated to Arduino via the terminal (si5351vfoGM8JCF.hex).
My problem is that the program doesn't seem to work with Arduino
because the serial port I have is / dev / ttyACM0 and not COM1.
Is there a solution for this ???
Nikos Magafourakis
SV9CVJ
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G8JCFSDR 281 on Linux Mint
Hello Peter
I have installed G8JCFSDR 281 on Linux Mint DE4
with WINE for Elektor SDR-Shield2
and I have updated to Arduino via the terminal (si5351vfoGM8JCF.hex).
My problem is that the program doesn't seem to work with Arduino
because the serial port I have is / dev / ttyACM0 and not COM1.
Is there a solution for this ???
Nikos Magafourakis
SV9CVJ
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Hi Rein
I have never come across this error before. Error code 1327 means "1327 Logon failure: user account restriction.", so why U are getting "Invalid Drive K:\" message is a mystery to me, but I think this error may be because U are not an administrative user.
The installer MUST be run as Administrator - it should anyway, but just to be sure, after downloading the file, right click and use the "Run as Administrator" option.
You will get the usual W10 UAC warning pop-up but everything should install OK. If not then it may be that your anti-virus software is blocking installation, if that is the case then you will need to add an exception for setup_G8JCFSDR_280.exe to your anti-virus settings.
Hopefully you will soon be on the air :-)
Please let us know how it goes.
73
Peter - GM8JCF
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Good morning,
I'm trying to install G8JCFSDR 280 on my computer with Windows 10. After a few seconds I get the following error message: Error 1327. Invalid Drive K:\.
The only drives I have are C,D,E & F.
How can I solve this problem?
73,
Rein.
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SV9CVJ Nikos