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Re: New FW release: Add marker PEAK SEARCH

 

Release V1.0-59 that solved problems 1 and 3
Solving problem 2: when multiple marders AND display paused AND dragging a marker the marker info is not updated
will take some more time.


Firmware Update Question

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

The site at TinySA.org is quite helpful. But I am having problems updating the Firmware.

It directs me to st.com to download DfuSe Tools. However, when I get there, all I see is
STSW-STM32080 and no mention of DfuSe Tools ???

Am I to concur that the STSW file contains the DfuSe Tools ??

Also, still trying to register on that site to download that file.

Tnx, Dick, W1KSZ


Re: New FW release: Add marker PEAK SEARCH

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

Hi Erik

The calibration procedure has been corrupted with this new version. Actual power calibration at -20dBm input find a marker value at -40dBm at first attempt. At second attempt to calibrate ?-20dBm marker data as it should. If you power then off and on again then the marker level is 0dBm for -20dBm input level.
The Level Cal is also harmed as the same 20dB jump is also present when power off and on again.

Kind regards

Kurt

?

?

Fra: [email protected] <[email protected]> P? vegne af Erik Kaashoek
Sendt: 24. august 2020 13:48
Til: [email protected]
Emne: [tinysa] New FW release: Add marker PEAK SEARCH

?

New FW released
Version v0.1-58

Changes:
- Added MARKER/SEARCH MARKER/PEAK SEARCH which disables the tracking attribute of the active marker and positions the active marker as the global maximum level
- Corrected a small error in marker search which could cause a 0.5dB error in finding a maximum or minimum

This search option is useful to quickly find a global maximum, even if this maximum is less than the NOISE LEVEL above the surrounding signals
Be aware a possible zero Hz peak is not automatically excluded in the search, to avoid, set the start frequency of the sweep to an appropriate value.


Re: New FW release: Add marker PEAK SEARCH

 

Herb,

Please download again and the attenuation problem should be solved.
I will look into the other issues


Re: Some tinySA questions

 

On Mon, Aug 24, 2020 at 06:48 AM, EB4APL wrote:

I have downloaded tinySA v 1.0.7528.21513, I think that there are newer
versions, but I can't find them, at least a compiled executable for Windows.

I have some operating questions, for example:

When I switch the mode to high it does nor receive anything, I have to
switch it manually on the tinySA or use the console command "mode".? Am
I missing something or this does not work yet in this version?
=====================================

Ignacio,
? ?In tinySA.exe if you go to the "Settings" tab and turn on "Logging" you can see all the console commands the application sends when a setting is changed.? The changes take place and are logged after a single or continuous sweep.? No 'mode' command is issued when low or high is selected so that feature is not implemented and the program expects the user to manually select the input.

? Checking the mode selection and issuing the proper input mode command prior to sweeping seems like a reasonable request to make for Erik's next tinySA.exe version.

?- Herb


Re: New FW release: Add marker PEAK SEARCH

 

Wow Erik!? I wasn't expecting a change until your next major release - if any.? I noticed the following after updating to 0.1-58 and doing 1.) clearconfig 1234, 2.) reset, 3.) leveloffset low 0 (saved from previous version), 4.) devceid 20070007 and 5.) saveconfig:

1. The marker->peak button places the selected marker at the first global peak as expected.? An unexpected behavior is that immediately afterwards the wheel does not work to move the marker left or right.? At wider spans, the behavior is that the wheel will move the marker right but not left.? The marker can be dragged left or right using the stylus, after which the wheel works normally.? The expected behavior was that the selected marker would be positioned to the global maximum value but otherwise would have normal marker mode behavior.? This unwanted behavior is particularly noticeable when the display is paused.

2. I also noticed that when the display is paused, and with multiple markers displayed, selecting a marker with the stylus doesn't update the marker selection until some other operation is performed.

3. A bug seems to have slipped in where the internal attenuation is not properly corrected for.? This is unrelated to the new peak search feature but may be related to your 0.5dB error correction.

-20dBm external signal? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? same signal with internal 3dB attenuation
? ? ?

I recommend that users skip this update.

- Herb


Some tinySA questions

 

Hi,

I have downloaded tinySA v 1.0.7528.21513, I think that there are newer versions, but I can't find them, at least a compiled executable for Windows.

I have some operating questions, for example:

When I switch the mode to high it does nor receive anything, I have to switch it manually on the tinySA or use the console command "mode".? Am I missing something or this does not work yet in this version?

Regards,

Ignacio


--
El software de antivirus Avast ha analizado este correo electr¨®nico en busca de virus.


New FW release: Add marker PEAK SEARCH

 

New FW released
Version v0.1-58

Changes:
- Added MARKER/SEARCH MARKER/PEAK SEARCH which disables the tracking attribute of the active marker and positions the active marker as the global maximum level
- Corrected a small error in marker search which could cause a 0.5dB error in finding a maximum or minimum

This search option is useful to quickly find a global maximum, even if this maximum is less than the NOISE LEVEL above the surrounding signals
Be aware a possible zero Hz peak is not automatically excluded in the search, to avoid, set the start frequency of the sweep to an appropriate value.


Re: Serial port speed

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

OK, found the problem: my terminal programs was not configured for sending CR or CRLF after each command.

Thank you for their help to all who responded.

73 de Ignacio EB4APL


El 24/08/2020 a las 13:17, EB4APL via groups.io escribi¨®:

Hi Dave,

I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I just get echos from the tinySA with everything that I wrote, these echos come from the device, the terminal program has the echo option disabled.

This should be really easy, do you know of any step by step tutorial explaining it, a Youtube video perhaps?

The installed firmware is v0.3, I did not tried any newer version yet. Could be this the cause? I don't think so, because it communicates with tinySA.exe on the PC.

Thank you,

Ignacio EB4APL


El 24/08/2020 a las 1:20, David Lee wrote:
9600 baud
command prompt:? ? ch>

Dave W6ZL
_._,_._,_





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Re: Serial port speed

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

Hi Dave,

I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I just get echos from the tinySA with everything that I wrote, these echos come from the device, the terminal program has the echo option disabled.

This should be really easy, do you know of any step by step tutorial explaining it, a Youtube video perhaps?

The installed firmware is v0.3, I did not tried any newer version yet. Could be this the cause? I don't think so, because it communicates with tinySA.exe on the PC.

Thank you,

Ignacio EB4APL


El 24/08/2020 a las 1:20, David Lee wrote:
9600 baud
command prompt:? ? ch>

Dave W6ZL
_._,_._,_





El software de antivirus Avast ha analizado este correo electr¨®nico en busca de virus.



Locked Re: They arrived too!

 

El 24/08/2020 a las 10:46, Kurt Poulsen escribi¨®:
Hi Ignacio
Sorry to tune in on this matter. I think the tax and Custom system are not much different than her in Denmark. DHL is forced to do this sort of VAT and custom duties, and cannot leave it to do this clearence yourself except you are a company and registered for importing such kind of stuff. As a private person DHL has to honor the national rules about VAT and tax duties collection. It would be the same sort of charges if delivered thru the national post service so my point of view is that your protest is not justified. DHL is just doing what they are forced to do.
I'm not protesting about the VAT and duties charges, I always pay these. Probably in Denmark you, as a private person, cannot personally make the clearance but here in Spain any individual can do the clearance for items sent for him, I have done it much times. This is very easy: you go to the customs office at the destination airport, gives to the customs officer the shipping documents (got them from DHL, the National Post or the subject carrier, they are located very close to the customs office for obvious reasons) and a copy of the invoice, you get a payment document, pay it at a near bank office and go to to the customs officer and you get the package.

My protest is about DHL proceeding to the clearance (and charging me their fees) without asking me before.

In my country any far east purchase with a declared value inclusive shipping cost below 13 US$, is not subject to VAT and TAX duties and I have received several DHL shipments for no extra cost solely pending the decaled value.
Many Ebay sellers cheat and declare fake declared value and those is also passing the National post service straight away
Kind regards
Kurt
This will be my final post on the subject, it is becoming more and more OT.

Regards,

Ignacio



-----Oprindelig meddelelse-----
Fra: [email protected] <[email protected]> P? vegne af EB4APL
Sendt: 22. august 2020 01:41
Til: [email protected]
Emne: Re: [tinysa] They arrived too!

Hi Rachel,

Probably I didn't explained it well, I don't have any problem with paying custom duties (as I also pay all my taxes). The actual amount was 10€ and it was according to the rules. But my complain was that DHL charged me with 20€ for their customs clearing service, a service that I had not requested. Other carriers phones you informing that they have a shipment for me and it is needed to clear the customs and pay the duties, and they offers to do the service for me. Depending on the circumstances, I give them the ok or rather I perform the clearance myself. On the contrary DHL ringed my door with the shipment on hand and asking for 30.90€.

Regards,

Ignacio, EB4APL



El 19/08/2020 a las 15:53, RACHAEL SANDERS escribi¨®:
On the other hand if vat or duty is due according to said countries rules. We, as in the customer, ought to pay it.

We should not avoid it. It pays towards our society services after all.
Otherwise we are as corrupt as other countries despotic leaders ..........just in a smaller way. Nevertheless still corrupt!
On 18 Aug 2020, at 16:52, EB4APL <eb4apl@...> wrote:

?Today DHL delivered me a couple of tinySA.

Still no powered it up, but I want to note that the packaging was really good, thanks Maggie.

The only negative comment is about DHL. DHL is a carrier and also a customs clearance agent and they make extra money with it.

When using normal mail for receiving parcels from China usually I have not to pay anything, but DHL charged me 10€ for customs duties plus 20€ for the "service".

I forgot to say Maggie to sent it using common mail, it is cheaper for both.

I had a similar experience when I bought my first AirSpy SDR receiver, I choose FedEx or UPS (I don't remember which one) instead of common mail expecting a safer service, but when it arrived they called me asking for a ridiculous sum for clearing the customs. I refused and made the clearance myself, not before a long discussion about charging me just for giving me the shipping documents.

So when I bought another Airspy receiver I choose mail and the parcel arrived at my door without paying any extra.

This may not apply to all countries, but it is true for Spain and even worse for other countries.

Now I (and a friend) have another toy to play with.

Regards,

Ignacio EB4APL

--
El software de antivirus Avast ha analizado este correo electr¨®nico en busca de virus.


Locked Re: They arrived too!

 

Hi Ignacio
Sorry to tune in on this matter. I think the tax and Custom system are not much different than her in Denmark. DHL is forced to do this sort of VAT and custom duties, and cannot leave it to do this clearence yourself except you are a company and registered for importing such kind of stuff. As a private person DHL has to honor the national rules about VAT and tax duties collection. It would be the same sort of charges if delivered thru the national post service so my point of view is that your protest is not justified. DHL is just doing what they are forced to do.
In my country any far east purchase with a declared value inclusive shipping cost below 13 US$, is not subject to VAT and TAX duties and I have received several DHL shipments for no extra cost solely pending the decaled value.
Many Ebay sellers cheat and declare fake declared value and those is also passing the National post service straight away
Kind regards
Kurt

-----Oprindelig meddelelse-----
Fra: [email protected] <[email protected]> P? vegne af EB4APL
Sendt: 22. august 2020 01:41
Til: [email protected]
Emne: Re: [tinysa] They arrived too!

Hi Rachel,

Probably I didn't explained it well, I don't have any problem with paying custom duties (as I also pay all my taxes). The actual amount was 10€ and it was according to the rules. But my complain was that DHL charged me with 20€ for their customs clearing service, a service that I had not requested. Other carriers phones you informing that they have a shipment for me and it is needed to clear the customs and pay the duties, and they offers to do the service for me. Depending on the circumstances, I give them the ok or rather I perform the clearance myself. On the contrary DHL ringed my door with the shipment on hand and asking for 30.90€.

Regards,

Ignacio, EB4APL

El 19/08/2020 a las 15:53, RACHAEL SANDERS escribi¨®:
On the other hand if vat or duty is due according to said countries rules. We, as in the customer, ought to pay it.

We should not avoid it. It pays towards our society services after all.
Otherwise we are as corrupt as other countries despotic leaders ..........just in a smaller way. Nevertheless still corrupt!
On 18 Aug 2020, at 16:52, EB4APL <eb4apl@...> wrote:

?Today DHL delivered me a couple of tinySA.

Still no powered it up, but I want to note that the packaging was really good, thanks Maggie.

The only negative comment is about DHL. DHL is a carrier and also a customs clearance agent and they make extra money with it.

When using normal mail for receiving parcels from China usually I have not to pay anything, but DHL charged me 10€ for customs duties plus 20€ for the "service".

I forgot to say Maggie to sent it using common mail, it is cheaper for both.

I had a similar experience when I bought my first AirSpy SDR receiver, I choose FedEx or UPS (I don't remember which one) instead of common mail expecting a safer service, but when it arrived they called me asking for a ridiculous sum for clearing the customs. I refused and made the clearance myself, not before a long discussion about charging me just for giving me the shipping documents.

So when I bought another Airspy receiver I choose mail and the parcel arrived at my door without paying any extra.

This may not apply to all countries, but it is true for Spain and even worse for other countries.

Now I (and a friend) have another toy to play with.

Regards,

Ignacio EB4APL

--
El software de antivirus Avast ha analizado este correo electr¨®nico en busca de virus.


Re: Serial port speed

 

It's a usb device. Ignore the speed and just connect to the usb port the SA is connected to.?

Many users use teraterm.?


On Sun, 23 Aug 2020 at 7:13 PM, EB4APL
<eb4apl@...> wrote:
Hi,

I'm trying to send console commands to the tinySA, but I don't know
which speed should I use.

Also, I have seen ch> and > as the command preamble. Which one is the
right one?

Thank you,

Ignacio EB4APL


--
El software de antivirus Avast ha analizado este correo electr¨®nico en busca de virus.





Re: Serial port speed

 

9600 baud
command prompt:? ? ch>

Dave W6ZL


Serial port speed

 

Hi,

I'm trying to send console commands to the tinySA, but I don't know
which speed should I use.

Also, I have seen ch> and > as the command preamble. Which one is the
right one?

Thank you,

Ignacio EB4APL


--
El software de antivirus Avast ha analizado este correo electr¨®nico en busca de virus.


Re: WARNING: Measuring the spectral purity of a transmitter

 

On Sat, Aug 22, 2020 at 06:59 AM, Martin wrote:
Having used expensive test equipment throughout my professional career, I learnt that it was always a good idea to keep a low power 20dB attenuator connected to the input of a spectrum analyser or output of an RF generator, unless on the odd occasion when you need higher sensitivity or more output power.

The attenuator would tend to act as an RF fuse if you ever accidentally stuffed too much RF up the cable, and would protect the more expensive equipment from major damage on the odd occasion when you did something silly in the haste of the moment.

However as the tiny SA costs almost as much as a decent attenuator at new prices, it would maybe seem that it is a cheaper option throw away the test equipment rather than risk an attenuator :-)

How times have changed.
Martin,
? ?My manager called me into his office one time inquiring about why we needed to order 20watt attenuators periodically.? After I explained the cost difference between the attenuators versus repairing the front end of a receiver or spectrum analyzer his only comment was, "Carry on".

? As you said its cheaper to purchase a spare tinySA than what we paid for lab quality attenuators. You can justify a second tinySA to yourself not only as a spare spectrum analyzer, but also as a separate RF source if you don't already own a suitable generator.

- Herb


Re: Tracking Marker

 

On Sat, Aug 22, 2020 at 08:09 AM, Erik Kaashoek wrote:

1. So in MARKER/MARKER SEARCH/ add an option GLOBAL MAXIMUM?
? ?[A more conventional term would be MARKER PEAK?but, as Kurt once said, the tinySA has options sometimes not available on a conventional spectrum analyzer and therefore, can use its own naming conventions.]

2. If you do a marker search on a tracking marker it automatically becomes a normal marker. Is that behavior OK?
? ?[I don't usually do a search on a tracking marker because it will override the search and jump back to tracking - except when the display is paused.? Its logical that if a user does a search using a tracking marker that they probably no longer want tracking behavior to apply, so I would agree with you that switching to normal marker mode is the correct behavior.]

Forgot to ask

3. The zero Hz peak can not be ignored in a GLOBAL MAXIMUM search as it is unclear how far to ignore (starting from 0Hz). OK?
? ? [Yes.? The user will learn soon enough that any measurements with the zero peak visible will affect measurements like marker peak?and that the tinySA settings need to be changed to minimize its impact.? This is not only true with the tinySA but Agilent and R&S spectrum analyzers that I have used.]

4. So in MARKER/MARKER SEARCH/ add an option GLOBAL MAXIMUM???
? ?[My preferred option name would be MARKER PEAK?but most of the other menu names you have chosen have grown on me.? For me its more the added functionality than anything else.? Also, if you do manage to add this menu item to a future update, then adding a corresponding??marker x peak?(sends marker x to the display peak value and returns the value and frequency) to the console command list would be helpful.]

Thanks for considering.

- Herb


Re: Tracking Marker

 

Forgot to ask.
The zero Hz peak can not be ignored in a GLOBAL MAXIMUM search as it is unclear how far to ignore (starting from 0Hz). OK?


Re: Tracking Marker

 

So in MARKER/MARKER SEARCH/ add an option GLOBAL MAXIMUM?
If you do a marker search on a tracking marker it automatically becomes a normal marker. Is that behavior OK?


Re: WARNING: Measuring the spectral purity of a transmitter

 

Having used expensive test equipment throughout my professional career, I learnt that it was always a good idea to keep a low power 20dB attenuator connected to the input of a spectrum analyser or output of an RF generator, unless on the odd occasion when you need higher sensitivity or more output power.

The attenuator would tend to act as an RF fuse if you ever accidentally stuffed too much RF up the cable, and would protect the more expensive equipment from major damage on the odd occasion when you did something silly in the haste of the moment.

However as the tiny SA costs almost as much as a decent attenuator at new prices, it would maybe seem that it is a cheaper option throw away the test equipment rather than risk an attenuator :-)

How times have changed.

Regards,

Martin