[hpsdr] manual switching of ALEX possible?

[Achim Vollhardt]

Hi Joe,
thank you very much for the quick reply. First and foremost, I have to
admit that while I am a decent hw designer, I am a terrible coder and as
I am using Metis, I am uncertain how the USB protocol could help me anyway.

I found the ALEX manual setting in the latest HPSDR version (running mRX
PS v3.2.13 with latest firmware versions) but my problem seems to be
that I cannot enter the required frequency ranges into ALEX's entry
fields. Which is commpletely natural when using with ALEX :) as a 6.5
MHz highpass is not of much used for a frequency range of 144-146 MHz.

But that is exactly what is required for me :) I have two relays
switching between 'direct to MERCURY' (so 0-50 MHz) and converter
output, and the second relay switching between 2m input and 23cm input.
Transverter ops are nicely supported by PowerSDR, if I just got the ALEX
command lines to work as hoped..

A picture of my prototype:
http://gulp.physik.uzh.ch/hpsdr/IMAG0211.jpg
(bear with me, still alpha)

73s Achim, DH2VA


On 24.06.2014 03:12, Joe Martin K5SO wrote:
> Hi Achim, 
> 
> Yes, it is possible to manually switch ALEX filters however you wish.  This can be accomplished directly in software as specified in the OpenHPSDR communications protocol document at
> 
> http://svn.tapr.org/repos_sdr_hpsdr/trunk/Documentation/USB_protocol_V1.57.doc
> 
> Most likely, utilizing these features would require that you modify the software program you are using to take advantage of the Alex relay control capabilities that are specified in the protocol.  
> 
> If you would rather not modify your software program to implement the available protocol capabilities yourself the recent HPSDR versions of PowerSDR do allow manual switching of the Alex filters in the Setup > Alex > HPF/LPF menu when “manual” Alex mode is selected there.  However, I understand that the existing filter switching approach in PowerSDR may not be what you are seeking for your particular application because to activate the various filters you must enter frequency ranges for which you wish the swithcing to occur for the various filter relays, rather than utilizing a strict on/off control for the Alex relay control bits themselves as you would be able to implement if you wrote your own modifications to the software you are using. 
> 
> I hope this information was at least a little helpful to you; but it may not have been, I understand.  
> 
> 73,  Joe K5SO
> 
> On Jun 23, 2014, at 10:05 AM, Achim Vollhardt wrote:
> 
>> ***** High Performance Software Defined Radio Discussion List *****
>>
>> Is there a possibility to manually switch ALEX filters? I using the ALEX
>> control lines to switch with coax relays between different receive
>> transverters (just like I would switch between filter banks) but fail to
>> enter e.g. 144-146 MHz in the Alex manual entry mode.
>>
>> 73s Achim, DH2VA
> 
> 

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