Ardv1/Ardv10-pc-computer-control-new-s-w

[marlbrook]

PART 2

Ran out of time editing the above, here is the rest:-

'Q' auto-sorts information into frequency order.

'Q' will also remove duplicate entries in lists you may have found, automatically as it sorts them.

A few words about the Radio Reference Database, and only using that to try to discover frequencies. The RR Database is great, and a real achievement, however it is only as good as its entries for your particular area. In certain Cities, in certain Countries it can be very useful, for a lot of others the information is either very sparse, or non existent. No criticism intended, a world wide, fully comprehensive database is not really possible.

'Q' is entirely different. Whether you find frequency lists on the NET, other electronic sources, or type them yourself in Notepad, you can usually import them and have them available to your AR-DV1 to use with the minimum of effort, and very quickly. Just 'copy', 'paste' into the 'Q' window, and click SORT. No need to be a Spreadsheet expert.

One other great advantage is 'Q' (.txt) files can be named and stored wherever you wish. Because they take up such little space you can store thousands of them if you wish. Effectively thousands of 'Q Memories' for your DV1. The number of 'Q-Memory' files is only limited by the size of your hard disk.

Having thousands of 'Memories' available usually brings its own very real headaches. What are the named, where do I find them etc? Using 'Q', and applying just a little bit of logic / discipline, you can create sub-folders and files with the names and locations you want, making them so much easier to find, use and also store copies of (for backup purposes). Importing a 'Q' file takes a few seconds, after which you can do so much with it, usually with just a few mouse clicks.

The operation of 'Q' in such a simple interface as described is quite simply accurate and true. 'Q' raises the DV1 to another level. Anyone can find out www.espyonard.com

 

[SigIntel8600]

PART 2

Ran out of time editing the above, here is the rest:-

'Q' auto-sorts information into frequency order.

'Q' will also remove duplicate entries in lists you may have found, automatically as it sorts them.

A few words about the Radio Reference Database, and only using that to try to discover frequencies. The RR Database is great, and a real achievement, however it is only as good as its entries for your particular area. In certain Cities, in certain Countries it can be very useful, for a lot of others the information is either very sparse, or non existent. No criticism intended, a world wide, fully comprehensive database is not really possible.

'Q' is entirely different. Whether you find frequency lists on the NET, other electronic sources, or type them yourself in Notepad, you can usually import them and have them available to your AR-DV1 to use with the minimum of effort, and very quickly. Just 'copy', 'paste' into the 'Q' window, and click SORT. No need to be a Spreadsheet expert.

One other great advantage is 'Q' (.txt) files can be named and stored wherever you wish. Because they take up such little space you can store thousands of them if you wish. Effectively thousands of 'Q Memories' for your DV1. The number of 'Q-Memory' files is only limited by the size of your hard disk.

Having thousands of 'Memories' available usually brings its own very real headaches. What are the named, where do I find them etc? Using 'Q', and applying just a little bit of logic / discipline, you can create sub-folders and files with the names and locations you want, making them so much easier to find, use and also store copies of (for backup purposes). Importing a 'Q' file takes a few seconds, after which you can do so much with it, usually with just a few mouse clicks.

The operation of 'Q' in such a simple interface as described is quite simply accurate and true. 'Q' raises the DV1 to another level. Anyone can find out www.espyonard.com

Awesome

 

[marlbrook]

12th APRIL 2019 UPDATE - includes firmware 1903A additions

Just uploaded second update this month, which incorporates the new commands included in AOR's April firmware 1903A

1. COMMANDS TO CHANGE SCREEN ORIENTATION ON AR-DV1
Right click on YELLOW screen to bring up SETTINGS window. Click the 'SCREEN' button then make selection from list.

2. COMMANDS TO SELECT SLOT IN T-TC MODE
Right click on 'T-TC' button then make selection from list.

(See last Changes Log entry in Manual for details)

www.espyonard.com

 

[marlbrook]

v. (6.0007-015) - NEXT UPDATE NOTES

Just to keep eSPYonARD users abreast of what is in the pipeline, below is a list of the functions that have been added or improved in the next update, when published.

Item 1 carries on the somewhat intriguing aspects and many extra functions available to the Band Scope by combining it with 'Q'.

It is worth repeating that the subsequent extra functions available to anyone using a Band Scope are often much more important than than sweep speed or the pictorial display. The many and varied Band Scope functions offered by eSPYonARD are very extensive,

1. BAND SCOPE - SELECT 'CENTRE' FREQUENCY FROM A DISPLAYED 'Q' WINDOW

If the 'Q' window is visible using the Band Scope, one can now select a displayed 'Q' frequency and automatically make it the 'CENTRE' frequency of the Band Scope 'sweep' . You can use different 'Q-DB' files to this window by clicking the 'LOAD FILE' button.

Just click on the line ONCE, to select it (which will also auto-stop a sweep if in progress), then DOUBLE CLICK on the line to make it the CENTRE frequency.

AUTO SAVED FILES

The Band Scope 'Q' window includes options to SAVE, CLEAR ALL and CLEAR ITEM re. the file that is displayed.

To guard against accidentally losing an important file or part of it especially when electing to save, 'clear' a particular line, or an entire list, if one of the above options is selected, the Program automatically first RE-NAMES and SAVES a backup copy of the original file.

e.g. File named 'TEST-SORTED.txt' , will be auto-saved as either:-

a. TEST-SAVED-COPY-SORTED.txt
b. TEST-CLEARED-COPY-SORTED.txt or
c. TEST-CLEAREDitem-COPY-SORTED.txt

in the folder where the original file was stored, depending on the option selected., using its current filename. (TEST is just used as an example above)

If these COPY files are no longer required you can delete them manually.

2. 'Q' COMMANDS DURING 'Q-SCAN'

If during a Q-SCAN an active frequency was 'paused' it was sometimes difficult to get certain buttons to respond immediately, 'SCAN OFF', 'Q-DB', 'DB+' and 'FILTER'. - FIXED

 

[marlbrook]

v. (6.0007-015) - NEXT UPDATE NOTES

3. ADDED VOLUME AND SQUELCH SLIDERS TO BAND SCOPE

Until now, if you wanted to change the Volume or Squelch the Main window needed to be open. Now, if you wish, you can 'minimise' it, but still have access to those functions when you wish via the Scope's sliders.

As Users will know the Band Scope is integrated into the Program, so no need to close and re-load.

 

[marlbrook]

I have finished the long an laborious testing phase (thank goodness).

I will be releasing v. (6.0007-015) in the next week or two. The changes are described above, plus a few 'tweaks' to the Band Scope. It is now operating as fast as possible, as far as I can judge, only limited by the USB serial speed, the speed abilities of the AR-DV1 itself, and ensuring software accuracy and stability as it operates.

 

[wb4sqi]

I have finished the long an laborious testing phase (thank goodness).

I will be releasing v. (6.0007-015) in the next week or two. The changes are described above, plus a few 'tweaks' to the Band Scope. It is now operating as fast as possible, as far as I can judge, only limited by the USB serial speed, the speed abilities of the AR-DV1 itself, and ensuring software accuracy and stability as it operates.

Whew! Just finished reading all 23 pages, like watching your child grow up into a successful adult. Bought a pre-owned DV1 today and can't wait for it to arrive and use this fantastic software.

 

[MStep]

I have finished the long an laborious testing phase (thank goodness).

I will be releasing v. (6.0007-015) in the next week or two. The changes are described above, plus a few 'tweaks' to the Band Scope. It is now operating as fast as possible, as far as I can judge, only limited by the USB serial speed, the speed abilities of the AR-DV1 itself, and ensuring software accuracy and stability as it operates.

Congratulations on the continued success of the program. I can say that "I knew him when". I'm finally getting things back together in my "radio life", picked up a small cheapie laptop, and will see what I can do with the older version of the program that I have. Marlbrook, you are "the man" when it comes to understanding the intricacies and nuances of the DV-1. Nobody does it better buddy.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

Whew! Just finished reading all 23 pages, like watching your child grow up into a successful adult. Bought a pre-owned DV1 today and can't wait for it to arrive and use this fantastic software.

Best DV-1 software available from my opinion. Really unlocks the radio's full potential

 

[marlbrook]

NEXT ESPYONARD UPDATE 6.0007.015

I hoped to post the next update in June, however further to my posts about 'AUTO FINDING NEARBY ACTIVE FREQUENCIES', I have been looking at automatic Audio Logging in 'Q' again, with a view to how that can be applied to Auto Q lists created by the Band Scope.

In doing so I have improved / amended the Audio Logging 'Q' function. This does require PRO TOOLS, so will only be of use in activated programs.

The result is a Band Scope 'Q' file can be opened in 'Q', and left to scan the frequencies it found. As one becomes active, the program saves a short sample of audio.

The results can be brought up in an inter-active list and just by clicking on an entry, the audio is played.

Particularly when recording to the DV1's SD Card this is much more comprehensive. The Radio just stores an entry as a numbered file, however the Program stores lots of information about the file, including a date stamp, 'S' reading, and most importantly, the frequency.

By combining the information stored by the Band Scope, with being able to scan and store audio samples, it will allow the creation of 'Q' lists which contain exactly what you want to monitor.

The next update already contained some interesting improvements and additions. I will hopefully be able to update the tested version in July.

 

[SigIntel8600]

NEXT ESPYONARD UPDATE 6.0007.015

I hoped to post the next update in June, however further to my posts about 'AUTO FINDING NEARBY ACTIVE FREQUENCIES', I have been looking at automatic Audio Logging in 'Q' again, with a view to how that can be applied to Auto Q lists created by the Band Scope.

In doing so I have improved / amended the Audio Logging 'Q' function. This does require PRO TOOLS, so will only be of use in activated programs.

The result is a Band Scope 'Q' file can be opened in 'Q', and left to scan the frequencies it found. As one becomes active, the program saves a short sample of audio.

The results can be brought up in an inter-active list and just by clicking on an entry, the audio is played.

Particularly when recording to the DV1's SD Card this is much more comprehensive. The Radio just stores an entry as a numbered file, however the Program stores lots of information about the file, including a date stamp, 'S' reading, and most importantly, the frequency.

By combining the information stored by the Band Scope, with being able to scan and store audio samples, it will allow the creation of 'Q' lists which contain exactly what you want to monitor.

The next update already contained some interesting improvements and additions. I will hopefully be able to update the tested version in July.

Thanks for the update

 

[marlbrook]

v. 6.0007-15 uploaded to www.espyonard.com

When the Trial program is installed the 40 minute close down 'NAG' has been deactivated.

If you decide to obtain an Activation Code, it will 'unlock' the Trial. No further downloading is needed.

Please see Changes Log in Manual for full description of changes / additions.

The updated includes:-

1. BAND SCOPE - SELECT 'CENTRE' FREQUENCY FROM A DISPLAYED 'Q' WINDOW
Can now select a displayed 'Q' frequency and automatically make it the 'CENTRE' frequency of the Band Scope 'sweep' . You can use different 'Q-DB' files to this window by clicking the 'LOAD FILE' button.

2. 'Q' COMMANDS DURING 'Q-SCAN'
If during a Q-SCAN an active frequency was 'paused' it was sometimes difficult to get certain buttons to respond immediately, 'SCAN OFF', 'Q-DB', 'DB+' and 'FILTER'. - FIXED

3. 'Q' SET DELAY WINDOW
Size increased

4. VOLUME AND SQUELCH SLIDERS ADDED TO BAND SCOPE
Until now, if you wanted to change the Volume or Squelch the Main window needed to be open. Now, if you wish, you can 'minimise' it, but still have access to those functions when you wish via the Scope's sliders.

5. BAND SCOPE SQUELCH OPTIONS
Enhanced

6. AUDIO LOGGING with 'Q'
This allows you to automatically obtain short audio samples of frequencies that are active whilst scanning the frequencies in a 'Q' list., so you may decide if you wish to permanently include them for 'Q' monitoring.

7. WAV LIST
Issue when SD CARD ICON clicked to open AUDIO OPTIONS WINDOW - FIXED

8. ADDED 'RESCAN' BUTTON
Re. Item 7. above. Added 'RESCAN' button, to manually 'force' a re-download of WAV details to the inter-active WAV file list.

9. Q-DB SCAN SPEED
Right clicking the blue 'Q-DB' button brings up a 'Q' scan speed selection list, as usual. The 'FASTEST' selection now operates the scan more quickly. If the scan does not stop consistently when a frequency becomes 'active', try the other speed options in the list.

 

[marlbrook]

AR-DV1 OCCASIONAL 'NERVOUS BREAKDOWN'

I decided to look more deeply into what appears to be a firmware generated anomaly that occurs quite infrequently when the Receiver is under software control.

Sometimes, when the User tries to change frequency very quickly, several times, the DV1 stops receiving signals correctly.

The Radio does not fully 'lock up', but the 'S' reading stays at '1', no matter what is tried, irrespective of changing other settings like 'Squelch', 'Audio' or Frequency, and fails to operate correctly.

Once in this state, returning the DV1 to manual control has no effect on this 'S1', no signal scenario, and the only cure is to pull the power for a second or two, then reconnect.

I am sure it is not caused by any software directly, other than giving the User the opportunity of sending frequency 'UP' and 'DOWN 'signals more rapidly than when doing it manually, and the firmware occasionally decides to object. This is confirmed by the Receiver staying in this state even when external control has been removed.

There is naturally the unlikely chance that this only happens on my AR-DV1, but the chances are it may happen on all.

As far as eSPYonARD is concerned, this is most likely to be triggered when the cursor is swept over many previously active frequency lines rapidly in the Band Scope, effectively sending frequency changes to the DV1 very quickly. It does not happen often even then.

I had previously discovered sending rapid 'UP' or 'DOWN' commands could cause this problem, whether by clicking once, or selecting 'auto' by right clicking and 'holding down' the respective buttons, again sporadically.

Over the years I found a few firmware bugs which I managed to apply fixes to, and I want to find a 'fix' for this one, detecting the issue automatically, and correcting it.

I would be interested to discover if anyone else has ever experienced this happening, with any software whilst controlling the DV1?

 

[woodpecker]

Its most likely the firmware can't cope with a buffer overflow, sounds very similiar to how the DV10 behaves except the DV10 locks solid and requires battery removal to reset it.

 

[marlbrook]

Thanks Woodpecker. I posted the above elsewhere and it seems to be an issue with other DV1's too. I had not considered a buffer overload, but that makes perfect sense.

I have written some code today for eSPYonARD that applies a 'fix' automatically if this happens. As luck would have it I discovered that the Radio still communicated and a reply to a certain command responded in a specific way, only when the DV1 is in this unresponsive state, and also found a command that clears the error without anything drastic like a reset or power cycle. The 'fix' works completely in the background, which is nice.

Any control software is likely to trigger the problem occasionally, particularly when attempting to change frequencies quickly, up or down, and without this 'fix' the only solution was to pull the power plug.

It was annoying, as being able to sweep the cursor over all the lines detected by the eSPYonARD Band Scope, sending each frequency immediately to the DV1 as it passed over a line, gives a great way of rapid tuning, especially I find it useful for monitoring and selecting Side Band HF signals., and for other Modes too. The 'cursor sweep' method could work OK for some time then the firmware glitch would kick in, which was frustrating.

I had realised it was not caused directly by software control, and the firmware was the culprit, but no matter, it is automatically fixed now.

 

[marlbrook]

AR-DV1 OCCASIONAL 'NERVOUS BREAKDOWN'

I decided to look more deeply into what appears to be a firmware generated anomaly that occurs quite infrequently when the Receiver is under software control.

Sometimes, when the User tries to change frequency very quickly, several times, the DV1 stops receiving signals correctly.

'Fix' for firmware problem above incorporated into eSPYonARD update v.6.0007-16A, at Web Site

 

[marlbrook]

BAND SCOPE MEMORY
A customer emailed me a couple of days ago asking if I could get the Band Scope to remember more settings that were last used, and import them when eSPYonARD is started.

I am pleased to say I have managed to do that. (Short sentence, LOTS of work involved).

In the next update, in addition to the new 'FAST' Band Scope settings input window, there are these extra additions:-

The Band Scope now remembers and automatically loads the last selected settings. (Centre Frequency, Mode, Band Width, Sweep and 'S' setting). When FIRST called the program defaults to the FULL 'sweep'.

If 'lower' and 'upper' Band Spread frequencies have been entered, and the Scope is closed, then if re-opened during the session those details are recalled and applied.
------------------
Thanks for the suggestion. I have tested the above in the current BETA and I find them useful extra functions when using the Band Scope. I imagine others will find them useful too.

 

[marlbrook]

BAND SCOPE SETUP - SETUP SPEED REDUCTION
Quite a big breakthrough. Tested and working. Will be available in next update

 

[marlbrook]

NEW (v.6.0007-017) - expected September 2019
This is a significant eSPYonARD update, with several important additions / changes.

1. NEW BAND SCOPE SELECTION MENU
Users can now enter the Sweep details using a SINGLE selection window . This is a faster method of setting
up the Band Scope, if required.

2. BAND SCOPE MEMORY
The Band Scope now remembers and automatically loads and runs the last selected settings.

3. SKINS
For display clarity, all Band Scope and 'Q' windows now use their own SKIN, which cannot be changed.

4. BAND SCOPE TRACES
'TRACES' are now set to ON by default. Right clicking the button will clear all frequency lines / traces without interrupting the sweep.

5. MEM-BANK
Several refinements added.

6. 'Q' VOLUME
Fixed an issue where the volume selected with the slider was not being remembered correctly when selecting a new 'Q-DB' frequency from a list.

7. NEW BAND SCOPE NOTES - FASTER SETUP
Changing Sweep and Bandwidth values will result in a few seconds delay whilst the new parameters are calculated, however once completed the values are remembered when re-starting the Band Scope. IF those values are NOT altered however, now changing Frequency , Mode etc. using the new 'FAST' setup window, results in almost instant commencement of the sweep. A significant advance.

8. CPU PRIORITY
There is a new button 'PRIORITY' on the SETTINGS window, (opened by right-clicking on the main yellow
screen).'Real Time', 'High', 'Above Normal', or 'Normal' may be selected.

Windows allows the User to select a CPU Priority. The settings are self explanatory, and influence how fast a selected program runs particularly in relation to multi-tasking. The degree of influence depends on many hardware and software factors. Sometimes there will be no noticeable difference, sometimes it may be quite significant.

A high CPU Priority may result in functions such as the Band Scope 'sweep' being faster, and speed increases in other areas. The last selected value is always remembered by the Program, and can also be re-set to 'Normal' during start-up, if required.

9. SEARCH / SCAN DELAY AND PAUSE OPTIONS
Additions and refinements relating to 'SEARCH PAUSE', 'SCAN PAUSE' and the 'SEARCH/SCAN DELAY' settings/sliders.

 

[marlbrook]

v. 6.0007-017 uploaded to www.espyonard.com today

More addition and refinements. Too many to document here. See the Program's Changes Log in the Manual for details

4TH ANNIVERSARY HALF PRICE SALE
For October 2019 ONLY - just £19.99 (incl)

WHY THE HALF PRICE SALE?
This Program has been a labour of love, and after 4 years of intensive, (almost 7/7) development, I want as many full activated versions 'out there' as possible. Perhaps just 'ego', lol, but hopefully it is my contribution to the AR-DV1 and the hobby.