P25RX-II P25RX-II Firmware Updates / Testing

[btt]

Please test the 11-13_1708 experimental version and report results. A lot is different in this version! There are more changes to come, but I believe this change will be a noticeable improvement to performance. After installing, press the new "Reset To Defaults" button on the advanced tab.

 

[freqseeker]

I installed 13_1708 and tried to reset to defaults. This failed to complete and I had to restart the receiver to get it to work. Tried several times with the same results. I'm not sure if the resets completed. Another lockup I have been having after updates is it will show BLKS 0 and RF Sig -3dBm. This sometimes resets with power reset, but at least once I had to use bootloader mode. This is with Windows 10.

The audio sounds fine so far. I must admit I haven't had a audio decode issue (that I can hear anyway) in any of the recent versions. I listen to pc audio. A few posts back, or maybe in the other thread it looked like it was bluetooth audio that was the issue.

On this version rf sig level peaks a little stronger, but the I/Q symbol plot is now an X where it was 4 dots before. Previous versions EVM was steady at about 3%, this version is all over the place 3-15+% with the EVM turning yellow and red at times. Running for 30 minutes or so audio still seems good, maybe even a little better. Dispatcher and mobile units report broken signal at times so it's difficult to know if it's the system or the receiver.
I will continue monitoring and report. The more I listen, I believe the audio is better even though display says otherwise.

Thank you again for the hard work on a great receiver.

 

[btt]

I installed 13_1708 and tried to reset to defaults. This failed to complete and I had to restart the receiver to get it to work. Tried several times with the same results. I'm not sure if the resets completed. Another lockup I have been having after updates is it will show BLKS 0 and RF Sig -3dBm. This sometimes resets with power reset, but at least once I had to use bootloader mode. This is with Windows 10.

The audio sounds fine so far. I must admit I haven't had a audio decode issue (that I can hear anyway) in any of the recent versions. I listen to pc audio. A few posts back, or maybe in the other thread it looked like it was bluetooth audio that was the issue.

On this version rf sig level peaks a little stronger, but the I/Q symbol plot is now an X where it was 4 dots before. Previous versions EVM was steady at about 3%, this version is all over the place 3-15+% with the EVM turning yellow and red at times. Running for 30 minutes or so audio still seems good, maybe even a little better. Dispatcher and mobile units report broken signal at times so it's difficult to know if it's the system or the receiver.
I will continue monitoring and report. The more I listen, I believe the audio is better even though display says otherwise.

Thank you again for the hard work on a great receiver.

Thank you for the feedback. There are some more changes available in 11-14_0242 based on your feedback (and one other). The higher EVM that you observed makes sense. That should be fixed. If you still see an X, then try increasing the VGA target level. Try 60, 65, 70.

 

[Vermonster]

Confirming similar behavior on "Reset to Defaults" in 0242 as reported by @freqseeker above.
Firmware installs correctly.
Press "Reset to Defaults" and RX-II disconnects and status becomes: discovering device.
Can be fixed by device replug.

Also:
Now seeing return of CC BLKS "0" issue.
As per previous, on my system setting LNA gain to 22 dB provides substantially better signal; traffic too slow this early on Sunday to evaluate impact to voice reception.

 

[btt]

As per previous, on my system setting LNA gain to 22 dB provides substantially better signal; traffic too slow this early on Sunday to evaluate impact to voice reception.

Are you adjusting VGA target to achieve an LNA gain of 22dB or are you making it manual? I should rename VGA target to AGC target now that it controls all of the auto gains. If you are setting it to manual, is that because the auto mode doesn't work well when adjusting the target for optimum levels?

 

[Vermonster]

First: ignore prior comment about DMR BLKS "0"; I failed to notice that the update cleared the frequencies from the DMR tab, but not the control Frequncy from the P25RX Config tab, so I was still receiving the control channel but not registering DMR BLKS. Re-entering frequencies in DMR tab seems to have fixed this.

I am setting LNA Gain manually. I am happy to explore changes to VGA target. Currently that reads -2147 dB. Suggestions for changes to achieve optimal setting?

 

[btt]

I am setting LNA Gain manually. I am happy to explore changes to VGA target. Currently that reads -2147 dB. Suggestions for changes to achieve optimal setting?

Well, obviously -2147 is wrong. That shouldn't happen. I've added some limits to avoid that. The VGA target / step has been renamed to AGC target/step. Starting with a value around 60dB is probably about right. The right value is probably between 50 and 70 dB. A lower value will result in higher gains (more sensitive), a higher value will results in lower gains (better IP3). I'm not sure if I fixed the BLKS=0 issue or not. I will continue updating the firmware today.

 

[Vermonster]

Testing 0654 now.
Note that install hung with fast-slow flashing lights. Required hold button on restart (e.g. unplug device; hold button ~10 seconds then release) while plugging device back in to install.

Testing now. Unsure there will be enough traffic on this Con+ system (Sundary); might have to wait for school buses and corporate shuttles on Monday AM.

 

[Vermonster]

I must not understand something.
LNA gain set to auto, AGC Target = 70 dB, go to signal insights tab and LNA Gain settles on 32 dB
Make no changes, just re-write configuration
Go back to signal insights tab and now LNA Gain is reading AUTO.

I can find no value for AGC Target between 50 - 70 that produces equivalent reception to setting LNA gain manually to 22 dB. At that setting, I get RF sig level graph showing into the orange, DMR BLKS >30 and EVM consistently 8%-12%
The only AGC Target setting that produces something close to equivalent reception to LNA manually at 22 dB, is setting AGC target at 74-76. When (and it's not always) I get a readout other than "AUTO" for LNA gain on the signal insights tab, the LNA Gain has settled on 16-18 dB.

 

[btt]

11-14_1018 should show the gains (not auto) when you set the target to ~75.

 

[kb8q]

I've been listening today for over 5 hours with version **13_1708 and now **14_0907. In my fixed location, I think the audio is the best yet.

 

[Vermonster]

Testing 1028 now.
Note that "Reset to Defaults" results in lost connection to device (e.g. shows discovering device). Unplug/re-plug allows reconnection.

DMR BLKS_PER_SEC 0 problem is back

I don't have a ton of time to devote to evaluation this afternoon, but it seems to me that changes on Advanced tab are not always implemented. For example, I was seeing strange behavior with LNA gain set to AUTO and varying AGC Target. So I changed LNA gain manually to 22. However, when I go to signal insights tab, LNA gain does not read 22, it varies between 14-16; and EVM% is poor; which leads me to believe it is still using the AUTO LNA gain setting. Unplug/re-plug device with attempted write of LNA gain manual at 22 does not fix.

 

[freqseeker]

On 11-14_1028 I have VGA target set to 60. Like @Vermonster I still have the reset to defaults issue, so I'm not sure the other settings are taking.
I still have the X occasionally in I/Q Plot, but not bad. EVM is between 2-3%. Audio seems good.
We are having a pineapple express weather system (high winds, tons of rain, and unusually warm 63°). This may cause reception issues on this 700 P2 system.

 

[btt]

Testing 1028 now.
Note that "Reset to Defaults" results in lost connection to device (e.g. shows discovering device). Unplug/re-plug allows reconnection.

DMR BLKS_PER_SEC 0 problem is back

I don't have a ton of time to devote to evaluation this afternoon, but it seems to me that changes on Advanced tab are not always implemented. For example, I was seeing strange behavior with LNA gain set to AUTO and varying AGC Target. So I changed LNA gain manually to 22. However, when I go to signal insights tab, LNA gain does not read 22, it varies between 14-16; and EVM% is poor; which leads me to believe it is still using the AUTO LNA gain setting. Unplug/re-plug device with attempted write of LNA gain manual at 22 does not fix.

Yes, I'm trying to work out the auto-gain settings / AGC, so this version does override a bunch of settings including the auto-gain modes. Thanks for checking it out.

On 11-14_1028 I have VGA target set to 60. Like @Vermonster I still have the reset to defaults issue, so I'm not sure the other settings are taking.
I still have the X occasionally in I/Q Plot, but not bad. EVM is between 2-3%. Audio seems good.
We are having a pineapple express weather system (high winds, tons of rain, and unusually warm 63°). This may cause reception issues on this 700 P2 system.

Thank you for testing and reporting again today.
----------------------
Just got back from testing a version not uploaded yet. It has very slow-moving gain control. For the most part, it worked very well. It should be a good configuration for collecting IQ samples. I'll post in this thread again when I have the ability to record samples added. Thank you.

 

[MStep]

Hi to all at to the guys at BTT--- been following the thread and keeping an eye on the availability page. Seems over the past few weeks, there has been a lot of tweaking and tinkering with the firmware. Got extra funds available today and just wondering aloud if the guys who are also playing with the SDS200 are finding significant differences with the BTT or if I should just commit to another SDS for the time being. Thoughts either here or in PM appreciated.

I am still setting additional funds aside for the BTT device. I wish the guys continued luck in their endeavor and hope more units will be forthcoming.

 

[btt]

Hi to all at to the guys at BTT--- been following the thread and keeping an eye on the availability page. Seems over the past few weeks, there has been a lot of tweaking and tinkering with the firmware. Got extra funds available today and just wondering aloud if the guys who are also playing with the SDS200 are finding significant differences with the BTT or if I should just commit to another SDS for the time being. Thoughts either here or in PM appreciated.

I am still setting additional funds aside for the BTT device. I wish the guys continued luck in their endeavor and hope more units will be forthcoming.

I'm trying to take care of the people who are having some issues in their area. I'm only one person, so I have to switch modes of operation. I'm trying to get the firmware to a working state for everyone, so I haven't been able to sell many receivers for the past 2-3 weeks. I hope that my efforts this week will pay off so I can get back to assembling and selling hardware. I realize this doesn't address your questions, but maybe gives you a better idea of what is happening.

 

[btt]

There is a new version available with the ability to write IQ files on the advanced page. You may find this version works really good in a fixed location. I'm hoping this will help me help those having an issue. Get it working good as you can before you save the I/Q file, then go to the advanced page and press <save iq>. The file created will be around 5 MB and only a few seconds worth. You may want to send multiple files. The audio, displays, and console will not output anything while the file is being recorded.

 

[MStep]

I'm trying to take care of the people who are having some issues in their area. I'm only one person, so I have to switch modes of operation. I'm trying to get the firmware to a working state for everyone, so I haven't been able to sell many receivers for the past 2-3 weeks. I hope that my efforts this week will pay off so I can get back to assembling and selling hardware. I realize this doesn't address your questions, but maybe gives you a better idea of what is happening.

Yes, I appreciate your candor. You've made such an impression here that for some reason I thought it was two or three guys working on the project, and not one guy wearing three or four different hats. In any event, continued luck and will keep my eye on that BTT homepage.

 

[btt]

I should make a video of it, but I'll describe for now. With the new auto-gain control, monitoring the spectrum of the channel via the I/Q output looks very good! Using an HP signal generator, the spectrum is very clean and rock solid from -136 dBm to +22 dBm. No distortion. Very solid I/Q output as the step-attenuator switches. The latest version (11-14_1608) is working very well.

 

[Vermonster]

I know Con+ systems in the 900mhz range are not the focus of a lot of users. I am at the fringes of reception for this system, but generally capture all calls using an SDR dongle and DSD+ FL.
With that preface, here's some feedback.

Prior experience tells me that a manually set LNA gain of 22 dB results in best possible reception on this particular Con+ system.
This morning I've been working with the AGC target setting on the advanced tab, and monitoring the LNA gain readout on the Signal Insights tab. From prior experience I also watch the DMR BLKS_PER_SEC reading as I know it needs to remain above 30 for reliable voice reception. Also watch EVM% as I want to see this in the single digits during voice calls or reception is choppy.

Initial default AGC target = 65. This results in an LNA gain of 32 dB and very poor reception (control channel is often lost).
Slowly increasing AGC target and at 75 I start to have OK, but not great reception (control channel reception, but 20% of voice calls not received).
Increase AGC target to 76 on Advanced tab, results in AGC target actual reading of 71-73 dB, and LNA gain reading of 32 dB
Increase AGC target to 77 on Advanced tab, results in AGC target actual reading of 72-74 dB, and LNA gain reading of 26-28 dB; voice call reception is good, but not quite equal to DSD+FL dongle
Increase AGC target to 78 on Advanced tab, results in AGC target actual reading of 80-82 dB, and LNA gain reading of 2 dB (Not a typo, 2); control channel reception is completely lost.

Also, after trying various AUTO settings, I attempted to write manual LNA gain of 22 dB. Setting did not take and appeared to be using last AUTO/AGC target setting. So I closed software, unplugged/re-plugged RX-II. Advanced tab reads my desired LNA gain 22 dB, but signal insights now reads AGC target: ~80 dB and LNA gain of 2-6 dB (varied after restart several times). I also tried using "reset to defaults" (and unplug/re-plug) and this also does not get the manual LNA gain to take. At present I can't find a way to set LNA gain to manual. (Did not try button hold restart yet). Written AGC targets do appear to take.

I have come close, but have not quite found a setting that equals manually setting LNA gain to 22 dB on this system.

A note for others trying to optimize AGC target setting, you need to allow the system to run for several minutes (maybe even 5-10) to allow eventual settling of LNA gain.

@btt , let me know if you want some samples. I understand Con+ is not a priority...and honestly performance is so good on manual LNA = 22 dB I have no complaints.