Bob S Meter

[w9ac]

Anyone have a step-by-step setup writeup for the Bob S Meter?

Paul, W9AC

[w-u-2-o]

I don't have a step by step guide, don't I even have Bob S-meter, but step number one is to install virtual serial port software and create a virtual port pair.

I like Eterlogic VSPE but could not find a good Youtube video for it. com0com is very similar so here is a video for that. Once you get a virtual port pair set up the rest is a snap.

[w9ac]

Thanks Scott. I'm seeing info that DDUtil is also needed -- which I have. But if that's true, I'm not sure I want to go through the extra hassle for the added eye candy. It does, however, look kinda' nice on the screen.

Paul, W9AC

[ea3aqr]

No DDUtil needed, just a virtual serial port...

[PD3LK]

Hello, does anyone have a download link to Bob's S-Meter version that works with Thetis?
As i remember, from a long time ago, i could not get it to work but at that time i was maybe trying a wrong version.
(the frequency indicator worked but the needle not)

(i'm aware one needs a vsp) Many thanks in advance.

[I4LEC]

I do confirm the need of just the virtual serial port, see my settings on the below link

73, Clay

https://drive.google.com/file/d/11ylpk1 ... sp=sharing

[PD3LK]

Ahhh you are using a different version i see, mine is 1.6 but i suspect that one will only work with PowerSDR.
Would you be so kind to share your version?

[w-u-2-o]

Yes, don't overcomplicate it. One serial port pair is all you need, and if you've already got DDUtil installed and running then you already have virtual serial port software installed and running.

The requirement for DDUtil is a reference to the old, legacy Flex version of PowerSDR, which only supported a single CAT connection at a time. So if you wanted to have multiple CAT connections you had to use DDUtil. Since PowerSDR mRX and Thetis both support up to four CAT connections you can easily dedicate one to Bob's Meter.

That said, I never understood the attraction of Bob's Meter. It's a fun gadget, I guess.

[rbduck]

Ahhh you are using a different version i see, mine is 1.6 but i suspect that one will only work with PowerSDR.
Would you be so kind to share your version?

Where is version 1.6 of the meter available?

[I4LEC]

The version I am using is called Smart S meter, meat for the Signature Series, as long as you create a pair of virtual com, it does work on all applications, as per Bob S meter.

To answer Scott's question, I keep Thetis meter on average (to read the band noise level), while the other reads the peak

73, Clay

[PD3LK]

I think better forget that 1.6 version, someone in a forum called it 1.6 but i suspect it was just a variant for SmartSDR.
But... i did found the version for Flex that works on Thetis too
As far as i know now, there are 3 variants, the other one is for Perseus. All 3 are attached.

[PD3LK]

The skins of the Flex/Thetis meter

[DH1KLM]

I have some Woodbox Meters successfully running with Thetis and PowerSDR.
Of course I don't have them all in operation at the same time. But it is possible.

Sigi / DH1KLM

woodbox.jpg (640.07 KiB) Viewed 20878 times

[PD3LK]

There's always a boss of bosses lol
The T-Mate+ and FX-Pad only works when you have a T-Mate controller?

[DH1KLM]

FxPad and TmatePlus are working in their each latest version without Tmate controller.
FxPad is displayed on the USB mini touchscreen monitor recommended by Woodbox.
But Woodboxradio is out of business since end 2016 and no more licences can be acquired.
I have tried everything, to get licences, sadly to no avail. Years ago I wrote to Beppe/IK3VIG and Vittorio/IK4IRO,
but there is nothing they could do. So I decided to get some changes done.

IMG_20210129_132813.jpg (164.1 KiB) Viewed 20854 times

[w-u-2-o]

Isn't Woodbox out of business?

[DH1KLM]

Yes it is, I added some text to my post.

[w-u-2-o]

So what do you mean by "get some changes done"?

Can you make these versions available? If Woodbox has abandoned their business is there any need for "licenses"?

[DH1KLM]

Unfortunately the software is working with a timelimit (14 days or something like that) if no licensekey is entered.
In addition, the license key is linked to the serial number of the respective Flexradio.
FxPad and TmatePlus has been changed so that no serial number or license key is required.
I don't know if this can cause licensing issues after Woodboxradio is out of business.
Maybe the author's rights were not disposed of. Perhaps the closing of Woodboxradio does not affect the author's rights at all.

[w9ac]

Thanks to all for confirming that DDUtil not required. I do have VSP and use it for various CAT functions in Thetis.

Paul, W9AC

[w9ac]

"One serial port pair is all you need, and if you've already got DDUtil installed and running then you already have virtual serial port software installed and running."

I see from DH1KLM's print screen, that he has two virtual ports assigned for Bob S Meter. Is the second port required or perhaps the second is assigned for use with a another transceiver? I also see what looks like multiple instances running. So, perhaps that's why.

Paul, W9AC

[DH1KLM]

This is the way it works.
Virtual Comports are building a pair. So one port has to be setup in Thetis and the other port has to be setup in Bobmeter.

You have to think of it like a cable with a plug on each end. One connector is COM3 and the other connector is COM4.
COM3 "is" in Thetis COM4 "is" in Bobmeter.

The multiple instances you see are a result of having four different meters connected to Thetis at once.

[w9ac]

"One serial port pair is all you need, and if you've already got DDUtil installed and running then you already have virtual serial port software installed and running."

I see from DH1KLM's print screen, that he has two virtual ports assigned for Bob S Meter. Is the second port required or perhaps the second is assigned for use with a another transceiver? I also see what looks like multiple instances running. So, perhaps that's why.

Paul, W9AC

OK, running great with just one virtual port. Thanks to everyone for their suggestions.

Paul, W9AC

[w9ac]

Scott likely has an answer to this: How does Thetis know to port S meter data to the assigned CAT+ port? I am using CAT2 with default settings but nowhere have I directed S meter data to the assigned port. It seems almost too magical to be true!

Paul, W9AC

[DH1KLM]

It is not necessary to instruct Thetis to specifically send the S-Meter data to a specific port.
As soon as a virtual port is set up, all possible CAT commands can be set or read via this port.

Bobmeter constantly starts queries to Thetis at millisecond intervals with the CAT command ZZSM.
Thetis then sends the read value back to Bobmeter.

This and much more is done via the CAT commands.
https://github.com/TAPR/OpenHPSDR-Theti ... ide-V3.pdf

[w9ac]

It is not necessary to instruct Thetis to specifically send the S-Meter data to a specific port.
As soon as a virtual port is set up, all possible CAT commands can be set or read via this port.

Bobmeter constantly starts queries to Thetis at millisecond intervals with the CAT command ZZSM.
Thetis then sends the read value back to Bobmeter.

This and much more is done via the CAT commands.
https://github.com/TAPR/OpenHPSDR-Theti ... ide-V3.pdf

Sigi, Thank you for the detailed explanation. I didn't realize the extent of the automated connection. Very interesting.

Paul, W9AC

[DH1KLM]

I should have written: It is not necessary that you have to instruct Thetis to specifically send the S-Meter data...
Of course, Thetis needs to know what to broadcast, and in this case, Bobmeter will arrange for it.

[PD3LK]

Hi Sigi, i do have FX-Pad, the downloaded version 1.003 includes even the .lic file, but as soon as the program starts it freezes. Can only kill it with Program Manager. I tried different compatability settings without luck. I'm running the most recent version of Win10 64b. Do you have a suggestion?

btw I also have v1 (without a lic file) but that one says it is expired.

[DH1KLM]

Probably won't work.
Assuming that your Virtual Com ports are set up.
Rename the .lic file. Start FxPad without running Thetis. FxPad now should run in trial mode (maybe trial period is over).
If this is working, close FxPad, rename your .lic file back to fxpad.lic. Start FxPad again without running Thetis.
It should startup correct and show the "License info" in Setup/About. In Setup/Info now all fields should be populated with license informations (assume the radio model is a flex 1500 ). The "Radio" is blanked out.
Do not stop FxPad.
Start Thetis, go to Setup/CAT Control, in ZZSN field enter the serial number which is shown in FxPad/Setup/Info,
click Apply and OK in Thetis. In FxPad/Setup go to CAT, click Check for PowerSDR, PowerSDR active on Port: (your port) should appear. And now the strange thing happens. FxPad/Setup/Info now shows Radio flex5000 although the serial number is for a flex1500, flex5000 is displayed here and license type is expired for that reason.
Either something is wrong with the .lic file, or FxPad interprets the flex1500 serial number incorrectly.
So no joy with this .lic file.

Are you willing to test this procedure with the older FxPad V1 software? Maybe the .lic is working there.

FYI: Regardless of whether you enter a serial number of Flex1500 / 3000/5000 in Thetis, 5000 is always displayed as the radio type in FxPAd. The exception is ZZSN 0000-0000. This leads FxPad to show demo mode as radio type.

[PD3LK]

Thanks for your help Sigi!, but sadly no luck.
FXPad is no longer freezing after i cleaned the registry from all FXPad rules.
Followed your guidelines exactly but FXPad can't find PowerSDR (ZZSN field and virt serial port setting are ok, see picture)
I tried both versions but i think the .lic file was made with/for a Flex1500.
I suspect FXPad is not only searching for the correct serial number but also for the correct radio model, so i give up unless someone has a sollution or want's to share a working .lic file for Thetis.
Demo (0000-0000) does work but there's not much you can do. The only other thing left is brute force ZZSN numbers in the hope there's a backdoor