MIDI Control Button to Toggle Xmit RF Drive

[N7KD]

I am not a terribly adept MIDI user. I have watched really good Youtube video posted by WU2O about programming a Hercules MIDI controller to work with PowerSDR and assume the technique demonstrated there also applies to programming that MIDI Controller in a Thetis environment.

I am trying to see if anyone knows if it is possible to use a button on a MIDI controller such as the Hercules to set the RF Drive to a specific value (e.g., 40%) when my amplifier is enabled. I have used FRStack in the past with a Flex radio and PGXL amplifier to automatically limit the exciter output to 40W the amp is keyed and I want a simply way to do this (albeit manually) with a MIDI controller talking toThetis.

I know that a MIDI controller slider, knob, or wheel can be used to control Drive but does anyone know if a button in a MIDI controller can be used as an on/off toggle to set the Drive in Thetis to a fixed drive such as 35 or 40 when the amp is enabled so as not to overdrive it and back to 100% when the amp is in standby?

[NC3Z]

Not sure there is a way with Midi but the way I do this is via a StreamDeck button. But that is just making a command line/batch file call (via Serial or TCP/IP) to set the drive level.

[w-u-2-o]

Thanks for the kind words

It's pretty much the same in Thetis. There have been some improvements since PowerSDR but nothing that should prevent you from using the principles shown in the old video.

AFAIK, there are no MIDI mappings for "set power to a certain level". You can, of course, program a drive knob or slider, but no "presets".

These days there are a lot of insanely cheap stream controllers.

It would not be difficult to buy one and set it up next to your MIDI controller to do all the things MIDI can't do but that are otherwise supported by scripting the stream controller buttons to generate one or more CAT commands. With CAT commands the sky is the limit. You can practically do anything the radio is capable of doing.

However, scripting stream controller buttons and becoming knowledgeable about CAT commands is, obviously, quite a bit more work than simply using MIDI.

[NC3Z]

However, scripting stream controller buttons and becoming knowledgeable about CAT commands is, obviously, quite a bit more work than simply using MIDI.

We are not your average midi users, we are HAMS!

[NC3Z]

BTW, Streamdeck will also do a lot of Midi emulation also. My decks with Thetis use a combo of Midi (knobs and buttons) and TCP/IP CAT.

Knob:
VFO A and B
Volume
Zoom

Buttons:
Preset power levels
memories
AGC (Auto vs fixed)
Tune
2Tone
Tune step
Voice keyer
recorder
The list goes on.

[N7KD]

AFAIK, there are no MIDI mappings for "set power to a certain level". You can, of course, program a drive knob or slider, but no "presets".

I noticed in the WU2O video that when programming a button on the controller the min and max values are set to 0 and 127 as the button is toggled on and off. 40% of 127 (7Fh) is appx. 51 (33h). While this is easy for me to say it seems logical that allowing the substitution of 51 or 33h for the 0 min would do the trick when programming a button to 40% level, but that would require MIDI programming in Thetis settings that is obviously way beyond my pay grade if it would even work at all. Maybe I am just daydreaming.

Thanks for the Streamdeck etc. suggestions from others!

[ramdor]

Very easy to do using Bome Midi Translator.

https://youtu.be/dvSnxrlhWQs

[w-u-2-o]

Nice job there, Richie!

Even more interesting is that Bome MIDI Translator can produce an output in the form of activating a script, such as those commonly used with stream boxes, or direct to serial. That way a MIDI device can be used to produce any combination of single or multiple CAT commands desired.

The Bome product does cost $70USD, though.

[N7KD]

I am trying to program a Hercules DJControl Impulse 200 Mk2 in the MIDI Setup running Thetis v2.10.3.6. Buttons program perfectly to toggle functions on and off. I even got the button lights to work.

When I programmed the large wheel to change VFO frequency, turning the wheel results in a very slow moving of the passband that continues even after I stop turning the wheel. Not useful at all.

When trying to program both knobs and sliders I move a knob or slider and the MIDI Controller Setup window freaks out and the Available Commands window flashes rapidly for several seconds while the control type window changes values by itself at the same flashing speed, after which random min and max values (e.g. both min and max = 127) are displayed.

Does anyone know what is going on here?

[N7KD]

Activating the Checkbox "Ignore 14 bit messages" in the MIDI Configuration Setup Window fixes the freaking out while trying to program. The knobs and sliders now program as expected.

Still experiencing unsatisfactory behavior with configuring the Hercules large wheel to change VFO A Freq. In the WU2O video the bandpass moves very responsively left to right when the wheel is rotated while the endpoints of the frequency spectrum remain fixed. My bandpass stays in the center while the frequency spectrum shifts left to right. The worst part is the delay between wheel rotation and frequency change and the slow frequency change. Information from someone who knows how to fix this would be appreciated.

[w-u-2-o]

In the WU2O video the bandpass moves very responsively left to right when the wheel is rotated while the endpoints of the frequency spectrum remain fixed. My bandpass stays in the center while the frequency spectrum shifts left to right.

That's an easy fix Activate CTUN on the main console. I love CTUN, for me it provides much better "situational awareness". Station X is over there, station Y over there, and so on. They don't move, I move to them. When I want to make a major shift in the spectral display I grab the frequency bar at the top and move it left or right.

There are also a gazillion tuning behaviors and adjustments that can be set in Setup > General > Options > Options-1 > Miscellaneous. Far too many to describe, roll over the checkboxes and read the tooltips, then experiment!

The worst part is the delay between wheel rotation and frequency change and the slow frequency change. Information from someone who knows how to fix this would be appreciated.

First and foremost, you need to adjust the tune step to something that works for you. I find anything less than 50 Hz is too slow. However, if you are a CW op, that might be a bit too much.

Second, I programmed a couple of the buttons right next to my VFO A wheel for "Increase wheel rotation per VFO step" and "Decrease wheel rotation per VFO step". This will allow you to move between the Min and Max on the MIDI Wheel updates/step settings. I use 1 and 10 for Min and Max.

Obviously YMMV, you need to adjust to taste for your particular needs and desires.

[N7KD]

Thanks for the CTUN fix. I agree that it is much more intuitive.

The wheel rotation is a little better after increasing the tuning step size but is still a bit squirrelly. It sometimes does not respond at all, sometimes does not respond a second time if the wheel is rotated shortly after a first rotation and sometimes the frequency keeps changing for a second or two after the wheel rotation has stopped. At this point mouse wheel rotation is far superior for changing frequency.