SPEExpertAmpTuner PgTgBridge Plugin Version 1.0.9 by N3OC --------------------------------------------------------- SPEExpertAmpTuner PgTgBridge Plugin is a plugin designed to operate with PgTg Bridge by KD4Z and provide functionality for the SPE Expert series of amplifiers. (So far, it has only been tested with 1.5K-FA.) The plugin must be added to the PgTg plugin directory, either manually or by using this installer. After installation, it must be configured with the com port and baud rate (use 115200 for USB) of the SPE Expert amplifier in the PgTg Controller settings menu, then PgTg must be restarted to pickup the changes. Also changing the Tune Carrier Watchdog Timer to 10 seconds in PgTg Settings is recommended. Not every feature of the SPE Expert is supported. The plugin uses the serial APIs made available in the amplifier software by SPE and are mapped by the plugin into similar Elecraft KPA1500 functions. Some APIs do not exist, and those are noted in the known issues section below. This plugin will occupy the USB or serial port to the amplifier, so it is not possible to run the SPE terminal software at the same time that the plugin is running. I am looking into creating a bridge to allow the SPE terminal and this plugin to share the same port to the amplifier, but that is not done yet. In the meanwhile, you will need to use the front panel or shutdown PgTg and use the SPE terminal to configure the amplifier settings, then transfer control over to PgTg. Starting in version 1.0.9, the serial timing constants are exposed so the user can tweak them if needed. They are located in the C:\ProgramData\PgTg\SPEAmpTuner folder. INSTALLATION ------------ The program uses the NSIS installer and just follow the on-screen instructions. The installer will attempt to stop PgTg Bridge, and stop the PgTg service before installing the plugin. The file cannot be written to the plugin directory unless PgTg is completely stopped. After the file is copied, the installer will attempt to restart PgTg. Uninstall will completely remove the plugin and its registry keys, but will not remove PgTg or any other plugins. KNOWN ISSUES ------------ 1. The recommended value to set PgTg PTT watchdog timer to is 10 seconds, which seems to be slightly longer than the longest SPE tune time I have observed. 2. SPE only reports the amplifier power by API. It does not report any separate tuner power values, so the Tuner Genius panel in SmartSDR will show the same RF power as the Power Genius panel. The Power Genius SWR meter will show the amplifier SWR ATU, the SWR the amplifier itself sees. The Tuner Genius SWR meter will show the antenna SWR ANT, the actual SWR of the antenna. 3. Inductor and capacitor values are not reported by the SPE amplifier so the values shown on the SmartSDR Tuner Genius panel will be zero. 4. The Power Genius temperature meter has no awareness of C or F scales, so if your SPE amp is set to report in F, you may go over the maximum meter value of 100. It might be preferable to set your amp to report in C to keep the meter within what it can display, but either way will work. The PgTg meters window has temperature labelled as C, but the number displayed will be whatever temperature scale you have the amp set for. 5. Changing settings with the SET is not supported. Although technically possible, it would become a complex pattern of keypresses done blindly so better done using the front panel or the SPE terminal software with PgTg disconnected. 7. The plugin will attempt to set the amp to the correct band when a frequency change comes in from the Flex using the band up or band down buttons, which was added in case there is no CAT connection. As with all SPE amps, having a CAT connection is preferred. RELEASE HISTORY --------------- 1.0.9 - swapped reflected power meters so SmartSDR tune SWR is correct, moved timing constants to SpeConstants, optimized amp polling timing, implemented JSON file in program data folder for the user to override constants, reduced excessive serial logging causing PgTg log viewer to become unresponsive 1.0.8 - tune complete is now implemented (thanks SPE tech support for sharing additional API info), implemented fast polling during PTT at 200ms interval which was accidentally omitted on first builds 1.0.7 - the plugin will now set the amplifier band when a band change comes down from the Flex when there is no CAT connection to the amp using the band up and band down buttons 1.0.6 - changed Inp to Input in device control panel, updated for PgTg 1030, updated NuGet dependencies 1.0.5 - fixed power off by toggling DTR for one second 1.0.4 - bring in device ID as serial number to populate title of device control panel window 1.0.3 - muted PTT during standby to prevent SmartSDR from toggling operate/standby indicator on each PTT 1.0.2 - updated for PgTg 1014, implemented Fault text reporting upstream to PgTg so it will show in SmartSDR, temporarily masking PTT sent to PgTg until bug fixed where SmartSDR toggles operate/standby indicator on each PTT. 1.0.1 - first working, stable release for PgTg version 1011. SUPPORT ------- Support for third-party plugins is not provided by Warren, KD4Z. You can ask for help on the PgTg Groups.Io group or the PgTg Facebook group. You can also email N3OC at n3oc.brian@gmail.com and I will try to help.