Add keyword to disable rig mode setting

[dl1jbe]

By Onno VK6FLAB on the mailing list

For some use cases it is preferable to run contest mode independent of rig mode, e.g. keeping the rig in UBS while runiing a CW contest.

As discussed on the ML there should be a keyword which inhibits all mode settings via hamlib from TLF.

[darvark]

Hi, I would like to start working on that ticket.

[zcsahok]

Here is the original mail for the record https://lists.nongnu.org/archive/html/tlf-devel/2021-10/msg00009.html

TLF currently synchronizes with the rig practically only one way, TLF->rig:

• user switches mode with :CW or :SSB (or :DIGI). set_outfreq(SETxxMODE) is called in changepars.c and then processed by gettxinfo.c in the background.
• in case of a band switch the rig's mode is updated in handle_trx_bandswitch().

There is no handling of the rig->TLF direction: mode changes on the rig are not reflected on TLF side. (could be even a bug)

As far as I understood, the idea is to totally decouple TLF's mode (trxmode) from the actual mode of the rig. Looks like suppressing execution of SETxxMODE operations and skipping handle_trx_bandswitch() would be enough.

Any thoughts?

[darvark]

Thank you, sounds clear.

In that case (synchronization tlf->rig) tlf knows that we changed freq/band on rig directly? I thought tlf synchronizes those informations.

[zcsahok]

TLF polls the rig and if a band change is detected, then it sets the operating mode according to trxmode (so it's TLF->rig). There is no rig->TLF synchronization of the mode.

A quick check to see how it works:

1. start TLF in CW mode (default) on 40m
2. rig will be set to CW by TLF
3. staying on 40m change mode to LSB
4. nothing changes on TLF side
5. now switch on the rig to 80m, still in LSB
6. TLF will show the actual frequency, but will instruct the rig to switch to CW

[zcsahok]

IMO before implementing disabling mode setting we shall improve the mode synchronization: in the step 4 above TLF should switch to SSB. In general mode setting shall behave as frequency control: rig updated if it's changed on TLF side and TLF takes over the setting if changed on the rig. This makes working in a mixed contest easier: no need to manually change mode using :SSB/:CW, a key press on rig suffices.

[darvark]

Ok to be clear, you're suggesting that on default settings (follow mode enabled), each time operator change mode on rig side, tlf should change own mode to same as on rig? And that option should be disabled by turning off 'follow mode' or should be independent?

[dl1jbe]

There is no handling of the rig->TLF direction: mode changes on the rig are not reflected on TLF side. (could be even a bug)

I think it just got overlooked before.

IMO before implementing disabling mode setting we shall improve the mode synchronization:

Agreed, mode synchronization should be bidirectional. And disabling should affect both directions at once.

Synchronization enabled will be the normal behavior should be active without a keyword. The keyword should better be named to disable that synchronization.

[darvark]

So generally I should fix (implement) tlf<->rig communication. And manage that functionality with that flag? Just to be sure, currently it works in way that tlf can read state of the rig, but rig can't read in what state is tlf?

[dl1jbe]

Sry, was away.

So generally I should fix (implement) tlf<->rig communication.

It should be done first - by you or by us together.

Just to be sure, currently it works in way that tlf can read state of the rig, but rig can't read in what state is tlf?

Not quite - the rig do not read TLFs settings, TLF has to tell them. All is done in 'gettxinfo()' which regularly does two things:

a) If we commanded any frequency or mode change from TLF it is sent to the rig. b) Otherwise it reads frequency and mode (At the moment only frequency is used).

So switching TLFs trxmode can be done from the read rig state.

[darvark]

THanks, and now I'm confused. Please correct me if I'm wrong, I have to fix reading rig mode, and vary that functionality on param in config.

[dl1jbe]

Please correct me if I'm wrong, I have to fix reading rig mode, and vary that functionality on param in config.

That is the way to do it.

Please have a look at the pull request i prepared for your branch. I did some refactoring to make things more clear:

1. A new function poll_rig_state got pulled out of gettxinfo. The new function is the real core where the rig gets polled by TLF. You can see that the rig mode gets already polled. We need to convert that mode (CW, USB, LSB or whatever) to a recognized state for trxmode (CWMODE, SSBMODE or DIGIMODE) and change the trxmode accordingly.

2. handle_trx_switch() had two jobs: a) set an external switch according to band (e.g. for switching antenna) and b) set the rig into a default mode for band and operating mode. I factored the second part into a separate function.

3. Only the mode setting should be controlled by the follow_mode variable. The band switch should work any time. So the condition got moved accordingly.

For details see the pull request.