v1.403: colormap improvements, multiple DRM schedule databases
The new DRM schedule database from drmrx.org is preliminary. Chris and I working on reorganizing the entries.
DRM tip: while listening to R. Kuwait 15110 I got left-ear-only audio (while using headphones). You can duplicate the left channel audio on the right via the pan control on the audio tab (e.g. set it to "50 R").
The new "SdrDx" colormap from the project by the same name is worth trying.
The new aperture auto mode is now the default and will hopefully lead to better looking waterfalls in people's Twitter posts and YouTube videos.
The "colormap designer" is more of a toy for now. It needs more features to be really useful. Screenshot at the end of this post.
From the CHANGE_LOG file:
Attachments:
https://forum.kiwisdr.com/uploads/Uploader/0b/946e262661fd55d95ff27a16b7f975.png
https://forum.kiwisdr.com/uploads/Uploader/aa/964687c01992d9f7fc8c2203e9b1c1.png
DRM tip: while listening to R. Kuwait 15110 I got left-ear-only audio (while using headphones). You can duplicate the left channel audio on the right via the pan control on the audio tab (e.g. set it to "50 R").
The new "SdrDx" colormap from the project by the same name is worth trying.
The new aperture auto mode is now the default and will hopefully lead to better looking waterfalls in people's Twitter posts and YouTube videos.
The "colormap designer" is more of a toy for now. It needs more features to be really useful. Screenshot at the end of this post.
From the CHANGE_LOG file:
v1.403 September 17, 2020
DRM extension:
Added schedule database selection menu. Includes database from drmrx.org
Waterfall/spectrum/colormap improvements:
New terminology, colormap "aperture" (what the WF max/min controls really define).
A colormap spectrum bar now appears above the WF sliders.
It is similar to the bar that appear on the right of the spectrum display.
It changes as you adjust WF max/min in manual aperture mode or automatically
in auto aperture mode (see next). Markers appear at the WF max/min points
whereas the bar itself covers a fixed -140 to -25 dBm.
Added aperture auto mode to existing manual and one-shot (auto-scale button) modes.
On the main control panel WF tab there is a new menu "aperture".
*** Auto mode is the new default, but the choice is saved across page reloads.
This is designed to help always keep the waterfall dynamic range optimal
for folks who never get around to learning how to use the WF max/min
sliders or even the "auto-scale" button.
In auto mode the WF max/min sliders become WF ceil(ceiling)/floor.
This is the amount of "headroom" to create above and below the
automatically calculated WF max/min values.
Added colormap control extension consisting of two parts:
1) Aperture auto mode controls.
The averaging algorithm/parameter choices are the same as for the
waterfall and spectrum averaging (on the WF tab of main control panel).
When in auto mode the calculated max/min values are shown, those that are
computed plus the selected floor/ceiling headroom.
In auto mode the "auto scale" button on the main control panel lights up
to remind you that auto mode is in effect.
When auto mode averaging is turned off the max/min values are only
recalculated when the waterfall zoom, pan or center frequency changes.
2) A "colormap designer" for creating custom colormaps.
A work-in-progress. The details of this will probably change.
Added new colormap from the SdrDx project.
Admin interface:
Disallow public listing unless at least one password-less channel is available.
Warn about creating URL redirect cycles.
Display UTC/local time on admin status page.
Use string hashing for faster API command decoding.
Many other bug fixes. As usual see the Github commit log.
Attachments:
https://forum.kiwisdr.com/uploads/Uploader/0b/946e262661fd55d95ff27a16b7f975.png
https://forum.kiwisdr.com/uploads/Uploader/aa/964687c01992d9f7fc8c2203e9b1c1.png
Comments
I think it promises to answer the question of "what does one do with hours of extra time during covid?". There's no doubt a solution it can provide that will require me to spend a lot of time figuring out what I really want to see. Maybe an artist will emerge from this group that can come up with just the right solution and save me from all that right-brain activity ( I know, it's just a theory...).
Glenn n6gn
As you say Glenn a new hobby has been invented.
"I shall be in my room composing waterfalls"
Stu
- Freehand ("points") mode is tedious, but if you make a mistake or want to refine you can go over just a portion of the x-axis without disturbing the rest. Don't forget about the gain control. Redrawing is best done with gain returned to 1.0 before proceeding.
- Try "lines" mode for better control. Multiple segments will be chained together as you draw. Terminate line drawing by pressing the escape key once. If you press escape again its usual function will apply and the extension will be closed! You can mix and match points and line mode, use a line segment(s) on only part of the x-axis etc.
- Enter a zero/max value by mousing into, and perhaps across, the light-gray bezel surrounding the drawing area. Similarly by mousing into the left and right bezel areas. E.g. to zero red completely draw a line (or points mode) across the entire top bezel.
- The four colormap are saved across page loads but are unfortunately tied to each Kiwi visited (each unique URL). This will change when user parameters are finally available (how many times have I said this).
- The tool is inspired by the old BaudLine application which has mathematical functions, color space manipulation and much more compared to the simple drawing here. I also like the simpler colormap definition tool used by SdrDx. It allows a simple file to be uploaded that essentially defines the line mode segments. Interesting colormaps could be shared this way.
About aperture automode: There are all kinds of glitches when you switch back-and-forth between manual and auto modes, and under other circumstances. I know all about them so no need to complain. I thought it was better to get something out there sooner rather than later.I've wanted to to get a theme that works under F-Lux for a while as I darken the screen toward sunset and as result the waterfall gets less distinct, I'm getting there.
I've also gone inverted waterfall with some success but it almost calls out for a single line option, chose Colour1:Colour2 and then just define the gradient.
The aperture menu setting will be retained across page reloads.
I have already done this very often at various KIWIs. The color (max+min) is not retained and always changes to completely different values. There must be a problem somewhere ... It doesn't work.
However aperture = "auto" will still be the new default. Once you set it back to "man" (manual) that change will stick. But with the bug fixed your old WF max/min settings used in manual mode will not be incorrectly changed by auto mode.
Speaking of user settings, is there a way to save the bandwidth settings for the various modes (AM, etc)? For example, I prefer to keep the AM bandwidth down around +/- 2.8 kHz or so vs the 5 kHz default, as I spend most of my time outside of the SWBC bands. I'll set it, but then when I come back to my Kiwi, it's at +/-5 kHz again.
Many thanks
John B
Seriously, many thanks indeed for that, I hadn't realised how much easier it made things for me when using the Kiwis!