TRX-Pan

A Panoramic Spectrum Analyser for SDR TRX-Pan is delivered with TRX-Manager (*) ; it is an external program accessible from the TRX-Manager's External submenu. TRX-Pan can work :

- with a Software Defined wideband Receiver (SDR) with I/Q output and a fixed center frequency (like Softrock) or a SDR centered on the IF local frequency of your transceiver controlled via CAT with TRX-Manager (like LP-Pan). In both cases, TRX-Pan provides real-time Spectrum Analysis and interactivity with TRX-Manager via OLE. You need a sound card with a stereo input and TRX-Pan only supports Windows drivers.

- with all recent ICOMs which provide the Waveform data (Protocol CI-V : CMD=27) such as IC-7850/7851/7610/9700/R8600/705...). It can work via TRX-Manager or as a stand alone program with most of the functions required to control the receiver part of your ICOM.

It is fun to use even with an inexpensive Softrock SDR with a limited bandwidth centered in the 40m band connected to an RX antenna while TRX-Manager controls your transceiver on the same band (Warning: disconnect the SDR before keying down !).

TRX-Pan (with and IF Adapter and TRX-Manager) is optimized for Elecraft K3 Yaesu FT-950 and Yaesu FTDX5000 transceivers but can be used with any transceiver supported by TRX-Manager with more limited features (bandwidths are fixed to standard values in that case).

TRX-Pan is a also distributed with LP-Bridge by Larry N8LP (**) and is compatible with N4PY software .

See also : TRX-Pan for LP-Bridge

TRX-Pan with TRX-Manager + LP-Pan + K3 + EMU202
Sample rate is 192kHz, 16bits, Full screen mode
Displays shows Main and SUB VFO + Bandwidths

TRX-Pan has been written by Laurent F6DEX with collaboration/modifications by Larry N8LP. It is delivered "as is" for your enjoyment with this comprehensive documentation . It may be updated in the future.

(*) TRX-Pan V3.0.0 or later requires TRX-Manager V 6.1.2 or later.
(**) LP-Bridge is not required for users of TRX-Manager which provides a specific Synchro mode.

Setting up TRX-Pan

Click the Options button:

Device

You have to select the device you use to display the band scope : A sound card or ICOM

1) Sound card

- TRX-Pan populates the available sound cards. Select the sound card you use.
- Select Sample Rate (S. Rate) according to your sound card. Generally, for a standard sound card, 44100/s (44 kHz display width). Up to 192kHz with some sound cards.
- Reverse I/Q (Left/Right Channels). Reverses the displayed sidebands (same as reversing I & Q audio cables).

2) ICOM

You have to select the way TRX-Pan retrieves the waveform data:

- Serial Port : Select this option to use TRX-Pan as a stand alone program. You need to select 115200 in the CI-V Baud Rate item (ICOM's menu).
- TRX-Manager (OLE) : Select this option to retrieve the waveform data from TRX-Manager throught its OLE component. TRX-Manager (and your ICOM) must be set up with a CI-V Baud Rate of 115200.

CAT Control

You define the mode of control of your transceiver/receiver.

- TRX-Manager if TRX-Manager is running on your computer and set up for any transceiver (K3 excepted). You must Fill in Offset for each mode (except for ICOMs)
- TRX-Manager+K3 if TRX-Manager is running on your computer and set up for a K3 . You must Fill in GlobalOffset if necessary (-6.0 or 0 or...)
- LPBridge If TRX-Manager is not installed on your computer. LP-Bridge allows interactivity between TRX-Pan and various transceivers. You must fill in GlobalOffset. Please note LP-Bridge is not required for users of TRX-Manager which features a specific Synchro mode for interactivity with other software or device.
- N4LP Allows interactivity with N4LP CAT control software
- ICOM : default option if Device=ICOM and if DATA mode is Serial Port (stand alone mode)

ICOM : using TRX-Pan with two disctint serial ports

Some ICOMs have a LAN port. If you configure the ICOM Remote Control utility for LAN communication, a virtual port is created. This port is very fast and can be used by TRX-Pan while your ICOM is simultaneously controlled by TRX-Manager (or an other software). This configuration gives very fast display speeds.

Example: you can configure TRX-Manager for port 12, configure the Remote Control utility for the LAN port and create a virtual port 20. You select: Device = ICOM, Serial Port = 20 and CAT-Control = TRX-Manager ( configured for port 12).

SDR

- LP-Pan (IF Adpter) if you use an IF Adapter (like LP-PAN) connected to the IF output of your transceiver
- SDR Fixed LO it is the case with an SDR like Softrock and a fixed LO

With a sound card

- Sound card resolution : 24bits or 16bits. While 24bits may slightly lower the noise floor, 16bits consumes fewer ressource and, in practice, gives better results (24bits is disabled in this version).
- Apodization : Also called "Windowing" in other SDR apps. Select a filter or none. Apodization smooths the signal trace but increases apparent noise floor. Blackman Nuttall is the more efficient with 16bits. None is preferable with 24bits.
- FFT Bins (Accuracy) : Determines the Resolution Bandwidth (RBW) which is a measure of frequency resolution of the display. 4096 (default) is usually adequate when viewing a large bandwidth at normal screen sizes. More than 16384 bins slows down the display on older PCs. Generally, other software (like PowerSDR) operates with 4096 or 8192 bins. TRX-Pan can be used with up to 65536 bins for excellent frequency resolution when zoomed into narrow spans.
- Smooth 0Hz spike: With high quality sound card (like EMU202), there is no visible spike at 0Hz. This setting is only required with standard sound cards displaying a prominent spike at 0Hz.
- High Res. Zoom : if checked, TRX-Pan automatically adjusts Sample rate to match the current zoom level and to give the best possible resolution (please note some values of sample rate may be NOT supported by your sound card ; this function may be not compatible with the use of other audio applications at the standard sample rate; if you get any error message, please uncheck this option... - Priority:
- Real time (not recommended): By default TRX-Pan uses the Windows's High priority during capture of the data. If Real time is checked, TRX-Pan takes the priority over all other applications during the capture. This may improve synchronization but other applications (and sometime the system itself) may hang up a little.
- Flip I/Q on 6m : Flip I/Q on 6m (K3 and other rigs with a reversed conversion scheme on 6m)
- CW: Flip and USB: Flip : Flip I/Q for CW and USB (vs LSB). Required JUMA TRX2: DC Receiver with Phasing.
- Offset (in KHz) by mode. Compensates for the carrier shift used in the transceiver for SSB and CW modes begtween TX and RX. If you use a K3, these parameters are NOT used since TRX-Manager and LP-Bridge track the K3's IF.
- Global Offset is required for all radios. It corrects for the intentional IF frequency offsets designed into most SDR hardware such as SoftRock or LP-PAN.

With an ICOM

- Serial Port (1-32). Speed is NOT selectable (= 115200 bds, mandatory)
- CI-V address: see the CI-V manual of your ICOM
- Controller address: E0 by default
- Auto REF: Automatically adjust REF level by band (~50 bands from 0 to 3GHz)

Other parameters

- Colors and other display options (Design = preference for the display),
- Band/Mode SW Always (Band/Mode Switch is always visible)
- MAX/AVG Samples allows setting the number of samples for integration of MAXimal/AVeraGe values of the signal (0 = instantaneous). 3 is usually appropriate (2 with ICOMs).
- QSY Detect.: If checked, this option resets integration to zero (MAX/AVG= 0) during QSY to speed up the display.
- MouseWheel and Steps: Mousewheel allows fine frequency adjustements with various steps for each mode

Launch TRX-Pan

Sound card

Connect your SDR to a stereo Audio input of your computer : MIC (if Stereo) or LINE input depending on sound card. Adjust Computer's MIC or LINE gain. For an EMU 0202, recommended gain are:

16 bits 50% (computer) and +12db (9 O'Clock, sound card) for each channel.
24 bits 25% (computer) and +12db (9 O'Clock, sound card) for each channel.

Under Windows 7/8/10 or Vista

If your sound card supports sample rates higher than Windows default (44kHz) (i.e. EMU 0202 supports 96kHz and 192kHz) and since TRX-Pan only supports Windows drivers,you have to configure the Windows recording format accordingly (i.e for the highest sample rate to be used with TRX-pan) otherwise you may be not able to run TRX-Pan using sample rates higher than 44kHz ! ).

Please left click on the Volume icon of the task-bar: a pop-up menu will appear:
- Windows 7/8 : Select the Recording submenu and a new Sound form will pop up.
- Windows 10: Open the Control Panel sound settings.

Please click the Properties button for the device you are using. Select the sound card input and open click the Property panel for the device you are using.

Click the Advanced tab and under Default Format, select the highest sample rate and resolution that you will use with your sound card (typically 24bits/192000Hz for an EMU202); close the sound form. Now, please configure your sound card using the utility provided with your driver (i.e the EMU's control panel) and configure it for the same settings.

Configuring an EMU202 for 192kHz

Click Start to start the analysing and Launch TRX-Manager (if required to control your transceiver).

If you use a fixed reference, a vertical line shows the current frequency of your transceiver. The current frequency is always +/- centered.

Calibration

If necessary, click CAL (Calibration). TRX-Pan resets MAX/AVG/PAK integration to zero during Calibration. Click Close to quit Calibration. Note: To use CAL, TRX-Pan should be actively analysing and should not be in Full Screen mode.

From the Calibration screen, adjust:

Phase and Balance (by using a strong carrier about 10KHz from central frequency) to minimize Image Frequency's level. A rejection of 50 to 60db can be achieved.
Range and Ref until the spectrum fills in the screen, or to set the maximum and minimum levels you want to display (in dBm). TRX-Pan remembers these settings for each band.
Levels to calibrate TRX-Pan for -73dbm=S9. A calibrated generator or simple generator such as the Elecraft XG-2 is required. In the absence of a generator, you can disconnect the antenna, tune the transceiver for 10m, and adjust the levels for a noise floor of about -130dBm to -140dBm with the K3 preamp ON, depending on whether the rig has the buffer mod and/or whether the LP-PAN has the optional preamp. TRX-Pan remembers this setting for each value of FFTBins.

K3 (and TRX-Manager)

The relative position of the Main bandwidth indicator shows the IF Shift value, but the relative position of Sub bandwidth indicator does not follow IF shift since this parameter is not available via CAT. The Sub markers does represent the correct sideband and bandwiths, however.

TRXPan (+K3): automatically ajusts levels according to the state of PREamp and ATTenuator,

YAESU FT-950/5000 (and TRX-Manager)

Main VFO markers represent supported the correct BW and IFShift in SSB/CW/FSK (AM/FM use standard values). However, Sub BW=Main BW by default.

TRX-Pan (and TRX-Manager) with other transceivers

Bandwidth markers use standard values (SSB 2.4kHz, CW/Data=500Hz, AM=6000Hz, FM=12000Hz).

ICOM

From TRX-Pan, click Start and launch TRX-Manager if required. Click STOP to stop the displays (and reduce the resources). The scope is automatically disabled if TRX-Pan is minimized.

Using TRX-Pan

Note

Instructions below may be specific for the use with TRX-Manager (if necessary, please see LPBridge or N4PY helps systems for more information).

Inside of the grids, Left click the display (spectrum) to set up your transceiver... (point-to-click Frequency changes). Right click the display to set up the TX frequency (except ICOM Cat Control mode). When using LP-Bridge, left click changes the VFO A frequency, and right click changes the VFO B frequency, which usually controls the TX frequency when in Split.

MAX/AVG

Allows integration of maximum/average values of the signal for the number of Samples defined in the preferences. PEK (PEAK) freezes the display on maximum values. If QSY Detect is checked (options), integration is disabled (to NOR) during rig tuning. BPH (Background Peak Hold) allows signal peaks beeing displayed in background.

Full screen mode

Click to toggle Full Screen mode. In full screen mode, please type Escape (keyboard) to go back to the normal screen and +/- or Z for zooming or use Left (Zoom) and Right (Screen mode) mouse clicks outside of the grid.

Spot (sound card only)

After tuning to a signal, clicking the spot button will center it in the passband. It is designed mainly for CW and AM, but works pretty well even in SSB. If there are multiple strong signals in the passband, it will center the strongest one.

Peak S-Meter

A peak/S-meter displays values is S points and db above S9.

MouseWheel tuning

Keyboard shortcuts A/B and F/S allows you tuning Main VFO (A) or SUB VFO (B) and choosing Fast Tuning (F=10XStep) or Slow Tuning (S=Normal). Please note mousewheel tuning from TRX-Manager is always faster than from TRX-Pan.

Waterfall

Off, 1/4, 1/2 allows you splitting the screen to your convenience.

Macro buttons

The [...] button (just right to the Stop button, during analysis only) opens the Macro button frame. A right click on a macro button opens the configuration dialog ; please note OFF option allows configuring a toggle with two commands. If Band/Mode SW Always is NOT checked (Options), Band/Mod Switch only appears as you press the [...] button ; otherwise it is always visible below the main frame.

Notes (sound card)

Levels interacts with the sound card input levels. If you experience clipping of the spectrum with strong signals, reduce your sound card level and increase Levels to compensate.
Levels varie according to the number of FFT Bins and sound card resolution. You have to recalibrate TRX-Pan for each value of FFTBins. However TRX-Pan remembers CAL levels for the various settings and Range/Ref for each band.