WXforum.net

Weather Station Hardware => Blitzortung => Topic started by: Knorrli on August 16, 2015, 01:21:49 PM

Title: Controller in 'Pout' mode?
Post by: Knorrli on August 16, 2015, 01:21:49 PM
The whole day yesterday my controller was running with very low 'Gain' settings (2x1, 4x1, etc.) My station is at remote location. So I talked to the owner and figured out that the reason for the strong ~44khz signal triggering the throttle back might be her TV right above my h-field antenna. I hoped to confirm that by checking the stats graphs this morning. When checking, my controller was in idle mode and hadn't sent a single signal the whole night. Restarting the controller solved the problem, my controller is happily chirping away again.

My question: Are there any known causes that send the controller into Idle mode; or is this just a controller 'glitch'?

Thanks

Uli
Title: Re: Controller in 'Pout' mode?
Post by: Cutty Sark Sailor on August 21, 2015, 10:55:09 PM
Idle occurs after some (unknown) time frame when signals are sent, but are not 'strokes'... and/or signals are classed as "L" or "LP" as observed on your controllers' 'signals page' OR signals sent ARE NOT twice the noise floor! .. (That is, you're sending signals, but they are "lower than twice the ambient noise level")...  I've not figured that out, for sure  :roll:  there are many things that the developers haven't told us, especially when it comes to server algorithms,... and Egon's not about to divulge some of that. Especially since he's running PCB 18 (BLUE) tests right now.
But I was watching http://sferics.us (http://sferics.us) for awhile tonight, and all three of you Alberta Hockey (antenna) Sticks are doing great!  Looking good! 

One thing that may cure "idle" is to do a 'default' reset, and then enter your 'nominal' 'ambient' settings back into the 'settings'...and save..  you'll have to watch (and reload/refresh) BT site for at least 10 min to see any 'update' on status, however...   at some time, however, your system will come 'out of ' "idle"... regardless of what you do.

Cheers!
Mikw
Title: Re: Controller in 'Pout' mode?
Post by: Knorrli on August 21, 2015, 11:36:03 PM
Thanks Mike,

was 2 or 3 times in Idle mode now, as soon as I rebooted the controller everything was running smoothly again. Now that I (finally) have the E-field antenna up too, I hope this doesn't happen again.

On the Signals page of the controller there appear different letters besides the 'channels', you mentioned L and LP, I have also seen A and S. Is there a key anywhere to what they mean?

Thanks

Uli
Title: Re: Controller in 'Pout' mode?
Post by: Cutty Sark Sailor on August 21, 2015, 11:41:37 PM
On the Controller signals page, :
 L = Signal is below the threshold
 P = Signal is below threshold * adjustable_percentage
 S = Spike detected
 M = Amplitude too high (currently not enabled)
 A = Automatic filter by amplitude
 Filters are always on. If a channel is marked red, then it might not be used for sending. Only if the time above the graph is red, the whole signal won't be sent. Some filter flags like "L" or "A" must be present on all channels for that a signal to be NOT sent ("AND" condition). Other's, like "S" need only one filtered channel, and the whole signal won't be sent.

See http://www.wxforum.net/index.php?topic=22710.0