[WT-support] Rotator Control enhancements

[dl2alf]

Hi Bob,

 

tnx for instant response.

Yes, we know about the Ctrl+F12 function and we are using this extensively.

 

But on VHF+ it is often necessary to adjust the antenna +/- some few degrees for best signals.

Therefore having the enhancements mentioned below would be great.

 

Nevertheless, typing the azimuth directly into the call sign field is a nice feature I haven’t discovered yet J

 

73 de Frank, DL2ALF

 

 

Von: support [mailto:support-bounces at win-test.com] Im Auftrag von Bob Wilson, N6TV
Gesendet: Montag, 13. März 2023 00:53
An: Win-Test support mailing list
Betreff: Re: [WT-support] Rotator Control enhancements

 

On Sun, Mar 12, 2023 at 2:35 PM dl2alf <dl2alf at arcor.de> wrote:

I was playing around with Win-Test’s rotator features in order to get it working with arbitrary software for controlling our VHF-/UHF-/SHF-contest station @DK0NA.

Success so far but some questions and wishes for enhancement came up immediately J:

 

1)      Rotator control steps of 15°/45° are far too much for VHF & up. I suppose it is hardcoded. Is there any way to make this configurable?

If using Win-Test, you can type any beam heading or DX prefix or full callsign into the logging window and press Ctrl-F12 to rotate to that exact heading (short path).  Use Alt-F12 to rotate to the long path heading.

2)      To have the current azimuth and control commands via LUA scripting interface would be nice. This would allow to overcome 1), redefining keys for commands and other features. Is there any way to implement this?

No real need for this since it's built-in to Win-Test already, just press Ctrl-F12:  https://docs.win-test.com/wiki/Rotators

 

A script can type into the logging Window and Press F12 too:

 

-- Turn beam to 350 degrees short path 

if wtQso:IsCurrentFieldCallsign() then

   -- Clear the callsign field

   wtApp:SendKey("W", WT_KEY_CTRL)

   -- Enter beam heading 350

   wtApp:SendKey("350", WT_KEY_NONE)

   -- Send Ctrl-F12 to rotate to the beam heading

   wtApp:SendFKey("F12", WT_KEY_CTRL)

   -- Clear the callsign field

   wtApp:SendKey("W", WT_KEY_CTRL)

end

 

3)      Elevation control would be a nice feature too but would require more efforts I believe…

 

You should probably use PstRotator, which is a Win-Test-compatible substitute that has many more features than wtRotators.  wtRotators hasn't really been enhanced since F5MZN stopped working on Win-Test code many years ago.

 

http://www.pstrotator.com/

 

73,

Bob, N6TV 

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