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W2 serial command questions

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Pierfrancesco Caci

W2 serial command questions

Hello,
I'm playing with the serial commands for the W2 wattmeter.
First question, how often can I poll it? My main loop polls for status,
forward, reverse and swr, then waits for a keypress for 0.2 seconds.
Is it safe to reduce to 0.1 s?
Then, in the output of the 'i' command, bytes 2 and 8 seem to have the
same info, except that 8 also tells me if there's no sensor connected at
all. So, what's the purpose of byte 2?
The manual says that command 'c' would respond with 'c;' if alarm was
not active. Instead, I only get ';'. Looks like a bug in the manual?
Sometimes, one single 'c' is not enough to clear the alarm, I have to
repeat the command.
And about the alarm, the owner's manual says:
"The SWR Alarm function must be enabled each time the W2 power is turned
on."
Instead, I see that it starts in Alarm ON mode. I can see this by
tripping it, and also the first 'a' command will report 'a0', which
means the alarm has been deactivated. Am I misunderstanding the manual?

Thanks

Pf

--
Pierfrancesco Caci, ik5pvx
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Vic Rosenthal

Re: W2 serial command questions

I spoke to an Elecraft employee about bugs in the W2, and he confirmed
that there are a number of them and that they are planning to come out
with a new version of the firmware at some point (I don't want to say
'real soon now').

The manual IS incorrect about the alarm needing to be turned on each
time you power on. In a previous firmware update they made it 'sticky'
so that once you enable it, it stays enabled until you turn it off.

On 1/19/2014 7:20 AM, Pierfrancesco Caci wrote:

>
> Hello,
> I'm playing with the serial commands for the W2 wattmeter.
> First question, how often can I poll it? My main loop polls for status,
> forward, reverse and swr, then waits for a keypress for 0.2 seconds.
> Is it safe to reduce to 0.1 s?
> Then, in the output of the 'i' command, bytes 2 and 8 seem to have the
> same info, except that 8 also tells me if there's no sensor connected at
> all. So, what's the purpose of byte 2?
> The manual says that command 'c' would respond with 'c;' if alarm was
> not active. Instead, I only get ';'. Looks like a bug in the manual?
> Sometimes, one single 'c' is not enough to clear the alarm, I have to
> repeat the command.
> And about the alarm, the owner's manual says:
> "The SWR Alarm function must be enabled each time the W2 power is turned
> on."
> Instead, I see that it starts in Alarm ON mode. I can see this by
> tripping it, and also the first 'a' command will report 'a0', which
> means the alarm has been deactivated. Am I misunderstanding the manual?
>
> Thanks
>
> Pf
>
>
>

--
73,
Vic, K2VCO
Fresno CA
http://www.qsl.net/k2vco/

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Pierfrancesco Caci

Re: W2 serial command questions

>>>>> "Vic" == Vic Rosenthal K2VCO <[hidden email]> writes:

Vic> I spoke to an Elecraft employee about bugs in the W2, and he confirmed
Vic> that there are a number of them and that they are planning to come out
Vic> with a new version of the firmware at some point (I don't want to say
Vic> real soon now').

How long ago? Seems firmware hasn't been updated in a while.

Vic> The manual IS incorrect about the alarm needing to be turned on each
Vic> time you power on. In a previous firmware update they made it 'sticky'
Vic> so that once you enable it, it stays enabled until you turn it off.

Many thanks Vic, I can see that Alarm is saved to eprom. I didn't notice
this during previous tests.
I guess fixing the manual is easier than fixing the code ;-)

Pf

--
Pierfrancesco Caci, ik5pvx
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Vic Rosenthal

Re: W2 serial command questions

I can't speak for Elecraft, but the conversation took place in the last
couple of weeks. I also suggested that they add a "net power" display
mode (forward - reflected) like the Alpha 4510 and Telepost LP-100A
wattmeters have, since this more closely approximates what we understand
as "power output" than forward power whenever the SWR is greater than unity.

On 1/19/2014 9:33 AM, Pierfrancesco Caci wrote:

>>>>>> "Vic" == Vic Rosenthal K2VCO <[hidden email]> writes:
>
>
> Vic> I spoke to an Elecraft employee about bugs in the W2, and he confirmed
> Vic> that there are a number of them and that they are planning to come out
> Vic> with a new version of the firmware at some point (I don't want to say
> Vic> real soon now').
>
> How long ago? Seems firmware hasn't been updated in a while.
>
> Vic> The manual IS incorrect about the alarm needing to be turned on each
> Vic> time you power on. In a previous firmware update they made it 'sticky'
> Vic> so that once you enable it, it stays enabled until you turn it off.
>
> Many thanks Vic, I can see that Alarm is saved to eprom. I didn't notice
> this during previous tests.
> I guess fixing the manual is easier than fixing the code ;-)
>
> Pf
>