The Frequency Manager + Scanner plugin delivers a full-featured frequency management tool permitting you to manage and browse frequencies and to scan ranges of frequencies or groups of frequencies that you define.
Version 1.6.5
This is a maintenance version; there are no new features.
- Changes in SDR# broke the feature "Mute Audio when Scanning". This has been corrected in this version.
- Fixed the error in "Mute Audio when Scanning" that cause the volume to be zero when SDR# started.
- The Minimum Signal Strength line on the spectrum analyzer now tracks the Offset slider setting.
- The "CheckDb()" error on startup is fixed.
**Please note that plugins version 1.6.5 requires SDR# version 1294 or newer**
Version 1.6
Frequency Manager
- The Frequency Description is now displayed in the upper-right corner of the spectrum analyzer, along with the indicator for multiple database entries for that frequency.
- As a result of moving the above information to the spectrum analyzer, the Frequency Manager panel is now 35% smaller.
- The Clipboard Monitor now optionally watches the clipboard for frequencies you might have copied from the internet; and if that can be converted to a MHz value it tunes the radio to that frequency.
- Function Keys F1-F10 can now be used to tune to a preset frequency.
- A new Minimum Signal Strength Line is displayed on the spectrum display. This, along with real-time display of the current signal’s strength when the scanner is running, let you see at a glance how that signal compares to your scanner settings. In addition you can use customize the line with one of 6 line patterns.
- Current Signal Strength in dB is displayed in the upper right corner of the spectrum analyzer, just after the Frequency Description.
- Timeout and Watchdog timers’ indicators are now displayed in the upper right corner of the spectrum analyzer.
**Please note that plugins version 1.6 require SDR# version 1248 or newer**
Version 1.4
Frequency Manager
- Frequency Presets - there are now 10 frequency presets you may use to store and recall favorite frequencies.
- A new Signal Strength Indicator displays a real-time measure of a frequency’s signal strength compared to the Minimum Signal Strength that you set. The indicator shows the signal strength as it bounces below and above your minimum, and also shows when the “Seconds wait for transmission” and “Watchdog” timers have been triggered.
- The Scanner Configuration window now has two tabs which organize scanner behavior into Rules settings and Performance settings.
- Snap to next Step Size: a new checkbox lets you force the scanner to tune a scanned frequency to the SDR# step size, or instead allow it to tune to the actual detected peak signal strength of a frequency.
- Update a frequency’s Date when monitored: a new checkbox that causes the scanner to record the current date for a frequency that is already in your database, when the scanner lands on that frequency.
- Adjacent Frequency Rejection: a new setting that lets you define the width of the area around a tuned frequency that is used to monitor signal strength after tuning to a frequency. This reduces the influence of adjacent strong frequencies that “splatter” into the tuned frequency’s step size or bandwidth size.
- Faster scanning speed: Scanning speed has been improved yet again, and is now faster than the improvements in version 1.31. On my equipment I now average 1.6 GHz scanning speed as measured with the built-in benchmark tool on a range scan.
- Improvements to the busy-frequency detection process.
**Please note that plugins v1.4 require SDR# versions between 1110 and 1222**
System Requirements
Generally speaking if you can run SDR Sharp, you can use the Frequency Manager + Scanner plugin. As with any software, the more capable your hardware the better the software will run.
- OS: Windows XP Pro SP3, Windows 7, or Windows 8. The binaries are compiled for a 32-bit environment for the broadest compatibility but run equally well in an x64 environment.
- Processor: 1-gigahertz processor or faster; 2 or more cores is recommended. Hyper-threading/Multi-threading should be enabled for the best performance. NOTE: SDR# and my plugins are multi-threaded applications, meaning they perform multiple tasks simultaneously. As a result you may have performance problems if your processor cannot execute at least 4 threads simultaneously.
- Memory: 1 gigabyte or more total in the computer.
- Hard Disk: The software requires 1MB; the frequency database size is dependent on the number of records. 2000 records will fit in a 620KB database.
- .NET: Version 3.5 runtime as required by SDR Sharp.
The Scanner Metrics plugin is an accessory to the Frequency Manager + Scanner plugin. It records scanner activity to a database and performs analysis on that information; the goal being to make it easier for you to determine which of the millions of frequencies you can receive actually are worth spending time on.
You may, for example, setup a frequency range scan, turn down the volume, and go to bed. In the morning you can use the plugin to display graphs that show you the most active frequencies during the monitoring period.
System Requirements
Scanner Metrics requires the same hardware and software as the Frequency Manager + Scanner plugin, plus the following:
- Hard Disk: The software requires less than 50KB; the frequency database size is dependent on the number of records, which in turn is based on how active the monitored frequencies are. 8000 records will fit in a 600KB database.
- Microsoft Chart Controls for Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5, available from http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=14422.
- SDR# Frequency Manager + Scanner version 1.31 or newer.
The Frequency Entry plugin restores the ability to enter the desired Center frequency into SDR#. It’s extremely simple to use and requires nothing more than an operational copy of SDR# Revision 1110 or newer.
Frequency Manager + Scanner Tools is a standalone application that lets you import and export frequency data, and convert XML files from K5DEV’s Frequency Manager into a file that can be imported into Frequency Manager + Scanner’s database.
All of my plugins are delivered using a single automated installer. During installation you select the plugins you desire and the program will install those plugins into SDR#, edit the configuration file for you, and copy well-written documentation into a folder for your use. The same program will also upgrade or uninstall the software and documentation.
You can always find a link to the latest version of my software in the Downloads section on the left.
Thank you for using my plugins!
93 comments:
Thanks, it works quite well!
* Can the import/export util remember the previous settings, please? Such a pain to navigate to umpteen folders deep each time!
* Plus it really needs a Merge/Replace option instead of importing over the entire database and losing what was already there! (either that or warn the user to save what they already had, and add the new stuff to the end of the export)
* And being able to specify a Group name on each CSV import line would be good too.
* While Scanning, it would be helpful to see (optionally) which freq is being scanned - shouldn't slow things down unduly to write to a label control - to give us confidence that it's actually doing something?
Cheers
Hi! Thanks for your comments. Let me respond....
1. [remember the previous settings] - I'll consider that for a future version.
2. [Merge/Replace option] - I'll also consider that one. The original intent of the app was to give folks a way to migrate old content *just once* in the assumption that the import won't ever be needed again. It's easy to work around this though. Just export the current database to a CSV, merge it with new content using an editor, and then import the updated file.
3. [specify a Group name on each CSV import line] - Actually this is risky in terms of data integrity. If you don't pay close attention, or misspell an existing group name, you end up with multiple groups with *almost* the same name. As an alternative method, it is easy to use the Browse window to add frequencies in bulk to groups.
4. [it would be helpful to see (optionally) which freq is being scanned] - Actually you might be surprised at the varied capabilities of my users' computers. I have one tester right now who cannot use some of the features because they are too taxing for his CPU. But because I don't show freqs as they are scanned, his scanner runs as fast as possible, at an acceptable speed, given his 12-year old CPU.
Thanks for the suggestions, and thanks for trying my plugins.
Jeff N8GJL
Thanks
Is it possible to write a plug in that hooks into the mouse wheel events, and do clever things with tuning steps? Here in the UK we have a number of bands where the steps are 12.5k but offset by 6.25 - it wouild be great to have a wrap-around tuning plugin (specify start and end of range, step size and offsets) to tune around such bands.
Thanks
Hi again ears1:
Yes this is possible. The startup company I work for launched yesterday so I won't have time to do it anytime soon, but it is certainly possible!
OK, good luck on the startup.
I have a Manual Tune Assist plugin in mind, allowing the offset channel tuning, bandplan tune (international marine channels etc), repeater shift (in defined bands), all the bells and whistles you'd get on a proper VHF/UHF receiver. Oh, and 8.33 airband that actually works ;)
having a lot of freezes with the new plugin on hackrf. not sure why, maybe it cant handle the increased bandwidth
Hi Zefie! Congratulations on getting a hackrf The scanner doesn't care about the bandwidth - it just copies the current spectrum from SDR# into a list in memory, then blazes through the list to find the next frequency whose signal strength is greater than the minimum you set. Without knowing more about your setup, some potential causes are:
* not enough memory to contain the 20,000,000+ frequencies that hackrf contains, so that the scanner scan search through the list
* not enough processor threads available - the scanner uses up to 9 threads plus whatever SDR# uses.
* your CPU can handle enough threads, but other processes on your computer are using enough threads to starve the scanner.
If you want to write to me at sdr.freqmgr@cox.net, I am willing to work further on you with this to identify the issue.
Thanks for trying my plugins!
Jeff N8GJL
Hi Jeff, I tried to email you but the cox.net email server is saying invalid recipient. Do you have another email address I could send to? I'm not sure how much I could help though, as this happened on Windows 7, and is not happening on Windows 8.1 (with the same hardware). I'm guessing it has something to do with how the OS handles the threads since it seems balanced across the cores on my CPU here on Win8.1.
Zefie - I apologize about the email; I accidentally left my VPN running the last two days and several of my email accounts got all screwed up. The cox.net account is working now, I just tested it.
I'm happy that you got it working but don't understand why it wouldn't work on Win 7 on the same computer. I couldn't find anything in tech literature about threading differences between Win 7 and 8.1. It is possible that upgrading to 8.1 fixed some issues that existed in Win 7.
At any rate I hope you enjoy the plugins, and I appreciate you taking time to try them out.
73s,
Jeff
Is this compatible with windows xp? What are the requirements? The plugins are too wide (cutoff) when I try to use them. My font is set to normal and I am using a 1080p display. Is there a workaround for this?
Hello Anonymous. The plugins should work fine with XP Pro SP3. SDR# does not provide a way to change the width of the plugins to use a larger font. A 1080 display should be enough. Lastly, in XP there are at least 3 ways to get fonts that are too large - just setting the font to normal may not fix it. Google "windows xp font too large" - I found several articles on how to fix XP font sizes.
I hope that helps. Thanks for trying my plugins.
Cheers,
Jeff
Hi!. I installed plugin but several error occur when run SDR.
Follow a print to show errors (Sorry, this is in portuguese, but i believe you will understand. https://db.tt/6QodDFB7
After errors windows, SDR open, but crashed.
Thanks
Rogério Leite
www.apolo11.com
Hi! Follow again the link of printscreen:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/85172763/erro_sdr_manager.jpg
Thanks
Rogério Leite
www.apolo11.com
So is the upgrade procedure to uninstall the current one, and then install the new? Or would the new version simply overwrite the old one? Thanks
Anonymous: you need a newer version of SDR#; it must be version 1110 or newer.
ears1: Just run the installer; if it finds an existing version it will perform an upgrade.
I have problems with 1.4 when doing "Scan A Group".
I upgraded from 1.31 which worked ok,
I have a range of Police/Ambulance/Fire frequencies that I scan through to check for transmissions, once one is found, the scanner continues nearly immediately,
1.31 works like it's supposed, holding for 10 seconds as configured.
1.4 reports something like "signal found at 0 db, but was -30 db after tuning etc" then it continues, not pausing for the 10 seconds I've configured.
The signal is NOT gone, when the scanner continues, I can hear it's mid sentence :)
So for now I've got to stick with 1.31, sorry :)
Hello Anonymous. A significant change between version 1.31 and 1.4 is the "Radio Settle Time" setting. SDR# does not tell me when the radio has tuned a frequency, so this setting introduces a delay before reading the signal strength to allow the radio time to tune the target frequency. What you are seeing usually happens when this value is set too low. Please try raising the value of this setting; when set properly the scanner should stop reliably on all busy frequencies. On my own equipment, I have this value set at 200ms.
I hope this helps, and thank you for trying my plugins.
Jeff
Hello Jeff, experiencing a big problem with the plug in, I cannot get it to work at all. It installs ok, but when I run SDR# it halts on several error messages before reaching the SDR# main window, the program is then hung and will not respond. I am running the latest version of SDR# which works fine normally, the system is windows XP home. The errors seem to be SQL related. Could it be I am missing something in the OS?
Anonymous: can you tell me what the errors are? It is difficult to troubleshoot without any clues. Specific error messages would be the most helpful.
Thanks.
Jeff N8GJL
Hi Jeff, the errors are quite lengthy (there are 7no in total before the SDR# main window appears) , they are as follows:
Error number 1
An error occurred. the error was:
The type initialiser for 'System.transactions.Diagnostics.DiagnosticTrace'threw an exception.at 'System.transactions.Diagnostics.DiagnosticTrace.get_Verbose()
at 'System.transactions.Transaction.get_Current()
at 'System.Data.SQLite.SQLiteConnection.Open()
at 'SDRSharp.ScannerMetrics.Common.GetSqlConnection()
at 'SDRSharp.ScannerMetrics.ScannerMetricsCollapsiblePanel.CheckDb()
Error number 2
Unable to connect to Frequency Manager database. cannot continue. The error was:
The type initialiser for 'System.transactions.Diagnostics.DiagnosticTrace'threw an exception.at 'System.transactions.Diagnostics.DiagnosticTrace.get_Verbose()
at 'System.transactions.Transaction.get_Current()
at 'System.Data.SQLite.SQLiteConnection.Open()
at 'SDRSharp.FreqMgr.common.GetSqlConnection()
Error number 3
An error occurred. The error was:
Operation is not valid due to the current state of the object.
at 'System.Data.SQLite.SQLiteConnection.GetSchema(String collectionName, String[] restrictionValues)
at 'System.Data.SQLite.SQLiteConnection.GetSchema(String collectionName)
at 'SDRSharp.FreqMgr.FreqMgrCollapsiblePanel.CheckDb()
Number 4
(Unable to connect to Frequency Manager database. cannot continue. The error was:
The type initialiser for 'System.transactions.Diagnostics.DiagnosticTrace'threw an exception.at 'System.transactions.Diagnostics.DiagnosticTrace.get_Verbose()
at 'System.transactions.Transaction.get_Current()
at 'System.Data.SQLite.SQLiteConnection.Open()
at 'SDRSharp.FreqMgr.commonn.GetSqlConnection)
Error number 5
An error occurred. The error was:
The type initialiser for 'System.transactions.Diagnostics.DiagnosticTrace'threw an exception.at 'System.transactions.Diagnostics.DiagnosticTrace.get_Verbose()
at 'System.Transactions.Transaction.get_Current()
at 'System.Data.SQLite.SQLiteConnection.Open()
at System.Data.Common.DbDataAdapter.QuietOpen(IDBConnection connection, ConnectionState& originalState)
at System.Data.Common.DbDataAdapter.FillInternal(DataSet dataset, DataTable[] datatables, Int32 startRecord, Int32 maxRecords, String srcTable, IDbCommand command, CommandBehavior behavior)
at System.Data.Common.DbDataAdapter.Fill(DataTable[] datatables, Int32 startRecord, Int32 maxRecords, String srcTable, IDbCommand command, CommandBehavior behavior)
at System.Data.Common.DbDataAdapter.Fill(DataTable dataTable)
at SDRSharp.FreqMgr.FreqMgrCollapsiblePanel.LoadStationTable()
Error number 6
Unable to connect to Frequency Manager database. cannot continue. The error was:
The type initialiser for 'System.transactions.Diagnostics.DiagnosticTrace'threw an exception.at 'System.transactions.Diagnostics.DiagnosticTrace.get_Verbose()
at 'System.transactions.Transaction.get_Current()
at 'System.Data.SQLite.SQLiteConnection.Open()
at 'SDRSharp.FreqMgr.common.GetSqlConnection)
Error number7
An error occurred. the error was:cannot find table 0.
at 'System.Data.DataTableCollection.get_item(Int32index)
at 'SDRSharp.FreqMgr.FreqMgrCollapsiblePanel.LoadScanGroupList()
at 'SDRSharp.FreqMgr.FreqMgrCollapsiblePanel..ctor(ISharpControl control)
Hi Anonymous. Clearly something has gone wrong with the installation and required is missing. Please email me directly at sdrs.freqmgr [at] cox.net and we'll work through the issue. Thanks.
Jeff
Hello, having trouble installing the your plugins on a Win XP machine. The error I receive is
"The SDR# Configuration could not be updated. The error was: Index was out of range. Must be non-negative and less than the size of the collection. Parameter name: index."
Any ideas on what I need to do?
Thanks!
Hi Tony. This error occurs when the configuration file is read-only or when some other application has the configuration file open. Verify that the file is not tied up - rebooting is the best way to make sure - and then try the installation again. Thanks for trying my plugins.
Jeff
trying to set up the scan plug in but i can't get it to scan, it stops on the 2nd scan frequency. i have 3 conventional channels, 152.285, 154.68 and 155.13 in this order in a group named police.
i'm not sure how the channels should be set up?
for each channel i understand the frequency entry field of course but give me a suggestion for what to enter as 'center' for each of these 3 scan channels?
disregard the above problem i figured out what is happening.
i was looking at the frequency shown on the readout thinking that scan would update the displayed frequency in order of what channel was being scanned at a particular time. Now i realize that the frequency shows the last active scan member which made me think that the scanner was stopped.
I like it, it works great scanning p25, nxdn and dmr between vhf, uhf and 800 MHz.
Anonymous: Glad you got it working OK. Thanks for trying my plugins.
Hi, I installed SDR#V1.0.0.1000 (the current stable release) and everything works fine.
After installing the Frequency Manager + Scanner plugin V1.4 the SDR# crashes immediately upon start. System is running Win7, 32bit. The Error reads: Method not found. "Int32SDRSharp.FreqMgr.FreqMgrCollapsiblePanel.GetStepSize() at SDRSharp.FreqMgr.FreqMgrCollapsiblePanel.FreqMgrPanelLoad(Objectsender, EventArgs...." The rest of the Message doesn't fit in the box, sorry.
Any ideas?
Thank you, Tom
Me again ;-)
Found a way to duplicate the error-message:
System.MissingMethodException: Methode nicht gefunden: "Int32 SDRSharp.Common.ISharpControl.get_StepSize()".
bei SDRSharp.FreqEntry.FreqEntryCollapsiblePanel.FreqEntryPanelLoad(Object sender, EventArgs e)
bei System.Windows.Forms.UserControl.OnLoad(EventArgs e)
bei System.Windows.Forms.UserControl.OnCreateControl()
bei System.Windows.Forms.Control.CreateControl(Boolean fIgnoreVisible)
bei System.Windows.Forms.Control.CreateControl(Boolean fIgnoreVisible)
bei System.Windows.Forms.Control.CreateControl(Boolean fIgnoreVisible)
bei System.Windows.Forms.Control.CreateControl(Boolean fIgnoreVisible)
bei System.Windows.Forms.Control.CreateControl(Boolean fIgnoreVisible)
bei System.Windows.Forms.Control.CreateControl()
bei System.Windows.Forms.Control.WmShowWindow(Message& m)
bei System.Windows.Forms.Control.WndProc(Message& m)
bei System.Windows.Forms.ScrollableControl.WndProc(Message& m)
bei System.Windows.Forms.ContainerControl.WndProc(Message& m)
bei System.Windows.Forms.Form.WmShowWindow(Message& m)
bei System.Windows.Forms.Form.WndProc(Message& m)
bei System.Windows.Forms.Control.ControlNativeWindow.OnMessage(Message& m)
bei System.Windows.Forms.Control.ControlNativeWindow.WndProc(Message& m)
bei System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow.Callback(IntPtr hWnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wparam, IntPtr lparam)
Thank you
Tom
Hello Thomas. As described in the user's guide System Requirements section, the minimum version of SDR# that works with my plugins is v1110. This is because earlier versions of SDR# did not provide the required connections.
The description of SDR# version 1000 as "stable" is misleading; all versions of SDR# are tested by a core group of users before release to the public. I don't understand why they don't upgrade their website to reflect that. My plugins have been tested with almost every SDR# release up to the current release of v1193 and they work just fine. I'm sure if you use a version of v1110 or newer you will enjoy the plugins.
Thank you for trying my plugins.
Cheers,
Jeff N8GJL
Jeff,
thank you for the quick and enlightening answer.
Me stupid, I didn't notice, that the minimum version is v1110....
Regards
Tom
The frequency manager files could not be installed/uninstalled.The error was:the process can not access the file.'C:\...\Frequency manager+ Scanner user guide.pdf ' because it is being used by another process..
Hello Anonymous. This has never been a reported problem. I can guess that perhaps your antivirus has the file locked while it is scanned. If that might be the case, wait several minutes and try again. If the problem persists, try restarting your computer, logging in, and letting it sit for a few minutes without doing anything. Then try the installer again.
last versions of sdr# has no more cw-l and cw-u mode (only and simply cw)
how can I set cw only in freq mgr ???
Hi Anonymous. This is indeed a bug in the plugin. I'll release a fixed version in the next couple of weeks. Thanks for letting me know about it.
I recently downloaded and installed version 1.4 of the Frequency Manager. I am having some problems.
I am running Windows 7 Professional, 64 bit, on a 3.4Ghz quad core with 8GB of RAM.
Version 1.0.0.1199 of SDR Sharp has been running for a few days with no problems.
I have seen a few problems.
Watchdog timer
I have it configured to lock after a timeout. I will watch the scan and see that it works on a frequency. If I leave system run for a while I notice later that it is tuned to a continuous transmitting signal and never times out. If I hit the lock button the program freezes up.
Running scan twice in a row with same frequency bounds.
Sometimes when I restart SDR after running a scan between two frequencies, the program locks up when I do the scan with the same low and high frequencies. This does not happen every time. I have been unable to come with exact steps to repeat.
Hi everyone. The bug reported by Anonymous on 4/18 has been fixed and published as version 1.4. It is actually 1.4.6 if you want to look at the file details. It fixes the mode issue and a problem with the Live Track feature of the Browse window.
Hi Chuck. Regarding the watchdog timer problem: I've seen the watchdog fail to act when the peak strength of a signal bounces rapidly below and above the minimum signal strength you set. For example, if you set the minimum signal strength to -35, and a signal goes to -34, the watchdog (if enabled) will start to count down. But as soon as the signal falls to -36 the watchdog gets disengaged.
When setting the minimum signal strength, always aim for a value between the noise floor and the reliable lowest strength of an active signal. If the noise floor is at -50, and the signal strength bounces up and down between -40 and -35, set the minimum signal strength at -45 so that when the signal becomes weaker it is still reliably strong enough for the watchdog to stay engaged.
Regarding the program freeze when clicking the Lock button: This hasn't been reported by any other users and none of my beta testers experienced it. When you lock a frequency two things happen. (1) that frequency is marked as locked in the database, and (2) the Skip button is 'clicked' by the software to allow the scanner to resume. I'm guessing that the hang is happening on the first step, updating the database. Does any other software have the database open? Is it possible that your anti-virus is locking the database file? The plugin automatically detects errors writing to the database and displays an error window when that happens, but you aren't seeing that so I'm guessing that the database file is locked somehow.
Regarding running scan twice in a row with same frequency bounds: This also has never been reported and sounds like the same database locking problem. I've also seen this happen when an RTL-SDR dongle needs to be rebooted. Sometimes they get 'confused' and need to be unplugged from the USB port and plugged back in.
I hope these comments help. If not, feel free to email me at sdrs.freqmgr at cox.net.
I have been running SDR# for a long time (I have 1260 installed now) but I have never managed much success in getting your plugin to work. It installs fine and shows up in the SDR# screen, I can even save frequencies to it. What I cannot do, however is import the existing Frequencies.xml (from the simple frequency manager - I don't know if it is bundled with SDR# or if I installed it as a plugin ages ago). _ can convert the XML to a CSV with no problem BUT I cannot find the database to import it to. I didn't get the message about the database being created etc (never have done even when I tried to do a fresh install a long time ago). I don't know what the database file name is or where I would find it. I don't really want to have to go through all the frequencies I have stored, and manually tune then save them to your FM. I must be missing something simple! Win7/64, 16GB RAM, i5/3GHz. FM 1.4.6 //SDR# 1260 Thanks for any advice, Sean
Hi Sean. The Data Tools application that is packaged with the plugins will import your CSV for you. It knows where the database resides. If you want to do the import with some other tool, the database location is described in the user's guide.
Thanks for trying my plugins.
Jeff
Found it now, thanks Jeff. The answer to the question wasn't where I expected it to be, but now having read the user manual properly, I found the DB. I think, as I already have an SQL database for another project, that may have been the reason for not getting the inital message about it being created. Anyway, thanks again, nice plugin! 73 G4UCJ
Hi Jeff, I am trying top use your stand alone Import program to import CSV files from radioreference but it wont work.
I select the CSV then the FreqMgr database file in Local Settings but i just get a big error message that says
Error occurred in Line 1 etc
Can it import CSV files and how do i get it to work?
Thanks
Hi Anonymous. The most common failure during an import is an unexpected comma inside a text value. For example "Big Radio, Inc." will fail unless the text value is inside double-quotes like in this example.
RR CSV files do work, I've imported them before. Just make sure that text values are surrounded by double quotes.
If you continue to have problems, send me the CSV to sdrs.freqmgr (at) cox.net and I'll take a look at it.
Thanks for trying my plugins!
Jeff
Hi, i have version 1.0.0.1317 up and running with a couple of channels tuned in, is it possible or is there a update (sorry if i word this wrong) so that the programme is continuously scanning and as soon as someone talks, doesnt matter which channel or frequency, it picks that up so i dont have to keep changing?
Hello Anonymous. If you select the "Scan Frequencies" tab you can define a lower frequency and an upper frequency. When you click the "Scan" button, the scanner will continuously look for active frequencies that are stronger than the Minimum Signal Strength that you have defined. When it finds one it stops so that you can listen. When the frequency stops transmitting, the scanner starts looking for active frequencies again.
It is impossible for any scanner to look at ALL frequencies at once; the best you can do is limit the scan range to an size that gives you a reasonable chance of finding something you want to listen to.
I hope this helps. Thanks for trying my plugins.
Jeff N8GJL
Hi Jeff - when I press scan sdr# crashes .....
Description:
A problem caused this program to stop interacting with Windows.
Problem signature:
Problem Event Name: AppHangB1
Application Name: SDRSharp.exe
Application Version: 1.0.0.1317
Application Timestamp: 53d52410
Hang Signature: 9c87
Hang Type: 256
OS Version: 6.1.7600.2.0.0.768.3
Locale ID: 2057
Additional Hang Signature 1: 9c87724676f5816b169182eaca0a8ea9
Additional Hang Signature 2: 332c
Additional Hang Signature 3: 332c9bc2f779d5ba2a4419b162c94c89
Additional Hang Signature 4: 9c87
Additional Hang Signature 5: 9c87724676f5816b169182eaca0a8ea9
Additional Hang Signature 6: 332c
Additional Hang Signature 7: 332c9bc2f779d5ba2a4419b162c94c89
The scanner plugin worked well on my windows 7 pc for about half an hour - then it just stopped working. I'm using the funcube pro+
your help will be greatly appreciated.
regards mike
Hi Mike. Since you also posted this to the SDR# group on Yahoo Groups I'll follow up with you there so a larger audience gets to participate. But my early response is that I need more info.
(1) what does the SDR# file crash.txt contain?
(2) I'm confused about the timing from your description. Does it crash immediately "when I press scan" or is it after half an hour? If it scans for a while and then crashes, the issue probably not the scanning software.
(3) Does your computer meet the recommended system requirements as described in the Frequency Manager + Scanner User's Guide (memory, cpu)?
(4) Uninstall all plugins and test SDR# (I have seen unwanted interactions between plugins but never a crash). When SDR# is running reliably, reinstall the Frequency Manager + Scanner only and test. See if it stays up.
Get back to us with more info and we'll try to help. Thanks for trying my plugins.
Jeff
Hi Jeff - thanks for the speedy response. It was as you suggested a Memory/CPU issue and not software related. Pc was cleaned up ie. unused/tempery files - programs etc. were removed to free up space. Couple of programs had been running in the background that I wasn't aware of - now that I removed them all is well with the scanner plugin with no crashes to report. Working for the last eight hours now so hopefully cured. What a fantastic plugin Jeff .
kind regards
mike...
That's great Mike, glad you worked it out. Thanks!
Jeff
Good morning,
I am having trouble installing it on my win7 .NET 4.5.1 .
There is no popup on first run, neither any changes in SDRSHARP.
SDR runs fine on .NET 4.5.1, does the manager need .net 3.5 instead?
hmm ??
regards tom
Same Problem here.. Windows 7, fresh install of SDR# runs fine. After use of your installer all files seems to be copied to SDR# folder but in SDR# no new content is seen. I chekced the config-file and found that your installer dont add any lines into SDR# config !?
i uploaded my entire SDR# directory to Dropbox, maybe you are able to see whats wrong:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/72291449/SDR%23.ZIP
thank you, regards from germany, Alpha! (1cafd006@opayq.com)
Hello Alpha Nova. Thanks for supplying a copy of your SDR# installation; that greatly helped to troubleshoot the problem.
Since around version 1294, SDR# has used a file named "Plugins.xml" to define the plugins. The config file is not used at all to define plugins. I see that you added the section to the config file; this worked for the plugins you manually added but destroyed the link to plugins.xml which is now the correct location for plugins. My installer correctly creates the entries in plugins.xml so that SDR# can find them - no hand-editing of the file is required for my plugins.
Let me suggest that you start with a clean install of SDR#. Then run my installer; I think you will find that my plugins correctly display in SDR#. Thereafter if you want to try additional plugins you may hand-edit plugins.xml since hardly any other plugin authors supply an automated installer.
I hope this helps. Thank you for trying my plugins!
Cheers,
Jeff
Hello Jeff,
thanks for feedback and details about new plugin.xml (im not aware of that).
i found the issue. I use a batchfile for setup and download new nightly builds of SDR#. This batch also ask for download and apply plugins from rtl-sdr.ru into the installation and contains a old SDR# configfile which goin active after run.
thanks for support ;-)
regards Alpha Nova!
Is it possible to edit the Protocol entries? I'd like to add DMR, NXDN etc etc.. Thanks for the great plugin!
Hi Unknown. Yes, you may do so by clicking the Manage button which will display a popup menu for editing Groups, Protocols, and Services. Have fun and thanks for using my plugins!
I have a suggestion,, is it possible to make a plugin to fix frequency drift?PPM
By using the waterfall set two points or marks on either side and as the signal moves(drift) it changes the PPM
Hello Anonymous; thanks for writing. Changing the PPM dynamically requires access to the radio, not just to SDR#. I'll say it is possible but it is fairly complex programming.
Cheers,
Jeff N8GJL
Hi!
I have a problem with my scanner... When I select “Mute audio when scanning” I get pop up window to error message. “15 in not allowed value”. Value must be between “Minimum – Maximum”. Pop up window is a lot of different parameters (6, but I can't copy in here). Computer software is Windows 8.1.
I have tried to reinstall SDRSHARP (V1332) and also FM+Scanner many time. Every time same problems. When I take “Mute audio when scanning” selection off, scanner working normally.
Is it any idea what I have to do?
Also is any idea how I get my scanner working correctly... when I insert frequency of the HF-area (0.1-30MHz) I need to set SDRSHARP radio Shift (-40MHz) with my DX-patrol receiver. When I select Shifting, scanner don't work at all. Frequency don't change at all. Receiver working normally in one frequency. I can use scanning function with my DX-patrol receiver without -40MHz shifting function, but my Frequency is 40Mhz to hight (2Mhz shows 42MHz). Is it any idea for this problem?
Hello Anonymous. Thanks for writing. Regarding the "15 is not a valid value" error message: Your clue that it was connected to the "Mute Audio when Scanning" let me to the cause of the problem. A change in the way SDR# works broke my audio-muting programming. So thank you for helping! This has a simple fix, but my time to work on it is limited, so please check back to this website sometime the week of 2015-02-09 for a corrected version of the plugins.
Regarding the -40MHz shift: I tested this with my HF radio dongle and the scanner worked correctly. Let me suggest these possible fixes: (1) Set the Offset slider all the way to the bottom. There is a bug in the plugin that causes it to ignore the offset value, which in turn causes the target signal strength to be incorrect. (2) Make sure the Minimum Signal Strength is high enough that the scanner doesn't get stuck in the "noise floor". You want that signal strength to be set high enough that the scanner ignores noise, but low enough that it will stop on an active frequency.
I hope this helps, and thanks again for writing and providing a crucial clue to the problem. And also thanks for trying my plugins!
Cheers,
Jeff
Jeff,
I have SDR# version 1322 up and running on Windows XP SP3 and wanted to add your plugins. When I tried to install the newest version of the plugins, SDR# would give me the SQLite error message noted in the troubleshooting section of your manual and SDR# will not operate. If I remove the plugins, SDR# works correctly.
I tried all the suggestions in the manual and made sure the system.data.SQlite.dll appears in the SDR# directory. I uninstalled both programs and reinstalled but same thing happens.
Please advise how to fix the problem.
Thanks in advance.
Thanks Jeff, I downloaded the corrected version of your plugins and this time they installed and SDR# works.
Hi I'm having the same SQLite error issues as Anonymous (Feb 8 @ 2:36 PM) posted. The plugin was working fine for me on XP the other day, but my upgrading to Windows 7 coincided with your release of the latest plugins version and after upgrading to 7 I tried installing the most recent plugin version and get the sqlite errors galore. So I dont know if the older version might work or not, nor do I see a link to download previous versions of your plugin. I tried copying the SQlite dll to the sdr # folder, as well as unblocked the .dll's -still no luck.
Per your instructions in the SDR# Yahoo group I re-downloaded the latest release and the SQlite error has resolved. thank you!!
I'm having success in using your plugins along with SDR# as a ghost hunting/paranormal investigation tool. Video evidence is available in my public video album on Facebook. Thanks, Jeff!
Anonymous from February 8, 2015 at 4:39 PM - Glad you got it working, and I apologize for the trouble. Thanks for trying again.
Sheila - what a cool application! Thanks for trying again, and good luck.
Hi!
Thanks for new update version. Now the mute scannnig works fine (and my wife is also happy).
I have also another problem. When I try record information for Scanner Metrics plugin, anything information don't save in database. Scanner working fine and i hear transmission. The squelch is working properly, but nothing has been stored in the database.
Records to process a value is 1 to 4 (mostly 1) , and is constantly changing. Processed this Session value is always 0.
I am of the opinion that the database does not store any data. When the period of the report, the database is empty.
What should I do?
Hello Anonymous. I'm glad the bug fix helped.
Regarding your Scanner Metrics problem: I just tested the v1.65 Scanner Metrics on SDR# v1332 and it worked correctly. "Processed this Session" should never be zero after the first record is processed. The way Scanner Metrics processes data is that the scanner notifies Scanner Metrics that it stopped on a frequency. That information is put into a queue for processing when there is free CPU time. In this manner I reduce the load on your computer. This becomes the "Records to Process" value and it will climb and fall as the scanner listens and as Scanner Metrics processes the frequency records.
When a frequency record is processed out of the queue, it is put into the database. This becomes the "Processed this Session" value and it should always increase in value.
If you would please record 5-10 minutes of scanning using Scanner Metrics and send a copy of the database to me I would be happy to look at it. Be sure that the "Records to Process" figure goes rises and falls as records come into the queue and are processed out of it. The Frequency Manager + Scanner User's Guide will tell you where the database is stored. Send the database to me at sdrs.freqmgr [at] cox.net.
Thanks and I look forward to hearing from you.
Jeff
I installed your plug in but when I turned my sdr on it began operating in a frgmented fashion. How do I uninstall the plug in please ?
Bill
Hi Bilzin. I'm sorry you don't find my plugins suitable. You can uninstall them by simply running the installer again and clearing the checkboxes for all the plugins you had installed. The application will then uninstall anything previously installed.
Thanks for trying my plugins.
Jeff
Do you know where one could find documentation on writing SDR# plugins? I'd like to create a plugin for recording transmissions as well as dominant tone detection but I haven't seen any documentation around the SDR# API. Ideas?
Hi Brooks. There is no documentation. I got started by looking at SDR# source code a few years ago but that is no longer easy to do. If you would write to me at sdrs.freqmgr [at] cox.net I'll send you the C# source code for an empty plugin; you will only need to write your function-specific code.
Sir I am using the RTL-SDR dongle with SDR # v 1333 and cannot install your scanner plugin because the install halts on an "1294 or newer" message.
Hello Anonymous. That is actually a warning, not an error, and if you are using SDR# v1333 you may safely proceed with the installation. Sorry for any confusion, and thank you for trying my plugins.
Jeff
Hello and thanks for the plugin. I'm using SDR# ver 1.0.0.1333 and this plugin. I cannot get the plugin to scan more than 3 channels. I have created one group, enabled scan on all 7 channels in the group but the plugin will only scan 3 of them. Any suggestion.
Hello and thanks for the plugin. I'm using SDR# ver 1.0.0.1333 and this plugin. I cannot get the plugin to scan more than 3 channels. I have created one group, enabled scan on all 7 channels in the group but the plugin will only scan 3 of them. Any suggestion.
Hello Tom. There are 5 settings that affect the reliability of scanning; check these for proper values.
1. Minimum Signal Strength must be low enough that signals reliably peak above the value. For example if an NFM signal’s peak is around -40dB, the Minimum Signal Strength should be around -45dB.
2. Seconds wait for more transmission should be never be zero.
3. In the Scanner Configuration window the watchdog timer, if enabled, should be a value higher than Seconds wait for more transmission.
4. In the Scanner Configuration window Performance tab, the Radio Settle Time in Milliseconds should be high enough that the radio reliably syncs with the tuned frequency but not so low that the scanner skips to the next frequency before tuning is complete. Try setting this at 500 milliseconds and when everything else is working properly, start reducing the value until it is just above the point where the scanner doesn’t wait long enough for the radio to tune. On my inexpensive dongle this is 250ms but your time may be different.
5. Make sure the desired frequencies are not Locked, which prevents them from being tuned. You can see this in the Browse window by the color of the frequency rows – the default color is white text on a gray background if a frequency is locked, meaning the scanner will skip that frequency even in a group.
You can also try enabling the Scanner Decisions window from the Scanner Configuration window. This will often tell you exactly why a signal was skipped. The most common reason is that the instantaneous signal strength at the time it is measured is less than the Minimum Signal Strength.
I hope this helps. Let me know if you need more, and thank you for trying my plugins.
Jeff N8GJL
Thank you Jeff. I still had the minimal signal strength set for 0. Its now scanning all the channels. Can't believe I missed that one. Thanks again.
Love the scanner. thanks for the helpful documentation.
Hi Anonymous. I'm glad you enjoy it. Stay tuned - a new version with new features and more plugins will be out in the next couple of months. Thanks!
I'm having trouble installing this on a fresh Win 7 build. I'm getting the following error; "The frequency manager files could not be installed / uninstalled. The error was: The process cannot access the file E:\SDR Plugins\Frequency Manager + Scanner User Guide.pdf because it is being used by another process." I dont have the PDF open, I dont have SDR# open and I'm running the installer from its own folder not my SDR# folder. Any ideas?
I'm sorted, it was because I was trying to install the docs into the same folder I was running the installer from. Just in case anyone else has the same problem... Thanks
Hello Mark. I'm glad you figured it out. Thanks for trying my plugins.
Jeff
Hello and thanks for great plugin. Bugreport: During group scan squelch value for particular frequency stored in database is not used. Instead it controllrd only from main SDR# Radio plugin only. But everything is ok when frequency selected manually from browser, when scan=off.
Hello Anonymous. Thank you for the bug report; I will research the issue and make any necessary fixes. Thanks for trying my plugins!
Jeff
I dislike when you're scanning through the waterfall and you hit a memory in the freq manager, it flips over to the mode, width, other settings saved.
Instead of just keeping it where you already have it, or at least putting it back once you leave that memory spot.
de k2ncc
i have install the frequency plugin but when i start the SDRSharp a message said :error loading frequency scanner. and after that the sdrsharp starting normaly.how can i fix this????
Hi K2NCC. The next version, due out (I hope) in July fixes this. Actually it is a new checkbox to turn that feature on or off as you like. On provides the behavior you described, so in the new version just remove the checkbox.
Thanks for trying my plugins.
Jeff
Hi Anonymous. Regarding the message saying "Error loading frequency scanner" - it sounds like the corresponding line in the file plugins.xml is misconfigured. I would look at that first. Also, the descriptions in plugins.xml are case-sensitive; you have to have capital letters where required.
I hope that helps. Write to me at the contact address at the top of this page if I be of any more help.
Thanks for trying my plugins.
Jeff
Hello there,
I have problems with "Scan A Group". I have a range of frequencies that I scan through to check for transmissions, once one is found, the scanner continues immediately (seconds wait for more transmissions are 6). Thank you in advance
Hi Anonymous. Let me suggest a couple of additional settings to check. First, on the Performance tab of Scanner Configuration, increase the Radio Settle Time in Milliseconds. You might as well move it all the way to the right to rule it out as a factor. This control causes the scanner to wait longer for the radio to lock into a frequency.
Then below that, in Adjacent Frequency Rejection, select Step Size or Filter Bandwidth whichever you set larger in the Radio settings. And slide that all the way to the right as well. This causes the scanner to use a wider range of frequencies to determine that the currently tuned frequency is active. This is most important in NFM mode, because the actual strongest frequency will wobble left and right around the tuned frequency.
Once you get the scanner locking reliably on a frequency reduce the Radio Settle time in increments of around 50 milliseconds until the scanner stops locking onto a frequency; at that point you know that you have gone too far and need to set the value a little higher for reliable scanning. On my $30 dongle I use 300ms.
I hope this helps. Please let me know if you need more help. Thanks for trying my plugins!
Jeff
dear sdrs.freqmgr
Thank you for your words. I try and let you know is this help me!
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