Repeater Controller configuration
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This page describes the setup of the BATC repeater controller - it should only be attempted by advanced users.
SSH Menu
Some configuration can be done using the SSH menu and some real-time control is possible using the ssh Console Menu.
To enter the repeater controller menu log in to the RPi by SSH using a program such as Putty and type menu.
Reload
Loads the configuration changes you have made and restarts the controller
1 Behaviour
1 - Audio keepalive. Some HDMI switches permanently shut down the audio channel is no audio is present. This option puts low-level white noise on the controller audio out to prevent this from happening.
2 - Transmit enable. Enables transmit key line on pin xx
3 - Beacon mode. Enables the controller to just run in beacon mode and ignore all inputs.
4 - Power save. Enables transmit key line to be on continuously or just when the controller sees a valid input signal or when sending an ident.
5 - Operating hours. Selection of transmit key line to be active continuously or just during a timed period to save power. If timed, select the start and stop times.
6 - Quiet hours repeat. If Timed operation was selected in menu 5, you can set if the repeater should repeat an input signal during the quiet time.
7 - Quiet hours ident. If Timed operation was selected in menu 5, you can set if the repeater should send the ident signal during the quiet time.
8 - Half hour. Enables the transmitter to keyed in beacon mode during the first 30 minutes of every hour to save power
9 - Quad auto enable. Enables the quad display to be automatically displayed when more than 1 selected inputs are present.
10 - Enable DTMF input. Enables over air DTMF control of the repeater
11 - Apply changes
12 - Return to main menu
2 Callsign
Entry of the repeater callsign and QRA locator for display on generated captions.
3 Inputs
1 - 7 Input. Enables priority of each input to be set
8 - Input count. Set this to the total number of inputs on the video switcher - Do NOT include the controller in this number.
9 - Active Hold. Determines if a higher priority input will override the currently selected input.
10 - Apply
11 - Main Menu
4 Control
Enables direct selection of any input source
5 Update
Check s/w version and update if needed.
6 Settings
1 - Reset factory defaults
2 - Check HDMI. Lists the HDMI settings for fault finding
3 - Main menu.
7 Diagnostics
8 Reboot
Editing the config file
The configuration file is too comprehensive for all the functions to be edited from a simple menu and more advanced customisation will require the careful editing of the text file /home/pi/atv-rptr/config/repeater_config.txt
Typical config file
The following is an example of a typical config with comments on each function - some functions are also available in the SSH menu
Intro
- Text file defining behaviour and config of the BATC HDMI Repeater Design
- Comments must be on their own line
- Read at boot time. Only modified from console menu or text editor
Station Details
callsign=GB3HV locator=IO91LD
Video output: hdmi720, hdmi1080, pal, ntsc Used to size captions and layout display. NOT to set output
vidout=hdmi1080
Turn on low level audio noise to keep hdmi audio active? yes/no
audiokeepalive=yes
Enable/disable transmit ptt active? yes/no
transmitenabled=yes
Beacon mode only transmits carousel with ident. Set to no for rptr operation. yes/no
beaconmode=no
Continuous TX or power-saving. no/yes
transmitwhennotinuse=yes
Continuous operation or active hours only. yes/no
24houroperation=yes
Power save during second half hour in active hours? Default no. Repeat and Ident are available/active during this time
halfhourpowersave=no
Operating times are UTC. Ignored for 24/7 operation
operatingtimestart=1300
operatingtimefinish=2330
Quiet hours behaviour:
repeatduringquiethours=no
identduringquiethours=no
Transmit PTT Demand physical pin (available pins are 40 .....)
pttgpiopin=40
Local (144.75 FM from usb audio dongle) audio could be inserted on carousel Options are off, both, left right (mono from USB dongle)
carouselusbaudiomode=off
carouselusbaudiogain=100
DTMF control Control is on/off. Gain is %. Timeout is in seconds All dtmf codes are of the format *xx#. Only xx are defined below. Examples:
dtmfcontrol=on
dtmfaudiogain=62
dtmfactiontimeout=600
dtmfreset=00
dtmfstatusview=01
dtmfquadview=04
Keeper codes are 5 digit and must start with 9 (*9xxxx#)
dtmfkeepertxoff=97350
dtmfkeepertxon=97351
dtmfkeeperreboot=97359
dtmfselectinput0=10
dtmfselectinput1=11
dtmfselectinput2=12
dtmfselectinput3=13
dtmfselectinput4=14
dtmfselectinput5=15
dtmfselectinput6=16
dtmfselectinput7=17
Accessory DTMF Control examples
dtmfoutputs=1
dtmfgpioout1pin=8
dtmfgpioout1label=shack_light
dtmfgpioout1on=31
dtmfgpioout1off=41
dtmfinputs=1
dtmfgpioin1pin=8
dtmfgpioin1label=cabinet_door
Background image for Caption Slides
backimage=/home/pi/atv-rptr/media/batc_background.jpg
Ident info (audio is on/off) Pitch in Hz, speed in wpm, level is %
identinterval=900
identmediatype=jpg
identmediaduration=5
identmediafile=/home/pi/tmp/ident.jpg
identcwaudio=on
identcwspeed=15
identcwpitch=800
identcwlevel=50
identcwfile=/home/pi/tmp/ident.wav
K info. Pitch in Hz, speed in wpm, level is %
kmediatype=jpg
kmediaduration=5
kmediafile=/home/pi/tmp/k.jpg
kcwaudio=on
kcwspeed=20
kcwpitch=800
kcwlevel=50
kcwfile=/home/pi/tmp/k.wav
Carousel info. Max 99 scenes. Options for type are jpg, (mp4 not implemented yet), status or source. For source, file is source number which can be a virtual source such as a grid of 4 images
carouselscenes=5
carousel01mediatype=jpg
carousel01file=/home/pi/atv-rptr/media/HVtest.jpg
carousel01mediaduration=10
carousel02mediatype=jpg carousel02file=/home/pi/atv-rptr/media/weather.JPG carousel02mediaduration=10
carousel03mediatype=jpg carousel03file=/home/pi/atv-rptr/media/75cbw.jpg carousel03mediaduration=5
carousel04mediatype=jpg carousel04file=/home/pi/atv-rptr/media/tropo.JPG carousel04mediaduration=10
carousel05mediatype=source carousel05file=4 carousel05mediaduration=30
Input config - Recommended gpio pins for "input active" are 32, 35, 18, 22, 16, 19 and 21
announcemediatype determines the player used
hdmi switcher can use "ir" or "gpio" - IR uses a TX on GPIO pin 12 - GPIO uses pins 36, 37, 38, 33, 31, 29, 23, 24
activeinputhold (yes/no) means that lower priority inputs do not get replaced by higher priority (except pri 1) Show Quad is yes/no
availableinputs=4
activeinputhold=no
showquadformultipleinputs=yes
outputswitchcontrol=ir
showoutputongpio=yes
outputhdmiresetcode=nec:0x17
output2ndhdmicode=nec:0x08
outputhdmiquadcode=nec:0x18
input0name=Controller
output0code=nec:0x17
output0hdmiswitchpin=36
input1name=Stream Input
input1prioritylevel=1
input1activegpiopin=32
output1code=nec:0x12
output1hdmiswitchpin=37
input1announcemediatype=jpg
input1announcemediafile=/home/pi/tmp/input1.jpg
input1announcemediaduration=3
input2name=QO-100 RX
input2prioritylevel=2
input2activegpiopin=21
output2code=nec:0x59
output2hdmiswitchpin=38
input2announcemediatype=jpg
input2announcemediafile=/home/pi/tmp/input2.jpg
input2announcemediaduration=3
input3name=3.4 GHz Ryde
input3prioritylevel=3
input3activegpiopin=18
output3code=nec:0x08
output3hdmiswitchpin=33
input3announcemediatype=jpg
input3announcemediafile=/home/pi/tmp/input3.jpg
input3announcemediaduration=3
input4name=Quad View
input4prioritylevel=7
input4activegpiopin=22
output4code=nec:0x18
output4hdmiswitchpin=31
input4announcemediatype=jpg
input4announcemediafile=/home/pi/tmp/input4.jpg
input4announcemediaduration=3
input5name=Mast Camera
input5prioritylevel=7
input5activegpiopin=16
output5code=2nec:0x12
output5hdmiswitchpin=29
input5announcemediatype=jpg
input5announcemediafile=/home/pi/tmp/input5.jpg
input5announcemediaduration=10
input6name=Unused 6
input6prioritylevel=9
input6activegpiopin=19
output6code=2nec:0x59
output6hdmiswitchpin=23
input6announcemediatype=jpg
input6announcemediafile=/home/pi/tmp/input6.jpg
input6announcemediaduration=3
input7name=Unused 7
input7prioritylevel=9
input7activegpiopin=21
output7code=2nec:0x08
output7hdmiswitchpin=24
input7announcemediatype=jpg
input7announcemediafile=/home/pi/tmp/input7.jpg
input7announcemediaduration=3