Test Suites

Modified

February 2, 2025

This chapter describes the suite of tests that we use to make sure that our stations remain in good operating condition.

Monthly

W3TM tries and usually succeeds in running these steps on both NARC1 and NARC2 once a month. The results of the tests are captured in a Google ~~doc~~ sheet located here. Data from the Google sheet are imported when this page is updated.

Power-up

Connect rig to a suitable antenna or dummy load
Power-up the Astron power supply
Power-up the rig
Log-on to the computer using the appropriate user name and password

Phone operations

Set power to 100 W or less
Call CQ or answer a CQ
- On the IC-7610, use Icom SM-30 desk mic with embedded push-to-talk (PTT) switch or the footswitch.
- On the Flex 6400M, use the Yaesu mic or headset with the footswitch for PTT.

Logging programs

Amateur Contact Log (N3FJP)

Check https://www.n3fjp.com/ to determine latest version of software.
Download and install if there is an update.
Record the new version here
Open Amateur Contact Log; a shortcut is on the PC desktop
Confirm version and record it.
Confirm that ACL tracks of frequency changes & mode changes
Close application

N1MM+

Start-up N1MM+; update if prompted
Confirm version
Confirm that N1MM+ follows frequency changes.
Close N1MM+.

Digital mode operations

WSJT-X

Open WSJT-X
Confirm version matches one recorded here.
Select W3YA configuration
Test WSJT-X receive
Switch to suitable band for antenna from within WSTJ-X application
Confirm that rig follows software band change
Turn RF power to 10 W
Test WSJT-X CQ transmit
- Click Enable Tx button
- Permit 3 xmit cycles
- If no one responds to CQ, check https://pskreporter.info
If not checking JTAlert, Close WSJT-X.

JTAlert, https://hamapps.com/JTAlert/

Check application site, update as needed.
Open JTAlert
Confirm version.
Confirm that received CQs appear in green in JTAlert window
Test xmit from JTAlert
- Click on green CQ button to initiate QSO
Close JTAlert

Note

TODO: More complete steps

JS8Call

Open JS8Call
Confirm version matches one recorded [here](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1NqblEGvrP0aiqWkBTs1G_hA3oWTKcxh_- Select W3YA configuration
Test JS8Call receive
Switch to suitable band for antenna (most JS8Call activity is on 40 m)
Confirm rig follows software band change
Confirm RF power is 10 W
Test JS8Call heartbeat transmit

Note

TODO: Complete steps

If stations respond to heartbeat, all is well.
Check pskreporter.info to confirm: W3YA _____ was/______ was not heard.
Close JS8Call

Fldigi, http://www.w1hkj.com/

Check site and update fldigi, flrig, or other applications, as needed
Open fldigi
Confirm versions matche those recorded [here](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1NqblEGvrP0aiqWkBTs1G_hA3oWTKcxh_- On IC-7610, confirm that flrig opens and shows current operating frequency

Operating parameters for IC-7610:

These parameters are for flrig control of the IC-7610.

Rig: IC-7610
COM3
Baud: 38400
Stop bits: 1 stop bit
CI-V: 0x98

Operating parameters for Flex-6400M

TODO: Add these.

7.070 MHz is a watering hole for PSK31 activity on 40m. You might look there to test receive and transmit.
Check transmit
- Create test message (e.g., “de w3ya w3ya testing testing”)
- Transmit message
Wait 1-2 mins and check pskreporter.info: W3YA _____ was/______ was not heard.
Close flrig and fldigi.

Winlink Express/VARA

Open Winlink Express
Update forms and software if prompted
Confirm Winlink (not forms) version.
Select Telnet Winlink session and open session, then start the session to retrieve any messages.
If connection succeeds, send test message to W3TM@winlink.org.
Select Vara HF Winlink session
If prompted, update VARA HF
- Download
- Install (as administrator)
Confirm VARA HF version.
Select an HF target station
When the channel is clear, start the session
Close Winlink Express/VARA

VarAC

Open VarAC
Confirm that VARA HF opens along with VarAC window.
Confirm verson.
Use VarAC window to confirm that rig follows band/freq changes.
Test transmit
Confirm rig RF power is 10 W
Transmit beacon
Wait 1-2 mins then check pskreporter.info: W3YA _____ was/______ was not heard

YONIQ (SSTV)

Open YONIQ
Tune to SSTV frequency (e.g., 14.230 MHz)

Note

TODO: Finish test suite

Remote

Win4IcomSuite

NARC1/IC-7610 station only
Open Win4Icom
Confirm program tracks frequency and mode
Close Win4Icom

wfview

NARC1/IC-7610 station only
Open wfview
Confirm program tracks frequency and mode
Close wfview

SmartSDR

Open SmartSDR

KPA1500 Amplifier

Power on amplifier
Test ATU
- Rig to 10% power (~10W). Press MULTI knob(press RF POWER and rotate MULTI knob to read HF 10%)
- Rig mode to RTTY (touch mode on touchscreen, select RTTY)
- Amp in standby mode (short press on MODE/PF1) button until yellow STDBY indicator illuminates
- Amp to ATU mode (short press on ATU TUNE button)
- Transmit (press TRANSMIT on rig or PTT on mic to send RF)
- When ATU cycle ends (after a few seconds), Press TRANSMIT again to end test transmission.
Test amplification
- Set amp to operate (short press on OPER/STDBY)
- Transmit (press TRANSMIT or PTT on mic) on rig
- NOTE ~10 W drive should generate about 4-500 W out)
- Press TRANSMIT again to end test transmission
- Set amplifier back to stand-by (short press on MODE/PF1)
Power down amplifier
Return rig to SSB mode (press mode indicator on touch screen, select SSB)

Maintenance Log

This section downloads information about the latest maintenance activities.

Important

These following sections are generated by the following steps:

Download a database (Google Sheet located here with the latest versions of the software packages installed on the NARC1 and NARC2 PCs. This is downloaded as a CSV.
Parsing the downloaded CSV data file in include/csv/station-maintenance-log.csv.

Set-up

The following code downloads the maintenance log file.

Then, we import the downloaded data.

Recent tests

The most recent test activity occurred on {r} max(log_entries$date).

latest_date <- max(log_entries$date)
log_entries |>
  dplyr::filter(date == latest_date) |>
  dplyr::arrange(desc(date), equipment) |>
  dplyr::select(date, equipment, action) |>
  kableExtra::kable(format = 'html') |>
  kableExtra::kable_material()

Table 14.1: Recent station test results
date	equipment	action
2025-02-02	Flex 6400M	Updated SmartSDR to 3.8.21
2025-02-02	GH RT-21 60ft	Successful test GHE Client
2025-02-02	NARC1	Updated SmartSDR to 3.8.21
2025-02-02	NARC1	Successful test of Win4Icom
2025-02-02	NARC1	Successful test of WSTJ-X
2025-02-02	NARC1	Successful test of JTAlert
2025-02-02	NARC1	Successful test of GridTracker2
2025-02-02	NARC1	Upgrade GridTracker2 to 2.50101.1
2025-02-02	NARC1	Successful test of JT8 on 20m
2025-02-02	NARC1	Upgrade ACLog to 7.0.11
2025-02-02	NARC1	Successful test of ACLog
2025-02-02	NARC1	Successful test of fldig, flrig with PSK31 receive on 20m
2025-02-02	NARC1	Successful test of wfview
2025-02-02	NARC1	Successful test of HHI with Pro 7, Proset, SM-50, footswitch
2025-02-02	NARC2	Updated SmartSDR to 3.8.21
2025-02-02	NARC2	Successful test of KPA1500 ATU on 80m, 40m, 20m, 15m, 10m
2025-02-02	NARC2	Update ACLog to 7.0.11
2025-02-02	NARC2	Successful test of ACLog
2025-02-02	NARC2	Successful test of JT8 on 20m
2025-02-02	NARC2	Failed test of JTAlert because different UDP address required than for ACLog

Contest/Field Day

Test networked logging

Rig1 in phone mode, log contact
Rig2 in phone mode, log contact
Change Rig1 band
Change Rig2 band
Change Rig1 to CW, log contact
Change Rig2 to CW, log contact
For each digital mode that will be used…
- On Rig1, open digital app, attempt to make contact and log it
- On Rig2, open digital app, attempt to make contact and log it
Close all apps
Check log file