hr50ctl

A small python tool that can be used to query information from the Hardrock-50 amateur radio power amplifier as well as sending commands and therefore to modify settings

Features

Queries the followingy data from the Hardrock-50:

• Status (RX/TX)
• Keying method
• Band
• Voltage
• Peak power of last transmission
• Average power of last transmission
• SWR
• Temperature

Example:

+---------+----------+----------+------------+
| STA: RX | PTT: COR | BND: 20M | VLT: 13.8V |
| PEP: 58 | AVG: 58  | SWR: 1.2 | TMP: 20C   |
+---------+----------+----------+------------+

Enables the user to alter the following parameters of the Hardrock-50:

• Keying method (OFF, COR, PTT, QRP)
• Band
• Initiate tuning process during next transmission

Install

hr50ctl needs Python 3 and the following libraries:

• prettytable
• pyserial

Perform the following steps to get hr50ctl up and running:

• Connect a Raspberry Pi to the Hardrock-50 with a USB cable (USB A to USB B)
• Download and extract the hr50ctl.py script
• Install the above mentioned dependencies with python3-pip
• Configure the following variables inside the Python script:
  • serial_port: e.g. /dev/ttyUSB0
  • baud: e.g. 19200 (must match with the settings made in your Hardrock-50)
• execute the script with
  • python3 ./hr50ctl.py

Usage

USAGE: # ./hr50ctl.py -b <band> -t -k <keying mode>

PARAMETERS:
   -k: the following keying methods are available:
       off, cor, ptt, qrp
       This parameter changes the method how the HR50 will be put into TX mode.
   -b: the following bands are available:
       6, 10, 12, 15, 20, 17, 20, 30, 40, 60, 80, 160
       This parameter changes the band of the HR50
   -t: no parameter required.
       This parameters initiates the tuning during the next PTT

EXAMPLES:
       Change the band to 12m:          # ./hr50ctl.py -b 12
       Change the keying method to PTT: # ./hr50ctl.py -k ptt
       Change the band to 6m and tune:  # ./hr50ctl.py -b 6 -t

Screenshots