Stream Deck with Thetis

NC3Z
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Location: Merritt, NC

Stream Deck with Thetis

Postby NC3Z » Mon Jul 19, 2021 2:23 pm

I have had a few hams ask me about what I do with the Stream Deck controller and Thetis. I use it as user interface to send CAT commands to Thetis to do things such as changing parameters, memories, doing complete presets for different modes, change bands etc. Put Thetis in a carrier transmit mode for 2 seconds (for a tuner/amp).

One things I like to do is run RX1 at 192Khz sampling and RX2 at 1536KHz sampling, this gives me a zoomed in view on RX1 and the whole band view on RX2, with RX2 in CTUNE mode and RX1 in scroll.

With Thetis and Stream Deck I can only send CAT commands (Flex with FRStack uses JSON with the Stream Deck for full 2 way control).

So if I want to preset Thetis to 40M with RX2 showing the whole band the 40M button will:
Set RX1 Freq, Mode, NR2, TX Profile, Filter
Set Zoom Slider
Enable RX2
Set RX2 to center of the band
Turn off CTUNE for RX1
Turn on CTUNE for RX2


Here is what Thetis looks like with 2 zoom levels:

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And some Stream Deck pictures:

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Gary NC3Z
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w-u-2-o
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Re: Stream Deck with Thetis

Postby w-u-2-o » Mon Jul 19, 2021 2:57 pm

I do the same thing with DDUtil. I set up macro buttons to do complex tasks. They send CAT to Thetis, and also send commands to my amplifier and to the programmable logic controller (PLC) that runs antenna switching and other station automation tasks. I've not felt the need to have hard buttons, but DDUtil does support a number of USB button control surfaces if that is desired.

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Example button control surface:

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NC3Z
Posts: 464
Joined: Sun Oct 29, 2017 8:57 pm
Location: Merritt, NC

Re: Stream Deck with Thetis

Postby NC3Z » Mon Jul 19, 2021 3:52 pm

w-u-2-o wrote:I've not felt the need to have hard buttons,


DXLabs Commander will also do this but I still had the need for hard buttons, plus that is also why I use the CMD PL-1 extensively with Thetis :lol:
Gary NC3Z
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W2PA
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Re: Stream Deck with Thetis

Postby W2PA » Thu Jul 22, 2021 12:23 am

Gary - This looks great - very useful! This is the first I've heard of Stream Deck. Looks like they have several models.

Can you describe a bit more detail about your setup and what it took to enable it to drive CAT commands?

BTW, I also use the Behringer controllers. The PL-1 has a bit higher quality controls compared with the CMD Micro.

Scott - same question to you about the Genovation device.
73,
Chris, W2PA
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Re: Stream Deck with Thetis

Postby NC3Z » Thu Jul 22, 2021 1:33 am

You need a very small command line program called Serial Send (https://batchloaf.wordpress.com/2011/12/05/serialsend-a-windows-program-to-send-a-text-word-via-serial-port/)

Any button on the SD can be programmed with a myriad of options but to send a CAT command here is an example of the string to do a bunch of presets:

"C:\Apps\Serial Send\SerialSend.exe" /hex /devnum 15 /baudrate 9600 "ZZSY0;ZZFA00001900000;ZZMD00;ZZPY166;ZZMO0;ZZNS1;ZZFI01;ZZTP03;ZZRS1;ZZFB00001900000;ZZME00;ZZNW1;ZZFJ01;ZZMB1;ZZSY1;ZZCN1;ZZCN0;ZZFA00001855000;"

Also SD can send wav/MP3 files so I also use it as a Voice Keyer.

Every button can also be cascaded to other full sets of buttons. And the label is all configurable also.
Gary NC3Z
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Re: Stream Deck with Thetis

Postby w-u-2-o » Thu Jul 22, 2021 2:08 am

W2PA wrote:Can you describe a bit more detail about your setup and what it took to enable it to drive CAT commands?
Scott - same question to you about the Genovation device.

I don't actually use the Genovation device. That's just a frill. I use DDUtil.

DDUtil provides for macro buttons. You program them using a table to enter a series of CAT commands for each button. These CAT commands can be radio specific or DDUtil specific. It's the DDUtil commands that really make it very powerful.

DDUtil macro commands even include the ability to reference other buttons, and for buttons toggle between two sets of commands (see the above linked reference).

If you have a DDUtil supported amplifier there will be DDUtil specific CAT commands that can be used in conjunction with radio CAT commands in the macro.

DDUtil also has CAT commands to control a vast array of tuners, antennas and other hardware that it supports.

The most powerful part of my setup is the presence of a DDUtil controlled PLC. Using DDUtil specific CAT commands, I can make the PLC control antenna switches and other switches (power, RF, whatever) that are part of my station. I even have the PLC control the Bootloader switch on my 8000DLE.

Once you have the soft macro buttons programmed, the Genovation button pad is just icing on the cake. If you like hard buttons you just add it into the DDUtil mix and assign the soft macro buttons to the hard buttons on the USB keypad and off you go.
NC3Z
Posts: 464
Joined: Sun Oct 29, 2017 8:57 pm
Location: Merritt, NC

Re: Stream Deck with Thetis

Postby NC3Z » Mon Jul 26, 2021 1:24 am

Newest keys I have setup on Stream Deck allows you to insert a 100Hz or 200Hz MNF at the current mouse position.

And then a button to delete the current highlighted MNF.
Gary NC3Z

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