SATNOGS_GAIN_MODE in Docker version

SatNOGS Software
1

Good morning,

I have installed docker version an I am trying to use a HackRF unit. When I run nano station.env command, I found there some commands missing as in regular settings file. This is the docker settings file (with this configuration it works):
SATNOGS_SOAPY_RX_DEVICE=driver=hackrf
SATNOGS_ANTENNA=TX/RX
SATNOGS_RX_SAMP_RATE=8e6
SATNOGS_PPM_ERROR=0
SATNOGS_RF_GAIN=60
SATNOGS_STATION_ELEV=50
SATNOGS_STATION_ID=3600
SATNOGS_STATION_LAT=44.141
SATNOGS_STATION_LON=28.617

#SATNOGS_LOG_LEVEL=INFO
#SATNOGS_PRE_OBSERVATION_SCRIPT=satnogs-pre {{ID}} {{FREQ}} {{TLE}} {{TIMESTAMP}} {{BAUD}} {{SCRIPT_NAME}}
#SATNOGS_POST_OBSERVATION_SCRIPT=satnogs-post {{ID}} {{FREQ}} {{TLE}} {{TIMESTAMP}} {{BAUD}} {{SCRIPT_NAME}}
#UDP_DUMP_HOST=0.0.0.0

#SATNOGS_GPSD_CLIENT_ENABLED=True
#SATNOGS_GPSD_TIMEOUT=30
#AUTO_SCHEDULER_EXTRA=-P prio.txt -d 1.2
#GRSAT_KEEPLOGS=True
#DIREWOLF_ENABLE=True
#DIREWOLF_CONF=/var/lib/satnogs-client/direwolf.conf
#ENABLE_IQ_DUMP=True
#IQ_DUMP_FILENAME=/tmp/iq
#IQ_DUMP_RENAME=True

But, in this version I can not change the 3 gain settings for HackRF (AMP,LNA,VGA).

I tried this configuration, but no waterfall / data was obtained.
#SATNOGS_ARTIFACTS_ENABLED=True
SATNOGS_SOAPY_RX_DEVICE=driver=hackrf
SATNOGS_ANTENNA=TX/RX
SATNOGS_RX_SAMP_RATE=8e6
SATNOGS_PPM_ERROR=0
SATNOGS_GAIN_MODE=Settings Field
SATNOGS_OTHER_SETTINGS=AMP=14,LNA=24,VGA=48
SATNOGS_RF_GAIN=NULL
SATNOGS_STATION_ELEV=50
SATNOGS_STATION_ID=3600
SATNOGS_STATION_LAT=44.141
SATNOGS_STATION_LON=28.617

#SATNOGS_LOG_LEVEL=INFO
#SATNOGS_PRE_OBSERVATION_SCRIPT=satnogs-pre {{ID}} {{FREQ}} {{TLE}} {{TIMESTAMP}} {{BAUD}} {{SCRIPT_NAME}}
#SATNOGS_POST_OBSERVATION_SCRIPT=satnogs-post {{ID}} {{FREQ}} {{TLE}} {{TIMESTAMP}} {{BAUD}} {{SCRIPT_NAME}}
#UDP_DUMP_HOST=0.0.0.0

#SATNOGS_GPSD_CLIENT_ENABLED=True
#SATNOGS_GPSD_TIMEOUT=30
#AUTO_SCHEDULER_EXTRA=-P prio.txt -d 1.2
#GRSAT_KEEPLOGS=True
#DIREWOLF_ENABLE=True
#DIREWOLF_CONF=/var/lib/satnogs-client/direwolf.conf
#ENABLE_IQ_DUMP=True
#IQ_DUMP_FILENAME=/tmp/iq
#IQ_DUMP_RENAME=True

It is possible to use the 3 gain levels for HackRF or the dockerized version was build only for OVERALL gain ?

Thank you in advance for support,

Cristian - YO4DFT

2

Hi,

There should be no difference in how it works in docker or on the host.
I have not used the hackrf in a while, the last settings I experimented with was:

SATNOGS_SOAPY_RX_DEVICE=driver=hackrf
SATNOGS_ANTENNA=TX/RX
SATNOGS_RX_SAMP_RATE=8e6
SATNOGS_GAIN_MODE=Settings Field
SATNOGS_OTHER_SETTINGS=AMP=0,LNA=40,VGA=48

IIRC there should be some warnings in the logs if it is not supported.
I fired up dev-351 with it, hooked up to a 70cm helical pointing straight up, made obs 37415.

3

OK, thank you. It seems similar, lets see if ppm error have to be null, not zero as I type.
Cristian - YO4DFT

4

Unfortunelly, no waterfall and/or data.
https://network.satnogs.org/observations/10887755/
I’ve run docker-compose exec satnogs_client bash and docker-compose logs, but it seems too complicated to my knowledges (as you remember, I am before beginner level).
I shall revert for the moment to overall gain setup.

Thank you for help,
Cristian - YO4DFT

5

It seems it works now, but I have to delete the line SATNOGS_RF_GAIN. Without this line, is OK.
Thank you again,
Cristian - YO4DFT

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