Add support for VFO mode in Rigctrl. Gpredict will now try to enable …

[KaComet]

…and use VFO mode, usually set via the --vfo command line flag in Rigctrl, when connecting to a radio. If VFO mode could not be enabled, the old style of commanding the radio is used.

Why is this needed:

@mdblack98 has indicated that Gpredict should move to default to VFO mode.

Changes that impact the users

• Users will now have to define the VFOs for the manual and auto modes, just like users of the full-duplex mode.

Testing:

All radio modes (full duplex, RX only, ect) were tested on an FT-736R, IC-9700, FT-991A. Additionally, I have been using this version of Gpredict for my personal use for approximately 1 week. I have not encountered any issues. Rigctrl version: rigctl Hamlib 4.6~git Mon Nov 28 22:45:08 2022 +0000 SHA=e2570d

Testing results:

FT-991A:

• All modes working as intended. Testing with VFO mode forcefully disabled resulted in all modes working as intended. Testing with the half-duplex mode required some workarounds because the radio does not support switching bands while transmitting.

IC-9700:

• All modes working as intended. Testing with VFO mode forcefully disabled resulted in all modes working as intended. Testing with the half-duplex mode required some workarounds because the radio does not support switching bands while transmitting.

FT-736R:

• All modes working as intended. Testing with VFO mode forcefully disabled resulted in all modes working as intended. Testing with the half-duplex mode required some workarounds because the radio does not support switching bands while transmitting.

Additional relevant testing data will be provided on request.

[mdblack98]

Try the latest hamlib from the master repo. I put a patch in for the 736 that should set VFOB correctly. https://github.com/Hamlib/Hamlib

[KaComet]

@mdblack98, latest Hamlib commit resolved issues with the FT-736R. Testing results have been updated. I appreciate your assistance. Hamlib version: rigctl Hamlib 4.6~git Mon Nov 28 22:45:08 2022 +0000 SHA=e2570d

[csete]

Hi @KaKomet

Thanks for the improvement and sorry for the late followup. I wanted to merge this but there are now some conflicts that I am unsure about how to resolve. Could you see if you can resolve them?

Thanks Alex

[mdblack98]

What conflicts?

[csete]

Sorry, I forgot that only I can see the merge conflict info.

I have tried to resolve the conflicts and pushed the code to the hamlibvfo branch. If it looks okay, I can merge it these changes manually.

[KaComet]

@csete, thanks for taking a look. For reference, this PR is my implementation of mdblack's suggestion that GPredict should prefer to use VFO mode in Hamlib. You can find the original discussion regarding the use of VFO mode under #287 . While mdblack originally made #316 to implement VFO mode. Unfortunately, I found that this PR did not correctly implement VFO mode and broke compatibility with all of the radios I tested it with. After some testing, the discussion of which can be found in the comments under #316, I submitted this PR with code that implements VFO mode.

I have tested this code of multiple radios and modes. Currently, I use this PR's changes for my everyday satellite endeavors. I even used these changes during this year's ARRL field day. You can see my testing data in the original PR comment.

I can take a look over the next few days and verify that the rig control loop works correctly under the resolved branch. I'll keep you updated with my results.