[Skimmertalk] WSJT-X skimming load balancing?

[Ted Gisske]

Andy,

 

I don't think time-scheduling works if you are trying to skim FT8/4. W3OA or
N4ZR are likely better resources than me on that.

 

You will find that there is a bit of a dance involved to get the RP-16
started up. I've found, although not exhaustively tested, that starting both
instances of SkimServ clean, with no other associated programs (Aggregator,
FT#Startup, CWReporter) running seems to work best.

 

My version of the "Skimmer Server Polka" is:

1.       Start the first SkimServ instance on one computer.

2.       Dawdle for a couple or three minutes before doing anything else.

3.       Start the second SkimServ instance on the other computer. If either
instance errors out, shut down both instances and dawdle for a few minutes
more before re-trying. Return to step 1.

4.       Verify that both instances of Skimmer Server are seeing decodes.

5.       There aren't any additional dawdles necessary. Fire up both
instances of Aggregator.

a.       In my installation, Aggregator invokes FT#Startup in autorun mode
as well as CWReporter. 

b.      I had to assure Windows 10 that FT#Startup wasn't evil. It spawns a
lot of instances of the same program (WSJT-X), which can be construed as
suspicious activity.

 

If anyone has a simpler dance than the above, please chime in.

 

I am skimming CW and FT8 on 10-12-15-17-20-30-40-80, as well as FT4 on 20-40
on one computer. I am skimming CW and FT8 on 6-60-160, as well as WSPR and
JT9 on 630M on the other computer. Both boxes are I7 machines, although I
think that I5 boxes would work with some band/mode refactoring.

 

73,

Ted

K9IMM

 

From: Andy KU7T [mailto:ku7t at ku7t.org] 
Sent: Tuesday, May 05, 2020 9:41 AM
To: Ted Gisske; skimmertalk at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [Skimmertalk] WSJT-X skimming load balancing?

 

Thanks Ted. 

 

Ok, that is a good option, just to move the skimmer on the second NIC off
the computer to another. Is it also possible to have different profiles that
are based on time?  I know with CW Skimmer/RBN aggregator I can configure it
that I do not skim 160, 80 during the day, and not 6, 10, 15 during the
night. Is that available with the WSJT-x/FTStart.exe part as well?

 

Thanks

Andy

KU7T

  _____  

From: Ted Gisske <gisske at offex.com>
Sent: Monday, May 4, 2020 6:22 PM
To: 'Andy KU7T' <ku7t at ku7t.org>; skimmertalk at contesting.com
<skimmertalk at contesting.com>
Subject: RE: [Skimmertalk] WSJT-X skimming load balancing? 

 

Andy,

I've been load-sharing the output of an RP-16 between two computers with no
difficulty for many months. You don't even have to go thru the whole
SkimServ.ini/SkimServ2.ini gymnastics to make it work. Each computer only is
running one instance of SkimServ, so no gymnastics are necessary. You do
have to reference each half of the RP16 by MAC address on each computer.

 

You will need to have Gigabit Ethernet between the RP and both computers. 

73,

Ted

K9IMM

From: Skimmertalk
[mailto:skimmertalk-bounces+gisske=offex.com at contesting.com] On Behalf Of
Andy KU7T
Sent: Monday, May 04, 2020 7:23 PM
To: skimmertalk at contesting.com
Subject: [Skimmertalk] WSJT-X skimming load balancing?

 

HI, 

 

I am running the Red Pitaya 16 bit.

 

I noticed that my computer does not seem to be up to the task to run all CW
bands and 5 FT8 bands. FT8 via WSTR-X with the FT8Start.exe seems  to cause
CPU intensive spikes. I also, noticed that the spikes occur every 30 s and I
am spotting FT8 spots every 30s. It really should be every 15s. I also
noticed that others that spot send spots every 15s. 

 

Does anyone know how to balance this better?  Is there some setting to make
WSJT-X instances less power hungry?  Can I offload some of the WSJT-X
instances to another computer (since data comes via ethernet)?  Any ideas
are appreciated. Trying not to invest into a branch new computer yet.

 

73

Andy

KU7T

 

Sent from Mail <https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986>  for Windows
10

 

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