Power Genius XL¶
The Power Genius XL (PGXL) is a 4O3A Signature solid-state amplifier. It connects to the radio, and the radio reports it to RimuSDR. Nothing has to be configured to see it.
When the radio reports an amplifier, an AMP button appears in the panel button row on the right of the main window, along with the AMP status button in the top bar. Both disappear when the amplifier is no longer reported.
The AMP status button¶
The AMP button in the top bar shows what the amplifier is doing.
| Appearance | Meaning |
|---|---|
| AMP over OPERATE, in green | The amplifier is in operate and will amplify. |
| AMP over STANDBY, dimmed | The amplifier is in standby and passes power through. |
| AMP alone, highlighted | The amplifier is transmitting. |
Click the button to move the amplifier between operate and standby.
Hold the pointer over the button to see the amplifier's IP address.
The AMP panel¶
Click AMP in the panel button row to show or hide the amplifier panel. The panel is titled POWER GENIUS XL and holds three meters.
- Forward power
- Power the amplifier is delivering, in watts.
- SWR
- Standing wave ratio at the amplifier output.
- Temperature
- Amplifier temperature.
Why SWR sometimes reads zero
The amplifier reports return loss, and RimuSDR converts it to SWR. A return loss of 0 dB or less has no meaningful ratio, so the meter draws an empty bar instead of a false reading. An empty SWR bar means no data, not a perfect match.
Fan mode¶
The Fan drop-down appears in the AMP panel, below the temperature reading, with Standard, Contest and Broadcast.
The drop-down is not shown by default. Fan mode is the one amplifier setting the radio does not carry, so RimuSDR has to open its own connection to the amplifier to read and change it.
To turn it on, go to Settings › Radio Setup..., open the External tab, and select Enable fan control (direct connection to amplifier). RimuSDR connects to the amplifier at the address the radio reports, on TCP port 9008. No address has to be entered.
For the full settings, the connection status messages, and what to do when the link fails, see Radio Setup - External.
The drop-down always shows the mode the amplifier reports, not the mode last clicked, so a change the amplifier does not accept is never shown as done.
Fan mode is not saved on the amplifier
RimuSDR changes the fan mode for the running amplifier only. It never writes the change into the amplifier's stored settings, because saving settings restarts the amplifier. The amplifier returns to its stored fan mode when it next restarts.
Fan control is local only
Fan control needs a direct network path from this computer to the amplifier. It does not work over SmartLink, and the Fan drop-down stays hidden there. The meters and the operate control still work, because those travel on the radio's connection.