[ARDF] Musings on an ARDF user interface

[Charles Scharlau]

I would be interested to hear others comments and suggestions regarding
ideas for new ARDF receiver features and interface design. Below are some
ideas that should be achievable in the first version of a software defined
ARDF receiver. Maybe you have some other/better ideas?

1. Instead of an "S-meter" the ARDF receiver will feature a "D-meter".
Instead of just relative signal strength, the D-meter will display
approximate distance (in meters/km) to the fox. The D-meter can be
calibrated by the user during ARDF practice sessions, and the calibration
will be stored non-volatilely.

2. An internal clock can be synchronized to the fox schedule whenever it is
convenient, including long before the event starts if timing information is
available. For example, if it is known that the foxes will by synchronized
to UTC.

3. The ARDF receiver will devote a full display to each fox, and
automatically switch between displays at the synchronized time. (Display
transitions can be overridden if desired.)

4. Each fox display will provide the following information:
a. Time of day
b. Seconds remaining in the fox transmission
c. Fox number
d. Battery level
e. Real-time signal strength (average and peak)
f. Signal strength history chart (maximum average-signal-strength observed
during each minute of previous transmission intervals for the past 60
minutes
g. Real-time bearing (if digital compass is available)

5. Some kind of audio tone signal-strength indicator (aka, whoopee mode). It
seems that quite a few new and old ideas might be incorporated here. Russian
receivers have long used a tone mode that could be simulated in software,
and the Australian sniffers incorporate a one-ear
rising-pitch-with-rising-signal-strength paradigm. Perhaps both can be
accommodated, and something new as well, and have them user selectable...
with an "off" selection for the purists.

Comments, suggestions?

73,
Charles
NZ0I