Testing - Add a task preference item to each SDR (ignored the new networked receivers, just port from 1.5)

auto_rx/auto_rx.py

@@ -93,6 +93,17 @@
 # This contains frequncies that should be blocked for a short amount of time.
 temporary_block_list = {}
 
+def get_sdr_item_pref(sdr_item):
+    """A helper function for the purpose of sorting the list of SDR by preference.
+    Args:
+        sdr_item (tuple) : Single element resulting from sdr_list.items(). A pair of ID (str) and config (dict).
+    Returns:
+        (tuple) : A pair with the scanner preference value inverted and ID, for the purpose of sorting by highest
+                  values first and if equal then lowest to highest ID.
+    """
+    id = sdr_item[0]
+    cfg = sdr_item[1]
+    return (-cfg["preference"], id)
 
 def allocate_sdr(check_only=False, task_description=""):
     """Allocate an un-used SDR for a task.
@@ -104,7 +115,7 @@ def allocate_sdr(check_only=False, task_description=""):
         (str): The device index/serial number of the free/allocated SDR, if one is free, else None.
     """
 
-    for _idx in sorted(autorx.sdr_list.keys()):
+    for _idx in [key for key, val in sorted(autorx.sdr_list.items(), key=get_sdr_item_pref)]:
         if autorx.sdr_list[_idx]["in_use"] == False:
             # Found a free SDR!
             if check_only:

auto_rx/autorx/config.py

@@ -744,6 +744,7 @@ def read_auto_rx_config(filename, no_sdr_test=False):
                     _ppm = round(config.getfloat(_section, "ppm"))
                     _gain = config.getfloat(_section, "gain")
                     _bias = config.getboolean(_section, "bias")
+                    _preference = config.getint(_section, "preference", fallback=0)
 
                     if (auto_rx_config["sdr_quantity"] > 1) and (_device_idx == "0"):
                         logging.critical(
@@ -758,6 +759,7 @@ def read_auto_rx_config(filename, no_sdr_test=False):
                             "ppm": _ppm,
                             "gain": _gain,
                             "bias": _bias,
+                            "preference": _preference,
                             "in_use": False,
                             "task": None,
                         }

auto_rx/station.cfg.example

@@ -48,6 +48,12 @@ gain = -1
 # Bias Tee - Enable the bias tee in the RTLSDR v3 Dongles.
 bias = False
 
+# Preference (integer)
+#   By default all the SDR's have preference of 0 for allocation of scanner and decode tasks.
+#   Apply an higher value to the SDRs preferred
+#   Use a negative value to avoid using them.
+preference = 1
+
 [sdr_2]
 # As above, for the next SDR, if used. Note the warning about serial numbers.
 device_idx = 00000002
@@ -563,4 +569,4 @@ radius_temporary_block = False
 # Discard positions if the sonde's reported time is more than X hours from the system time.
 # This helps catch glitches around 00Z UTC from iMet & LMS6 sondes, and bad CRC checks from
 # DFM sondes.
-sonde_time_threshold = 3
+sonde_time_threshold = 3