K3 #1456 - data modes setup

[Bob Towers-2]

Well, the K3/100 kit arrived on 18th August. I ordered it on 31 March
and was expecting September delivery, so it was a pleasant surprise to
get it early.

The K3/10 is built and I've connected it up to my soundcard (Aureal
Vortex) on my PC via the LINE IN and LINE OUT jack sockets on the back
of the K3. The connections to the soundcard are line out and line in
respectively. My digital mode software is MixW.

I've come across a problem: the LINE IN and LINE OUT levels appear to be
pretty low. I need to set the K3 LINE OUT level well above 50 before I
can see a trace on MixW's waterfall, even with the soundcard's line in
level set to maximum. I also need to set the K3 MIC gain above 50 before
I get a decent level of drive; even at 70 the ALC level doesn't even
register.

I have previously used this soundcard without problem with fixed level
inputs and outputs from my TenTec Argonaut V, so I doubt whether the
problem is with the soundcard.

OK, I could use the soundcard MIC input and speaker output instead, but
I guess the impedances will be all wrong.

73

Bob
MM0RKT
Hamilton


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[Julian, G4ILO]

Bob Towers-2 wrote

Well, the K3/100 kit arrived on 18th August. I ordered it on 31 March
and was expecting September delivery, so it was a pleasant surprise to
get it early.

The K3/10 is built and I've connected it up to my soundcard (Aureal
Vortex) on my PC via the LINE IN and LINE OUT jack sockets on the back
of the K3. The connections to the soundcard are line out and line in
respectively. My digital mode software is MixW.

I've come across a problem: the LINE IN and LINE OUT levels appear to be
pretty low. I need to set the K3 LINE OUT level well above 50 before I
can see a trace on MixW's waterfall, even with the soundcard's line in
level set to maximum. I also need to set the K3 MIC gain above 50 before
I get a decent level of drive; even at 70 the ALC level doesn't even
register.

I have previously used this soundcard without problem with fixed level
inputs and outputs from my TenTec Argonaut V, so I doubt whether the
problem is with the soundcard.

OK, I could use the soundcard MIC input and speaker output instead, but
I guess the impedances will be all wrong.

Without knowing the actual audio levels in and out it is difficult to offer an accurate diagnosis. However, your experience of lack of drive is the opposite of mine. I assume that you *are* using plain vanilla straight through audio cables, not ones with a resistive attenuator built in which I found necessary with all my other radios?

I don't have a line out socket on my sound card so I have to use the same output that would be used to drive computer speakers or headphones. I have the K3 line input setting (not mic gain, you have to configure a menu option to select the line input for data) at about 20 to get 5 bars on the "ALC" reading.

On receive I actually get an adequate drive for the CW Skimmer program into the line input socket with the K3 Line output level set at just 2. Other software seems to need about a 10 - 15 level.