K3 Audio I/O & WriteLog/RTTYrite/MMTTY

[rkayakr]

A cautionary tale

I am a long time user of MMTTY and DM780 for audio digital modes on my K3. In getting ready for FD I set up RTTYrite with MMTTY for the first time in WriteLog. When I went to test the output I found that the K3 went into transmit mode but no signal was generated. Pulling the audio jack out at the computer produced the expected squeals from the laptop. After rechecking all settings I wiggled the audio line in plug to the K3 and was able to get some signal. After repeated tries over several days with the same results I concluded that the jack on my "old" (#70) K3 was loose and I ordered a new audio I/O board.

After replacement I had the same problem!

I eventually discovered that there was no signal coming out of the left channel of the laptop, which is the only channel the K3 responds to. Wiggling the plug apparently caused the right channel portion of the plug to contact the left channel jack. On a tip from a friend I checked RTTYrite/MMTTY. Sure enough, even though I set the balance in the center with the toolbar app, when I fired up Writelog/RTTYrite/MMTTY it would reset the balance to the right channel only. It also locks the toolbar app out from changing the balance back. MMTTY stand alone does not play this nasty trick. I have observed it only when used in WriteLog/RTTYrite.

   Bob
     KD8CGH
       KX1 #1646
       K2 #2122
       K3 #70

[Joe Subich, W4TV-4]

> I eventually discovered that there was no signal coming out of the
> left channel of the laptop, which is the only channel the K3
> responds to. Wiggling the plug apparently caused the right channel
> portion of the plug to contact the left channel jack. On a tip from a
> friend I checked RTTYrite/MMTTY.

This is a simple user configuration issue with Writelog.  MMTTY always
produces DUAL CHANNEL MONO output.  However, you have told Writelog
you have a stereo soundcard and assigned RTTYrite to "radio right."
WriteLog is panning the output audio (actually turning down the left
channel in the soundcard mixer) to send the AFSK audio to the channel
you selected.  Check the Writelog help files - there are at least
three ways to fix your problem:  configure your soundcard as a mono
soundcard, assign RTTYrite (the RTTY window) to the left radio,  or
tell WriteLog your only radio is "radio left."  Even if you have set-up
Writelog for a single radio you must still tell WriteLog that the radio
is radio left" if you are using a stereo soundboard.

You may also be able to use the WriteLog Soundboard control application
to disable Writelog's control over the soundcard mixer.

73,

    ... Joe, W4TV


On 6/29/2010 9:59 PM, rkayakr wrote:

>
> A cautionary tale
>
> I am a long time user of MMTTY and DM780 for audio digital modes on
> my K3. In getting ready for FD I set up RTTYrite with MMTTY for the
> first time in WriteLog. When I went to test the output I found that
> the K3 went into transmit mode but no signal was generated. Pulling
> the audio jack out at the computer produced the expected squeals
> from the laptop. After rechecking all settings I wiggled the audio
> line in plug to the K3 and was able to get some signal. After
> repeated tries over several days with the same results I concluded
> that the jack on my "old" (#70) K3 was loose and I ordered a new
> audio I/O board.
>
> After replacement I had the same problem!
>
> I eventually discovered that there was no signal coming out of the
> left channel of the laptop, which is the only channel the K3
> responds to. Wiggling the plug apparently caused the right channel
> portion of the plug to contact the left channel jack. On a tip from a
> friend I checked RTTYrite/MMTTY. Sure enough, even though I set the
> balance in the center with the toolbar app, when I fired up
> Writelog/RTTYrite/MMTTY it would reset the balance to the right
> channel only. It also locks the toolbar app out from changing the
> balance back. MMTTY stand alone does not play this nasty trick. I
> have observed it only when used in WriteLog/RTTYrite.
>
> Bob KD8CGH KX1 #1646 K2 #2122 K3 #70
>

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