Elecraft › [K3]

[K3] Need help: K3 - FLDIGI - Signalink

Classic

List

Threaded

4 messages Options

Paul-285

[K3] Need help: K3 - FLDIGI - Signalink

I'm brand new to digital modes (other than CW, and packet from the 80's).

Is anyone up to helping me get the K3 configured with FLDIGI and Signalink?

FLDIGI can receive fine.

FLDIGI can transmit according to my in-line power meter, with the
power set to 25 Watts, but nobody can hear me.

I've got a subscription to gotomeeting so you can operate my computer
and we can chat via gotomeeting's built in VOIP, or I can call you on
the phone.

I'm very computer literate, but this combination has stumped me.

73,

Paul N4LCD
770-382-1023 home
678-986-8602 cell
www.N4LCD.com

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

David Herring-3

Re: [K3] Need help: K3 - FLDIGI - Signalink

Paul,

There's a zillion questions we need answers to in order to help. Here's a few to get the process started:

Can you hear your transmitted signal? Does it sound right for whatever mode you are using? Even just turning up the monitor on your K3 and listening to your audio would be adequate.

Check your volume settings on your computer, your signalink and your rig. None of them should be completely maxed out, but rather, somewhere within a nominal range so that there is no distortion being added due to being overdriven.

Are you on the right antenna (if you have multiple ones)?

Good job on running the K3 at 25 watts -- ensures a relatively good clean signal from the Elecraft.

You say you can receive OK, so that means that you decode the other station's transmission and can see his text? This proves that you're truly on the same mode.

I ask these questions, certainly NOT to be offensive, but because they all lead to mistakes I've made in the past as I was learning how to use this combination of equipment and ruling them out is a good first step.

The XYL has indicated I may be out of the shack this afternoon so I probably shouldn't hop on the gotomeeting just now. If my questions don't help, maybe there's someone else on the reflector who can.

I use a similar combination of FLDIGI, Signalink and K3 with very good results, so there's nothing wrong with the combination. But to be honest, as I'm going to be rewiring the station shortly, I'm seriously considering bypassing my signalink and wiring direct from computer to K3. I don't know that there's any difference either way, but I figure one less component in the works...one less thing to deal with... <shrug>.

Good luck Paul.

73 and Aloha
Dave AH6TD

On Dec 30, 2010, at 10:32 AM, [hidden email] wrote:

> I'm brand new to digital modes (other than CW, and packet from the 80's).
>
> Is anyone up to helping me get the K3 configured with FLDIGI and Signalink?
>
> FLDIGI can receive fine.
>
> FLDIGI can transmit according to my in-line power meter, with the
> power set to 25 Watts, but nobody can hear me.
>
> I've got a subscription to gotomeeting so you can operate my computer
> and we can chat via gotomeeting's built in VOIP, or I can call you on
> the phone.
>
> I'm very computer literate, but this combination has stumped me.
>
> 73,
>
> Paul N4LCD
> 770-382-1023 home
> 678-986-8602 cell
> www.N4LCD.com
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

Don Wilhelm-4

Re: [K3] Need help: K3 - FLDIGI - Signalink

In reply to this post by Paul-285

Paul,

Did you set the Line-in level according to the K3 instructions? In TX
TEST mode, drive the ALC indicator up to 4 bars with the 5th bar
flickering. Then use the K3 power control to set the power output level.

Many interface manuals will tell you to adjust the transceiver power
using the audio drive - and while that works with many transceivers that
use the ALC to adjust the power output, it does not work with the K3
since its power control is developed differently.

I don't really know what the Signalink instructions say, but do follow
the instructions in the K3 manual on this setup portion and ignore any
others.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 12/30/2010 3:32 PM, [hidden email] wrote:

John Ragle

Re: [K3] - FLDIGI - Signalink

In reply to this post by Paul-285

Paul...

Good session on gotomeeting this afternoon...I found it quite
instructive. Here is what Don W. wrote me some time ago:

On 7/17/2010 6:44 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote:

> "...Use the power knob to set the power you wish to use, and increase
> the audio drive until you get 4 to 5 bars on the "ALC" meter. If you
> are using the Line In on the K3, you will have to change the
> Signallink to the high audio output, the default low setting is mic
> level (because most transceivers use mic level for data as well as
> voice). That will provide stable operation of the K3 power control
> circuits."

Call again if you need more help. I use a similar combination on my ICOM
910H for WSJT on 2 meters (not much PSK there, in part because of
multipath propagation and in part because it is not the "fashion").

You really ought to have a look at the WSJT pages (google WSJT)...not
too much doing just at the moment wrt meteor scatter, though I heard a
couple of stations today. Peaking on the evening of January 3 will be
the "quadrantids" shower (google again), which should give lively MS
activity. The K3 works beautifully on 6 meters in this (FSK441) mode
with the SignaLink box, though you will have to increase the LIN OUT
setting on the K3 (don't use the digital gain on SpecJT to accomplish
this). Your K3 at 100 watts should work well.

You will also find Europeans (mostly) working PSK63 and higher speed
modes, usually keeping to the region around 14.073 or so.

Also, your K3 will work marvelously in the other modes available in
FLDIGI -- e.g. olivia, hell, etc. -- though in my experience there is
not as much activity.

I look forward to working you "over the air"

John Ragle -- W1ZI

=====

On 12/30/2010 3:32 PM, [hidden email] wrote:
> I'm brand new to digital modes (other than CW, and packet from the 80's).
>
> Is anyone up to helping me get the K3 configured with FLDIGI and Signalink?
>
> FLDIGI can receive fine.
>
> FLDIGI can transmit according to my in-line power meter, with the
> power set to 25 Watts, but nobody can hear me.

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html