K3 / SLUSB / CocoaModem
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Folks, I posted this question on the CocoaModem Yahoo group but have had no replies. Searched that group's archives, along with the Elecraft archives for an answer, but no luck. So, I'm sending it to this group in the hope that someone may have an answer. Here is that Yahoo Group post:
I must have something set incorrectly. I'm using a MacBook Air with OS/X 10.7.5, a brand new SignaLink USB and cocoaModem 2.0 connected to an Elecraft K3. A year or so ago I was using this same laptop (older version of OS/X), CM, and a different SLUSB. As this feeble brain recalls, I did have it working. To make a long story short, I had sold the SLUSB and recently decided that was a bad idea and am getting back into PSK-31 communication. Got a new SLUSB and hooked it up earlier today. I have the Tigertronics-supplied K3 cable plugged into the proper jacks in the back of the K3. I set the jumpers in the SLUSB per the instructions that came with the cable. I'm pretty sure I have the K3 set up at least partially correct - it IS in Data-A mode. Here's what's happening: I can see PSK-31 signals in the waterfall display at the top of the screen, but nothing gets decoded and displayed in the XCVR 1 or 2 box after clicking into the waterfall. In addition, when I transmit, it appears that no audio is being sent to the K3. The PTT clicks in the K3 and it goes into transmit mode until I click "Receive" on the CM panel. The text that I've typed into CM gets repeated in the XCVR 1 or 2 display box, but the RF power level of the K3 stays at the bottom, as if nothing was being sent to it's line in. In CM's config for PSK I've got the input and output set to USB Audio CODEC and the state to Active. So, I see PSK signals in the waterfall but no text display from them, plus I get no transmitting. Anyone have an idea where I've got something messed up? Tnx, Jim / W6JHB ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
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Problem(s) solved! Here is what I just posted on the CocoaModem Yahoo group page. Hopefully some other SLUSB/CocoaModem newbie will find this helpful...
I have found the problem, and the problem is me, myself & I. First off, there was some bogus information in the Applescript field. Once I cleared that, I was able to get RF out of the K3! On the receive end of things - well, this one was really, really stupid. The squelch sliders next to each receiver were in the far left position. I "ASSumed" this was the "squelch off" position. Nope - this was full squelch, preventing ANY decoded data from displaying. Ughhhh... I moved the slider to the right and bada-bing, bada-boom - I was getting text displayed. Now, to hook up a dummy load and make the necessary adjustments so I'm not overdriving things. On Dec 11, 2012, at 7:23 PM, Jim Bennett wrote: > Folks, I posted this question on the CocoaModem Yahoo group but have had no replies. Searched that group's archives, along with the Elecraft archives for an answer, but no luck. So, I'm sending it to this group in the hope that someone may have an answer. Here is that Yahoo Group post: > > I must have something set incorrectly. I'm using a MacBook Air with OS/X > 10.7.5, a brand new SignaLink USB and cocoaModem 2.0 connected to an Elecraft K3. A year > or so ago I was using this same laptop (older version of OS/X), CM, and a > different SLUSB. As this feeble brain recalls, I did have it working. To make a > long story short, I had sold the SLUSB and recently decided that was a bad idea > and am getting back into PSK-31 communication. Got a new SLUSB and hooked it up > earlier today. > > I have the Tigertronics-supplied K3 cable plugged into the proper jacks in the > back of the K3. I set the jumpers in the SLUSB per the instructions that came > with the cable. I'm pretty sure I have the K3 set up at least partially correct > - it IS in Data-A mode. > > Here's what's happening: I can see PSK-31 signals in the waterfall display at > the top of the screen, but nothing gets decoded and displayed in the XCVR 1 or 2 box after > clicking into the waterfall. In addition, when I transmit, it appears that no > audio is being sent to the K3. The PTT clicks in the K3 and it goes into > transmit mode until I click "Receive" on the CM panel. The text that I've typed > into CM gets repeated in the XCVR 1 or 2 display box, but the RF power level of > the K3 stays at the bottom, as if nothing was being sent to it's line in. > > In CM's config for PSK I've got the input and output set to USB Audio CODEC and > the state to Active. > > So, I see PSK signals in the waterfall but no text display from them, plus I get > no transmitting. Anyone have an idea where I've got something messed up? > > Tnx, Jim / W6JHB ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
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Jim,
Not sure why you feel the need for the SL with your K3 but that's up to you. Anyway, no need for a dummy load with the K3. Basically put the K3 in Test mode set the pwr to 30 or 40 or whatever you like, adjust the pots on the SL to show 4 bars of ALC with the 5th bar flickering, take the K3 out of Test mode and go for it! GL, Rick K6LE On 12/11/2012, at 8:47 , Jim Bennett <[hidden email]> wrote: > Problem(s) solved! Here is what I just posted on the CocoaModem Yahoo group page. Hopefully some other SLUSB/CocoaModem newbie will find this helpful... > > I have found the problem, and the problem is me, myself & I. First off, there was some bogus information in the Applescript field. Once I cleared that, I was able to get RF out of the K3! On the receive end of things - well, this one was really, really stupid. The squelch sliders next to each receiver were in the far left position. I "ASSumed" this was the "squelch off" position. Nope - this was full squelch, preventing ANY decoded data from displaying. Ughhhh... I moved the slider to the right and bada-bing, bada-boom - I was getting text displayed. Now, to hook up a dummy load and make the necessary adjustments so I'm not overdriving things. ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
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On 12/11/12 at 9:14 PM, [hidden email] (Rick Prather) wrote:
>Not sure why you feel the need for the SL [SignaLink] with your K3 but that's up to you. The MacBook Air has only a single audio port. The Apple web site is a bit light on technical information (no surprise there), but it says the MacBook Air includes: Headphone port Support for Apple iPhone headset with remote and microphone If indeed it will take a 4 conductor plug (with a tip, 2 rings, and a sleeve), then it may be possible to skip the SignaLink by wiring a plug correctly. A friend who has done so for connecting a iPhone to a wired phone system says that the resistance value of the microphone connection is what is used to determine whether the plug is a 3 conductor stereo plug or a 4 conductor stereo + microphone plug. In any case, having the SignaLink lets you use the cocoaModem "monitor" feature to listen to the incoming signal. Not a great advantage with the K3 since you can just turn up the audio volume on the K3, but sometimes useful to hear what the computer hears. Cheers - Bill, AE6JV --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bill Frantz |"We used to quip that "password" is the most common 408-356-8506 | password. Now it's 'password1.' Who said users haven't www.pwpconsult.com | learned anything about security?" -- Bruce Schneier ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
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An iMic will give you separate in/out audio jacks.
73, Mike NF4L On Dec 12, 2012, at 2:10 AM, Bill Frantz <[hidden email]> wrote: > On 12/11/12 at 9:14 PM, [hidden email] (Rick Prather) wrote: > >> Not sure why you feel the need for the SL [SignaLink] with your K3 but that's up to you. > > The MacBook Air has only a single audio port. The Apple web site is a bit light on technical information (no surprise there), but it says the MacBook Air includes: > > Headphone port > Support for Apple iPhone headset with remote and microphone > > If indeed it will take a 4 conductor plug (with a tip, 2 rings, and a sleeve), then it may be possible to skip the SignaLink by wiring a plug correctly. A friend who has done so for connecting a iPhone to a wired phone system says that the resistance value of the microphone connection is what is used to determine whether the plug is a 3 conductor stereo plug or a 4 conductor stereo + microphone plug. > > In any case, having the SignaLink lets you use the cocoaModem "monitor" feature to listen to the incoming signal. Not a great advantage with the K3 since you can just turn up the audio volume on the K3, but sometimes useful to hear what the computer hears. > > Cheers - Bill, AE6JV > > --------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Bill Frantz |"We used to quip that "password" is the most common > 408-356-8506 | password. Now it's 'password1.' Who said users haven't > www.pwpconsult.com | learned anything about security?" -- Bruce Schneier > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 |
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In reply to this post by Bill Frantz
Guys - thanks for the replies!
By now you've probably read my post that I got it all working. As to having the SLUSB, after reading the K3 and KE7X manuals, it just seems that using the external sound card like the SLUSB makes it a little easier. Haven't looked at the iMic, but with the SLUSB, I can leave the K3's RF Power set at 90 watts where I normally have it for CW and control the power out for PSK31 with the SLUSB TX control. PLUS - I had a nice $25 discount coupon from DX Engineering and just couldn't resist getting that SLUSB for the lower price! :-) ALso, I had forgotten about the "Test" mode of the K3 for such purposes - thanks Rick! CU on the air - Jim / W6JHB.com On Tuesday, Dec 11, 2012, at Tuesday, 11:10 PM, Bill Frantz wrote: > On 12/11/12 at 9:14 PM, [hidden email] (Rick Prather) wrote: > >> Not sure why you feel the need for the SL [SignaLink] with your K3 but that's up to you. > > The MacBook Air has only a single audio port. The Apple web site is a bit light on technical information (no surprise there), but it says the MacBook Air includes: > > Headphone port > Support for Apple iPhone headset with remote and microphone > > If indeed it will take a 4 conductor plug (with a tip, 2 rings, and a sleeve), then it may be possible to skip the SignaLink by wiring a plug correctly. A friend who has done so for connecting a iPhone to a wired phone system says that the resistance value of the microphone connection is what is used to determine whether the plug is a 3 conductor stereo plug or a 4 conductor stereo + microphone plug. > > In any case, having the SignaLink lets you use the cocoaModem "monitor" feature to listen to the incoming signal. Not a great advantage with the K3 since you can just turn up the audio volume on the K3, but sometimes useful to hear what the computer hears. > > Cheers - Bill, AE6JV > > --------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Bill Frantz |"We used to quip that "password" is the most common > 408-356-8506 | password. Now it's 'password1.' Who said users haven't > www.pwpconsult.com | learned anything about security?" -- Bruce Schneier > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 |
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In reply to this post by Mike Reublin
Mike,
That has been true up to this year. But I believe that the latest iMac has gone over to the single plug system just like the Macbook Air. 73, Oliver W6ODJ On 12 Jan. 2012, at 06:25 AM, Mike Reublin <[hidden email]> wrote: > An iMic will give you separate in/out audio jacks. > > 73, Mike NF4L > > On Dec 12, 2012, at 2:10 AM, Bill Frantz <[hidden email]> wrote: > >> On 12/11/12 at 9:14 PM, [hidden email] (Rick Prather) wrote: >> >>> Not sure why you feel the need for the SL [SignaLink] with your K3 but that's up to you. >> >> The MacBook Air has only a single audio port. The Apple web site is a bit light on technical information (no surprise there), but it says the MacBook Air includes: >> >> Headphone port >> Support for Apple iPhone headset with remote and microphone >> >> If indeed it will take a 4 conductor plug (with a tip, 2 rings, and a sleeve), then it may be possible to skip the SignaLink by wiring a plug correctly. A friend who has done so for connecting a iPhone to a wired phone system says that the resistance value of the microphone connection is what is used to determine whether the plug is a 3 conductor stereo plug or a 4 conductor stereo + microphone plug. >> >> In any case, having the SignaLink lets you use the cocoaModem "monitor" feature to listen to the incoming signal. Not a great advantage with the K3 since you can just turn up the audio volume on the K3, but sometimes useful to hear what the computer hears. >> >> Cheers - Bill, AE6JV >> >> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- >> Bill Frantz |"We used to quip that "password" is the most common >> 408-356-8506 | password. Now it's 'password1.' Who said users haven't >> www.pwpconsult.com | learned anything about security?" -- Bruce Schneier >> >> ______________________________________________________________ >> 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 > ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
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In reply to this post by Jim Bennett
Jim, Just make sure when adjusting the power your ALC reading on the
K3 must show 4 bars of ALC with the 5th bar just flashing. This is counter intuitive based on other rigs but a necessity for the K3. If you are using the line in gain or the TX control on the SLUSB to regulate power you may be changing the ALC levels. 73 Greg AB7R On 12/12/12, Jim Bennett <[hidden email]> wrote: > Guys - thanks for the replies! > > By now you've probably read my post that I got it all working. As to having > the SLUSB, after reading the K3 and KE7X manuals, it just seems that using > the external sound card like the SLUSB makes it a little easier. Haven't > looked at the iMic, but with the SLUSB, I can leave the K3's RF Power set at > 90 watts where I normally have it for CW and control the power out for PSK31 > with the SLUSB TX control. PLUS - I had a nice $25 discount coupon from DX > Engineering and just couldn't resist getting that SLUSB for the lower price! > :-) > > ALso, I had forgotten about the "Test" mode of the K3 for such purposes - > thanks Rick! > > CU on the air - Jim / W6JHB.com > > On Tuesday, Dec 11, 2012, at Tuesday, 11:10 PM, Bill Frantz wrote: > >> On 12/11/12 at 9:14 PM, [hidden email] (Rick Prather) wrote: >> >>> Not sure why you feel the need for the SL [SignaLink] with your K3 but >>> that's up to you. >> >> The MacBook Air has only a single audio port. The Apple web site is a bit >> light on technical information (no surprise there), but it says the >> MacBook Air includes: >> >> Headphone port >> Support for Apple iPhone headset with remote and microphone >> >> If indeed it will take a 4 conductor plug (with a tip, 2 rings, and a >> sleeve), then it may be possible to skip the SignaLink by wiring a plug >> correctly. A friend who has done so for connecting a iPhone to a wired >> phone system says that the resistance value of the microphone connection >> is what is used to determine whether the plug is a 3 conductor stereo plug >> or a 4 conductor stereo + microphone plug. >> >> In any case, having the SignaLink lets you use the cocoaModem "monitor" >> feature to listen to the incoming signal. Not a great advantage with the >> K3 since you can just turn up the audio volume on the K3, but sometimes >> useful to hear what the computer hears. >> >> Cheers - Bill, AE6JV >> >> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- >> Bill Frantz |"We used to quip that "password" is the most common >> 408-356-8506 | password. Now it's 'password1.' Who said users >> haven't >> www.pwpconsult.com | learned anything about security?" -- Bruce Schneier >> >> ______________________________________________________________ >> 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 > 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 |
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Seems like there is some confusion between iMics and iMacs on this thread :-)
At any rate since you are already using the SL no need for an iMic at this time. BTW, lately my configuration for RTTY and PSK 31 has been to use Rumlog. It uses the internal FSK function of the K3 and when connected up with CCM gives you multiline receive. Doing it this way requires only a receive line from the Line out and on my mini the input is stereo so I can watch both receivers in an RTTY pile up with CCM's dual receiver mode. I also use the P3SVGA set up for a lot of RTTY and what little PSK31 I do. Either way I don't have to think about audio drive so it makes for it a quick set up. Something else to play with when you have some time. Rick K6LE ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
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In reply to this post by Rick Prather-2
Looks like I misspoke when I said I could leave the K3's PWR set at 90 and adjust the RF output via the SLUSB. Doesn't quite work that way! RF power out stays up in the stratosphere (PSK31 speaking, anyway) so I really do have to set the K3 to about 25-30 watts out on the K3 and adjust the ALC via the SLUSB. Still, it does seem to work pretty well.
Jim / W6JHB On Tuesday, Dec 11, 2012, at Tuesday, 9:14 PM, Rick Prather wrote: > Jim, > > Not sure why you feel the need for the SL with your K3 but that's up to you. > > Anyway, no need for a dummy load with the K3. Basically put the K3 in Test mode set the pwr to 30 or 40 or whatever you like, adjust the pots on the SL to show 4 bars of ALC with the 5th bar flickering, take the K3 out of Test mode and go for it! > > GL, > > Rick > K6LE > > On 12/11/2012, at 8:47 , Jim Bennett <[hidden email]> wrote: > >> Problem(s) solved! Here is what I just posted on the CocoaModem Yahoo group page. Hopefully some other SLUSB/CocoaModem newbie will find this helpful... >> >> I have found the problem, and the problem is me, myself & I. First off, there was some bogus information in the Applescript field. Once I cleared that, I was able to get RF out of the K3! On the receive end of things - well, this one was really, really stupid. The squelch sliders next to each receiver were in the far left position. I "ASSumed" this was the "squelch off" position. Nope - this was full squelch, preventing ANY decoded data from displaying. Ughhhh... I moved the slider to the right and bada-bing, bada-boom - I was getting text displayed. Now, to hook up a dummy load and make the necessary adjustments so I'm not overdriving things. > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 |
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Jim,
Due to the way the K3 controls power, you must ignore the many instances in Data software instructions and other sites on the web which tell you to set the power for maximum and use the audio level to control the power. That just will not work for the K3 (or the K2 for that matter). You must set the audio level to give you 4 bars on the ALC meter with the 5th bar flickering (do that in TEST mode to keep the signal off the air). Then adjust the power knob for the power level you want. To do otherwise will result in "power creep" as the K3 senses that the power level is less than that requested on the power knob and then the K3 increases the drive to attempt to bring the power up to the requested level. 73, Don W3FPR On 12/12/2012 1:53 PM, Jim Bennett wrote: > Looks like I misspoke when I said I could leave the K3's PWR set at 90 and adjust the RF output via the SLUSB. Doesn't quite work that way! RF power out stays up in the stratosphere (PSK31 speaking, anyway) so I really do have to set the K3 to about 25-30 watts out on the K3 and adjust the ALC via the SLUSB. Still, it does seem to work pretty well. > > Jim / W6JHB > > ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
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In reply to this post by Jim Bennett
The other issue with the SLUSB audio level setting is that if you use a
program like DM780 to watch PSK (several conversations at once) then click on one to use, the actual tones used will change. The audio drive at 1KHz will be different than if you select 1.8KHz so the ALC response may (likely will) be different. Using the native PSK of the K line bypasses this issue but denies your ability to see multiple conversations at once (hoping HRD adds PSK in addition to the FSK they've promised). As for keeping PSK at the 'standard' 25 watts, sometimes I just don't bother making the change in power from my standard 100 watts. If you're running cleanly (not driving so hard as to create IMD), there is no way the other station can tell what your power setting is. The difference between 3-6db of actual power compared to the same amount of antenna gain is negligible; the signal strength will be the same to the other station. If I had more than a simple wire antenna, I might think differently. If the link appears strong, I reduce power, when I remember. PSK is cool that it work pretty well near the noise floor, where power can help. 73 es Merry Christmas, Rick wa6nhc K3, P3, KPA500, KAT500 -----Original Message----- From: Jim Bennett Looks like I misspoke when I said I could leave the K3's PWR set at 90 and adjust the RF output via the SLUSB. Doesn't quite work that way! RF power out stays up in the stratosphere (PSK31 speaking, anyway) so I really do have to set the K3 to about 25-30 watts out on the K3 and adjust the ALC via the SLUSB. Still, it does seem to work pretty well. Jim / W6JHB ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
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