K3 and HRD: MAC using VMWare + HRD, no waterfall display

[Chris Hallinan]

I'm trying to get my new K3 on the digital modes using HRD.  On the
advice from the good folks on this list, I purchased a Tascam US122 MK
II.  No regrets there, it's a great unit for the price.

My setup has HRD running under VMWare on a Macbook Pro/Yosemite.  I'm
running latest Windows 8.1 with HRD in the VM.

I am confident in the physical setup, as I can use fldigi natively on
the MAC successfully.  But, HRD displays no waterfall at all.
Sometimes, I see RX activity on the built-in software sound card
monitor within HRD, and HRD can in fact see my Tascam under sound card
setup, but nothing i've tried will actually make it work.  The
waterfall display is always dark, indicating no incoming audio, even
though the LEDs on the Tascam, indicate activity.

Has anyone had success using this setup?  Any recommendations for a
path to success?  Should i try another sound interface? (Don't have
one presently.)  Sould I ditch the MAC and buy a windows box (ouch)?

Thanks,

Chris

--
Life is like Linux - it never stands still.
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[Bill Frantz]

I have the Tascam US122mkII running on MacOS 10.7.5 on a MacBook
Pro. I'm running it on MacOS rather than Windows. It works, but
I occasionally have to reboot the Mac to get the driver to
properly connect with the Tascam. When it's not working, it
looks like everything is connected properly, but there is a lot
of noise and distortion in the signal. My problem frequently
shows up if the Tascam is plugged in to the USB connection after
the Mac is booted.

Note that I haven't spent enough time chasing this issue to be
really sure what is happening.

73 Bill AE6JV

On 3/30/15 at 8:45 AM, [hidden email] (Chris Hallinan) wrote:

>I'm trying to get my new K3 on the digital modes using HRD.  On the
>advice from the good folks on this list, I purchased a Tascam US122 MK
>II.  No regrets there, it's a great unit for the price.
>
>My setup has HRD running under VMWare on a Macbook Pro/Yosemite.  I'm
>running latest Windows 8.1 with HRD in the VM.
>
>I am confident in the physical setup, as I can use fldigi natively on
>the MAC successfully.  But, HRD displays no waterfall at all.
>Sometimes, I see RX activity on the built-in software sound card
>monitor within HRD, and HRD can in fact see my Tascam under sound card
>setup, but nothing i've tried will actually make it work.  The
>waterfall display is always dark, indicating no incoming audio, even
>though the LEDs on the Tascam, indicate activity.
>
>Has anyone had success using this setup?  Any recommendations for a
>path to success?  Should i try another sound interface? (Don't have
>one presently.)  Sould I ditch the MAC and buy a windows box (ouch)?

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[Elecraft mailing list]

I'm not familiar with VMWare, but under Parallels, youhave to make sure that the various devices, e.g., theserial lines and/or audio codecs, that you need for HRDhave been assigned to Parallels (and Windows) so thatWindows can legally access them. It sounds like you've gotthat much at least partially configured.
I'm assuming you have HRD 6.2.9.354 (which I have) or later.
Does the HRD Rig Control come up properly, and does it"follow" your VFO when you turn the main knob on your K3?
On DM780, go into "Program Options" -> "Soundcard" anddouble-check that it's looking at the audio device you thinkit should be looking at. (I use a SignaLink USB, so it showsup as "USB Audio Codec"; YMMV, and yes, I know better, but...).
Also under "Program Options", you might want to investigate"Soundcard Calibration". I'm not convinced that that alonewould fix your problem, but it might give you a better idea asto which tree to bark up next.
On the main DM780 window, click on "Soundcard", which shouldbring up a couple of vertically oriented bar graphs - see ifthe receive one is behaving appropriately; you may need toadjust an input level on your Tascam or other device if it'sin "Overload" or barely bumping the "thermometer". BTW, thereare some helpful tips in the info area in the lower right-handcorner of the "Soundcard" window.
You might also need to go into the OS X settings to double-checkthat it isn't (also) trying to grab the Tascam and/or the K3's serial line,even if VMWare and Windows think they own them.
I haven't looked at the HRD forum lately, but you might take a lookover there just in case someone with this particular configurationhas encountered this problem before.
HTH and 73,
Brandy, N1HO
      From: Chris Hallinan <[hidden email]> wrote:
But, HRD displays no waterfall at all.
Sometimes, I see RX activity on the built-in software sound card
monitor within HRD, and HRD can in fact see my Tascam under sound card
setup, but nothing i've tried will actually make it work. 

 
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[Chris Hallinan]

Thanks for all the helpful tips and information.  Through more
testing, it appears it's not DM-780 problem at all, but more likely a
bug in the VMWare USB stack.  I can get PC sounds to play through the
device, but as soon as I change anything at all, the sounds stop
working and nothing I can do except unplug and replug the device
(virtually, using the VMWare Fusion Disconnect/Connect menu items)
will make it work again.

So, I will go chase down that avenue.  I'm a paying customer of
VMWare, so maybe it's time to submit a support request!

Thanks again,

Chris
K1AY

On Mon, Mar 30, 2015 at 1:27 PM, Bayard Coolidge, N1HO <[hidden email]> wrote:

> I'm not familiar with VMWare, but under Parallels, you
> have to make sure that the various devices, e.g., the
> serial lines and/or audio codecs, that you need for HRD
> have been assigned to Parallels (and Windows) so that
> Windows can legally access them. It sounds like you've got
> that much at least partially configured.
>
> I'm assuming you have HRD 6.2.9.354 (which I have) or later.
>
> Does the HRD Rig Control come up properly, and does it
> "follow" your VFO when you turn the main knob on your K3?
>
> On DM780, go into "Program Options" -> "Soundcard" and
> double-check that it's looking at the audio device you think
> it should be looking at. (I use a SignaLink USB, so it shows
> up as "USB Audio Codec"; YMMV, and yes, I know better, but...).
>
> Also under "Program Options", you might want to investigate
> "Soundcard Calibration". I'm not convinced that that alone
> would fix your problem, but it might give you a better idea as
> to which tree to bark up next.
>
> On the main DM780 window, click on "Soundcard", which should
> bring up a couple of vertically oriented bar graphs - see if
> the receive one is behaving appropriately; you may need to
> adjust an input level on your Tascam or other device if it's
> in "Overload" or barely bumping the "thermometer". BTW, there
> are some helpful tips in the info area in the lower right-hand
> corner of the "Soundcard" window.
>
> You might also need to go into the OS X settings to double-check
> that it isn't (also) trying to grab the Tascam and/or the K3's serial line,
> even if VMWare and Windows think they own them.
>
> I haven't looked at the HRD forum lately, but you might take a look
> over there just in case someone with this particular configuration
> has encountered this problem before.
>
> HTH and 73,
>
> Brandy, N1HO
>
> ________________________________
> From: Chris Hallinan <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> But, HRD displays no waterfall at all.
> Sometimes, I see RX activity on the built-in software sound card
> monitor within HRD, and HRD can in fact see my Tascam under sound card
> setup, but nothing i've tried will actually make it work.
>

--
Life is like Linux - it never stands still.
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