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LIN IN level varies

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G3XAQ

LIN IN level varies

I'm an infrequent user of data modes. I'm trying to use FT8 with the
latest version of the WSJT-X software. Sound card input is via LINE IN.
I'm using DATA A mode.

Everything works OK on transmit except that intermittently the K3 output
falls to zero even though the sound card audio output level isn't
changing. The VOX stays on, so the K3 is "hearing" the audio. ALC
usually but not always falls to zero from the 4 bars level. Even
weirder, if I turn the MIC gain (LINE) down to zero and back up again
the output and ALC come back up to normal.

Is this a hardware fault? A software fault? Or something even weirder?
My FW REVS says

uC 05.14
d1 02.83
d2 00.00 (no KRX3 is installed)
FL 01.19
dr 00.00

73. Alan G3XAQ
--

Alan Ibbetson
[hidden email]
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Bill Frantz

Re: LIN IN level varies

The type of radio might matter for a fix for the problem.

If wsjt-x is set up to use CAT control from the computer, it
will use CAT to set the radio into transmit mode, so the fact
that the radio is in transmit mode doesn't mean that VOX has
been activated. If this is the case, it is possible there is a
problem with the sound card/cable(s).

73 Bill AE6JV

On 5/10/18 at 2:58 AM, [hidden email] (Alan Ibbetson) wrote:

>I'm an infrequent user of data modes. I'm trying to use FT8
>with the latest version of the WSJT-X software. Sound card
>input is via LINE IN. I'm using DATA A mode.
>
>Everything works OK on transmit except that intermittently the
>K3 output falls to zero even though the sound card audio output
>level isn't changing. The VOX stays on, so the K3 is "hearing"
>the audio. ALC usually but not always falls to zero from the 4
>bars level. Even weirder, if I turn the MIC gain (LINE) down to
>zero and back up again the output and ALC come back up to normal.
>
>Is this a hardware fault? A software fault? Or something even weirder? My FW REVS says
>
>uC 05.14
>d1 02.83
>d2 00.00 (no KRX3 is installed)
>FL 01.19
>dr 00.00
>
>73. Alan G3XAQ

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Bill Frantz | "The only thing we have to | Periwinkle
(408)356-8506 | fear is fear itself." - FDR | 16345
Englewood Ave
www.pwpconsult.com | Inaugural address, 3/4/1933 | Los Gatos,
CA 95032

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G3XAQ

Re: LIN IN level varies

Hi Bill,

That's an interesting theory but the evidence doesn't support it. If I
turn off VOX then WJST never puts the K3 into transmit. I looked and F2
in WJST-X has "VOX" selected under the Radio tab.

The more I mull this over the more the effect of turning the Mic pot
down to zero and back up again to temporarily clear the fault the more I
suspect the K3 firmware.

I've downloaded the latest microcode from electraft.com. So far this
evening the fault has not reappeared. Time will tell.

73, Alan G3XAQ

On 10/05/2018 20:53, Bill Frantz wrote:

> The type of radio might matter for a fix for the problem.
>
> If wsjt-x is set up to use CAT control from the computer, it
> will use CAT to set the radio into transmit mode, so the fact
> that the radio is in transmit mode doesn't mean that VOX has
> been activated. If this is the case, it is possible there is a
> problem with the sound card/cable(s).
>
> 73 Bill AE6JV
>
> On 5/10/18 at 2:58 AM, [hidden email] (Alan Ibbetson) wrote:
>
>> I'm an infrequent user of data modes. I'm trying to use FT8
>> with the latest version of the WSJT-X software. Sound card
>> input is via LINE IN. I'm using DATA A mode.
>>
>> Everything works OK on transmit except that intermittently the
>> K3 output falls to zero even though the sound card audio output
>> level isn't changing. The VOX stays on, so the K3 is "hearing"
>> the audio. ALC usually but not always falls to zero from the 4
>> bars level. Even weirder, if I turn the MIC gain (LINE) down to
>> zero and back up again the output and ALC come back up to normal.
>>
>> Is this a hardware fault? A software fault? Or something even weirder? My FW REVS says
>>
>> uC 05.14
>> d1 02.83
>> d2 00.00 (no KRX3 is installed)
>> FL 01.19
>> dr 00.00
>>
>> 73. Alan G3XAQ
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
> Bill Frantz | "The only thing we have to | Periwinkle
> (408)356-8506 | fear is fear itself." - FDR | 16345
> Englewood Ave
> www.pwpconsult.com | Inaugural address, 3/4/1933 | Los Gatos,
> CA 95032
>
>

--

Alan Ibbetson
[hidden email]
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Don Wilhelm

Re: LIN IN level varies

In reply to this post by G3XAQ

Alan,

Where do you have the LINE gain set?
It should be somewhere at a mid-range setting.
If it is set to the low or high regions, set it mid-range and adjust the
audio level with your soundcard volume control in the computer.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 5/10/2018 5:58 AM, Alan Ibbetson wrote:

> I'm an infrequent user of data modes. I'm trying to use FT8 with the
> latest version of the WSJT-X software. Sound card input is via LINE IN.
> I'm using DATA A mode.
>
> Everything works OK on transmit except that intermittently the K3 output
> falls to zero even though the sound card audio output level isn't
> changing. The VOX stays on, so the K3 is "hearing" the audio. ALC
> usually but not always falls to zero from the 4 bars level. Even
> weirder, if I turn the MIC gain (LINE) down to zero and back up again
> the output and ALC come back up to normal.

______________________________________________________________
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G3XAQ

Re: LIN IN level varies

Hello Don,

LINE 20. And ALC 4 bars with 5th one flickering, as was recommended an
aeon ago. Oh, COMP 0, although I don't think that has an effect on DATA A.

It is/was frustratingly intermittent, making fault finding a royal pain.
So far this evening with the new microcode the K3 is behaving itself.

73, Alan G3XAQ

On 10/05/2018 21:37, Don Wilhelm wrote:

> Alan,
>
> Where do you have the LINE gain set?
> It should be somewhere at a mid-range setting.
> If it is set to the low or high regions, set it mid-range and adjust the
> audio level with your soundcard volume control in the computer.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
> On 5/10/2018 5:58 AM, Alan Ibbetson wrote:
>> I'm an infrequent user of data modes. I'm trying to use FT8 with the
>> latest version of the WSJT-X software. Sound card input is via LINE IN.
>> I'm using DATA A mode.
>>
>> Everything works OK on transmit except that intermittently the K3 output
>> falls to zero even though the sound card audio output level isn't
>> changing. The VOX stays on, so the K3 is "hearing" the audio. ALC
>> usually but not always falls to zero from the 4 bars level. Even
>> weirder, if I turn the MIC gain (LINE) down to zero and back up again
>> the output and ALC come back up to normal.
>

G3XAQ

Re: LIN IN level varies

In reply to this post by Don Wilhelm

I downloaded the latest K3 firmware and the fault has not reappeared in
the past 24 hours.

Another thought struck me. The external USB sound card I use for FT8
might be playing tricks on me. I've had it disappear from the Control
Panel Sound menu for no apparent reason in the past. But who knows what
Windows does under the covers.

73, Alan G3XAQ

> On 5/10/2018 5:58 AM, Alan Ibbetson wrote:
>> I'm an infrequent user of data modes. I'm trying to use FT8 with the
>> latest version of the WSJT-X software. Sound card input is via LINE IN.
>> I'm using DATA A mode.
>>
>> Everything works OK on transmit except that intermittently the K3 output
>> falls to zero even though the sound card audio output level isn't
>> changing. The VOX stays on, so the K3 is "hearing" the audio. ALC
>> usually but not always falls to zero from the 4 bars level. Even
>> weirder, if I turn the MIC gain (LINE) down to zero and back up again
>> the output and ALC come back up to normal.
>