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New PSK set up - no joy

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w3sb

New PSK set up - no joy

Hello,

I'm trying to get on PSK31 with a new Windows 7 64-bit computer. I've read the owner's and Cady manuals, checked and re-checked the settings and still no joy. The setup is the K3, ASUS Xonar U7 external sound card, microKEYER interface and FLdigi. Basically I have no power output and no ALC indication. Receive is OK. Here are the K3 settings:

MODE=DATA A
MIC SEL=LINE IN
VOX=ON
VOX GN=50
LINE=40
PWR=20

In FLdidi:
PortAudio checked
CAPTURE=LINE(Xonar U7)
PLAYBACK=SPEAKERS(Xonar U7)

In FLdigi if I start a message, PTT turns on OK but turning the MIC(LINE) knob has no effect and there is no power out (Bird watt meter). When a message is started, if I look in the CONTROL PANEL > SOUND, I see modulation via the Playback (Speakers) bar graph at the 60% level.

I have the setup working on RTTY with MMTTY just fine but PSK is giving me fits. Suggestions are certainly welcome!

73, Monty W3SB

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Joe Subich, W4TV-4

Re: New PSK set up - no joy

Have you followed the "Setting Audio Levels" section of the
microKEYER Users manual *exactly*?

73,

... Joe, W4TV

On 2014-12-04 8:24 PM, w3sb wrote:

> Hello,
>
> I'm trying to get on PSK31 with a new Windows 7 64-bit computer. I've read the owner's and Cady manuals, checked and re-checked the settings and still no joy. The setup is the K3, ASUS Xonar U7 external sound card, microKEYER interface and FLdigi. Basically I have no power output and no ALC indication. Receive is OK. Here are the K3 settings:
>
> MODE=DATA A
> MIC SEL=LINE IN
> VOX=ON
> VOX GN=50
> LINE=40
> PWR=20
>
> In FLdidi:
> PortAudio checked
> CAPTURE=LINE(Xonar U7)
> PLAYBACK=SPEAKERS(Xonar U7)
>
> In FLdigi if I start a message, PTT turns on OK but turning the MIC(LINE) knob has no effect and there is no power out (Bird watt meter). When a message is started, if I look in the CONTROL PANEL > SOUND, I see modulation via the Playback (Speakers) bar graph at the 60% level.
>
> I have the setup working on RTTY with MMTTY just fine but PSK is giving me fits. Suggestions are certainly welcome!
>
> 73, Monty W3SB
>
>
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
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>
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> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>

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Don Wilhelm-4

Re: New PSK set up - no joy

In reply to this post by w3sb

Monty,

You apparently do not have enough audio going into the K3.

You mention an external soundcard as well as a microKEYER interface (the
microKEYER does include an external soundcard).
So do you have the correct soundcard specified in your software
application(s) and is that soundcard connected to the K3 line-in and
line-out jacks?

The K3 does have internal isolation transformers on the line-in and
line-out jacks, so you can use the ASUS soundcard alone with no problems
and not depend on the isolation provided in the microKEYER.

If instead you wish to use the microKEYER soundcard, you must tell your
software application to use that soundcard and setup the microKEYER for
line level output (rather than microphone level) as instructed in the
microHam documentation.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 12/4/2014 8:24 PM, w3sb wrote:

Bill-3

Re: New PSK set up - no joy

In reply to this post by Joe Subich, W4TV-4

I spent a bunch of time and effort setting up my K3 for PSK and RTTY -
with only mediocre success - followed by setting up the same K3 with my
Signalink USB - also with questionable results. I followed many threads
here - reading some really good information and a few insults. I did not
become part of the threads due to the latter.

The biggest problem I had was going from digital back to SSB. I always
had to keep a list of the menu changes needed. Generally, I operate 95%
SSB and the rest on digital or CW. Hence, it was not worth my time to
switch back and forth. It was too complicated.

Instead, I now run the Signalink USB with my TS-480. Set the Signalink
up for the 480 and got the wire to plug it into the 480. Then I made a
couple of quick settings on the Signalink and all is good. Now when I
want to do digital - I turn the 480 on, turn the Signalink on, set mode
to USB and select the frequency - no other changes to anything. Power
output is controlled by drive from the Signalink (I just know someone is
going to ask). When I want to change back to voice - I pick up the mic
and talk - no changes to anything.

Now I can leave the K3 alone and not disturb all my menu settings that
optimize my SSB operation. Probably not the answer anyone is looking for
- but, it sure works for me.
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Don Wilhelm-4

Re: New PSK set up - no joy

Once things are set up in the menu - - There should be no need to change
menu settings when changing from SSB to data modes, just change the mode
and all should be set.
Set the mode to SSB for voice operation and change to DATA A to use
soundcard audio for PSK or AFSK A for RTTY.

That is true unless you are feeding the soundcard into the front or rear
mic jack instead of using the Line-in and Line-out jacks on the rear of
the K3. By using the line in/out jacks, there is no cable plugging nor
menu changes requires, just change the mode on the K3 and the menu
settings should follow.

If you are trying to use SSB mode when operating data, then you will
have to make menu changes, but the K3 has provisions for a separate DATA
mode which makes operation seamless.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 12/5/2014 8:12 AM, W2BLC wrote:
> The biggest problem I had was going from digital back to SSB. I always
> had to keep a list of the menu changes needed. Generally, I operate
> 95% SSB and the rest on digital or CW. Hence, it was not worth my time
> to switch back and forth. It was too complicated.
>

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w3sb

Re: New PSK set up - no joy

In reply to this post by Don Wilhelm-4

Got it going OK now. I had to reboot the router for the settings to take. Tnx to Don and Joe for their input.

73, Monty W3SB

----- Original Message -----
From: "Don Wilhelm" <[hidden email]>
To: "w3sb" <[hidden email]>, [hidden email]
Sent: Thursday, December 4, 2014 10:37:29 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] New PSK set up - no joy

Monty,

You apparently do not have enough audio going into the K3.

You mention an external soundcard as well as a microKEYER interface (the
microKEYER does include an external soundcard).
So do you have the correct soundcard specified in your software
application(s) and is that soundcard connected to the K3 line-in and
line-out jacks?

The K3 does have internal isolation transformers on the line-in and
line-out jacks, so you can use the ASUS soundcard alone with no problems
and not depend on the isolation provided in the microKEYER.

If instead you wish to use the microKEYER soundcard, you must tell your
software application to use that soundcard and setup the microKEYER for
line level output (rather than microphone level) as instructed in the
microHam documentation.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 12/4/2014 8:24 PM, w3sb wrote:

vk2rq

Re: New PSK set up - no joy

In reply to this post by Bill-3

I do a bit of digital modes on the KX3, and it was a bit of a pain swapping between SSB/CW and the PC, until I set it up with an audio switch (for TX), mixer (for RX) and wrote some a couple of macros to toggle the menu settings between the different modes. For the K3, it would be simpler, since you get separate line in/line out connections.

Having said that, a lot of the time for general rag chewing I'll just jump over to the K2, which is all set up with paddle/microphone ready to go :-) So I understand your position.

73,
Matt VK2RQ

> On 6 Dec 2014, at 12:12 am, W2BLC <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> I spent a bunch of time and effort setting up my K3 for PSK and RTTY - with only mediocre success - followed by setting up the same K3 with my Signalink USB - also with questionable results. I followed many threads here - reading some really good information and a few insults. I did not become part of the threads due to the latter.
>
> The biggest problem I had was going from digital back to SSB. I always had to keep a list of the menu changes needed. Generally, I operate 95% SSB and the rest on digital or CW. Hence, it was not worth my time to switch back and forth. It was too complicated.
>
> Instead, I now run the Signalink USB with my TS-480. Set the Signalink up for the 480 and got the wire to plug it into the 480. Then I made a couple of quick settings on the Signalink and all is good. Now when I want to do digital - I turn the 480 on, turn the Signalink on, set mode to USB and select the frequency - no other changes to anything. Power output is controlled by drive from the Signalink (I just know someone is going to ask). When I want to change back to voice - I pick up the mic and talk - no changes to anything.
>
> Now I can leave the K3 alone and not disturb all my menu settings that optimize my SSB operation. Probably not the answer anyone is looking for - but, it sure works for 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
> Message delivered to [hidden email]