PSK31 neophyte needs help please!

[Larry-2]

Hi from Julie KT4JR, writing from the address of my husband K4MWE because this computer is hooked to our K3.
We have never done PSK31 and I have studied the archive to get started.
We first tried DM780 but it was complex for starters, so now I am trying digipan, figuring we can go more complex later once I catch on to this...  Don Wilhelm kindly answered some earlier questions but now I have more.

We have a SignaLink installed between K3 and computer (windows 7) with line in and line out connected but the PTT not connected since we have a footpedal inserted there.  
The elecraft cable connects the K3 to computer’s COM4.  If using HRD this works fine.  I am thinking that if we do NOT open HRD then Digipan can use this same cable for PTT
I have followed the instructions for setting the K3 PTT to RTS-OFF and the same in Digipan.
In test mode of the K3 if I click the RX/TX button in Digipan I have the correct 4 bars ALC with 5th blinking, so I guess the transmit is working?

I am confused about archive posts discussing VOX for PTT.  Can I ignore that?  Is that a different option or is that necessary?

We do not seem to be decoding any signals but I don’t know how to tell if that is because I have done something wrong or there are no signals strong enough to receive.  I have tried several bands.

The K3 is set to Data A, but Digipan does not know about data mode...  It has band-by-band settings for frequency, then 3 choices of tone, USB, or LSB.  I have tried each with no difference that I can perceive.  Which am I supposed to choose?  Maybe something more basic is wrong?

THANKS to anyone with enough patience to assist!!!

If it is foolish to use Digipan because fldigi is lots better, then tell me that too!
73, KT4JR
Julie in Raleigh NC, wife of K4MWE Larry


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[Phillip Lontz]

News from Corry at The Energizer Tech dept.

He said it is VERY rare to find a discharged battery. He said he has heard of 2 since the were introduced. He also said that the average voltage should be around 1.6 volts no load.
The voltage of 1.39 was very rare indeed. He further stated that all batteries are tested before that are packaged.
He further asked me if I would ship him the bad cell… I will do.

Seems like the non-rechargables are a lousy deal… 15 bucks or so for 8 cells.
The best part about these cells is the very long storage and they will believer current at a very wide range of temps.

If ...I buy them again I will certainly test each cell before installing them.
Lesson learned.

Phil Santa Fe
K5SSR
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[Bill Frantz]

Hi Julie - I don't have a Windows machine, so other people will
have to weigh in on the Windows software issues. However some of
your issues are computer agnostic.

On 11/21/12 at 10:50 AM, [hidden email] (Larry
Royster) wrote:

>I am confused about archive posts discussing VOX for PTT.  Can
>I ignore that?  Is that a different option or is that necessary?

There are two ways to key the K3 transmitter in digital modes.
You can use the radio's push to talk connection, or you can use
VOX (Voice Operated [Transmit/Receive] Relay). With a SignaLink
in the system you have two VOX systems to choose from, the one
in the SignaLink and the one in the K3. The easiest one to use
is the one in the K3, and I recommend using it at first even if
you plan on using the radio's PTT line later. It removes one
connection from the equation which makes debugging easier.

(Full disclosure: I am still using the K3's VOX with my
MacIntosh <--> SignaLink <--> K3 setup. I'm too lazy to makeup
another cable.)

If you can't get the radio to key (go to transmit mode) with K3
VOX then either the audio from the computer/SignaLink isn't
getting through, or it is not loud enough. I run my SignaLink
with the TX and RX knobs full up. I have had to adjust the
computer output volume with the control pannel application to
get enough volume. You can tell if the audio is getting to the
K3 by using headphones to listen to the plug that goes to "Line
In" on the K3.


>We do not seem to be decoding any signals but I don’t know
>how to tell if that is because I have done something wrong or
>there are no signals strong enough to receive.  I have tried
>several bands.

Try listening to the signals by turning up the AF control on the
K3. If you can hear the warble of PSK31, the signals are there
and there is some problem getting them to the SignaLink or on to
the application in the computer. I have the SignaLink connected
to the K3 with a home brew cable using Cat-5 twisted pairs going
to "Line In" and "Line Out".


>The K3 is set to Data A, but Digipan does not know about data
>mode...  It has band-by-band settings for frequency, then 3
>choices of tone, USB, or LSB.  I have tried each with no
>difference that I can perceive.  Which am I supposed to
>choose?  Maybe something more basic is wrong?

The K3 Data A mode uses USB signaling to the computer. Whether
you use USB or LSB on the computer won't matter for the PSK
modes since they are symmetrical. It will matter for RTTY. I
don't know what "tone" means in Digipan.

GL, Bill - AE6JV

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[ve3dvy]

Here is my limited input  on digital and Digipan.   and in my
experience  the K3 caters very well to this type of digital operation
using AFSK.   The best when compared to any other rig I have tried or
owned.


On 11/21/2012 1:50 PM, Larry Royster wrote:
> Hi from Julie KT4JR, writing from the address of my husband K4MWE because this computer is hooked to our K3.
> We have never done PSK31 and I have studied the archive to get started.
> We first tried DM780 but it was complex for starters, so now I am trying digipan, figuring we can go more complex later once I catch on to this...  Don Wilhelm kindly answered some earlier questions but now I have more.
First I would agree that HRD can be a little complex if you are not
experienced with PSK   and if PSK is all that you are interested in
Digipan is a good start.   it has a few limitations vs some of the
others    personally I prefer FLDIGI  but its all a matter of personal
taste.

> We have a SignaLink installed between K3 and computer (windows 7) with line in and line out connected but the PTT not connected since we have a footpedal inserted there.
> The elecraft cable connects the K3 to computer’s COM4.  If using HRD this works fine.  I am thinking that if we do NOT open HRD then Digipan can use this same cable for PTT
> I have followed the instructions for setting the K3 PTT to RTS-OFF and the same in Digipan.
> In test mode of the K3 if I click the RX/TX button in Digipan I have the correct 4 bars ALC with 5th blinking, so I guess the transmit is working?

unless you are using some kind of Port slitter   you can only have one
program accessing a serial port.  so you are correct that HRD or any
other program accessing the K3 needs to be closed.  To have the 4 bars /
5th blinking you are fine on transmit.  to be sure that its transmitting
the right thing turn up the monitor and you should hear the warble.

>
> I am confused about archive posts discussing VOX for PTT.  Can I ignore that?  Is that a different option or is that necessary?
it seems that you have the PTT working fine with the RTD/DTS so yes you
can ignore the VOX discussion.


> We do not seem to be decoding any signals but I don’t know how to tell if that is because I have done something wrong or there are no signals strong enough to receive.  I have tried several bands.

what do you see in the waterfall at the bottom of the screen.   you
should see blue with some yellow snow  with several vertical bars (under
busy band conditions)  that stream from top to bottom.   the vertical
bars start as other stations transmit.    if you move  the red diamond
with the flag above to one of these vertical bars  with your mouse you
are tuned to the frequency of that one station and should see some
decoding.     weak faded bars are weak signals  and stronger ones will
of course be strong sigs  turning red for really strong signals.  You
should be able to decode even the weak faded lines to some level of
readability.

if you see nothing   just a black waterfall  there are a few things to
look at.

first check that the line out   level on the K3 is turned up this is set
by pressing Config button for half a second then rotate VFO B to LIN
OUT.     it should read nor XXX   XXX being a level in my case the its
004  quite low but I am not using a Signalink instead I am using the mic
input to the computer.      The second to check is digipans settings for
sound Card   ensure that it is using in your case the Signal Link.    
also check that the levels are set correctly.  this is best described in
the Signalink manual so no point repeating it here.
> The K3 is set to Data A, but Digipan does not know about data mode...  It has band-by-band settings for frequency, then 3 choices of tone, USB, or LSB.  I have tried each with no difference that I can perceive.  Which am I supposed to choose?  Maybe something more basic is wrong?

This  is just how the frequency is displayed in the scale above the
waterfall.   I would recommend either USB (this is what Data-A does)  
or Tone.    When USB is selected it will show the actual frequency of
the signal you are receiving assuming that you are tuned to the
frequency listed  in (Configure -- Band..) from the menu bar.  this is
important as Digipan does not read actual frequency from the K3.   but
the default listed frequencies here are the common frequencies used for
PSK.   If tone is selected it will show you the offset of the signal
from the displayed frequency on the K3.
>
> THANKS to anyone with enough patience to assist!!!
>
> If it is foolish to use Digipan because fldigi is lots better, then tell me that too!

Digipan is a great launchpad to get started with digital.  you can get
the basics here and as you want more you can always migrate to others
later such as FLdigi or DM780 MMVARI    The list goes on and on.

I am an FLdigi fan  mostly because it will do many other modes including
RTTY and Helscriber and those modes that sound like the 1950s  TV
version of a computer  beep beep beep.   plus it will support Hamlib  
commands that will read frequencies and info from the K3  and allow  
some basic control of the rig such as changing frequencies band etc.  
The negative here is that as you add features you add complexity.  
however it seems that FLDigi and the K3 integrate well out of the
box.     in the setup it says K3 Beta but it seems to work fine as far
as I can tell.

Hope this helps


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