USB Sound Card for digital modes.

[Kenneth Christiansen]

Hi from Ken

I put Windows7 on my computer and for the most part everything is
working well but now I got around to using PSK31 and have a problem. The
waterfall will show a signal for just a couple of seconds but then the
signal goes away. I thought I had it fixed by turning off the noise
reduction feature in Windows7 but now as I try to use it I notice that
the signal input drops off just as though there is an auto gain feature
that holds the audio too low for the digital programs to work properly.
I can increase the gain in either the computer or the K3 but after about
2 seconds the gain drops off.

My question is what USB sound card works best and if I change to a USB
sound card will it work the way the old Windows sound cards worked or
will I still be up against the new AGC action.

Thanks in advance for any advice I get.

73
Ken W0CZ
[hidden email]

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[Julian, G4ILO]

Kenneth A. Christiansen-2 wrote

I put Windows7 on my computer

Bad move. I plan on keeping XP going as long as possible.

My question is what USB sound card works best and if I change to a USB
sound card will it work the way the old Windows sound cards worked or
will I still be up against the new AGC action.

A solution that would definitely avoid any hassle caused by generic sound card drivers would be a dedicated ham radio interface such as a SignalLink.

[Dick Williams-2]

I am using Windows 7 and use the US Interface NAVIGATOR.  It has a built in
soundcard tailored for digital modes; additionally, the drivers work with
Windows 7.  What is nice with any of the external USB interfaces is you only
need one cable to your computer (USB).  All the other connections are
between the radio and the interface.

Dick  K8ZTT

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Julian, G4ILO
Sent: Sunday, November 29, 2009 8:26 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] USB Sound Card for digital modes.




Kenneth A. Christiansen-2 wrote:
>
> I put Windows7 on my computer
>

Bad move. I plan on keeping XP going as long as possible.



> My question is what USB sound card works best and if I change to a USB
> sound card will it work the way the old Windows sound cards worked or
> will I still be up against the new AGC action.
>

A solution that would definitely avoid any hassle caused by generic sound
card drivers would be a dedicated ham radio interface such as a SignalLink.


-----
Julian, G4ILO. K2 #392  K3 #222.
* G4ILO's Shack - http://www.g4ilo.com
* KComm - http://www.g4ilo.com/kcomm.html
* KTune - http://www.g4ilo.com/ktune.html

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[Joe Subich, W4TV-4]

There is no problem with any well designed USB soundcard.
You will need to open the Windows 7 mixer (right click the
speaker icon) and set the correct properties for that
soundcard "recording mixer."  It may also be necessary to
open the "recording devices" and set he properties for the
device you use.  

Vista and Windows 7 operate the same way ... they no longer
allow an application to have "master" control over a sound
device.  

Don't be fooled other advice to use an amateur specific
device.  All of the low cost devices use variations of the
same chip (TI PCM29xx) and all use the generic USB Sound
driver (USB Audio CODEC) built into the operating system.
 
There are plenty of reasons to use a dedicated USB sound
device for amateur operations.  Some designed specifically
for amateur use have good operational enhancements and a very
few take special care with low noise inputs but the drivers
are all "bog standard" with Windows.

73,

   ... Joe, W4TV
 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: [hidden email]
> [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of
> Kenneth A. Christiansen
> Sent: Sunday, November 29, 2009 10:05 AM
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: [Elecraft] USB Sound Card for digital modes.
>
>
> Hi from Ken
>
> I put Windows7 on my computer and for the most part everything is
> working well but now I got around to using PSK31 and have a
> problem. The
> waterfall will show a signal for just a couple of seconds but
> then the
> signal goes away. I thought I had it fixed by turning off the noise
> reduction feature in Windows7 but now as I try to use it I
> notice that
> the signal input drops off just as though there is an auto
> gain feature
> that holds the audio too low for the digital programs to work
> properly.
> I can increase the gain in either the computer or the K3 but
> after about
> 2 seconds the gain drops off.
>
> My question is what USB sound card works best and if I change
> to a USB
> sound card will it work the way the old Windows sound cards worked or
> will I still be up against the new AGC action.
>
> Thanks in advance for any advice I get.
>
> 73
> Ken W0CZ
> [hidden email]
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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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[David Woolley (E.L)]

Kenneth A. Christiansen wrote:
>
> I put Windows7 on my computer and for the most part everything is
> working well but now I got around to using PSK31 and have a problem. The
> waterfall will show a signal for just a couple of seconds but then the
> signal goes away. I thought I had it fixed by turning off the noise
> reduction feature in Windows7 but now as I try to use it I notice that
> the signal input drops off just as though there is an auto gain feature

The purpose of cheap USB sound adaptors is to support voice over IP from
naive users, so AGC is very likely.  However, have you tried using the
mixer control, as you may find that there is a tick box to disable the AGC.

> that holds the audio too low for the digital programs to work properly.
> I can increase the gain in either the computer or the K3 but after about
> 2 seconds the gain drops off.
>

--
David Woolley
"we do not overly restrict the subject matter on the list, and we
encourage postings on a wide range of amateur radio related topics"
List Guidelines <http://www.elecraft.com/elecraft_list_guidelines.htm>
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