Re: [Elecraft] Ideas for an FT8 Radio

[Devin Butterfield]

One of the potential issues no one has mentioned is that JT and friends 
released the code for FT8 under the GNU GPL license. This means if you link 
this into any proprietary closed device or firmware, you would violate the 
terms of the license. 

You would have to either:

1. Write a cleanroom implementation from scratch of FT8, ensuring you didn’t 
use any GPL code and didn’t violate any copyrights

or

2. Build an “open” box radio, where all software is open source and licensed 
under the GPL

Having said that, you might want to discuss with an attorney before starting a 
business venture using JT’s software.

I also agree that a one-mode radio wouldn’t be of interest for very long.
—
Regards, Devin / K6DRS


> On Dec 30, 2018, at 5:44 PM, John Harper  wrote:
> 
> The upcoming QSX kit from G0UPL may have FT8 capability. Hans announced
> that it will run PSK31, WSPR and RTTY natively, ie on firmware within the
> rig. Another ham, a Latvian I believe, asked "Why not FT8 too?"
> 
> Hans offered him a free QSX if he could write the code for FT8 capability
> to exist within the QSX and, last I heard, he was successful.
> 
> https://qrp-labs.com/qsx.html
> 
> John AE5X
> https://ae5x.blogspot.com
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Re: [Elecraft] K3: Odd ALC behavior

[Devin Butterfield]

Hi,

I’ve seen the same behavior when running digital modes on my KX3. It seems like 
maybe it does that (dropping to zero) when overdriven? Just a guess.
—
Regards, Devin / K6DRS

> On Aug 3, 2017, at 1:25 PM, Dave Cole  wrote:
> 
> Hi,
> 
> I have an issue in  regards to obtaining 4 bars, and getting the 5th bar of 
> ALC to fluctuate while transmitting JT65.
> 
> I have plenty of audio, and can drive the ALC to 6 or more bars if I turn 
> things up.  However, as I get to 4 bars with the 5th flashing a bit, the ALC 
> starts to fluctuate between nothing and 4 or 5 bars...
> 
> That is to say, the ALC just goes to zero, no visible ALC, and then teh ALC 
> returns to 4 or 5 bars.  This happens across a one or two second time span.
> 
> The ALC is at zero more than it is above zero most of the time.  If I run it 
> to five bars, with the fifth fluctuating, all is well, there seems to be some 
> sort of threshold at the 5th bar of ALC...
> 
> I have tried a number of things to try and triage this...  For instance:
> 
> 1.  Running in "Transmit Test" mode to eliminate RF feedback.
> 2.  Upping the audio level feeding the K3.
> 3.  Reducing the audio level feeding the K3.
> 4.  Upping the line in on the K3 setup.
> 5.  Reducing the Line in on the K3 setup.
> 6.  Adjustment of the WSJT-X output level control, under conditions 2 through 
> 5 above.
> 
> In all cases the above described behavior of the ALC dropping to zero does 
> not change in any way if I am at 5 or less bars.  That is to say, if I take 
> the ALC level to 4 bars, it starts dropping to zero more than not...
> 
> Does anyone have any suggestions as to what this might be?
> 
> A a bit of history-- the computer and sound card were used on an Icom 756 
> ProIII, and there was never an issue like this...  The ALC was adjustable 
> from zero to too much on the Icom, with no dropouts...
> 
> -- 
> 73s and thanks,
> Dave
> NK7Z
> http://www.nk7z.net
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[Elecraft] KX3 serial programming (TQ issue)

[Devin Butterfield]

Hi Folks,

I am writing some code to control my KX3 and referring to Rev. G1, March 16, 
2017 of the programmer’s manual.

I have found that the RX command (turn PTT off) followed by TQ always returns 
TQ1. It seems that a huge delay of about 500ms is required before calling TQ to 
get the updated status.

Is there a better way to get immediate transmit status without delay?
—
Regards, Devin
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Re: [Elecraft] Data Received on Mac Transmitted by K3S

[Devin Butterfield]

Maybe VOX is enabled??
—
Regards, Devin

> On Apr 5, 2017, at 8:18 AM, Robert Nobis  wrote:
> 
> Check your audio settings, under systems preferences.
> 
> 
> Bob Nobis 
> n7...@nobis.net 
> 
> 
>> On Apr 5, 2017, at 07:51, stengrevics > > wrote:
>> 
>> New phenomenon.  When I go to a website that can play a video (such as
>> YouTube), and the video is played, something is transmitted by my K3S. 
>> Note:  This is a new phenomenon.  I have not knowingly changed any setting.
>> 
>> I would appreciate any suggestions.
>> 
>> 73,
>> 
>> John
>> WA1EAZ
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> --
>> View this message in context: 
>> http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/Data-Received-on-Mac-Transmitted-by-K3S-tp7629009.html
>> Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
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Re: [Elecraft] BPF Bypass

[Devin Butterfield]

Hi Brian,

Thanks for the input. Yeah I know the bypass is not ideal (garbage, etc.), but 
for ALE scanning it would be better than hammering on the relays.

It is possible to select the bypass of the BPFs, as the hardware was clearly 
designed to support this. But the docs don’t explain how to get this to happen.

I would greatly appreciate if anyone with knowledge of the KX3 could shed some 
light on what mode the software needs to be in to get the BPF bypass to happen.

Thanks!
—
73s, Devin / KD6DRS

> On Mar 9, 2017, at 4:24 PM, brian <als...@comcast.net> wrote:
> 
> Sorry, I don't have answer on the bypass.
> 
> However, bypassing BPF's may result in lots of received out of band garbage.  
> I have to think they would be in the RX path too.
> 
> You have discovered one big downside of using commercial ham rigs for ALE.  
> One can quickly destroy bandpass filter relays with full 24/7 ALE.
> 
> 
> On 3/9/2017 22:07 PM, Devin Butterfield wrote:
>> Hi,
>> 
>> I have a KX3 and so far I’m very pleased. Very nice design and good build.
>> 
>> I would like to use this radio for ALE, which requires cross-band scanning. 
>> This mode is used only for initial detection. If I use the KX3 as is, when 
>> changing bands I can clearly hear relays switching, which I think is in the 
>> BPF circuit (please correct me if I’m wrong).
>> 
>> Looking at the schematic it appears the BPF can be bypassed by asserting the 
>> BPF_BYPASS signal, but it isn’t clear from the user manual or CAT 
>> programming manual what mode in the KX3 achieves this effect.
>> 
>> Any ideas how to get the KX3 to bypass the BPFs?
>> 
>> Thanks, Devin / KD6DRS
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[Elecraft] BPF Bypass

[Devin Butterfield]

Hi,

I have a KX3 and so far I’m very pleased. Very nice design and good build.

I would like to use this radio for ALE, which requires cross-band scanning. 
This mode is used only for initial detection. If I use the KX3 as is, when 
changing bands I can clearly hear relays switching, which I think is in the BPF 
circuit (please correct me if I’m wrong).

Looking at the schematic it appears the BPF can be bypassed by asserting the 
BPF_BYPASS signal, but it isn’t clear from the user manual or CAT programming 
manual what mode in the KX3 achieves this effect.

Any ideas how to get the KX3 to bypass the BPFs?

Thanks, Devin / KD6DRS
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