Re: [Flexradio] K8RA P4 Paddle with Flex5000
On 26/06/2008, Jim Lux [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: The key words when working with relays are debouncing, contact wetting currents and contamination control of contact materials. Contrary to the common belief, silver is not the best material for low voltage contacts (24 V) due to the high breakover voltage of the naturally developing silver oxide and silver sulphide layers. Gold works much better with low voltages and low wetting currents, but is suspectible to mechanical wear. Use vacuum protected read relay contacts whenever applicable. I hadn't ever thought about it before, but devising a rock solid interface to any sort of contacts that someone might hook up to it is quite an engineering challenge. Usually, you're designing for some small subset, or you actually get to pick the contacts. I'd guess that you want a fairly decent voltage (12Vish) with a decent current (10mA), but your input circuit also needs to tolerate transient voltages, etc. Something like an Optoisolator diode with an optional pullup (which is what they use on a lot of industrial PLCs). That would give you galvanic isolation, too, which is nice. Jim Jim, Optoisolator is a good solution, but even those need some kind of debouncing circuitry, as well as reed relays (sorry for my earlier mispelling: read relay!). Ahti ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kb.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] K8RA P4 Paddle with Flex5000
W0UN: What I think is happening to you is the same sort of thing. There is such a low voltage across the contacts that any sort of oxide film prevents making a good contact. For a test try cutting a thin strip of a 3x5 file card and insert it between the contacts and press the contacts closed with some force on the paper and then pull the paper out to see if the problem goes away -- at least for the moment. If it does that will indicate a thin film of oxide is building up on the contacts and the logic voltages are too low to break down the film. The second test is a bit more difficult but would be very interesting. I have been very happy with the contact cleaner called Pro-Gold from Caig Labs. It is an organic cleaner that leaves a very thin film that prevents future oxide build up. The contact cleaner is used by NASA and I have found it to be excellent in low-level signal paths. The stuff is not cheap and it appears to be no longer available through RadioShack so you have to go to a bit of trouble to find it. But it would be an interesting test of the theory and the contact cleaner to see if it worked in this application. Although I am not claiming this to be a permanent fix either. John I think you're on the right track but the oxide could be due to different paddle contact metals. Someone reported a similar problem with a Begali paddle but I cannot find the reference for this at the moment. Piero once used some odd alloy for his standard paddle contacts. The only permanent solution was to swap paddle contacts with the optional gold contacts. I don't know what the alloy was but I see he has now switched to silver for his standard contacts. I have a Begali paddle with the old contact material but I've never had any problems using a Logikey K-1, so it may also be a function of the keyer. I do treat my contacts once annually with Caig De-Oxit just as a precaution. 73, Bill W4ZV ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kb.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] K8RA P4 Paddle with Flex5000
John I think you're on the right track but the oxide could be due to different paddle contact metals. Someone reported a similar problem with a Begali paddle but I cannot find the reference for this at the moment. Piero once used some odd alloy for his standard paddle contacts. The only permanent solution was to swap paddle contacts with the optional gold contacts. I don't know what the alloy was but I see he has now switched to silver for his standard contacts. I have a Begali paddle with the old contact material but I've never had any problems using a Logikey K-1, so it may also be a function of the keyer. I do treat my contacts once annually with Caig De-Oxit just as a precaution. 73, Bill W4ZV Hi, Bill-- FWIW-- My best guess is that there are a combination of effects going on here. 1) Some software/firmware issues that need to be resolved. 2) Possibly some hardware issues associated with very the low voltage/current signals that need to be keyed. 3) Paddle contact resistance that is not consistently low between various manufacturers' products, models, and contact materials. 4) Occasional issues with RFI that are also adding to the confusion in symptoms. 5) The contact pressure and material(s) of the key JACK and PLUG may also be a factor in all of this. 6) And maybe something we haven't even thought about yet. The problem with contact oxidation on the Dow-Key T-shaped T/R relays we were using was a slight oxidation on the GOLD contacts. I know silver oxide is still a good conductor but I do not know how it compares with gold oxide. What I do know is that silver tends to become more ugly with time whereas gold does not age in appearance as rapidly. So the question becomes whether gold is chosen for its performance after it oxidizes or chosen for its aesthetics over longer periods of time compared to silver. I don't know the answer and I am too lazy to look it up since someone probably already knows this of the top of his head. And because I have better things to do with my time this morning! ;-) I set out a trap for a skunk last night and just checked and the skunk is in there. That was Step 1 of the plan. Unfortunately Step 2 of the plan was never properly developed and now I have to figure out what to do with an unhappy and trapped skunk that will reduce the chance that the HOUSE, the adjoining LAND, and ME from getting sprayed this morning. ;-) If no one hears from me later today that means that my wife won't let me back into the house because of skunk smell. One THEORY says that I should spray down the area with water as I approach the skunk so that if he DOES spray I can use the spray/mist to help flush the smell from the air. But then this is my OWN theory and may be worth even less than my thoughts on the paddle contacts! WISH ME LUCK! I'M GOING IN! Well, I will as soon as it gets light enough to see which way the skunk is pointing! --John W0UN ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kb.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] K8RA P4 Paddle with Flex5000
Quoting Ahti Aintila [EMAIL PROTECTED], on Thu 26 Jun 2008 12:59:31 AM PDT: On 26/06/2008, Jim Lux [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: The key words when working with relays are debouncing, contact wetting currents and contamination control of contact materials. Contrary to the common belief, silver is not the best material for low voltage contacts (24 V) due to the high breakover voltage of the naturally developing silver oxide and silver sulphide layers. Gold works much better with low voltages and low wetting currents, but is suspectible to mechanical wear. Use vacuum protected read relay contacts whenever applicable. I hadn't ever thought about it before, but devising a rock solid interface to any sort of contacts that someone might hook up to it is quite an engineering challenge. Usually, you're designing for some small subset, or you actually get to pick the contacts. I'd guess that you want a fairly decent voltage (12Vish) with a decent current (10mA), but your input circuit also needs to tolerate transient voltages, etc. Something like an Optoisolator diode with an optional pullup (which is what they use on a lot of industrial PLCs). That would give you galvanic isolation, too, which is nice. Jim Jim, Optoisolator is a good solution, but even those need some kind of debouncing circuitry, as well as reed relays (sorry for my earlier mispelling: read relay!). Of course... I assume one does most of that in software or programmable logic, as opposed to with the electrical interface. Although.. that 0.1 uF capacitor can do a lot of good Jim ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kb.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] K8RA P4 Paddle with Flex5000
maybe if you plated the skunk with silver. 73 W9OY ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kb.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] SVN 2332
I also upgraded this morning but SVN is not showing up at the top? The program i'm executing has a 6/26 date on it. Jerry ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kb.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] K8RA P4 Paddle with Flex5000
At 06:38 AM 6/26/2008, you wrote: maybe if you plated the skunk with silver. 73 W9OY Platinum is the ultimate in contact, it will not corrode when exposed to quite a few chemicals, medical instruments tend to use platinum for electrodes because they need ultra reliable connections, it's pricey buy so is gold. Cecil K5NWA www.softrockradio.org www.qrpradio.com Blessed are the cracked, for they shall let in the light. ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kb.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] K8RA P4 Paddle with Flex5000
Hi Guys, I have been following this thread with some interest because I occasionally experience this problem with the SDR-1000. Since the problem seems not to occur on the IC-7000, I made a couple of measurements. I have my paddles connected through the key port on the SDR and not through the com port. The current through the contacts on the SDR-1000 is 4.9 mA. The current through the contacts on the IC-7000 is 0.2 mA. Since the oxidation problem would occur with a lower current and the current through contacts on the IC-7000 is much less than the current through the contacts on the SDR-1000 and the problem does not occur on the IC-7000, I have concluded that the problem is not oxidation . The debounce scenario is probably more likely. One can debounce the paddle contacts either in hardware or software. I have used a very reliable hardware debounce circuit for years that uses a one shot, a flip flop, and an inverter. I will be glad to forward this circuit to anyone who is interested. I have verified that a transistor closure will work just fine for the SDR-1000. In software if polling is used to debounce a switch, the program should sample the switch closure and set a timer if the switch appears to be closed. When the timer expires, if the switch is still closed then a valid closure is flagged. With interrupts, the switch closure triggers an interrupt. The interrupt routine sets a timer. When the timer interrupt occurs, if the switch is still closed, then a valid closure is flagged. The timers in software or the one shot duration in hardware has to bridge the bouncing time of the contacts. With a single switch closure this generally is not a problem. You just set the time to be very long as compared to the bouncing time of the switch. With multiple switch closures, the problem becomes more difficult because the bounce timer must be long enough to bridge the contact bouncing but short enough to be ready for the next contact closure. At an upper limit of 60 wpm on CW assuming 5 characters per word, there will be 300 switch closures per minute or one closure per 200 milliseconds. The bounce time of a typical switch is of the order of 10 to 20 milliseconds. This factor of ten generally is enough for a hardware debounce circuit. A software debouncer may run into trouble depending on the processor speed or the interrupt latency time. On the SDR-1000, this debounce must be handled with Windows code. On the SDR-5000 it could be handled in the firmware. If the timer, whether in software or hardware, is set too short, and the bouncing is still happening when the timer expires, the state of the switch could be in either state when sampled the second time. If the switch is in the open state when the time expires the switch closure will be missed. With paddles on CW, you can hold the paddle closed indefinitely and nothing will happen. As soon as you release the paddle, you get another chance on the next closure, thus the randomness of the problem. I appologise for the length of this post 73,Tom W0IVJ Lee Mushel wrote: Working at Hamlin in the sixties I remember well the problems of dry contacts. I think that all we have to do is convince Gerald to put a 6C4 in the Flex5000 close to the mike jack and wire it in the cathode circuit of the triode. Probably get rid of all the complaints. Or you can do like I did and buy the conditioning cable! Lee K9WRU - Original Message - From: Ahti Aintila [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Jim Lux [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: Art Gartner [EMAIL PROTECTED]; flexradio@flex-radio.biz Sent: Thursday, June 26, 2008 2:59 AM Subject: Re: [Flexradio] K8RA P4 Paddle with Flex5000 On 26/06/2008, Jim Lux [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: The key words when working with relays are debouncing, contact wetting currents and contamination control of contact materials. Contrary to the common belief, silver is not the best material for low voltage contacts (24 V) due to the high breakover voltage of the naturally developing silver oxide and silver sulphide layers. Gold works much better with low voltages and low wetting currents, but is suspectible to mechanical wear. Use vacuum protected read relay contacts whenever applicable. I hadn't ever thought about it before, but devising a rock solid interface to any sort of contacts that someone might hook up to it is quite an engineering challenge. Usually, you're designing for some small subset, or you actually get to pick the contacts. I'd guess that you want a fairly decent voltage (12Vish) with a decent current (10mA), but your input circuit also needs to tolerate transient voltages, etc. Something like an Optoisolator diode with an optional pullup (which is what they use on a lot of industrial PLCs). That would give you galvanic isolation, too, which is nice. Jim Jim, Optoisolator is a good solution, but even those need some kind of
Re: [Flexradio] SVN 2332
Check the pan controls just to the left of the display selection. Eric Wachsmann FlexRadio Systems -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of José Dumoulin Sent: Wednesday, June 25, 2008 11:57 PM To: FlexRadio Reflector Subject: [Flexradio] SVN 2332 Hi Friends I updated PowerSDR to revision 2332, this morning. I have sound coming only from the left speaker. I tried other old versions and things seem correct. 73 José F5JD ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kb.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] K8RA P4 Paddle with Flex5000
At 26-06-08 10:22, you wrote: Hi Guys, I have been following this thread with some interest because I occasionally experience this problem with the SDR-1000. Since the problem seems not to occur on the IC-7000, I made a couple of measurements. I have my paddles connected through the key port on the SDR and not through the com port. The current through the contacts on the SDR-1000 is 4.9 mA. The current through the contacts on the IC-7000 is 0.2 mA. Since the oxidation problem would occur with a lower current and the current through contacts on the IC-7000 is much less than the current through the contacts on the SDR-1000 and the problem does not occur on the IC-7000, I have concluded that the problem is not oxidation . The debounce scenario is probably more likely. One can debounce the paddle contacts either in hardware or software. I have used a very reliable hardware debounce circuit for years that uses a one shot, a flip flop, and an inverter. I will be glad to forward this circuit to anyone who is interested. I have verified that a transistor closure will work just fine for the SDR-1000. I appologise for the length of this post 73,Tom W0IVJ Hi, Tom-- No need to apologize on MY account. Your post has real-world data and is very interesting. Thanks for adding it to the debate database. My personal paddle problem (still need to see if I can find it) was that there was no conductivity at low voltages between the support post and the actual contact. Any inspection would seem to indicate that they were solidly attached mechanically and should be electrically as well. And they were at 9V but not at 1.5 volts! I once had a similar problem making a fixed antenna that was designed to mount on a mobile whip base. I machined an round aluminum solid bar to the proper diameter to fit into the actual antenna element -- a 20M 1/4 wave vertical. The I drilled and tapped a 3/8-32 hole for a standard mobile mount threaded stud. I then made the mistake of deciding to use a cyanoacrylate (super glue) to make sure it was held tight and would not vibrate loose -- basically Loc-Tite. But then I decided to check the resistance between the stud and the aluminum rod. It was open circuit. Those pesky little molecules of cyanoacrylate managed to wick into every molecular size hole and insulate the stud from the rod. I was really PO-ed big time! Certainly the debounce issue is the most likely culprit for much of the erratic sending, but probably not the answer if you push the paddle closed for a dot or dash and get nothing. It would be interesting to see a study of the bounce times of various paddles. And I would certainly be interested in any hardware debounce circuit you have, so if you don't mind and it is easy to do, please email me a copy directly. [EMAIL PROTECTED] Thanks -- John W0UN ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kb.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] SVN 2332
Not sure what you are saying? I notice the same thing on the latest SVN, however the left channel will return when toggling the MultiRX button. 73 Ross K9COX -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Eric Wachsmann Sent: Thursday, June 26, 2008 10:46 AM To: 'José Dumoulin'; 'FlexRadio Reflector' Subject: Re: [Flexradio] SVN 2332 Check the pan controls just to the left of the display selection. Eric Wachsmann FlexRadio Systems -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of José Dumoulin Sent: Wednesday, June 25, 2008 11:57 PM To: FlexRadio Reflector Subject: [Flexradio] SVN 2332 Hi Friends I updated PowerSDR to revision 2332, this morning. I have sound coming only from the left speaker. I tried other old versions and things seem correct. 73 José F5JD ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kb.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kb.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
[Flexradio] Audio on 2nd Receive
It appears the audio on the 2nd receiver (RX2) is NOT independent of RX1. If I mute RX1 than RX2 is also muted and if I reduce the AF on RX1 to 0 than RX2 is also reduced to 0. I can mute RX2 without affecting RX1 but not the inverse. Is this the way it should work and will always work? Thanks Joe - KC2TN ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kb.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] SVN 2332
Opps...the right channel returns. Not sure what you are saying? I notice the same thing on the latest SVN, however the left channel will return when toggling the MultiRX button. 73 Ross K9COX -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Eric Wachsmann Sent: Thursday, June 26, 2008 10:46 AM To: 'José Dumoulin'; 'FlexRadio Reflector' Subject: Re: [Flexradio] SVN 2332 Check the pan controls just to the left of the display selection. Eric Wachsmann FlexRadio Systems -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of José Dumoulin Sent: Wednesday, June 25, 2008 11:57 PM To: FlexRadio Reflector Subject: [Flexradio] SVN 2332 Hi Friends I updated PowerSDR to revision 2332, this morning. I have sound coming only from the left speaker. I tried other old versions and things seem correct. 73 José F5JD ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kb.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kb.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
[Flexradio] Advice About Paddle Problems
I heard from a few people who have problems connecting a cw paddle to a serial port. Some are using USB adapters. Some blamed contact bouce and some blamed dirty contacts. With serial port keying, none of the paddle wires is at ground potential - all 3 wires are floating. So the large metal frame of the keyer base is also floating and picking up hum. Someone reported connecting two 0.5 MFD capacitors across the paddle contacts solved the problem. Someone else said connecting three .001 MFD capacitors between paddle wires and ground solved the problem. Both persons were keying VOIP tones, so no RF was involved. When I designed my home brew, touch paddle keyer, I used two 5 volt reed relays (with internal diode) to key the equipment, whether it be a serial port or a transceiver. One relay is for dits and the other relay is for dahs. These relays have less than 1 millisecond of lag, and consume just 10 ma. at 5 volts. The contacts are rated for 0.5 amps at 200 volts. It would be a simple experiment to try hooking up these relays with a battery. http://www.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail?name=306-1020-ND http://ve3efc.ca/keyer.html -- Doug McCormack, VE3EFC ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kb.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] Audio on 2nd Receive
The two controls that you mentioned are not specific to RX1. They are overall Mute and AF controls. The volume control for RX1 only is just to the left of the display controls in the MultiRX section -- the left vertical slider will adjust the volume of RX1 only. Eric Wachsmann FlexRadio Systems -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Joe - KC2TN Sent: Thursday, June 26, 2008 11:15 AM To: Flex Subject: [Flexradio] Audio on 2nd Receive It appears the audio on the 2nd receiver (RX2) is NOT independent of RX1. If I mute RX1 than RX2 is also muted and if I reduce the AF on RX1 to 0 than RX2 is also reduced to 0. I can mute RX2 without affecting RX1 but not the inverse. Is this the way it should work and will always work? Thanks Joe - KC2TN ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kb.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] Audio on 2nd Receive
Hello Joe, You can control the volume level of RX1 independent of RX2's volume by using the vertical slider control at the left of the MultiRX grouping of controls that is located beneath the DSP grouping (NR, ANF, NB, NB2, SR, BIN). When you do this, then the AF behaves more like a master gain control for both receivers simultaneously. You can even place RX1 in one channel, and RX2 in the other channel by sliding the top slider in the MultiRX grouping to one side or the other, and then sliding the Pan slider in the RX2 section to the opposite direction. There is actually quite a bit of versatility available via these controls. 73, Dale WA8SRA Joe - KC2TN wrote: It appears the audio on the 2nd receiver (RX2) is NOT independent of RX1. If I mute RX1 than RX2 is also muted and if I reduce the AF on RX1 to 0 than RX2 is also reduced to 0. I can mute RX2 without affecting RX1 but not the inverse. Is this the way it should work and will always work? Thanks Joe - KC2TN ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kb.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kb.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
[Flexradio] FW: Keying problems with the flex 5000
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Keying problems with the flex 5000 Date: Thu, 26 Jun 2008 16:35:01 + I too experienced problems with my cw keying. Quite by accident, I was in the DSP/keyer menu and noticed that the R amp value was set at 0. This is just below the box where keying weight is set. I increased the value to 4 and like the heavens opened, the radio began keying correctly. I don't know if the original value was set at the factory or if I did it while noodling around with the various menus, but my cw is now acceptable where before it was terrible. I am using an inexpensive Katsumi paddle from Morse Express. This may or not be of value to others with keying problems. Dick W5AK _ Introducing Live Search cashback . It's search that pays you back! http://search.live.com/cashback/?pkw=form=MIJAAF/publ=HMTGL/crea=introsrchcashback _ Need to know now? Get instant answers with Windows Live Messenger. http://www.windowslive.com/messenger/connect_your_way.html?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_Refresh_messenger_062008 ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kb.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] Audio on 2nd Receive
AH ! I was only looking at MultiRX as being used as an in-band control ONLY and NOT with Dual Receive. Only had the 5KA for w week and so far it works great, but a lot to go thru yet. This Grasshopper must open up his mind! Thanks Eric Btw..It was great meeting you in Dayton! -Original Message- From: Eric Wachsmann [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, June 26, 2008 12:35 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; 'Flex' Subject: RE: [Flexradio] Audio on 2nd Receive The two controls that you mentioned are not specific to RX1. They are overall Mute and AF controls. The volume control for RX1 only is just to the left of the display controls in the MultiRX section -- the left vertical slider will adjust the volume of RX1 only. Eric Wachsmann FlexRadio Systems -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Joe - KC2TN Sent: Thursday, June 26, 2008 11:15 AM To: Flex Subject: [Flexradio] Audio on 2nd Receive It appears the audio on the 2nd receiver (RX2) is NOT independent of RX1. If I mute RX1 than RX2 is also muted and if I reduce the AF on RX1 to 0 than RX2 is also reduced to 0. I can mute RX2 without affecting RX1 but not the inverse. Is this the way it should work and will always work? Thanks Joe - KC2TN No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 270.4.1/1516 - Release Date: 6/24/2008 7:53 AM ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kb.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] Audio on 2nd Receive
Joe: Hey buddy. Welcome to the party! I think we might have enough neighbors to start a Friends of Flex Radio coffee klatch here and meet a bunch of new people! Bob ARRL SDR Working Group Chair, AMSAT VP Engineering. Member: ARRL, AMSAT, AMSAT-DL, TAPR, Packrats, NJQRP, QRP ARCI, QCWA, FRC. Trample the slow Hurdle the dead -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Joe - KC2TN Sent: Thursday, June 26, 2008 1:43 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; 'Flex' Subject: Re: [Flexradio] Audio on 2nd Receive AH ! I was only looking at MultiRX as being used as an in-band control ONLY and NOT with Dual Receive. Only had the 5KA for w week and so far it works great, but a lot to go thru yet. This Grasshopper must open up his mind! Thanks Eric Btw..It was great meeting you in Dayton! ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kb.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
[Flexradio] Add a Touch Screen to convert the SDR into a Like Real Radio
I regularly find it amusing that the feature that most hams hate about the SDR is its lack of all the buttons, knobs, dials and switches. I find that odd since one of primary design goal was to eliminate most or all of them. Now, if a button, switch, knob or even a slider breaks the radio need not be sent back to the factory. Just reload the software. The add-on touch screen as in the below link allows these touchy feely hams to adjust the controls with their fingers thumbs or whatever. Someday a large tuning knob or two could be added and even contain virtual dimples that could be spun for that old fashion tuning experience. All satire aside, a 22 + inch touch screen would produce a more hands-on one-to-one comparison to the 'real radios' most hams seem to want to cling to. These screen add-on touch devices cost very little compared to their appeal during a live demo session before hams that just can't see themselves tuning by clicking a mouse. I emphasize the large screen because of the small size taken by all the bonus buttons on PowerSDR besides a really large touch screen radio would look really cool. http://www.touchscreens.com/products-32.html Gerald Capodieci [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: . and they proudly did along with no requirement to send it back to the factory for expensive updates (those are downloaded). I suggested the other day that they demo the radio with a 24 inch touch screen. Then all the virtual knobs, buttons and even sliders can be manipulated with ones finger, just like a real radio. ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kb.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
[Flexradio] Digital Voice Keyer for PowerSDR VAC
I have been looking for a digital voice keyer program that I could use with PowerSDR VAC for contesting. I currently have an MFJ-434B Voice Keyer in line, but adding hardware to a software-defined radio just seems silly to me. Besides, I want to permanently exile the MFJ-434B to the camper for portable operations in state QSO parties. Although there a couple of neat-looking voice keyer programs out there (as well as some ancient ones), all that I have found so far require you to use the Windows default sound card, normally the on-board card. I do not have VAC set as the default Windows sound card, nor do I care toSo, I wrote my own. If you go to my web site http://www.qsl.net/k9dur click on Downloads, you can download the program user manual. Like all of my ham radio software, it is freeware. The program will allow you to create up to 250 different profiles. Each profile allows playback of up to 10 different pre-recorded messages (.wav files). This should be more than adequate for you to set up a different profile for each contest you normally operate plus one for general operating. Currently, the program does not support recording the necessary .wav files. However, the manual outlines a method to create them using PowerSDR a sound editing program. By some strange coincidence, the width of the VoiceKeyer window just happens to match the width of the PowerSDR window, so VoiceKeyer can be positioned directly above or below PowerSDR, it will almost look like it belongs there. Like any new software package, I would solicit others to download, install, use (beta test) the program and to report any problems or bugs directly to me off list. Also, suggestions for added features are always welcome. 73, Ray, K9DUR ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kb.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] Digital Voice Keyer for PowerSDR VAC
I found a bug in the VoiceKeyer program disabled the link on my website until I could fix the problem. The bug has been properly squashed the link is functional again. The link can be found at: http://www.qsl.net/k9dur/downloads.htm 73, Ray, K9DUR ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kb.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] Audio on 2nd Receive
Hey to you Bob, Missed you in Dayton this year You name the place and time and I'll be there. After seeing the 5KA in Dayton and meeting all (most) of the fine Flex folks out there I couldn't resist buying one. After buying mine I talked K2BU into buying one also. He's a neighbor too! Joe -Original Message- From: Bob McGwier [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, June 26, 2008 1:57 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; 'Flex' Subject: RE: [Flexradio] Audio on 2nd Receive Joe: Hey buddy. Welcome to the party! I think we might have enough neighbors to start a Friends of Flex Radio coffee klatch here and meet a bunch of new people! Bob ARRL SDR Working Group Chair, AMSAT VP Engineering. Member: ARRL, AMSAT, AMSAT-DL, TAPR, Packrats, NJQRP, QRP ARCI, QCWA, FRC. Trample the slow Hurdle the dead -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Joe - KC2TN Sent: Thursday, June 26, 2008 1:43 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; 'Flex' Subject: Re: [Flexradio] Audio on 2nd Receive AH ! I was only looking at MultiRX as being used as an in-band control ONLY and NOT with Dual Receive. Only had the 5KA for w week and so far it works great, but a lot to go thru yet. This Grasshopper must open up his mind! Thanks Eric Btw..It was great meeting you in Dayton! No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 270.4.1/1516 - Release Date: 6/24/2008 7:53 AM ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kb.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] K8RA P4 Paddle with Flex5000
John, You forgot to tell us what happened with the polecat ! Ed K5RJI On Thu, Jun 26, 2008 at 11:56 AM, John Brosnahan -- W0UN [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: At 26-06-08 10:22, you wrote: Hi Guys, I have been following this thread with some interest because I occasionally experience this problem with the SDR-1000. Since the problem seems not to occur on the IC-7000, I made a couple of measurements. I have my paddles connected through the key port on the SDR and not through the com port. The current through the contacts on the SDR-1000 is 4.9 mA. The current through the contacts on the IC-7000 is 0.2 mA. Since the oxidation problem would occur with a lower current and the current through contacts on the IC-7000 is much less than the current through the contacts on the SDR-1000 and the problem does not occur on the IC-7000, I have concluded that the problem is not oxidation . The debounce scenario is probably more likely. One can debounce the paddle contacts either in hardware or software. I have used a very reliable hardware debounce circuit for years that uses a one shot, a flip flop, and an inverter. I will be glad to forward this circuit to anyone who is interested. I have verified that a transistor closure will work just fine for the SDR-1000. I appologise for the length of this post 73,Tom W0IVJ Hi, Tom-- No need to apologize on MY account. Your post has real-world data and is very interesting. Thanks for adding it to the debate database. My personal paddle problem (still need to see if I can find it) was that there was no conductivity at low voltages between the support post and the actual contact. Any inspection would seem to indicate that they were solidly attached mechanically and should be electrically as well. And they were at 9V but not at 1.5 volts! I once had a similar problem making a fixed antenna that was designed to mount on a mobile whip base. I machined an round aluminum solid bar to the proper diameter to fit into the actual antenna element -- a 20M 1/4 wave vertical. The I drilled and tapped a 3/8-32 hole for a standard mobile mount threaded stud. I then made the mistake of deciding to use a cyanoacrylate (super glue) to make sure it was held tight and would not vibrate loose -- basically Loc-Tite. But then I decided to check the resistance between the stud and the aluminum rod. It was open circuit. Those pesky little molecules of cyanoacrylate managed to wick into every molecular size hole and insulate the stud from the rod. I was really PO-ed big time! Certainly the debounce issue is the most likely culprit for much of the erratic sending, but probably not the answer if you push the paddle closed for a dot or dash and get nothing. It would be interesting to see a study of the bounce times of various paddles. And I would certainly be interested in any hardware debounce circuit you have, so if you don't mind and it is easy to do, please email me a copy directly. [EMAIL PROTECTED] Thanks -- John W0UN ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kb.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kb.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] seriously off topic --- K8RA P4 Paddle with Flex5000
At 26-06-08 19:47, you wrote: John, You forgot to tell us what happened with the polecat ! Ed K5RJI Hi, Ed, I'm 2 for 2 this week. Both skunks have been coming up on the porch to eat the dog food. Unfortunately just above the dog food is the bedroom window we leave open at night so that the attic fan can pull some cool air through the house. Although we live in south-central Texas, we are at 2,300 ft elevation and it gets decently cool at night even in the summer. Usually down to just about 70 and with LOW humidity. Didn't want to get too close for fear of upsetting the skunk so I decided to take my shot from just over 75 ft away. The little Ruger 10/22 has a pretty short barrel but it is very accurate at this range. Well, it is better than I am, at least. So I waited until the sun was up so I could see as well as possible and this time I decided to use my reading glasses so I could actually see the sights on the little carbine. Of course that makes the skunk a bit blurry but that is OK. My philosophy is for a 1-shot instant kill so there is no sign of muscle twitching and no chance for the little skunk to spray anything. Earlier this week I had to shoot one under a big trailer so I was in the prone position and wanted to shoot from far enough away so that I still had time to get out of the way if the skunk decided to run my direction. I am pretty slow these days, at least when getting up off the couch or out of my recliner, so I took the shot from a longer distance than others might have. That skunk just fell over and never moved a muscle and never sprayed anything. I waited for a time and then used a rake to drag him out from his spot under the trailer. This morning's skunk was about 75 ft from the house and upwind -- so it was imperative to do the same thing. I didn't want to sit in the house all day and smell skunk since we rarely turn on the air conditioner. I gathered up the water house so I could quickly hose down the area after the shot if need be and set up for the shot on the fence from just over 75 ft away. I took my shot, the skunk fell over, and then I just waited. My wife called from the other end of the house Are you only going to shoot once? And I told her that's all it ever takes with this little 22. I was pretty pleased because the skunk had not moved a muscle in the 10-15 seconds since I had shot him and answered my wife's question. But then he moved one leg about a 1/4 inch -- so it was not quite the perfect shot. But it was good enough that he never sprayed anything. I even hosed down the area before picking up the skunk with a scoop shovel. A couple of times I smelled just a hint of skunk, but once I had hauled him away there was never much of a smell at all. So I am 2 for 2, but the second one twitched just a tiny bit. Guess the need for reading glasses to see the sights is starting to interfere with my shooting. Thinking maybe I should get a little scope for the 22 so that the sights and the critter are both in the scope and I can just use my reading glasses or see if I can adjust the focus so I can see what I am doing without the glasses. BTW My wife is an excellent shot as well, but mainly with a handgun. I am the rifleman in the family. So when it comes to critters that come up on the porch and eat the dog food or dig up the flowers it is my job to take care of them. But my wife often carries her 1911 45 or her Walther PPK when she is out working on the fences. We do have a real problem here with wild pigs and coyotes. Rattlers are not so bad. I've just seen a few in recent years. Actually we have seen more coral snakes than rattlers. This detailed description is just so the city folk will know what it is like out here in the country. Just so you will know our gentler side we also have a little pond out back that always has a lot of frogs so we get a lot of visitors, including bob cats. But, although our neighbors have seen mountain lions in the area we have never seen any on our place. We do get a lot of nice visitors, being on the route for a couple of blue herons, different hawks, and an occasional group of wood ducks. And we saw our first painted bunting the other day. We also have wall-to-wall deer, although there were only seven in the back yard tonight. These are the white tail variety but we also have Axis deer in the yard on occasion. We haven't seen any auodads on the place yet but one was hit out on the road the other day, about a mile or two from the house. And it has been too dry for many wild turkey the last couple of years. They want to use the grass for cover and our cattle have pretty much mowed the entire place. Dry enough so that we will be buying hay soon if we don't get any rain. Last year hay went from $3.50 a bale to $14 a bale during the drought. So far this year it has only gone up to about $8 so far. Hope this satisfies your need
Re: [Flexradio] SVN 2332
Jose, Check your top slider on the MultiRX box.. The top slider is now L/R for RX1. Center position is center balance. 73, Dudley WA5QPZ José Dumoulin wrote: Hi Friends I updated PowerSDR to revision 2332, this morning. I have sound coming only from the left speaker. I tried other old versions and things seem correct. 73 José F5JD ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kb.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ -- 73, Dudley WA5QPZ ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kb.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
