Re: [Flexradio] Improved CW Performance SDR 1000
I had a chance to load SVN534 this afternoon. Thank you, thank you, thank you people. This is the first time in over a year that that I have owned the SDR-1000 that I have been able to carry on CW QSOs without any problems. Ditto on the what a difference. BTW, did I say thank you! The CW OPS are back in the game. Jim, W3BG -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Brian Fredrickson Sent: Saturday, June 17, 2006 8:57 PM To: flexradio@flex-radio.biz Subject: [Flexradio] Improved CW Performance SDR 1000 Well I finally loaded up Tortoise and downloaded the latest SVN. Apart from the click and drag goodie what has really grabbed my attention is the huge improvement in the CW keyer. In semi QSK (I don't use full QSK) the latency has gone. I cannot believe the difference - the change is like night and day. So well done Bob N4HY and the Flex team - a great effort! BrianVK1BF ___ FlexRadio mailing list FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archive Link: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ FlexRadio Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com ___ FlexRadio mailing list FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archive Link: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ FlexRadio Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com
Re: [Flexradio] SDR-1000 Remote Control
Robert McGwier wrote: This technology has progressed a lot since we used it in the early days. I regularly check in to Eric's desktop and control the console, etc. when we need to communicate some complex procedure. The only reason Eric doesn't reciprocate is that it is not allowed at my work place (firewall prevents it). I strongly recommend http://ultravnc.sourceforge.net It is simply spectacular. The File transfer and speed are amazing. Eric thinks that tightvnc may be faster but it is the extra features, security, etc. that have sold me on Ultravnc. It communicates effectively with my tightvnc servers on my Linux boxes as well. I have several friends and colleagues who have put LapLink into the dust bin after running UltraVNC. For those who ran earlier versions, the crashes and other problems have been fixed. Version 1.0.1 seems very solid indeed. Bob Ken N9VV wrote: Tom, when the PowerSDR console was in it's infancy, many of us used TightVNC which allowed the folks at Flex to control our PCs to see the same features [a.k.a. bugs] we saw. There are various technical advantages to TightVNC like isn't jpg compression and very small footprint on the server and client side. I recommend it to you for your testing http://www.tightvnc.com You should get on Teamspeak and check with Hank K9LZJ who has his station remoted. He has significant experience with various setups and communication channels. and you might find this interesting http://www.n9vv.com/Images/SDR1000/W4MQ-Remote-SDR-1000.pdf and http://www.flex-radio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1211 and http://www.n9vv.com/Images/SDR1000/WO0Z-Flex-Client-Server-2.pdf de Ken N9VV Tom Thompson wrote: I have some good news to report on controlling the SDR-1000 remotely. I installed a VNC (virtual network computing) application from http://www.gotomypc.com on the host computer which is used for the ___ FlexRadio mailing list FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz ___ FlexRadio mailing list FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz I have been following this thread with interest. I downloaded Ultra VNC this afternoon and have been playing around with it. Pretty slick. One question though. How can you do the audio? . . . . and even keying? Jim, W3BG
[Flexradio] Logikey Keyer K3 Will Not Key Serial Port
I can not get my external Logikey Keyer K3 to key the serial port.This keyer uses a transistor keying circuit. I sense that I may need to isolate both with some sort of photo-optic device similar to the 4N33. I have used this device to have the serial port key a rig, but never a keyer to key the serial port. BTW, a paddle works great with the serial port input the PowerSDR keyer with iambic on or as a hand key with iambic off. However, I would like to use the external keyer with the serial port since it gets switched between other rigs and I have been using it for years. Any suggestions? Thank you. Jim, W3BG
[Flexradio] Video Noise Issue
I am experiencing popping and crackling in the SDR audio stream when I drag/reposition any open windows on the screen. Also I experience the same symptoms when I run the histogram display mode which is obviously video intensive. Any incite as to what is causing this and what could be done to correct? Set up . . . . 2.8G P4, 2G RAM, Radeon 9250, Delta44 (audio-512, DSP-1024, DMA-512). Thanks. Jim, W3BG
Re: [Flexradio] Build 226 of the vCOM driver is available
Philip Covington wrote: Hi all, Build 226 of the vCOM driver is available at: http://www.philcovington.com/SDR.html Build 226 fixes some issues on multiprocessor and hyper-threaded machines that could lead to deadlock. Deadlock could also happen on uniprocessor machines but is about 100x less likely. Any which way, everyone should update to build 226. Build 226 should be the most stable release of vCOM to date. 73 de Phil N8VB ___ FlexRadio mailing list FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Phil, When I attempted to D/L vCOM Build 226 this morning, the .zip file comes up empty. What am I doing wrong? Jim, W3BG
Re: [Flexradio] N8VB 226 on N9VV website too
That works FB Ken. Thanks. Jim Ken N9VV wrote: I copied the N8VB driver 226 to my website. Give this a try after 1pm CST http://www.n9vv.com/N8VB_VCOMDriverBuild226.zip de Ken
Re: [Flexradio] Still have CW transmit problems
Gerald, I followed the check list . . . . the forward power varied between 95.99 to 98.26 watts measured on an external watt meter. The PwrSDR forward watt meter flickered between 91/93 watts. The reflected power, measured on a 3 watt full scale analog meter, was interpolated to be 0.96 watts. No fall off in forward power indicated. Gerald Youngblood wrote: James, There is a very simple way to tell if you have a hardware problem with the amplifier. Please do the following: 1) Calibrate the PA on a dummy load if not already done 2) Set the Tune power control on the SetupTransmit tab to 100W 3) Set the radio in USB 4) Go to 20m and press the Tune button on the console 5) You should get about 100W out and you should see 100 on the PWR text box 6) Check the reverse power reading to make sure it is near zero If the power is stable in tune and reverse power looks good, this is a software issue. It very well could be a data conflict with polling the A/D converter and the key at the same time. Using the Tune button eliminates any possible conflict for the test. If there is a conflict with the new keyer, there are alternatives for key input that we will provide. We will be testing this in depth tomorrow with the latest software. You might want to try it with the old keyer also to see how it works with it. 73, Gerald K5SDR -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of n4hy Sent: Wednesday, June 29, 2005 4:23 PM To: James C Samuels Cc: FlexRadioMail Subject: Re: [Flexradio] Still have CW transmit problems James C Samuels wrote: Thanks Bob. My Answers are within your memo. /Jim, W3BG /--- HOW CAN YOU DETERMINE IF IT REAL OR A FAULT? I HAVE RUN THE RF OUT DIRECTLY TO A 50 OHM DUMMY LOAD WITH A VERY SHORT SECTION OF RG-8U AND SEE THE SAME RESULTS. DO YOU MEAN A HARDWARE OR SOFTWARE FAULT? ALSO, THE KEYER KEEPS ON KEYING AT LOSS OF POWER LEVELS – I CAN STILL HEAR IT IN THE MONITOR AT A MUCH REDUCED AUDIO LEVEL./ Okay Jim. I do not know the answer to hardware or software. There will be testing done tomorrow with a working amplifier and radio and to see if there are interactions between the new keyer and the amplifier swr reading. /-UNFORTUNATELY OR FORTUNATELY, I AM STILL WITHIN THE 45 WPM LIMIT. I USUALLY RUN BETWEEN 25 AND 35 WPM /// This will be eliminated by adding comport paddle sensing, etc. That will come but not right this minute. Bob ___ FlexRadio mailing list FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz
Re: [Flexradio] Still have CW transmit problems
I am using the USB cable Ken. I did try switching back and forth with the parallel cable at one point with no improvement in the CW power fall off. Ken N9VV wrote: Hi Jim, yes of course you are right. Well, let me throw another one at ya' -- how are you controlling the rig? via USB or Parallel Port? I know that my parallel port on my new (cheap Wal-Mart) PC is at 3VDC and won't work reliably without a parallel port booster, or better yet I replaced it with the USB interface. How bout' you? BK de Ken James C Samuels wrote: Hi Ken, I hope that I mentioned it earlier in this thread, but the rig works FB keying from the CW tab (with the internal keyer off now) - memory, key down, type ahead. Also Tune works OK. It appears to only be related to keying with the external paddles. If it were an amp issue, wouldn't it fall-off with all keying? Thanks. /Jim, W3BG Ken - N9VV wrote: Jim, I wonder if you have disconnected the AMP and run QRP right out the other BNC jack on the back? (the jack connected directly to the 4 board stack). That way you could tell if the problem is in the AMP or in the stack (or the software). If the stack is O.K. and stable (at say 1.5W like Tony KB9YIG) then it is definitely in the PA and you can send the module back to him instead of the whole rig. The PA comes out pretty easily. Gerald can step you through it over the phone if necessary. BK de Ken N9VV (had to send mine back several times :-) James C Samuels wrote: Thanks Bob. My Answers are within your memo. /Jim, W3BG You wrote: There is an automatic fall-off of power if the SWR sensor sees high SWR. Though you did not say (IT IS IMPORTANT TO TELL US EVERYTHING) I suspect you have the amplifier. This sounds exactly like SWR backoff. /-YES, I AM RUNNING WITH THE AMPLIFIER. HAPPENS AT ANY SET POWER LEVEL– 3W OR 100W. Say, the power is set to 50W . . . . the measured forward power on an external watt meter reads 50.71 watts then drops to .202 watts/ / / We need to find out if this is real or a fault that you are reading high SWR. /--- HOW CAN YOU DETERMINE IF IT REAL OR A FAULT? I HAVE RUN THE RF OUT DIRECTLY TO A 50 OHM DUMMY LOAD WITH A VERY SHORT SECTION OF RG-8U AND SEE THE SAME RESULTS. DO YOU MEAN A HARDWARE OR SOFTWARE FAULT? ALSO, THE KEYER KEEPS ON KEYING AT LOSS OF POWER LEVELS – I CAN STILL HEAR IT IN THE MONITOR AT A MUCH REDUCED AUDIO LEVEL./ / / As I wrote earlier, and measured by Dale WA8SRA. The keyer and the power amplifier fight for control of the parallel port. We have been backing off keyer requests to maintain the power amplifier requests. The ultimate price is that this reduces the high end speed of the keyer. It tops out now at about 45 wpm. /-UNFORTUNATELY OR FORTUNATELY, I AM STILL WITHIN THE 45 WPM LIMIT. I USUALLY RUN BETWEEN 25 AND 35 WPM /// This will be eliminated by adding comport paddle sensing, etc. That will come but not right this minute. Bob ___ FlexRadio mailing list FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz
Re: [Flexradio] Still have CW transmit problems
Bob, What I have not been able to get a feel for is . . . . is there anyone else experiencing this problem and/or is there anyone actively having regular CW QSOs and not experiencing any sort of power fall-off issues? Starting with 1.3.5, I was getting the red HIGH SWR message so I was attacking it from an RFI perspective. The High SWR message went away with subsequent releases, but not the power fall-off. I did manage to get a quick CW QSO with a Ukrainian on 40 meters one night, but it was a quick exchange because I could not keep a signal on the air. In every other aspect, the rig is a great performer. The receiver is just fantastic. I have had successful SSB QSOs. I worked two Mexican stations on 10 sideband with 40 watts this past weekend on a short opening. It has always just been the power fall-off on CW for me. Robert McGwier wrote: Then this cannot have anything to do with the keyer. It was not introduced until much later. Now I am completely lost. Bob James C Samuels wrote: You might want to try it with the old keyer also to see how it works with it. Gerald - I forgot to mention that I tried it again tonight with 1.3.7 and did see the forward power fall-off. I started with 1.3.5 and have been having this problem straight through all Beta versions since. I was so disappointed when the new keyer didn't fix this issue for me. Looks like the parallel port conflict may be the reason and the fix may be in sight. Gerald Youngblood wrote:
Re: [Flexradio] Still have CW transmit problems
The memory keyer and keyboard keying work great in 1.3.7 - full output. This past weekend I loaded 1.3.12 on another PC with a Audigy sound card and experienced the same CW power fall-off. How about the paddle circuit? Gerald Youngblood wrote: James, Does it work with the old keyer using memory? That would eliminate the keyer input but would be sending CW. I wonder if there is something specific to your installation. As I said, you have confirmed that the hardware is working properly when you did the Tune test without a problem. Gerald -Original Message- From: Robert McGwier [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, June 29, 2005 7:38 PM To: James C Samuels Cc: Gerald Youngblood; FlexRadioMail Subject: Re: [Flexradio] Still have CW transmit problems Then this cannot have anything to do with the keyer. It was not introduced until much later. Now I am completely lost. Bob James C Samuels wrote: You might want to try it with the old keyer also to see how it works with it. Gerald - I forgot to mention that I tried it again tonight with 1.3.7 and did see the forward power fall-off. I started with 1.3.5 and have been having this problem straight through all Beta versions since. I was so disappointed when the new keyer didn't fix this issue for me. Looks like the parallel port conflict may be the reason and the fix may be in sight. Gerald Youngblood wrote:
[Flexradio] Re: high swr/low output W3BG
Ken, Thank you - I was glad to get your note and suggestion. I tried turning off the panadapter first thing when I got home from work and it did not make any difference on this end. I think I am on to something with the drive audio from the Delta 44 - see my post. I spoke with Gerald briefly and he feels it is most likely a software issue. 73, Jim, W3BG
Re: [Flexradio] PowerSDR Beta 1.3.10 - Still Have CW Transmit Problem
I called HQ this morning and spoke briefly with Gerald. He suggested checking the drive audio out on Delta 44 output ports 3/4. I had a chance to do this when I got home from work this evening. It displays the exact characteristics that I hear in the monitor output when the xmitter output goes away (or drops way off). I also had a chance to do voltage measurements on these output ports 3/4 the results of which are as follows Keyed from any source (internal keyer, external key, key down) Tip (on 3.5mm plug going to SDR) starts at 508 mV and rapidly drops off to 356 mV Ring starts at 76 mV and at the same time as the tip, drops off to 36 mV Using Tune holds max indefinitely - 508/76 mV.
Re: [Flexradio] PowerSDR Beta 1.3.10 - Still Have CW Transmit Problem
Was waiting and hoping the new keyer in 1.3.10 would clear my CW problem, but my xmitter still keys with output for only about 10 sec then shuts down (keyer still works and can be heard in the monitor.) I then go back to receive by turning off MOX or by timeout in semi-break-in and when I start the transmit cycle over again, I get the same results. Any ideas? RFI? Thanks. Jim, W3BG
[Flexradio] Peak Power Reading - OK in SSB; Always a Neg. Number x100 in CW,Tune, Key Down
My peak power reading is OK in SSB. In CW, Tune, and Key Down, it is always a negative number x100. For example, my power is set to 50 watts - the peak power reading is -5000. Forward power is OK, except it is slow responding (about 1+ sec.) and in CW, obviously, will not give me an accurate reading. Any ideas on these? Thank you. Jim, W3BG
[Flexradio] Frequency Display Suggestion
I have been thinking of this improvement myself and just today noticed that Mel, K0PFX, suggested it last month with no apparent responses to his post. Is is possible to have both MHz and kHz decimals in the frequency display? That is 7.025.125 instead of 7.025125. I really feel that it would help a lot in the speed and ease of reading the frequency. I find that I can read the dual decimal display with one quick movement of my eyes. With the existing display, my eyes have to move back and forth at least twice to read and interpret the frequency. . . . and these eyes are getting older every day. Jim, W3BG
Re: [Flexradio] Double Digit COMPort Support
You guys are absolutely amazing! I post my question at 10:04 PM and the code fix change notice is posted at 10:53 PM. Unbelievable! Thanks so much.
