Re: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues
One would hope they may take notice, I had a very stiff 1/4 socket on my heil cable and I emailed their support, and got a personal reply from Bob... I must add I had already fixed the issue myself by cutting it off and soldering on another socket, but like Flex, the boss does respond to support issues. I suggest if you're having issues with Heil cables, tell Bob b...@heilsound.com Steve G6HOQ -Original Message- From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz [mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of Tim Ellison Sent: 07 December 2010 19:08 To: William H. Fite; Bret Mills Cc: Bradley Feldman; flexradio@flex-radio.biz Subject: Re: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues Part of this problem isn't the cable part number per se, but how they are constructed by the manufacturer. I have in the past ordered two cables directly from Heil that were the same part number but wired differently. Their QC isn't the best in the world. -Tim -Original Message- From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz [mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of William H. Fite Sent: Tuesday, December 07, 2010 1:35 PM To: Bret Mills Cc: Bradley Feldman; flexradio@flex-radio.biz Subject: Re: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues Interestingly, I spoke to a sales rep at Universal some months ago re my purchase of a Heil 781, suggesting that, with Flex sales flourishing, they might think of identifying the appropriate cables as "Flex compatible." She acted as though I had fallen from a star and landed on my head. So I guess people will continue to scratch their heads over *which *Yaesu cable is *the * Yaesu cable. At least if they shop at Universal, as many of us do. On Tue, Dec 7, 2010 at 1:17 PM, Bret Mills wrote: > Hi Bradley, > Glad to hear you got it working and isn't it VERY interesting how when > you buy something you expect it to work right out of the Box, BUT this > wiring issue has been around for a VERY long time and you would think > they would come up with a specific FLEX 5000 cable instead of the > Yaesu cable or something they picked up at the Audio Video store that > may or may not work in a RF environment depending on where the cable was assembled. > > Being on the third floor you may have to continue to use the > Artificial Ground which will mean something else to tune when you > change bands (Real > pain) If you have a great deal of RF coming back from the feed line > then you might have to go further then using a Coax Air wound choke, > read this article from W1HIS it is VERY informative and I think will > help your situation. > > http://www.yccc.org/Articles/W1HIS/CommonModeChokesW1HIS2006Apr06.pdf > > I have used these ideas MANY times for my self and to help other's in > my area build chokes to install out by there antenna's and along there > feed line who have had problems with RF getting into the House / shack > instead of being radiated out of the Antenna. > > Glad you got it figured out and glad I could be a little help. > > 73's > Bret > WX7Y > > > -Original Message- > From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz > [mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of Bradley Feldman > Sent: Tuesday, December 07, 2010 9:00 AM > To: flexradio@flex-radio.biz > Subject: Re: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) > Issues > > Here's an update on my progress: > > Per Brett and Gerald, I rewired the Heil Mic cable on the XLR side > distinctly and separately use all three pins of the XLR connector (only 2 > were being used and the shield was tied to the Mic negative). I rewired > the 8 pin side to have both the mic shield and the PTT shield on pin 5. > Mic > pos, Mic neg and PTT on the proper pins per the 5K manual. The 8 pin > connector cover is not attached to anything. > > So far, that seems to have solved the mic audio distortion issue. > I'll be switching to using the rear panel connection later this week. > > As far as RFI, I've temporarily hooked up an MFJ-931 Artificial Ground > (until I can set up a RF suppressor ground in the spring). That seems > to be > working as well. The RF ground current is showing considerably strong on > the unit's meter. > > I will likely put together the "air choke" that Harvey recommended. > Seems easy to construct and I'd think would lessen the necessary work > of the Artificial Ground. > > Many thanks to all who sent suggestions and recommendations. > > KK2QQ > > > > > > ___ > FlexRadio Systems Mailing List > FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz > http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_fl
Re: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues
EXACTLY Tim, this is what I have been trying to get across. Bret WX7Y -Original Message- From: Tim Ellison [mailto:telli...@itsco.com] Sent: Tuesday, December 07, 2010 12:08 PM To: William H. Fite; Bret Mills Cc: Bradley Feldman; flexradio@flex-radio.biz Subject: RE: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues Part of this problem isn't the cable part number per se, but how they are constructed by the manufacturer. I have in the past ordered two cables directly from Heil that were the same part number but wired differently. Their QC isn't the best in the world. -Tim -Original Message- From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz [mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of William H. Fite Sent: Tuesday, December 07, 2010 1:35 PM To: Bret Mills Cc: Bradley Feldman; flexradio@flex-radio.biz Subject: Re: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues Interestingly, I spoke to a sales rep at Universal some months ago re my purchase of a Heil 781, suggesting that, with Flex sales flourishing, they might think of identifying the appropriate cables as "Flex compatible." She acted as though I had fallen from a star and landed on my head. So I guess people will continue to scratch their heads over *which *Yaesu cable is *the * Yaesu cable. At least if they shop at Universal, as many of us do. On Tue, Dec 7, 2010 at 1:17 PM, Bret Mills wrote: > Hi Bradley, > Glad to hear you got it working and isn't it VERY interesting how when > you buy something you expect it to work right out of the Box, BUT this > wiring issue has been around for a VERY long time and you would think > they would come up with a specific FLEX 5000 cable instead of the > Yaesu cable or something they picked up at the Audio Video store that > may or may not work in a RF environment depending on where the cable was assembled. > > Being on the third floor you may have to continue to use the > Artificial Ground which will mean something else to tune when you > change bands (Real > pain) If you have a great deal of RF coming back from the feed line > then you might have to go further then using a Coax Air wound choke, > read this article from W1HIS it is VERY informative and I think will > help your situation. > > http://www.yccc.org/Articles/W1HIS/CommonModeChokesW1HIS2006Apr06.pdf > > I have used these ideas MANY times for my self and to help other's in > my area build chokes to install out by there antenna's and along there > feed line who have had problems with RF getting into the House / shack > instead of being radiated out of the Antenna. > > Glad you got it figured out and glad I could be a little help. > > 73's > Bret > WX7Y > > > -Original Message- > From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz > [mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of Bradley Feldman > Sent: Tuesday, December 07, 2010 9:00 AM > To: flexradio@flex-radio.biz > Subject: Re: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) > Issues > > Here's an update on my progress: > > Per Brett and Gerald, I rewired the Heil Mic cable on the XLR side > distinctly and separately use all three pins of the XLR connector (only 2 > were being used and the shield was tied to the Mic negative). I rewired > the 8 pin side to have both the mic shield and the PTT shield on pin 5. > Mic > pos, Mic neg and PTT on the proper pins per the 5K manual. The 8 pin > connector cover is not attached to anything. > > So far, that seems to have solved the mic audio distortion issue. > I'll be switching to using the rear panel connection later this week. > > As far as RFI, I've temporarily hooked up an MFJ-931 Artificial Ground > (until I can set up a RF suppressor ground in the spring). That seems > to be > working as well. The RF ground current is showing considerably strong on > the unit's meter. > > I will likely put together the "air choke" that Harvey recommended. > Seems easy to construct and I'd think would lessen the necessary work > of the Artificial Ground. > > Many thanks to all who sent suggestions and recommendations. > > KK2QQ > > > > > > ___ > 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://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: > http://www.flexradio.com/ > > -- > This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by > MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. > > > -- > This message has been scanned for viruses and dang
Re: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues
Part of this problem isn't the cable part number per se, but how they are constructed by the manufacturer. I have in the past ordered two cables directly from Heil that were the same part number but wired differently. Their QC isn't the best in the world. -Tim -Original Message- From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz [mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of William H. Fite Sent: Tuesday, December 07, 2010 1:35 PM To: Bret Mills Cc: Bradley Feldman; flexradio@flex-radio.biz Subject: Re: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues Interestingly, I spoke to a sales rep at Universal some months ago re my purchase of a Heil 781, suggesting that, with Flex sales flourishing, they might think of identifying the appropriate cables as "Flex compatible." She acted as though I had fallen from a star and landed on my head. So I guess people will continue to scratch their heads over *which *Yaesu cable is *the * Yaesu cable. At least if they shop at Universal, as many of us do. On Tue, Dec 7, 2010 at 1:17 PM, Bret Mills wrote: > Hi Bradley, > Glad to hear you got it working and isn't it VERY interesting how when > you buy something you expect it to work right out of the Box, BUT this > wiring issue has been around for a VERY long time and you would think > they would come up with a specific FLEX 5000 cable instead of the > Yaesu cable or something they picked up at the Audio Video store that > may or may not work in a RF environment depending on where the cable was > assembled. > > Being on the third floor you may have to continue to use the > Artificial Ground which will mean something else to tune when you > change bands (Real > pain) If you have a great deal of RF coming back from the feed line > then you might have to go further then using a Coax Air wound choke, > read this article from W1HIS it is VERY informative and I think will > help your situation. > > http://www.yccc.org/Articles/W1HIS/CommonModeChokesW1HIS2006Apr06.pdf > > I have used these ideas MANY times for my self and to help other's in > my area build chokes to install out by there antenna's and along there > feed line who have had problems with RF getting into the House / shack > instead of being radiated out of the Antenna. > > Glad you got it figured out and glad I could be a little help. > > 73's > Bret > WX7Y > > > -Original Message- > From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz > [mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of Bradley Feldman > Sent: Tuesday, December 07, 2010 9:00 AM > To: flexradio@flex-radio.biz > Subject: Re: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) > Issues > > Here's an update on my progress: > > Per Brett and Gerald, I rewired the Heil Mic cable on the XLR side > distinctly and separately use all three pins of the XLR connector (only 2 > were being used and the shield was tied to the Mic negative). I rewired > the 8 pin side to have both the mic shield and the PTT shield on pin 5. > Mic > pos, Mic neg and PTT on the proper pins per the 5K manual. The 8 pin > connector cover is not attached to anything. > > So far, that seems to have solved the mic audio distortion issue. > I'll be switching to using the rear panel connection later this week. > > As far as RFI, I've temporarily hooked up an MFJ-931 Artificial Ground > (until I can set up a RF suppressor ground in the spring). That seems > to be > working as well. The RF ground current is showing considerably strong on > the unit's meter. > > I will likely put together the "air choke" that Harvey recommended. > Seems easy to construct and I'd think would lessen the necessary work > of the Artificial Ground. > > Many thanks to all who sent suggestions and recommendations. > > KK2QQ > > > > > > ___ > 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://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: > http://www.flexradio.com/ > > -- > This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by > MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. > > > -- > This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by > MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. > > > ___ > 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-
Re: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues
Interestingly, I spoke to a sales rep at Universal some months ago re my purchase of a Heil 781, suggesting that, with Flex sales flourishing, they might think of identifying the appropriate cables as "Flex compatible." She acted as though I had fallen from a star and landed on my head. So I guess people will continue to scratch their heads over *which *Yaesu cable is *the * Yaesu cable. At least if they shop at Universal, as many of us do. On Tue, Dec 7, 2010 at 1:17 PM, Bret Mills wrote: > Hi Bradley, > Glad to hear you got it working and isn't it VERY interesting how when you > buy something you expect it to work right out of the Box, BUT this wiring > issue has been around for a VERY long time and you would think they would > come up with a specific FLEX 5000 cable instead of the Yaesu cable or > something they picked up at the Audio Video store that may or may not work > in a RF environment depending on where the cable was assembled. > > Being on the third floor you may have to continue to use the Artificial > Ground which will mean something else to tune when you change bands (Real > pain) If you have a great deal of RF coming back from the feed line then > you > might have to go further then using a Coax Air wound choke, read this > article from W1HIS it is VERY informative and I think will help your > situation. > > http://www.yccc.org/Articles/W1HIS/CommonModeChokesW1HIS2006Apr06.pdf > > I have used these ideas MANY times for my self and to help other's in my > area build chokes to install out by there antenna's and along there feed > line who have had problems with RF getting into the House / shack instead > of > being radiated out of the Antenna. > > Glad you got it figured out and glad I could be a little help. > > 73's > Bret > WX7Y > > > -Original Message- > From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz > [mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of Bradley Feldman > Sent: Tuesday, December 07, 2010 9:00 AM > To: flexradio@flex-radio.biz > Subject: Re: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) > Issues > > Here's an update on my progress: > > Per Brett and Gerald, I rewired the Heil Mic cable on the XLR side > distinctly and separately use all three pins of the XLR connector (only 2 > were being used and the shield was tied to the Mic negative). I rewired > the 8 pin side to have both the mic shield and the PTT shield on pin 5. > Mic > pos, Mic neg and PTT on the proper pins per the 5K manual. The 8 pin > connector cover is not attached to anything. > > So far, that seems to have solved the mic audio distortion issue. I'll be > switching to using the rear panel connection later this week. > > As far as RFI, I've temporarily hooked up an MFJ-931 Artificial Ground > (until I can set up a RF suppressor ground in the spring). That seems to > be > working as well. The RF ground current is showing considerably strong on > the unit's meter. > > I will likely put together the "air choke" that Harvey recommended. Seems > easy to construct and I'd think would lessen the necessary work of the > Artificial Ground. > > Many thanks to all who sent suggestions and recommendations. > > KK2QQ > > > > > > ___ > 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://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: > http://www.flexradio.com/ > > -- > This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by > MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. > > > -- > This message has been scanned for viruses and > dangerous content by MailScanner, and is > believed to be clean. > > > ___ > 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://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: > http://www.flexradio.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://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues
Hi Bradley, Glad to hear you got it working and isn't it VERY interesting how when you buy something you expect it to work right out of the Box, BUT this wiring issue has been around for a VERY long time and you would think they would come up with a specific FLEX 5000 cable instead of the Yaesu cable or something they picked up at the Audio Video store that may or may not work in a RF environment depending on where the cable was assembled. Being on the third floor you may have to continue to use the Artificial Ground which will mean something else to tune when you change bands (Real pain) If you have a great deal of RF coming back from the feed line then you might have to go further then using a Coax Air wound choke, read this article from W1HIS it is VERY informative and I think will help your situation. http://www.yccc.org/Articles/W1HIS/CommonModeChokesW1HIS2006Apr06.pdf I have used these ideas MANY times for my self and to help other's in my area build chokes to install out by there antenna's and along there feed line who have had problems with RF getting into the House / shack instead of being radiated out of the Antenna. Glad you got it figured out and glad I could be a little help. 73's Bret WX7Y -Original Message- From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz [mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of Bradley Feldman Sent: Tuesday, December 07, 2010 9:00 AM To: flexradio@flex-radio.biz Subject: Re: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues Here's an update on my progress: Per Brett and Gerald, I rewired the Heil Mic cable on the XLR side distinctly and separately use all three pins of the XLR connector (only 2 were being used and the shield was tied to the Mic negative). I rewired the 8 pin side to have both the mic shield and the PTT shield on pin 5. Mic pos, Mic neg and PTT on the proper pins per the 5K manual. The 8 pin connector cover is not attached to anything. So far, that seems to have solved the mic audio distortion issue. I'll be switching to using the rear panel connection later this week. As far as RFI, I've temporarily hooked up an MFJ-931 Artificial Ground (until I can set up a RF suppressor ground in the spring). That seems to be working as well. The RF ground current is showing considerably strong on the unit's meter. I will likely put together the "air choke" that Harvey recommended. Seems easy to construct and I'd think would lessen the necessary work of the Artificial Ground. Many thanks to all who sent suggestions and recommendations. KK2QQ ___ 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://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/ -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. ___ 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://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues
Here's an update on my progress: Per Brett and Gerald, I rewired the Heil Mic cable on the XLR side distinctly and separately use all three pins of the XLR connector (only 2 were being used and the shield was tied to the Mic negative). I rewired the 8 pin side to have both the mic shield and the PTT shield on pin 5. Mic pos, Mic neg and PTT on the proper pins per the 5K manual. The 8 pin connector cover is not attached to anything. So far, that seems to have solved the mic audio distortion issue. I'll be switching to using the rear panel connection later this week. As far as RFI, I've temporarily hooked up an MFJ-931 Artificial Ground (until I can set up a RF suppressor ground in the spring). That seems to be working as well. The RF ground current is showing considerably strong on the unit's meter. I will likely put together the "air choke" that Harvey recommended. Seems easy to construct and I'd think would lessen the necessary work of the Artificial Ground. Many thanks to all who sent suggestions and recommendations. KK2QQ ___ 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://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues
The rear 1/4" mike input seems much less prone to RFI issues than using the eight pin connector on the front. Also use the rear RCA for PTT. Be sure to check the box for mike gain in the main menu or you might find that you have to run a lot of gain on the "radio" screen slider. Adjust the mike gain slider on the "radio" so that it only occasionally gets to zero on the MIC meter setting and never becomes a plus number. Also putting an "air choke" in series with the dipole antenna before it enters the shack can help. It's made with 19 to 21 feet of 50 ohm coax wound around about a 5 inch pvc. Do not let the winds overlap or cross. Curious if you have a means to measure SWR independent of the Flex and if the ATU does a lot of "hunting?" KC5PD ___ 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://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues
Bradley, I am certainly no expert in the RFI area and I may get in trouble if I try to diagnose your situation. The articles should be of help and there are many people on the reflector with much more knowledge than I. You may want to tap further into the reflector resources. On the microphone wiring, I found the following article that makes a different recommendation from mine. This one says not to connect the shield to the housing but to connect it to pin-5. You may want to give this a try. Gerald Gerald Youngblood, K5SDR President and CEO FlexRadio Systems(TM) 13091 Pond Springs Road, #250 Austin, TX 78729 Phone: 512-535-4713 Ext. 202 Email: ger...@flexradio.com Web: www.flexradio.com <http://www.flex-radio.com/> Tune In Excitement (TM) PowerSDR(TM) is a trademark of FlexRadio Systems On Sun, Dec 5, 2010 at 8:26 PM, Bradley Feldman wrote: > Gerald: > > > > Are you saying that “Alternative 2 - The RF Suppressor Ground System” from > this article in Flex Knowledge center would not work in my situation? > > > > http://kc.flexradio.com/KnowledgebaseArticle50426.aspx?Keywords=distortion > > > > *B > > KK2QQ > > > > *From:* ger...@flex-radio.com [mailto:ger...@flex-radio.com] *On Behalf Of > *Gerald Youngblood > > *Sent:* Sunday, December 05, 2010 3:54 PM > *To:* Bradley Feldman > *Cc:* Army Curtis - AE5P; flexradio@flex-radio.biz > > *Subject:* Re: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) > Issues > > > > Bradley, > > > > On the fourth floor, even a connection to earth ground would not be a > ground because of the impedance of the ground conductor at RF. This could > certainly be one of your issues. > > > > With regard to the front panel microphone connection. Be sure shield is > connected to the connector housing so that it is connected directly to the > chassis. You might want to read about the "Pin-1 Problem" in XLR circuits. > > > > http://www.rane.com/note165.html > > > > You may also want to run the PR-781 balanced into the back of the radio. A > balanced input can be a big help with RFI. > > > > Good luck, > > Gerald > > > Gerald Youngblood, K5SDR > President and CEO > FlexRadio Systems(TM) > 13091 Pond Springs Road, #250 > Austin, TX 78729 > Phone: 512-535-4713 Ext. 202 > Email: ger...@flexradio.com > Web: www.flexradio.com <http://www.flex-radio.com/> > > Tune In Excitement (TM) > > PowerSDR(TM) is a trademark of FlexRadio Systems > > On Sun, Dec 5, 2010 at 2:23 PM, Bradley Feldman < > brad...@bradleyloritheo.com> wrote: > > Army, et al: > > At this point, I'm suspecting RF as well. But why with so little power? > In > the past, with a traditional rig I haven't seen a problem like this, but > with the Flex 5000A, with as little as 1W out, I'm having problems. > > To answer your question, the reason both temporary antennas are 30M > antennas > so I can tune them for 6-40m and run low power SSB. > > The MMD antenna is supposed to have a Current-Mode Discriminator which, > among other things, is supposed to prevent RF running back down the > feedline. The dipole is a textbook dipole fed with coax. > > If I transmit into a dummy load (a giant 50ohm resistor I bought at a ham > fest). I can run full power with no problems whatsoever. No buzzing, no > feedback, no distortion. Audio sounds fine in another receiver. > > Also, I don't have a traditional RF ground yet and the radio is on the 4th > story of a building. I do own an artificial ground tuner, which I haven't > tried yet at this QTH. As I've said, I'm setting up this QTH new, so I'm > trying to minimize what's necessary, rather than hooking everything up at > once. By spring time, I'll hook up a RF suppressor Ground system (like the > one in the grounding article in the Flex Knowledge center). > > I'm just trying to operate on a modest setup for the winter. Any ideas on > how I can solve this problem and operate under these constraints? > > *B > KK2QQ > > > > -Original Message- > From: Army Curtis - AE5P [mailto:a...@suddenlink.net] > Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 1:48 PM > To: 'Bradley Feldman' > Subject: RE: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) > Issues > > Hi Bradley, > > I've been following your adventures this morning with your new Flex. > Everything you have said so far points to RF getting back into the > radio/computer/speakers. Your first post seemed to indicate you had > transmit > audio feedback from either radio speakers that were reproducing transmit > audio because the Monitor
Re: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues
Gerald: Are you saying that "Alternative 2 - The RF Suppressor Ground System" from this article in Flex Knowledge center would not work in my situation? http://kc.flexradio.com/KnowledgebaseArticle50426.aspx?Keywords=distortion *B KK2QQ From: ger...@flex-radio.com [mailto:ger...@flex-radio.com] On Behalf Of Gerald Youngblood Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 3:54 PM To: Bradley Feldman Cc: Army Curtis - AE5P; flexradio@flex-radio.biz Subject: Re: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues Bradley, On the fourth floor, even a connection to earth ground would not be a ground because of the impedance of the ground conductor at RF. This could certainly be one of your issues. With regard to the front panel microphone connection. Be sure shield is connected to the connector housing so that it is connected directly to the chassis. You might want to read about the "Pin-1 Problem" in XLR circuits. http://www.rane.com/note165.html You may also want to run the PR-781 balanced into the back of the radio. A balanced input can be a big help with RFI. Good luck, Gerald Gerald Youngblood, K5SDR President and CEO FlexRadio Systems(TM) 13091 Pond Springs Road, #250 Austin, TX 78729 Phone: 512-535-4713 Ext. 202 Email: ger...@flexradio.com Web: www.flexradio.com <http://www.flex-radio.com/> Tune In Excitement (TM) PowerSDR(TM) is a trademark of FlexRadio Systems On Sun, Dec 5, 2010 at 2:23 PM, Bradley Feldman wrote: Army, et al: At this point, I'm suspecting RF as well. But why with so little power? In the past, with a traditional rig I haven't seen a problem like this, but with the Flex 5000A, with as little as 1W out, I'm having problems. To answer your question, the reason both temporary antennas are 30M antennas so I can tune them for 6-40m and run low power SSB. The MMD antenna is supposed to have a Current-Mode Discriminator which, among other things, is supposed to prevent RF running back down the feedline. The dipole is a textbook dipole fed with coax. If I transmit into a dummy load (a giant 50ohm resistor I bought at a ham fest). I can run full power with no problems whatsoever. No buzzing, no feedback, no distortion. Audio sounds fine in another receiver. Also, I don't have a traditional RF ground yet and the radio is on the 4th story of a building. I do own an artificial ground tuner, which I haven't tried yet at this QTH. As I've said, I'm setting up this QTH new, so I'm trying to minimize what's necessary, rather than hooking everything up at once. By spring time, I'll hook up a RF suppressor Ground system (like the one in the grounding article in the Flex Knowledge center). I'm just trying to operate on a modest setup for the winter. Any ideas on how I can solve this problem and operate under these constraints? *B KK2QQ -Original Message- From: Army Curtis - AE5P [mailto:a...@suddenlink.net] Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 1:48 PM To: 'Bradley Feldman' Subject: RE: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues Hi Bradley, I've been following your adventures this morning with your new Flex. Everything you have said so far points to RF getting back into the radio/computer/speakers. Your first post seemed to indicate you had transmit audio feedback from either radio speakers that were reproducing transmit audio because the Monitor button was activated in PSDR, or you had a second receiver in the shack to listen to your transmit audio. If you want to listen to your transmit audio, you MUST prevent the audio from getting back into the microphone and creating a big feedback loop. Since the first post, your symptoms now sound like a classic case of RF feedback (different from audio feedback). You speak of a 30M antenna, first an end fed model and then a dipole fed with coax. I'm a little confused here. 30 meters does not permit SSB operation; only CW or digital. Am I understanding you correctly? Also, a dipole is inherently a balanced antenna, which you are feeding with coax, an unbalanced feed line. Very common practice I grant you, but one that is also very prone to bringing RF back into the shack. Do you have a dummy load? That would be a much better test if you have one. Hook up the dummy load in place of the antenna, and try things again. Remember to use headphones to listen to your transmit audio so you don't have audio feedback, and check things out at several different drive (output power) levels. Watch your mike levels as you transmit, adjusting mike gain so the mike indication on the meter does not go over 0 dB, even on voice peaks. HF RF can cause the same type of sounds from powered speakers that VHF FM can, so I don't think you are having an issue with the V/U modules being keyed by mistake. I also have a 5000 with all the goodies, and totally love it. I ho
Re: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues
Brett: On the Heil Cable, the Mic negative and shield are tied together at the XLR End with the Mic Negative running on the shield to Flex pin 7. So on the XLR, only pins 1+2 are used. Pin 3 is not connected. Seems wrong to me. What's the definitive answer on how it should be? The cable appears to be 4 conductor + shield. What should go where? If anyone has a final answer, I'll unsolder both ends and rewire it properly. Thanks in advance, *B KK2QQ -Original Message- From: Bret Mills [mailto:bmil...@ecso.com] Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 4:28 PM To: 'Bradley Feldman' Subject: RE: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues Bradley, I really don't think the Shield is supposed to be connected to pin 7 that is the MIC's (-) side NOT GROUND. The shield according to the manual is connected to pin 5 so Pin 5 and the shell should be connected together as the Chassis Ground. Again Page 5 of the FLEX 5K's owners manual show the proper connections for the FLEX-5000 MIC connector, I quote "Pin 5 is Chassis Ground, Pin 6 is PTT, Pin 7 MIC (-) Pin 8 MIC (+)". >From your previous emails I thought that is how yours was connected. 73's Bret WX7Y -Original Message- From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz [mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of Bradley Feldman Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 2:12 PM To: 'Gerald Youngblood'; flexradio@flex-radio.biz Subject: Re: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues Gerald: Since this cable is one I bought from Flex, how should it be wired at the radio? Should pin 7 the shield and the connector housing all be tied together? Currently the connector housing is not connected to anything and the Mic - and the Shield are soldered to pin 7. Thanks, *B KK2QQ From: ger...@flex-radio.com [mailto:ger...@flex-radio.com] On Behalf Of Gerald Youngblood Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 3:54 PM To: Bradley Feldman Cc: Army Curtis - AE5P; flexradio@flex-radio.biz Subject: Re: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues Bradley, On the fourth floor, even a connection to earth ground would not be a ground because of the impedance of the ground conductor at RF. This could certainly be one of your issues. With regard to the front panel microphone connection. Be sure shield is connected to the connector housing so that it is connected directly to the chassis. You might want to read about the "Pin-1 Problem" in XLR circuits. http://www.rane.com/note165.html You may also want to run the PR-781 balanced into the back of the radio. A balanced input can be a big help with RFI. Good luck, Gerald Gerald Youngblood, K5SDR President and CEO FlexRadio Systems(TM) 13091 Pond Springs Road, #250 Austin, TX 78729 Phone: 512-535-4713 Ext. 202 Email: ger...@flexradio.com Web: www.flexradio.com <http://www.flex-radio.com/> Tune In Excitement (TM) PowerSDR(TM) is a trademark of FlexRadio Systems On Sun, Dec 5, 2010 at 2:23 PM, Bradley Feldman wrote: Army, et al: At this point, I'm suspecting RF as well. But why with so little power? In the past, with a traditional rig I haven't seen a problem like this, but with the Flex 5000A, with as little as 1W out, I'm having problems. To answer your question, the reason both temporary antennas are 30M antennas so I can tune them for 6-40m and run low power SSB. The MMD antenna is supposed to have a Current-Mode Discriminator which, among other things, is supposed to prevent RF running back down the feedline. The dipole is a textbook dipole fed with coax. If I transmit into a dummy load (a giant 50ohm resistor I bought at a ham fest). I can run full power with no problems whatsoever. No buzzing, no feedback, no distortion. Audio sounds fine in another receiver. Also, I don't have a traditional RF ground yet and the radio is on the 4th story of a building. I do own an artificial ground tuner, which I haven't tried yet at this QTH. As I've said, I'm setting up this QTH new, so I'm trying to minimize what's necessary, rather than hooking everything up at once. By spring time, I'll hook up a RF suppressor Ground system (like the one in the grounding article in the Flex Knowledge center). I'm just trying to operate on a modest setup for the winter. Any ideas on how I can solve this problem and operate under these constraints? *B KK2QQ -Original Message----- From: Army Curtis - AE5P [mailto:a...@suddenlink.net] Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 1:48 PM To: 'Bradley Feldman' Subject: RE: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues Hi Bradley, I've been following your adventures this morning with your new Flex. Everything you have said so far points to RF getting back into the radio/computer/speakers. Your first p
Re: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues
Gerald: Thanks for looking into this. I've placed an order for the XLR-TRS cable from Flex as a backup. Regards, *B KK2QQ From: ger...@flex-radio.com [mailto:ger...@flex-radio.com] On Behalf Of Gerald Youngblood Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 5:28 PM To: Bradley Feldman Cc: flexradio@flex-radio.biz; Greg Jurrens Subject: Re: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues Bradley, If I am not mistaken, we currently buy our cables from Heil. Let me check into this on Monday with Greg, who was looking into this recently. Gerald Gerald Youngblood, K5SDR President and CEO FlexRadio Systems(TM) 13091 Pond Springs Road, #250 Austin, TX 78729 Phone: 512-535-4713 Ext. 202 Email: ger...@flexradio.com Web: www.flexradio.com <http://www.flex-radio.com/> Tune In Excitement (TM) PowerSDR(TM) is a trademark of FlexRadio Systems On Sun, Dec 5, 2010 at 3:11 PM, Bradley Feldman wrote: Gerald: Since this cable is one I bought from Flex, how should it be wired at the radio? Should pin 7 the shield and the connector housing all be tied together? Currently the connector housing is not connected to anything and the Mic - and the Shield are soldered to pin 7. Thanks, *B KK2QQ From: ger...@flex-radio.com [mailto:ger...@flex-radio.com] On Behalf Of Gerald Youngblood Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 3:54 PM To: Bradley Feldman Cc: Army Curtis - AE5P; flexradio@flex-radio.biz Subject: Re: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues Bradley, On the fourth floor, even a connection to earth ground would not be a ground because of the impedance of the ground conductor at RF. This could certainly be one of your issues. With regard to the front panel microphone connection. Be sure shield is connected to the connector housing so that it is connected directly to the chassis. You might want to read about the "Pin-1 Problem" in XLR circuits. http://www.rane.com/note165.html You may also want to run the PR-781 balanced into the back of the radio. A balanced input can be a big help with RFI. Good luck, Gerald Gerald Youngblood, K5SDR President and CEO FlexRadio Systems(TM) 13091 Pond Springs Road, #250 Austin, TX 78729 Phone: 512-535-4713 Ext. 202 Email: ger...@flexradio.com Web: www.flexradio.com <http://www.flex-radio.com/> Tune In Excitement (TM) PowerSDR(TM) is a trademark of FlexRadio Systems On Sun, Dec 5, 2010 at 2:23 PM, Bradley Feldman wrote: Army, et al: At this point, I'm suspecting RF as well. But why with so little power? In the past, with a traditional rig I haven't seen a problem like this, but with the Flex 5000A, with as little as 1W out, I'm having problems. To answer your question, the reason both temporary antennas are 30M antennas so I can tune them for 6-40m and run low power SSB. The MMD antenna is supposed to have a Current-Mode Discriminator which, among other things, is supposed to prevent RF running back down the feedline. The dipole is a textbook dipole fed with coax. If I transmit into a dummy load (a giant 50ohm resistor I bought at a ham fest). I can run full power with no problems whatsoever. No buzzing, no feedback, no distortion. Audio sounds fine in another receiver. Also, I don't have a traditional RF ground yet and the radio is on the 4th story of a building. I do own an artificial ground tuner, which I haven't tried yet at this QTH. As I've said, I'm setting up this QTH new, so I'm trying to minimize what's necessary, rather than hooking everything up at once. By spring time, I'll hook up a RF suppressor Ground system (like the one in the grounding article in the Flex Knowledge center). I'm just trying to operate on a modest setup for the winter. Any ideas on how I can solve this problem and operate under these constraints? *B KK2QQ -Original Message- From: Army Curtis - AE5P [mailto:a...@suddenlink.net] Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 1:48 PM To: 'Bradley Feldman' Subject: RE: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues Hi Bradley, I've been following your adventures this morning with your new Flex. Everything you have said so far points to RF getting back into the radio/computer/speakers. Your first post seemed to indicate you had transmit audio feedback from either radio speakers that were reproducing transmit audio because the Monitor button was activated in PSDR, or you had a second receiver in the shack to listen to your transmit audio. If you want to listen to your transmit audio, you MUST prevent the audio from getting back into the microphone and creating a big feedback loop. Since the first post, your symptoms now sound like a classic case of RF feedback (different from audio feedback). You speak of a 30M antenna, first an end fed model and then a dipole fed with coax. I'm a little confused here.
Re: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues
Bradley, If I am not mistaken, we currently buy our cables from Heil. Let me check into this on Monday with Greg, who was looking into this recently. Gerald Gerald Youngblood, K5SDR President and CEO FlexRadio Systems(TM) 13091 Pond Springs Road, #250 Austin, TX 78729 Phone: 512-535-4713 Ext. 202 Email: ger...@flexradio.com Web: www.flexradio.com <http://www.flex-radio.com/> Tune In Excitement (TM) PowerSDR(TM) is a trademark of FlexRadio Systems On Sun, Dec 5, 2010 at 3:11 PM, Bradley Feldman wrote: > Gerald: > > > > Since this cable is one I bought from Flex, how should it be wired at the > radio? Should pin 7 the shield and the connector housing all be tied > together? Currently the connector housing is not connected to anything and > the Mic – and the Shield are soldered to pin 7. > > > > Thanks, > > > > *B > > KK2QQ > > > > *From:* ger...@flex-radio.com [mailto:ger...@flex-radio.com] *On Behalf Of > *Gerald Youngblood > *Sent:* Sunday, December 05, 2010 3:54 PM > *To:* Bradley Feldman > *Cc:* Army Curtis - AE5P; flexradio@flex-radio.biz > > *Subject:* Re: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) > Issues > > > > Bradley, > > > > On the fourth floor, even a connection to earth ground would not be a > ground because of the impedance of the ground conductor at RF. This could > certainly be one of your issues. > > > > With regard to the front panel microphone connection. Be sure shield is > connected to the connector housing so that it is connected directly to the > chassis. You might want to read about the "Pin-1 Problem" in XLR circuits. > > > > http://www.rane.com/note165.html > > > > You may also want to run the PR-781 balanced into the back of the radio. A > balanced input can be a big help with RFI. > > > > Good luck, > > Gerald > > > Gerald Youngblood, K5SDR > President and CEO > FlexRadio Systems(TM) > 13091 Pond Springs Road, #250 > Austin, TX 78729 > Phone: 512-535-4713 Ext. 202 > Email: ger...@flexradio.com > Web: www.flexradio.com <http://www.flex-radio.com/> > > Tune In Excitement (TM) > > PowerSDR(TM) is a trademark of FlexRadio Systems > > On Sun, Dec 5, 2010 at 2:23 PM, Bradley Feldman < > brad...@bradleyloritheo.com> wrote: > > Army, et al: > > At this point, I'm suspecting RF as well. But why with so little power? > In > the past, with a traditional rig I haven't seen a problem like this, but > with the Flex 5000A, with as little as 1W out, I'm having problems. > > To answer your question, the reason both temporary antennas are 30M > antennas > so I can tune them for 6-40m and run low power SSB. > > The MMD antenna is supposed to have a Current-Mode Discriminator which, > among other things, is supposed to prevent RF running back down the > feedline. The dipole is a textbook dipole fed with coax. > > If I transmit into a dummy load (a giant 50ohm resistor I bought at a ham > fest). I can run full power with no problems whatsoever. No buzzing, no > feedback, no distortion. Audio sounds fine in another receiver. > > Also, I don't have a traditional RF ground yet and the radio is on the 4th > story of a building. I do own an artificial ground tuner, which I haven't > tried yet at this QTH. As I've said, I'm setting up this QTH new, so I'm > trying to minimize what's necessary, rather than hooking everything up at > once. By spring time, I'll hook up a RF suppressor Ground system (like the > one in the grounding article in the Flex Knowledge center). > > I'm just trying to operate on a modest setup for the winter. Any ideas on > how I can solve this problem and operate under these constraints? > > *B > KK2QQ > > > > -Original Message- > From: Army Curtis - AE5P [mailto:a...@suddenlink.net] > Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 1:48 PM > To: 'Bradley Feldman' > Subject: RE: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) > Issues > > Hi Bradley, > > I've been following your adventures this morning with your new Flex. > Everything you have said so far points to RF getting back into the > radio/computer/speakers. Your first post seemed to indicate you had > transmit > audio feedback from either radio speakers that were reproducing transmit > audio because the Monitor button was activated in PSDR, or you had a second > receiver in the shack to listen to your transmit audio. If you want to > listen to your transmit audio, you MUST prevent the audio from getting back > into the microphone and creating a big feedback loop. > > Since the firs
Re: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues
Gerald: Since this cable is one I bought from Flex, how should it be wired at the radio? Should pin 7 the shield and the connector housing all be tied together? Currently the connector housing is not connected to anything and the Mic - and the Shield are soldered to pin 7. Thanks, *B KK2QQ From: ger...@flex-radio.com [mailto:ger...@flex-radio.com] On Behalf Of Gerald Youngblood Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 3:54 PM To: Bradley Feldman Cc: Army Curtis - AE5P; flexradio@flex-radio.biz Subject: Re: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues Bradley, On the fourth floor, even a connection to earth ground would not be a ground because of the impedance of the ground conductor at RF. This could certainly be one of your issues. With regard to the front panel microphone connection. Be sure shield is connected to the connector housing so that it is connected directly to the chassis. You might want to read about the "Pin-1 Problem" in XLR circuits. http://www.rane.com/note165.html You may also want to run the PR-781 balanced into the back of the radio. A balanced input can be a big help with RFI. Good luck, Gerald Gerald Youngblood, K5SDR President and CEO FlexRadio Systems(TM) 13091 Pond Springs Road, #250 Austin, TX 78729 Phone: 512-535-4713 Ext. 202 Email: ger...@flexradio.com Web: www.flexradio.com <http://www.flex-radio.com/> Tune In Excitement (TM) PowerSDR(TM) is a trademark of FlexRadio Systems On Sun, Dec 5, 2010 at 2:23 PM, Bradley Feldman wrote: Army, et al: At this point, I'm suspecting RF as well. But why with so little power? In the past, with a traditional rig I haven't seen a problem like this, but with the Flex 5000A, with as little as 1W out, I'm having problems. To answer your question, the reason both temporary antennas are 30M antennas so I can tune them for 6-40m and run low power SSB. The MMD antenna is supposed to have a Current-Mode Discriminator which, among other things, is supposed to prevent RF running back down the feedline. The dipole is a textbook dipole fed with coax. If I transmit into a dummy load (a giant 50ohm resistor I bought at a ham fest). I can run full power with no problems whatsoever. No buzzing, no feedback, no distortion. Audio sounds fine in another receiver. Also, I don't have a traditional RF ground yet and the radio is on the 4th story of a building. I do own an artificial ground tuner, which I haven't tried yet at this QTH. As I've said, I'm setting up this QTH new, so I'm trying to minimize what's necessary, rather than hooking everything up at once. By spring time, I'll hook up a RF suppressor Ground system (like the one in the grounding article in the Flex Knowledge center). I'm just trying to operate on a modest setup for the winter. Any ideas on how I can solve this problem and operate under these constraints? *B KK2QQ -Original Message- From: Army Curtis - AE5P [mailto:a...@suddenlink.net] Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 1:48 PM To: 'Bradley Feldman' Subject: RE: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues Hi Bradley, I've been following your adventures this morning with your new Flex. Everything you have said so far points to RF getting back into the radio/computer/speakers. Your first post seemed to indicate you had transmit audio feedback from either radio speakers that were reproducing transmit audio because the Monitor button was activated in PSDR, or you had a second receiver in the shack to listen to your transmit audio. If you want to listen to your transmit audio, you MUST prevent the audio from getting back into the microphone and creating a big feedback loop. Since the first post, your symptoms now sound like a classic case of RF feedback (different from audio feedback). You speak of a 30M antenna, first an end fed model and then a dipole fed with coax. I'm a little confused here. 30 meters does not permit SSB operation; only CW or digital. Am I understanding you correctly? Also, a dipole is inherently a balanced antenna, which you are feeding with coax, an unbalanced feed line. Very common practice I grant you, but one that is also very prone to bringing RF back into the shack. Do you have a dummy load? That would be a much better test if you have one. Hook up the dummy load in place of the antenna, and try things again. Remember to use headphones to listen to your transmit audio so you don't have audio feedback, and check things out at several different drive (output power) levels. Watch your mike levels as you transmit, adjusting mike gain so the mike indication on the meter does not go over 0 dB, even on voice peaks. HF RF can cause the same type of sounds from powered speakers that VHF FM can, so I don't think you are having an issue with the V/U modules being keyed by mistake. I also have a 5000 wit
Re: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues
Bradley, If you can run full power into a dummy load but not into an antenna, you almost certainly have RF pickup problems. I had problems like this with my Flex-3000. For me, the worst problem was the Firewire cable since I run mostly digital modes and not voice. What I did was run a good grounding system in the shack with everything tied to a wide copper strap that runs around the room, including the computer. My coaxes pass through lightning protectors in an aluminum plate, also tied to the strap. The strap is also tied to a good ground rod outside, but this is less important than getting every chassis in the shack at the same potential. Then, I put clamp-on ferrites on both ends of every cable connected to the Flex, computer, tuner, other radios, etc. Now I don't have any RF problems at all. I did this a little at a time over a couple of weeks. The more things I grounded, the better everything worked. The same with the ferrites. And don't forget the wires to wall-wart power supplies. Best of luck, if you keep at it you will cure the problem. George, PJ5/KJ6VW On 05-Dec-10 16:23, Bradley Feldman wrote: Army, et al: At this point, I'm suspecting RF as well. But why with so little power? In the past, with a traditional rig I haven't seen a problem like this, but with the Flex 5000A, with as little as 1W out, I'm having problems. To answer your question, the reason both temporary antennas are 30M antennas so I can tune them for 6-40m and run low power SSB. The MMD antenna is supposed to have a Current-Mode Discriminator which, among other things, is supposed to prevent RF running back down the feedline. The dipole is a textbook dipole fed with coax. If I transmit into a dummy load (a giant 50ohm resistor I bought at a ham fest). I can run full power with no problems whatsoever. No buzzing, no feedback, no distortion. Audio sounds fine in another receiver. Also, I don't have a traditional RF ground yet and the radio is on the 4th story of a building. I do own an artificial ground tuner, which I haven't tried yet at this QTH. As I've said, I'm setting up this QTH new, so I'm trying to minimize what's necessary, rather than hooking everything up at once. By spring time, I'll hook up a RF suppressor Ground system (like the one in the grounding article in the Flex Knowledge center). I'm just trying to operate on a modest setup for the winter. Any ideas on how I can solve this problem and operate under these constraints? *B KK2QQ -Original Message- From: Army Curtis - AE5P [mailto:a...@suddenlink.net] Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 1:48 PM To: 'Bradley Feldman' Subject: RE: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues Hi Bradley, I've been following your adventures this morning with your new Flex. Everything you have said so far points to RF getting back into the radio/computer/speakers. Your first post seemed to indicate you had transmit audio feedback from either radio speakers that were reproducing transmit audio because the Monitor button was activated in PSDR, or you had a second receiver in the shack to listen to your transmit audio. If you want to listen to your transmit audio, you MUST prevent the audio from getting back into the microphone and creating a big feedback loop. Since the first post, your symptoms now sound like a classic case of RF feedback (different from audio feedback). You speak of a 30M antenna, first an end fed model and then a dipole fed with coax. I'm a little confused here. 30 meters does not permit SSB operation; only CW or digital. Am I understanding you correctly? Also, a dipole is inherently a balanced antenna, which you are feeding with coax, an unbalanced feed line. Very common practice I grant you, but one that is also very prone to bringing RF back into the shack. Do you have a dummy load? That would be a much better test if you have one. Hook up the dummy load in place of the antenna, and try things again. Remember to use headphones to listen to your transmit audio so you don't have audio feedback, and check things out at several different drive (output power) levels. Watch your mike levels as you transmit, adjusting mike gain so the mike indication on the meter does not go over 0 dB, even on voice peaks. HF RF can cause the same type of sounds from powered speakers that VHF FM can, so I don't think you are having an issue with the V/U modules being keyed by mistake. I also have a 5000 with all the goodies, and totally love it. I hope some of these suggestions will help you get the issues worked out successfully. Let me know please of any of these ideas work for you. 73, Army - AE5P -Original Message- From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz [mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of Bradley Feldman Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 12:26 PM To: 'Bret Mills'; flexradio@fle
Re: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues
Bradley, On the fourth floor, even a connection to earth ground would not be a ground because of the impedance of the ground conductor at RF. This could certainly be one of your issues. With regard to the front panel microphone connection. Be sure shield is connected to the connector housing so that it is connected directly to the chassis. You might want to read about the "Pin-1 Problem" in XLR circuits. http://www.rane.com/note165.html <http://www.rane.com/note165.html>You may also want to run the PR-781 balanced into the back of the radio. A balanced input can be a big help with RFI. Good luck, Gerald Gerald Youngblood, K5SDR President and CEO FlexRadio Systems(TM) 13091 Pond Springs Road, #250 Austin, TX 78729 Phone: 512-535-4713 Ext. 202 Email: ger...@flexradio.com Web: www.flexradio.com <http://www.flex-radio.com/> Tune In Excitement (TM) PowerSDR(TM) is a trademark of FlexRadio Systems On Sun, Dec 5, 2010 at 2:23 PM, Bradley Feldman wrote: > Army, et al: > > At this point, I'm suspecting RF as well. But why with so little power? > In > the past, with a traditional rig I haven't seen a problem like this, but > with the Flex 5000A, with as little as 1W out, I'm having problems. > > To answer your question, the reason both temporary antennas are 30M > antennas > so I can tune them for 6-40m and run low power SSB. > > The MMD antenna is supposed to have a Current-Mode Discriminator which, > among other things, is supposed to prevent RF running back down the > feedline. The dipole is a textbook dipole fed with coax. > > If I transmit into a dummy load (a giant 50ohm resistor I bought at a ham > fest). I can run full power with no problems whatsoever. No buzzing, no > feedback, no distortion. Audio sounds fine in another receiver. > > Also, I don't have a traditional RF ground yet and the radio is on the 4th > story of a building. I do own an artificial ground tuner, which I haven't > tried yet at this QTH. As I've said, I'm setting up this QTH new, so I'm > trying to minimize what's necessary, rather than hooking everything up at > once. By spring time, I'll hook up a RF suppressor Ground system (like the > one in the grounding article in the Flex Knowledge center). > > I'm just trying to operate on a modest setup for the winter. Any ideas on > how I can solve this problem and operate under these constraints? > > *B > KK2QQ > > > -Original Message----- > From: Army Curtis - AE5P [mailto:a...@suddenlink.net] > Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 1:48 PM > To: 'Bradley Feldman' > Subject: RE: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) > Issues > > Hi Bradley, > > I've been following your adventures this morning with your new Flex. > Everything you have said so far points to RF getting back into the > radio/computer/speakers. Your first post seemed to indicate you had > transmit > audio feedback from either radio speakers that were reproducing transmit > audio because the Monitor button was activated in PSDR, or you had a second > receiver in the shack to listen to your transmit audio. If you want to > listen to your transmit audio, you MUST prevent the audio from getting back > into the microphone and creating a big feedback loop. > > Since the first post, your symptoms now sound like a classic case of RF > feedback (different from audio feedback). You speak of a 30M antenna, first > an end fed model and then a dipole fed with coax. I'm a little confused > here. 30 meters does not permit SSB operation; only CW or digital. Am I > understanding you correctly? Also, a dipole is inherently a balanced > antenna, which you are feeding with coax, an unbalanced feed line. Very > common practice I grant you, but one that is also very prone to bringing RF > back into the shack. Do you have a dummy load? That would be a much better > test if you have one. Hook up the dummy load in place of the antenna, and > try things again. Remember to use headphones to listen to your transmit > audio so you don't have audio feedback, and check things out at several > different drive (output power) levels. Watch your mike levels as you > transmit, adjusting mike gain so the mike indication on the meter does not > go over 0 dB, even on voice peaks. > > HF RF can cause the same type of sounds from powered speakers that VHF FM > can, so I don't think you are having an issue with the V/U modules being > keyed by mistake. > > I also have a 5000 with all the goodies, and totally love it. I hope some > of > these suggestions will help you get the issues worked out successfully. Let > me know please of any of these ideas work for you. > > 73, > Army - AE5P
Re: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues
Army, et al: At this point, I'm suspecting RF as well. But why with so little power? In the past, with a traditional rig I haven't seen a problem like this, but with the Flex 5000A, with as little as 1W out, I'm having problems. To answer your question, the reason both temporary antennas are 30M antennas so I can tune them for 6-40m and run low power SSB. The MMD antenna is supposed to have a Current-Mode Discriminator which, among other things, is supposed to prevent RF running back down the feedline. The dipole is a textbook dipole fed with coax. If I transmit into a dummy load (a giant 50ohm resistor I bought at a ham fest). I can run full power with no problems whatsoever. No buzzing, no feedback, no distortion. Audio sounds fine in another receiver. Also, I don't have a traditional RF ground yet and the radio is on the 4th story of a building. I do own an artificial ground tuner, which I haven't tried yet at this QTH. As I've said, I'm setting up this QTH new, so I'm trying to minimize what's necessary, rather than hooking everything up at once. By spring time, I'll hook up a RF suppressor Ground system (like the one in the grounding article in the Flex Knowledge center). I'm just trying to operate on a modest setup for the winter. Any ideas on how I can solve this problem and operate under these constraints? *B KK2QQ -Original Message- From: Army Curtis - AE5P [mailto:a...@suddenlink.net] Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 1:48 PM To: 'Bradley Feldman' Subject: RE: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues Hi Bradley, I've been following your adventures this morning with your new Flex. Everything you have said so far points to RF getting back into the radio/computer/speakers. Your first post seemed to indicate you had transmit audio feedback from either radio speakers that were reproducing transmit audio because the Monitor button was activated in PSDR, or you had a second receiver in the shack to listen to your transmit audio. If you want to listen to your transmit audio, you MUST prevent the audio from getting back into the microphone and creating a big feedback loop. Since the first post, your symptoms now sound like a classic case of RF feedback (different from audio feedback). You speak of a 30M antenna, first an end fed model and then a dipole fed with coax. I'm a little confused here. 30 meters does not permit SSB operation; only CW or digital. Am I understanding you correctly? Also, a dipole is inherently a balanced antenna, which you are feeding with coax, an unbalanced feed line. Very common practice I grant you, but one that is also very prone to bringing RF back into the shack. Do you have a dummy load? That would be a much better test if you have one. Hook up the dummy load in place of the antenna, and try things again. Remember to use headphones to listen to your transmit audio so you don't have audio feedback, and check things out at several different drive (output power) levels. Watch your mike levels as you transmit, adjusting mike gain so the mike indication on the meter does not go over 0 dB, even on voice peaks. HF RF can cause the same type of sounds from powered speakers that VHF FM can, so I don't think you are having an issue with the V/U modules being keyed by mistake. I also have a 5000 with all the goodies, and totally love it. I hope some of these suggestions will help you get the issues worked out successfully. Let me know please of any of these ideas work for you. 73, Army - AE5P -Original Message- From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz [mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of Bradley Feldman Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 12:26 PM To: 'Bret Mills'; flexradio@flex-radio.biz Subject: Re: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues One more thing. I do also hear buzzing out of the amplified speaker for the radio (separate AC sound amp with ground loop isolator, shielded cables) and through the computer's speakers (also ground loop isolated). In the past I've heard this type of buzzing with FM transmit, but never ever with HF transmit. Could the VHF/UHF board be keying up with the HF? *B KK2QQ -Original Message- From: Bret Mills [mailto:bmil...@ecso.com] Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 12:40 PM To: 'Bradley Feldman'; flexradio@flex-radio.biz Subject: RE: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues Yep it sounds like it is wired correctly, It must be RF getting into the Radio some how, Have you tried transmitting into a dummy load to see if there is still distortion?? RF gets into the MIC TX circuit quite easily if you are in the "near field" of your Antenna system and you may need to add some snap on MIX 31 ferrite beads as I have done here that were required when I run my AMP to full power in my sit
Re: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues
Since you've done so much troubleshooting and yet still have the problem, you may not wish to make assumptions about the Heil cable...yeah, it's probably OK, but you never know til you either Ohm it out or build a test cable. Or try a different mic + cable. Also are you using the rear panel balanced mic input? This bypasses the audio preamp which is in-circuit on the front panel jack...might give you improved results. dt - Original Message - From: "Bradley Feldman" To: "'K0DAN'" ; Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 12:21 PM Subject: RE: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues I just tried stringing up a 30 dipole, new coax, etc instead of using the miracle MMD (which is an end fed antenna). Same problem, so it's not the antenna. The mic cable is the stock cable from Heil, so I assume it's good and proper cable. Any other ideas from anybody? *B KK2QQ -Original Message- From: K0DAN [mailto:k0...@comcast.net] Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 12:44 PM To: Bradley Feldman; 'Bret Mills'; flexradio@flex-radio.biz Subject: Re: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues You may want to try lifting the chassis ground off the XLR ground. Also remember XLR audio is balanced so you don't want either of the XLR mic pins grounded or tied to the shield or chassis. Sometimes NO ground at all on an XLR connector worksyou get these ground loops and current floating around which makes the audio connection UNbalanced, and greats hum, RF paths, etc. Another thing...take a look at the innards of your mic cable. If it's an XLR, you should have twisted pair for the two mic leads, which may or may not be wrapped in a shield. For XLR, think of your audio line much as you would think of a balanced antenna & feedline. GL es 73 Dan K0DAN - Original Message - From: "Bradley Feldman" To: "'Bret Mills'" ; Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 10:53 AM Subject: Re: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues The PTT is connected properly to pins 5+6. Mic positive (XLR pin 2) is connected to flex pin 8. Mic negative (XLR pin 3) and Mic Shield (XLR pin 1) are tied together at the flex side and go to flex pin 7. The barrel on the flex side isn't connected to anything. Does that sound correct? *B KK2QQ -Original Message- From: Bret Mills [mailto:bmil...@ecso.com] Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 11:45 AM To: 'Bradley Feldman'; flexradio@flex-radio.biz Subject: RE: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues Page 5 of the FLEX 5K's owners manual show the proper connections for the FLEX-5000 MIC connector, I quote "Pin 5 is Chassis Ground, Pin 6 is PTT, Pin 7 MIC (-) Pin 8 MIC (+)". Measure from the MIC itself and make sure they have the correct one connected. 73's Bret WX7Y -Original Message- From: Bradley Feldman [mailto:brad...@bradleyloritheo.com] Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 9:25 AM To: 'Bret Mills'; flexradio@flex-radio.biz Subject: RE: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues On the Heil cable I'm using, the PTT is on pins 5+6. The mic is on pins 7+8. Should the barrel of the connector be connect to anything? *B KK2QQ -----Original Message----- From: Bret Mills [mailto:bmil...@ecso.com] Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 10:57 AM To: 'Bradley Feldman' Subject: RE: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues Check the HEIL MIC adapter and MAKE sure that the MIC ground goes to the radio MIC Ground and the PTT Ground goes to PTT Ground on the radio. On a LOT of the HEIL adapters they wired the ground pins backwards and this may be the cause of your problems, on Yaesu radios this didn't make much difference but on the FLEX it makes ALL the difference in the world. Hope this helps and 73's and Happy Holidays Bret WX7Y -Original Message- From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz [mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of Bradley Feldman Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 8:37 AM To: flexradio@flex-radio.biz Subject: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues I'm new to flex, sdr and this list. I have a brand new 5000A, fully loaded (including the VHF/UHF board). Station is completely new -- new QTH, new Mic (PR 781), new temporary antenna (Miracle MMD 30m). I've worked through issues on installation and receive and seem to have those licked including using VAC with digital modes. Now I'm trying to get TX working right for working QRP until spring comes and I can set up my Steppir Bigir that's sitting here in a box. I've been a ham since 1990, but have largely been on my own with regard to setting up and solving shack problems-- I don't belong to any clubs at the mom
Re: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues
Bill: Yes, it happens at all power levels. I have drive set at 10 or less. Once fwd power reads 1W, the distortion happens. *B KK2QQ >Brad >question! >does your rfi or distortion occur at all power levels? >rfi is a sneaky beast, but it does require a power source, try dropping your power in10 watt increments. ___ 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://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues
Brad question! does your rfi or distortion occur at all power levels? rfi is a sneaky beast, but it does require a power source, try dropping your power in10 watt increments. On 12/5/2010 12:25 PM, Bradley Feldman wrote: One more thing. I do also hear buzzing out of the amplified speaker for the radio (separate AC sound amp with ground loop isolator, shielded cables) and through the computer's speakers (also ground loop isolated). In the past I've heard this type of buzzing with FM transmit, but never ever with HF transmit. Could the VHF/UHF board be keying up with the HF? *B KK2QQ -Original Message- From: Bret Mills [mailto:bmil...@ecso.com] Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 12:40 PM To: 'Bradley Feldman'; flexradio@flex-radio.biz Subject: RE: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues Yep it sounds like it is wired correctly, It must be RF getting into the Radio some how, Have you tried transmitting into a dummy load to see if there is still distortion?? RF gets into the MIC TX circuit quite easily if you are in the "near field" of your Antenna system and you may need to add some snap on MIX 31 ferrite beads as I have done here that were required when I run my AMP to full power in my situation, these are just like the ones on the Fire wire cable. Just a few suggestions that I have ran into in my 2.5 years of running 2 FLEX 5K's and a Flex 3K here. Hope this helps Bret WX7Y -Original Message- From: Bradley Feldman [mailto:brad...@bradleyloritheo.com] Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 9:54 AM To: 'Bret Mills'; flexradio@flex-radio.biz Subject: RE: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues The PTT is connected properly to pins 5+6. Mic positive (XLR pin 2) is connected to flex pin 8. Mic negative (XLR pin 3) and Mic Shield (XLR pin 1) are tied together at the flex side and go to flex pin 7. The barrel on the flex side isn't connected to anything. Does that sound correct? *B KK2QQ -Original Message- From: Bret Mills [mailto:bmil...@ecso.com] Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 11:45 AM To: 'Bradley Feldman'; flexradio@flex-radio.biz Subject: RE: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues Page 5 of the FLEX 5K's owners manual show the proper connections for the FLEX-5000 MIC connector, I quote "Pin 5 is Chassis Ground, Pin 6 is PTT, Pin 7 MIC (-) Pin 8 MIC (+)". Measure from the MIC itself and make sure they have the correct one connected. 73's Bret WX7Y -Original Message- From: Bradley Feldman [mailto:brad...@bradleyloritheo.com] Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 9:25 AM To: 'Bret Mills'; flexradio@flex-radio.biz Subject: RE: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues On the Heil cable I'm using, the PTT is on pins 5+6. The mic is on pins 7+8. Should the barrel of the connector be connect to anything? *B KK2QQ -Original Message- From: Bret Mills [mailto:bmil...@ecso.com] Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 10:57 AM To: 'Bradley Feldman' Subject: RE: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues Check the HEIL MIC adapter and MAKE sure that the MIC ground goes to the radio MIC Ground and the PTT Ground goes to PTT Ground on the radio. On a LOT of the HEIL adapters they wired the ground pins backwards and this may be the cause of your problems, on Yaesu radios this didn't make much difference but on the FLEX it makes ALL the difference in the world. Hope this helps and 73's and Happy Holidays Bret WX7Y -Original Message- From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz [mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of Bradley Feldman Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 8:37 AM To: flexradio@flex-radio.biz Subject: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues I'm new to flex, sdr and this list. I have a brand new 5000A, fully loaded (including the VHF/UHF board). Station is completely new -- new QTH, new Mic (PR 781), new temporary antenna (Miracle MMD 30m). I've worked through issues on installation and receive and seem to have those licked including using VAC with digital modes. Now I'm trying to get TX working right for working QRP until spring comes and I can set up my Steppir Bigir that's sitting here in a box. I've been a ham since 1990, but have largely been on my own with regard to setting up and solving shack problems-- I don't belong to any clubs at the moment, so I appreciate any help I can get from this list with the issue I describe below -- which may not be a "flex issue" but perhaps an ordinary ham setup issue. I don't know. Here's the issue: When keying up and testing my mic in phone mode (I don't have a key set up), once there is enough audio level to drive some rf output power, I start to hear distortion in the audio--
Re: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues
One more thing. I do also hear buzzing out of the amplified speaker for the radio (separate AC sound amp with ground loop isolator, shielded cables) and through the computer's speakers (also ground loop isolated). In the past I've heard this type of buzzing with FM transmit, but never ever with HF transmit. Could the VHF/UHF board be keying up with the HF? *B KK2QQ -Original Message- From: Bret Mills [mailto:bmil...@ecso.com] Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 12:40 PM To: 'Bradley Feldman'; flexradio@flex-radio.biz Subject: RE: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues Yep it sounds like it is wired correctly, It must be RF getting into the Radio some how, Have you tried transmitting into a dummy load to see if there is still distortion?? RF gets into the MIC TX circuit quite easily if you are in the "near field" of your Antenna system and you may need to add some snap on MIX 31 ferrite beads as I have done here that were required when I run my AMP to full power in my situation, these are just like the ones on the Fire wire cable. Just a few suggestions that I have ran into in my 2.5 years of running 2 FLEX 5K's and a Flex 3K here. Hope this helps Bret WX7Y -Original Message- From: Bradley Feldman [mailto:brad...@bradleyloritheo.com] Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 9:54 AM To: 'Bret Mills'; flexradio@flex-radio.biz Subject: RE: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues The PTT is connected properly to pins 5+6. Mic positive (XLR pin 2) is connected to flex pin 8. Mic negative (XLR pin 3) and Mic Shield (XLR pin 1) are tied together at the flex side and go to flex pin 7. The barrel on the flex side isn't connected to anything. Does that sound correct? *B KK2QQ -Original Message- From: Bret Mills [mailto:bmil...@ecso.com] Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 11:45 AM To: 'Bradley Feldman'; flexradio@flex-radio.biz Subject: RE: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues Page 5 of the FLEX 5K's owners manual show the proper connections for the FLEX-5000 MIC connector, I quote "Pin 5 is Chassis Ground, Pin 6 is PTT, Pin 7 MIC (-) Pin 8 MIC (+)". Measure from the MIC itself and make sure they have the correct one connected. 73's Bret WX7Y -Original Message- From: Bradley Feldman [mailto:brad...@bradleyloritheo.com] Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 9:25 AM To: 'Bret Mills'; flexradio@flex-radio.biz Subject: RE: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues On the Heil cable I'm using, the PTT is on pins 5+6. The mic is on pins 7+8. Should the barrel of the connector be connect to anything? *B KK2QQ -Original Message- From: Bret Mills [mailto:bmil...@ecso.com] Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 10:57 AM To: 'Bradley Feldman' Subject: RE: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues Check the HEIL MIC adapter and MAKE sure that the MIC ground goes to the radio MIC Ground and the PTT Ground goes to PTT Ground on the radio. On a LOT of the HEIL adapters they wired the ground pins backwards and this may be the cause of your problems, on Yaesu radios this didn't make much difference but on the FLEX it makes ALL the difference in the world. Hope this helps and 73's and Happy Holidays Bret WX7Y -Original Message- From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz [mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of Bradley Feldman Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 8:37 AM To: flexradio@flex-radio.biz Subject: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues I'm new to flex, sdr and this list. I have a brand new 5000A, fully loaded (including the VHF/UHF board). Station is completely new -- new QTH, new Mic (PR 781), new temporary antenna (Miracle MMD 30m). I've worked through issues on installation and receive and seem to have those licked including using VAC with digital modes. Now I'm trying to get TX working right for working QRP until spring comes and I can set up my Steppir Bigir that's sitting here in a box. I've been a ham since 1990, but have largely been on my own with regard to setting up and solving shack problems-- I don't belong to any clubs at the moment, so I appreciate any help I can get from this list with the issue I describe below -- which may not be a "flex issue" but perhaps an ordinary ham setup issue. I don't know. Here's the issue: When keying up and testing my mic in phone mode (I don't have a key set up), once there is enough audio level to drive some rf output power, I start to hear distortion in the audio-- it kind of sounds like the sound of a helicopter with echo and reverb that continues until I unkey. I've done Google searches, flex KB searches, forum searches and read the flex troubleshooting guide to try and f
Re: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues
I just tried stringing up a 30 dipole, new coax, etc instead of using the miracle MMD (which is an end fed antenna). Same problem, so it's not the antenna. The mic cable is the stock cable from Heil, so I assume it's good and proper cable. Any other ideas from anybody? *B KK2QQ -Original Message- From: K0DAN [mailto:k0...@comcast.net] Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 12:44 PM To: Bradley Feldman; 'Bret Mills'; flexradio@flex-radio.biz Subject: Re: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues You may want to try lifting the chassis ground off the XLR ground. Also remember XLR audio is balanced so you don't want either of the XLR mic pins grounded or tied to the shield or chassis. Sometimes NO ground at all on an XLR connector worksyou get these ground loops and current floating around which makes the audio connection UNbalanced, and greats hum, RF paths, etc. Another thing...take a look at the innards of your mic cable. If it's an XLR, you should have twisted pair for the two mic leads, which may or may not be wrapped in a shield. For XLR, think of your audio line much as you would think of a balanced antenna & feedline. GL es 73 Dan K0DAN - Original Message - From: "Bradley Feldman" To: "'Bret Mills'" ; Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 10:53 AM Subject: Re: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues > The PTT is connected properly to pins 5+6. Mic positive (XLR pin 2) is > connected to flex pin 8. Mic negative (XLR pin 3) and Mic Shield (XLR > pin > 1) are tied together at the flex side and go to flex pin 7. The barrel > on > the flex side isn't connected to anything. > > Does that sound correct? > > *B KK2QQ > > -Original Message- > From: Bret Mills [mailto:bmil...@ecso.com] > Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 11:45 AM > To: 'Bradley Feldman'; flexradio@flex-radio.biz > Subject: RE: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) > Issues > > Page 5 of the FLEX 5K's owners manual show the proper connections for the > FLEX-5000 MIC connector, I quote "Pin 5 is Chassis Ground, Pin 6 is PTT, > Pin > 7 MIC (-) Pin 8 MIC (+)". > Measure from the MIC itself and make sure they have the correct one > connected. > > 73's > Bret > WX7Y > > > > -Original Message----- > From: Bradley Feldman [mailto:brad...@bradleyloritheo.com] > Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 9:25 AM > To: 'Bret Mills'; flexradio@flex-radio.biz > Subject: RE: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) > Issues > > On the Heil cable I'm using, the PTT is on pins 5+6. The mic is on pins > 7+8. Should the barrel of the connector be connect to anything? > > *B KK2QQ > > -Original Message- > From: Bret Mills [mailto:bmil...@ecso.com] > Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 10:57 AM > To: 'Bradley Feldman' > Subject: RE: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) > Issues > > Check the HEIL MIC adapter and MAKE sure that the MIC ground goes to the > radio MIC Ground and the PTT Ground goes to PTT Ground on the radio. > On a LOT of the HEIL adapters they wired the ground pins backwards and > this > may be the cause of your problems, on Yaesu radios this didn't make much > difference but on the FLEX it makes ALL the difference in the world. > Hope this helps and 73's and Happy Holidays > > Bret > WX7Y > > > > -Original Message- > From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz > [mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of Bradley Feldman > Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 8:37 AM > To: flexradio@flex-radio.biz > Subject: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues > > I'm new to flex, sdr and this list. > > I have a brand new 5000A, fully loaded (including the VHF/UHF board). > Station is completely new -- new QTH, new Mic (PR 781), new temporary > antenna (Miracle MMD 30m). > > I've worked through issues on installation and receive and seem to have > those licked including using VAC with digital modes. Now I'm trying to > get > TX working right for working QRP until spring comes and I can set up my > Steppir Bigir that's sitting here in a box. > > I've been a ham since 1990, but have largely been on my own with regard to > setting up and solving shack problems-- I don't belong to any clubs at the > moment, so I appreciate any help I can get from this list with the issue I > describe below -- which may not be a "flex issue" but perhaps an ordinary > ham setup issue. I don't know. > > Here's the issue: When keying up and testing my mi
Re: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues
You may want to try lifting the chassis ground off the XLR ground. Also remember XLR audio is balanced so you don't want either of the XLR mic pins grounded or tied to the shield or chassis. Sometimes NO ground at all on an XLR connector worksyou get these ground loops and current floating around which makes the audio connection UNbalanced, and greats hum, RF paths, etc. Another thing...take a look at the innards of your mic cable. If it's an XLR, you should have twisted pair for the two mic leads, which may or may not be wrapped in a shield. For XLR, think of your audio line much as you would think of a balanced antenna & feedline. GL es 73 Dan K0DAN - Original Message - From: "Bradley Feldman" To: "'Bret Mills'" ; Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 10:53 AM Subject: Re: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues The PTT is connected properly to pins 5+6. Mic positive (XLR pin 2) is connected to flex pin 8. Mic negative (XLR pin 3) and Mic Shield (XLR pin 1) are tied together at the flex side and go to flex pin 7. The barrel on the flex side isn't connected to anything. Does that sound correct? *B KK2QQ -Original Message- From: Bret Mills [mailto:bmil...@ecso.com] Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 11:45 AM To: 'Bradley Feldman'; flexradio@flex-radio.biz Subject: RE: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues Page 5 of the FLEX 5K's owners manual show the proper connections for the FLEX-5000 MIC connector, I quote "Pin 5 is Chassis Ground, Pin 6 is PTT, Pin 7 MIC (-) Pin 8 MIC (+)". Measure from the MIC itself and make sure they have the correct one connected. 73's Bret WX7Y -Original Message- From: Bradley Feldman [mailto:brad...@bradleyloritheo.com] Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 9:25 AM To: 'Bret Mills'; flexradio@flex-radio.biz Subject: RE: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues On the Heil cable I'm using, the PTT is on pins 5+6. The mic is on pins 7+8. Should the barrel of the connector be connect to anything? *B KK2QQ -Original Message- From: Bret Mills [mailto:bmil...@ecso.com] Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 10:57 AM To: 'Bradley Feldman' Subject: RE: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues Check the HEIL MIC adapter and MAKE sure that the MIC ground goes to the radio MIC Ground and the PTT Ground goes to PTT Ground on the radio. On a LOT of the HEIL adapters they wired the ground pins backwards and this may be the cause of your problems, on Yaesu radios this didn't make much difference but on the FLEX it makes ALL the difference in the world. Hope this helps and 73's and Happy Holidays Bret WX7Y -Original Message- From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz [mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of Bradley Feldman Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 8:37 AM To: flexradio@flex-radio.biz Subject: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues I'm new to flex, sdr and this list. I have a brand new 5000A, fully loaded (including the VHF/UHF board). Station is completely new -- new QTH, new Mic (PR 781), new temporary antenna (Miracle MMD 30m). I've worked through issues on installation and receive and seem to have those licked including using VAC with digital modes. Now I'm trying to get TX working right for working QRP until spring comes and I can set up my Steppir Bigir that's sitting here in a box. I've been a ham since 1990, but have largely been on my own with regard to setting up and solving shack problems-- I don't belong to any clubs at the moment, so I appreciate any help I can get from this list with the issue I describe below -- which may not be a "flex issue" but perhaps an ordinary ham setup issue. I don't know. Here's the issue: When keying up and testing my mic in phone mode (I don't have a key set up), once there is enough audio level to drive some rf output power, I start to hear distortion in the audio-- it kind of sounds like the sound of a helicopter with echo and reverb that continues until I unkey. I've done Google searches, flex KB searches, forum searches and read the flex troubleshooting guide to try and find a solution. Based on that information, I've tried the following: I've grounded the radio to the PC with ground strap. I installed RS ground loop isolators on all audio connections to/from the radio and PC. I put extra ferrites on the PC side of the stock flex firewire cable. The issue remains. Any ideas of what to do next or what additional info is necessary to help me? *Bradley KK2QQ ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://ww
Re: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues
Yep it sounds like it is wired correctly, It must be RF getting into the Radio some how, Have you tried transmitting into a dummy load to see if there is still distortion?? RF gets into the MIC TX circuit quite easily if you are in the "near field" of your Antenna system and you may need to add some snap on MIX 31 ferrite beads as I have done here that were required when I run my AMP to full power in my situation, these are just like the ones on the Fire wire cable. Just a few suggestions that I have ran into in my 2.5 years of running 2 FLEX 5K's and a Flex 3K here. Hope this helps Bret WX7Y -Original Message- From: Bradley Feldman [mailto:brad...@bradleyloritheo.com] Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 9:54 AM To: 'Bret Mills'; flexradio@flex-radio.biz Subject: RE: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues The PTT is connected properly to pins 5+6. Mic positive (XLR pin 2) is connected to flex pin 8. Mic negative (XLR pin 3) and Mic Shield (XLR pin 1) are tied together at the flex side and go to flex pin 7. The barrel on the flex side isn't connected to anything. Does that sound correct? *B KK2QQ -Original Message- From: Bret Mills [mailto:bmil...@ecso.com] Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 11:45 AM To: 'Bradley Feldman'; flexradio@flex-radio.biz Subject: RE: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues Page 5 of the FLEX 5K's owners manual show the proper connections for the FLEX-5000 MIC connector, I quote "Pin 5 is Chassis Ground, Pin 6 is PTT, Pin 7 MIC (-) Pin 8 MIC (+)". Measure from the MIC itself and make sure they have the correct one connected. 73's Bret WX7Y -Original Message- From: Bradley Feldman [mailto:brad...@bradleyloritheo.com] Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 9:25 AM To: 'Bret Mills'; flexradio@flex-radio.biz Subject: RE: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues On the Heil cable I'm using, the PTT is on pins 5+6. The mic is on pins 7+8. Should the barrel of the connector be connect to anything? *B KK2QQ -Original Message- From: Bret Mills [mailto:bmil...@ecso.com] Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 10:57 AM To: 'Bradley Feldman' Subject: RE: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues Check the HEIL MIC adapter and MAKE sure that the MIC ground goes to the radio MIC Ground and the PTT Ground goes to PTT Ground on the radio. On a LOT of the HEIL adapters they wired the ground pins backwards and this may be the cause of your problems, on Yaesu radios this didn't make much difference but on the FLEX it makes ALL the difference in the world. Hope this helps and 73's and Happy Holidays Bret WX7Y -Original Message- From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz [mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of Bradley Feldman Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 8:37 AM To: flexradio@flex-radio.biz Subject: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues I'm new to flex, sdr and this list. I have a brand new 5000A, fully loaded (including the VHF/UHF board). Station is completely new -- new QTH, new Mic (PR 781), new temporary antenna (Miracle MMD 30m). I've worked through issues on installation and receive and seem to have those licked including using VAC with digital modes. Now I'm trying to get TX working right for working QRP until spring comes and I can set up my Steppir Bigir that's sitting here in a box. I've been a ham since 1990, but have largely been on my own with regard to setting up and solving shack problems-- I don't belong to any clubs at the moment, so I appreciate any help I can get from this list with the issue I describe below -- which may not be a "flex issue" but perhaps an ordinary ham setup issue. I don't know. Here's the issue: When keying up and testing my mic in phone mode (I don't have a key set up), once there is enough audio level to drive some rf output power, I start to hear distortion in the audio-- it kind of sounds like the sound of a helicopter with echo and reverb that continues until I unkey. I've done Google searches, flex KB searches, forum searches and read the flex troubleshooting guide to try and find a solution. Based on that information, I've tried the following: I've grounded the radio to the PC with ground strap. I installed RS ground loop isolators on all audio connections to/from the radio and PC. I put extra ferrites on the PC side of the stock flex firewire cable. The issue remains. Any ideas of what to do next or what additional info is necessary to help me? *Bradley KK2QQ ___ 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%4
Re: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues
Also be sure VAC is turned off for voice modesit adds another delay loop which can be very distracting. - Original Message - From: "Bradley Feldman" To: Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 9:36 AM Subject: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues I'm new to flex, sdr and this list. I have a brand new 5000A, fully loaded (including the VHF/UHF board). Station is completely new -- new QTH, new Mic (PR 781), new temporary antenna (Miracle MMD 30m). I've worked through issues on installation and receive and seem to have those licked including using VAC with digital modes. Now I'm trying to get TX working right for working QRP until spring comes and I can set up my Steppir Bigir that's sitting here in a box. I've been a ham since 1990, but have largely been on my own with regard to setting up and solving shack problems-- I don't belong to any clubs at the moment, so I appreciate any help I can get from this list with the issue I describe below -- which may not be a "flex issue" but perhaps an ordinary ham setup issue. I don't know. Here's the issue: When keying up and testing my mic in phone mode (I don't have a key set up), once there is enough audio level to drive some rf output power, I start to hear distortion in the audio-- it kind of sounds like the sound of a helicopter with echo and reverb that continues until I unkey. I've done Google searches, flex KB searches, forum searches and read the flex troubleshooting guide to try and find a solution. Based on that information, I've tried the following: I've grounded the radio to the PC with ground strap. I installed RS ground loop isolators on all audio connections to/from the radio and PC. I put extra ferrites on the PC side of the stock flex firewire cable. The issue remains. Any ideas of what to do next or what additional info is necessary to help me? *Bradley KK2QQ ___ 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://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.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://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues
Possibly what compounds the problem is the fact that the antenna is an end fed Hertz which is inherently unbalanced and will present RF on the shield back to the radio. I have a brand new 5000A, fully loaded (including the VHF/UHF board). Station is completely new -- new QTH, new Mic (PR 781), new temporary antenna (Miracle MMD 30m). ___ 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://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues
The PTT is connected properly to pins 5+6. Mic positive (XLR pin 2) is connected to flex pin 8. Mic negative (XLR pin 3) and Mic Shield (XLR pin 1) are tied together at the flex side and go to flex pin 7. The barrel on the flex side isn't connected to anything. Does that sound correct? *B KK2QQ -Original Message- From: Bret Mills [mailto:bmil...@ecso.com] Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 11:45 AM To: 'Bradley Feldman'; flexradio@flex-radio.biz Subject: RE: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues Page 5 of the FLEX 5K's owners manual show the proper connections for the FLEX-5000 MIC connector, I quote "Pin 5 is Chassis Ground, Pin 6 is PTT, Pin 7 MIC (-) Pin 8 MIC (+)". Measure from the MIC itself and make sure they have the correct one connected. 73's Bret WX7Y -Original Message- From: Bradley Feldman [mailto:brad...@bradleyloritheo.com] Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 9:25 AM To: 'Bret Mills'; flexradio@flex-radio.biz Subject: RE: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues On the Heil cable I'm using, the PTT is on pins 5+6. The mic is on pins 7+8. Should the barrel of the connector be connect to anything? *B KK2QQ -Original Message- From: Bret Mills [mailto:bmil...@ecso.com] Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 10:57 AM To: 'Bradley Feldman' Subject: RE: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues Check the HEIL MIC adapter and MAKE sure that the MIC ground goes to the radio MIC Ground and the PTT Ground goes to PTT Ground on the radio. On a LOT of the HEIL adapters they wired the ground pins backwards and this may be the cause of your problems, on Yaesu radios this didn't make much difference but on the FLEX it makes ALL the difference in the world. Hope this helps and 73's and Happy Holidays Bret WX7Y -Original Message- From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz [mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of Bradley Feldman Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 8:37 AM To: flexradio@flex-radio.biz Subject: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues I'm new to flex, sdr and this list. I have a brand new 5000A, fully loaded (including the VHF/UHF board). Station is completely new -- new QTH, new Mic (PR 781), new temporary antenna (Miracle MMD 30m). I've worked through issues on installation and receive and seem to have those licked including using VAC with digital modes. Now I'm trying to get TX working right for working QRP until spring comes and I can set up my Steppir Bigir that's sitting here in a box. I've been a ham since 1990, but have largely been on my own with regard to setting up and solving shack problems-- I don't belong to any clubs at the moment, so I appreciate any help I can get from this list with the issue I describe below -- which may not be a "flex issue" but perhaps an ordinary ham setup issue. I don't know. Here's the issue: When keying up and testing my mic in phone mode (I don't have a key set up), once there is enough audio level to drive some rf output power, I start to hear distortion in the audio-- it kind of sounds like the sound of a helicopter with echo and reverb that continues until I unkey. I've done Google searches, flex KB searches, forum searches and read the flex troubleshooting guide to try and find a solution. Based on that information, I've tried the following: I've grounded the radio to the PC with ground strap. I installed RS ground loop isolators on all audio connections to/from the radio and PC. I put extra ferrites on the PC side of the stock flex firewire cable. The issue remains. Any ideas of what to do next or what additional info is necessary to help me? *Bradley KK2QQ ___ 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://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/ -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. ___ 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://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues
Page 5 of the FLEX 5K's owners manual show the proper connections for the FLEX-5000 MIC connector, I quote "Pin 5 is Chassis Ground, Pin 6 is PTT, Pin 7 MIC (-) Pin 8 MIC (+)". Measure from the MIC itself and make sure they have the correct one connected. 73's Bret WX7Y -Original Message- From: Bradley Feldman [mailto:brad...@bradleyloritheo.com] Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 9:25 AM To: 'Bret Mills'; flexradio@flex-radio.biz Subject: RE: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues On the Heil cable I'm using, the PTT is on pins 5+6. The mic is on pins 7+8. Should the barrel of the connector be connect to anything? *B KK2QQ -Original Message- From: Bret Mills [mailto:bmil...@ecso.com] Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 10:57 AM To: 'Bradley Feldman' Subject: RE: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues Check the HEIL MIC adapter and MAKE sure that the MIC ground goes to the radio MIC Ground and the PTT Ground goes to PTT Ground on the radio. On a LOT of the HEIL adapters they wired the ground pins backwards and this may be the cause of your problems, on Yaesu radios this didn't make much difference but on the FLEX it makes ALL the difference in the world. Hope this helps and 73's and Happy Holidays Bret WX7Y -Original Message- From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz [mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of Bradley Feldman Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 8:37 AM To: flexradio@flex-radio.biz Subject: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues I'm new to flex, sdr and this list. I have a brand new 5000A, fully loaded (including the VHF/UHF board). Station is completely new -- new QTH, new Mic (PR 781), new temporary antenna (Miracle MMD 30m). I've worked through issues on installation and receive and seem to have those licked including using VAC with digital modes. Now I'm trying to get TX working right for working QRP until spring comes and I can set up my Steppir Bigir that's sitting here in a box. I've been a ham since 1990, but have largely been on my own with regard to setting up and solving shack problems-- I don't belong to any clubs at the moment, so I appreciate any help I can get from this list with the issue I describe below -- which may not be a "flex issue" but perhaps an ordinary ham setup issue. I don't know. Here's the issue: When keying up and testing my mic in phone mode (I don't have a key set up), once there is enough audio level to drive some rf output power, I start to hear distortion in the audio-- it kind of sounds like the sound of a helicopter with echo and reverb that continues until I unkey. I've done Google searches, flex KB searches, forum searches and read the flex troubleshooting guide to try and find a solution. Based on that information, I've tried the following: I've grounded the radio to the PC with ground strap. I installed RS ground loop isolators on all audio connections to/from the radio and PC. I put extra ferrites on the PC side of the stock flex firewire cable. The issue remains. Any ideas of what to do next or what additional info is necessary to help me? *Bradley KK2QQ ___ 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://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/ -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. ___ 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://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues
You can check the 5000 PDF manaul. 73s - Erik - OZ4KK > On the Heil cable I'm using, the PTT is on pins 5+6. The mic is on pins > 7+8. Should the barrel of the connector be connect to anything? > > *B KK2QQ > > -Original Message- > From: Bret Mills [mailto:bmil...@ecso.com] > Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 10:57 AM > To: 'Bradley Feldman' > Subject: RE: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) > Issues > > Check the HEIL MIC adapter and MAKE sure that the MIC ground goes to the > radio MIC Ground and the PTT Ground goes to PTT Ground on the radio. > On a LOT of the HEIL adapters they wired the ground pins backwards and this > may be the cause of your problems, on Yaesu radios this didn't make much > difference but on the FLEX it makes ALL the difference in the world. > Hope this helps and 73's and Happy Holidays > > Bret > WX7Y > > > > -Original Message- > From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz > [mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of Bradley Feldman > Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 8:37 AM > To: flexradio@flex-radio.biz > Subject: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues > > I'm new to flex, sdr and this list. > > I have a brand new 5000A, fully loaded (including the VHF/UHF board). > Station is completely new -- new QTH, new Mic (PR 781), new temporary > antenna (Miracle MMD 30m). > > I've worked through issues on installation and receive and seem to have > those licked including using VAC with digital modes. Now I'm trying to get > TX working right for working QRP until spring comes and I can set up my > Steppir Bigir that's sitting here in a box. > > I've been a ham since 1990, but have largely been on my own with regard to > setting up and solving shack problems-- I don't belong to any clubs at the > moment, so I appreciate any help I can get from this list with the issue I > describe below -- which may not be a "flex issue" but perhaps an ordinary > ham setup issue. I don't know. > > Here's the issue: When keying up and testing my mic in phone mode (I don't > have a key set up), once there is enough audio level to drive some rf output > power, I start to hear distortion in the audio-- it kind of sounds like the > sound of a helicopter with echo and reverb that continues until I unkey. > > I've done Google searches, flex KB searches, forum searches and read the > flex troubleshooting guide to try and find a solution. Based on that > information, I've tried the following: I've grounded the radio to the PC > with ground strap. I installed RS ground loop isolators on all audio > connections to/from the radio and PC. I put extra ferrites on the PC side > of the stock flex firewire cable. > > The issue remains. Any ideas of what to do next or what additional info is > necessary to help me? > > *Bradley KK2QQ > > > > > > > ___ > 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://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: > http://www.flexradio.com/ > > -- > This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by > MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. > > -- Med venlig hilsen - Best regards Erik Jakobsen - e...@urbakken.dk Licensed radioamateur with the callsign OZ4KK. Registered as user #319488 with the Linux Counter, http://counter.li.org. ___ 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://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues
On the Heil cable I'm using, the PTT is on pins 5+6. The mic is on pins 7+8. Should the barrel of the connector be connect to anything? *B KK2QQ -Original Message- From: Bret Mills [mailto:bmil...@ecso.com] Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 10:57 AM To: 'Bradley Feldman' Subject: RE: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues Check the HEIL MIC adapter and MAKE sure that the MIC ground goes to the radio MIC Ground and the PTT Ground goes to PTT Ground on the radio. On a LOT of the HEIL adapters they wired the ground pins backwards and this may be the cause of your problems, on Yaesu radios this didn't make much difference but on the FLEX it makes ALL the difference in the world. Hope this helps and 73's and Happy Holidays Bret WX7Y -Original Message- From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz [mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of Bradley Feldman Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 8:37 AM To: flexradio@flex-radio.biz Subject: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues I'm new to flex, sdr and this list. I have a brand new 5000A, fully loaded (including the VHF/UHF board). Station is completely new -- new QTH, new Mic (PR 781), new temporary antenna (Miracle MMD 30m). I've worked through issues on installation and receive and seem to have those licked including using VAC with digital modes. Now I'm trying to get TX working right for working QRP until spring comes and I can set up my Steppir Bigir that's sitting here in a box. I've been a ham since 1990, but have largely been on my own with regard to setting up and solving shack problems-- I don't belong to any clubs at the moment, so I appreciate any help I can get from this list with the issue I describe below -- which may not be a "flex issue" but perhaps an ordinary ham setup issue. I don't know. Here's the issue: When keying up and testing my mic in phone mode (I don't have a key set up), once there is enough audio level to drive some rf output power, I start to hear distortion in the audio-- it kind of sounds like the sound of a helicopter with echo and reverb that continues until I unkey. I've done Google searches, flex KB searches, forum searches and read the flex troubleshooting guide to try and find a solution. Based on that information, I've tried the following: I've grounded the radio to the PC with ground strap. I installed RS ground loop isolators on all audio connections to/from the radio and PC. I put extra ferrites on the PC side of the stock flex firewire cable. The issue remains. Any ideas of what to do next or what additional info is necessary to help me? *Bradley KK2QQ ___ 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://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/ -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. ___ 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://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues
I am using the Heil Yaesu Mic Cable and Heil PTT Footswitch to the front panel connector of the 5000A. I'll open up the connector and check. I'll look for the 5000A mic jack spec. *B KK2QQ -Original Message- From: Bret Mills [mailto:bmil...@ecso.com] Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 10:57 AM To: 'Bradley Feldman' Subject: RE: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues Check the HEIL MIC adapter and MAKE sure that the MIC ground goes to the radio MIC Ground and the PTT Ground goes to PTT Ground on the radio. On a LOT of the HEIL adapters they wired the ground pins backwards and this may be the cause of your problems, on Yaesu radios this didn't make much difference but on the FLEX it makes ALL the difference in the world. Hope this helps and 73's and Happy Holidays Bret WX7Y -Original Message- From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz [mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of Bradley Feldman Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 8:37 AM To: flexradio@flex-radio.biz Subject: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues I'm new to flex, sdr and this list. I have a brand new 5000A, fully loaded (including the VHF/UHF board). Station is completely new -- new QTH, new Mic (PR 781), new temporary antenna (Miracle MMD 30m). I've worked through issues on installation and receive and seem to have those licked including using VAC with digital modes. Now I'm trying to get TX working right for working QRP until spring comes and I can set up my Steppir Bigir that's sitting here in a box. I've been a ham since 1990, but have largely been on my own with regard to setting up and solving shack problems-- I don't belong to any clubs at the moment, so I appreciate any help I can get from this list with the issue I describe below -- which may not be a "flex issue" but perhaps an ordinary ham setup issue. I don't know. Here's the issue: When keying up and testing my mic in phone mode (I don't have a key set up), once there is enough audio level to drive some rf output power, I start to hear distortion in the audio-- it kind of sounds like the sound of a helicopter with echo and reverb that continues until I unkey. I've done Google searches, flex KB searches, forum searches and read the flex troubleshooting guide to try and find a solution. Based on that information, I've tried the following: I've grounded the radio to the PC with ground strap. I installed RS ground loop isolators on all audio connections to/from the radio and PC. I put extra ferrites on the PC side of the stock flex firewire cable. The issue remains. Any ideas of what to do next or what additional info is necessary to help me? *Bradley KK2QQ ___ 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://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/ -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. ___ 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://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues
Both the monitor and a second rx (wide receive HT). *B -Original Message- From: Tim Ellison [mailto:telli...@itsco.com] Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 10:47 AM To: Bradley Feldman; flexradio@flex-radio.biz Subject: RE: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues Are you using the MONitor to listen to your audio or a second RX? -Tim -Original Message- From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz [mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of Bradley Feldman Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 10:37 AM To: flexradio@flex-radio.biz Subject: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues I'm new to flex, sdr and this list. I have a brand new 5000A, fully loaded (including the VHF/UHF board). Station is completely new -- new QTH, new Mic (PR 781), new temporary antenna (Miracle MMD 30m). I've worked through issues on installation and receive and seem to have those licked including using VAC with digital modes. Now I'm trying to get TX working right for working QRP until spring comes and I can set up my Steppir Bigir that's sitting here in a box. I've been a ham since 1990, but have largely been on my own with regard to setting up and solving shack problems-- I don't belong to any clubs at the moment, so I appreciate any help I can get from this list with the issue I describe below -- which may not be a "flex issue" but perhaps an ordinary ham setup issue. I don't know. Here's the issue: When keying up and testing my mic in phone mode (I don't have a key set up), once there is enough audio level to drive some rf output power, I start to hear distortion in the audio-- it kind of sounds like the sound of a helicopter with echo and reverb that continues until I unkey. I've done Google searches, flex KB searches, forum searches and read the flex troubleshooting guide to try and find a solution. Based on that information, I've tried the following: I've grounded the radio to the PC with ground strap. I installed RS ground loop isolators on all audio connections to/from the radio and PC. I put extra ferrites on the PC side of the stock flex firewire cable. The issue remains. Any ideas of what to do next or what additional info is necessary to help me? *Bradley KK2QQ ___ 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://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.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://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues
I have the same problem on the 1500 with a Heil Dual Muff Traveler headset. I also get a high pitched tone in the transmit audio. Thanks - that is helpful info. Jeff K2SDR -Original Message- From: Bradley Feldman Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 10:36 AM To: flexradio@flex-radio.biz Subject: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues I'm new to flex, sdr and this list. I have a brand new 5000A, fully loaded (including the VHF/UHF board). Station is completely new -- new QTH, new Mic (PR 781), new temporary antenna (Miracle MMD 30m). I've worked through issues on installation and receive and seem to have those licked including using VAC with digital modes. Now I'm trying to get TX working right for working QRP until spring comes and I can set up my Steppir Bigir that's sitting here in a box. I've been a ham since 1990, but have largely been on my own with regard to setting up and solving shack problems-- I don't belong to any clubs at the moment, so I appreciate any help I can get from this list with the issue I describe below -- which may not be a "flex issue" but perhaps an ordinary ham setup issue. I don't know. Here's the issue: When keying up and testing my mic in phone mode (I don't have a key set up), once there is enough audio level to drive some rf output power, I start to hear distortion in the audio-- it kind of sounds like the sound of a helicopter with echo and reverb that continues until I unkey. I've done Google searches, flex KB searches, forum searches and read the flex troubleshooting guide to try and find a solution. Based on that information, I've tried the following: I've grounded the radio to the PC with ground strap. I installed RS ground loop isolators on all audio connections to/from the radio and PC. I put extra ferrites on the PC side of the stock flex firewire cable. The issue remains. Any ideas of what to do next or what additional info is necessary to help me? *Bradley KK2QQ ___ 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://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.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://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues
Check the HEIL MIC adapter and MAKE sure that the MIC ground goes to the radio MIC Ground and the PTT Ground goes to PTT Ground on the radio. On a LOT of the HEIL adapters they wired the ground pins backwards and this may be the cause of your problems, on Yaesu radios this didn't make much difference but on the FLEX it makes ALL the difference in the world. Hope this helps and 73's and Happy Holidays Bret WX7Y -Original Message- From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz [mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of Bradley Feldman Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 8:37 AM To: flexradio@flex-radio.biz Subject: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues I'm new to flex, sdr and this list. I have a brand new 5000A, fully loaded (including the VHF/UHF board). Station is completely new -- new QTH, new Mic (PR 781), new temporary antenna (Miracle MMD 30m). I've worked through issues on installation and receive and seem to have those licked including using VAC with digital modes. Now I'm trying to get TX working right for working QRP until spring comes and I can set up my Steppir Bigir that's sitting here in a box. I've been a ham since 1990, but have largely been on my own with regard to setting up and solving shack problems-- I don't belong to any clubs at the moment, so I appreciate any help I can get from this list with the issue I describe below -- which may not be a "flex issue" but perhaps an ordinary ham setup issue. I don't know. Here's the issue: When keying up and testing my mic in phone mode (I don't have a key set up), once there is enough audio level to drive some rf output power, I start to hear distortion in the audio-- it kind of sounds like the sound of a helicopter with echo and reverb that continues until I unkey. I've done Google searches, flex KB searches, forum searches and read the flex troubleshooting guide to try and find a solution. Based on that information, I've tried the following: I've grounded the radio to the PC with ground strap. I installed RS ground loop isolators on all audio connections to/from the radio and PC. I put extra ferrites on the PC side of the stock flex firewire cable. The issue remains. Any ideas of what to do next or what additional info is necessary to help me? *Bradley KK2QQ ___ 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://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/ -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. ___ 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://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues
Are you using the MONitor to listen to your audio or a second RX? -Tim -Original Message- From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz [mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of Bradley Feldman Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 10:37 AM To: flexradio@flex-radio.biz Subject: [Flexradio] New 5000A User - TX Audio (severe distortion) Issues I'm new to flex, sdr and this list. I have a brand new 5000A, fully loaded (including the VHF/UHF board). Station is completely new -- new QTH, new Mic (PR 781), new temporary antenna (Miracle MMD 30m). I've worked through issues on installation and receive and seem to have those licked including using VAC with digital modes. Now I'm trying to get TX working right for working QRP until spring comes and I can set up my Steppir Bigir that's sitting here in a box. I've been a ham since 1990, but have largely been on my own with regard to setting up and solving shack problems-- I don't belong to any clubs at the moment, so I appreciate any help I can get from this list with the issue I describe below -- which may not be a "flex issue" but perhaps an ordinary ham setup issue. I don't know. Here's the issue: When keying up and testing my mic in phone mode (I don't have a key set up), once there is enough audio level to drive some rf output power, I start to hear distortion in the audio-- it kind of sounds like the sound of a helicopter with echo and reverb that continues until I unkey. I've done Google searches, flex KB searches, forum searches and read the flex troubleshooting guide to try and find a solution. Based on that information, I've tried the following: I've grounded the radio to the PC with ground strap. I installed RS ground loop isolators on all audio connections to/from the radio and PC. I put extra ferrites on the PC side of the stock flex firewire cable. The issue remains. Any ideas of what to do next or what additional info is necessary to help me? *Bradley KK2QQ ___ 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://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.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://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
