Here is my limited input on digital and Digipan. and in my
experience the K3 caters very well to this type of digital operation
using AFSK. The best when compared to any other rig I have tried or
owned.
On 11/21/2012 1:50 PM, Larry Royster wrote:
Hi from Julie KT4JR, writing from the address of my husband K4MWE because this
computer is hooked to our K3.
We have never done PSK31 and I have studied the archive to get started.
We first tried DM780 but it was complex for starters, so now I am trying
digipan, figuring we can go more complex later once I catch on to this... Don
Wilhelm kindly answered some earlier questions but now I have more.
First I would agree that HRD can be a little complex if you are not
experienced with PSK and if PSK is all that you are interested in
Digipan is a good start. it has a few limitations vs some of the
others personally I prefer FLDIGI but its all a matter of personal
taste.
We have a SignaLink installed between K3 and computer (windows 7) with line in
and line out connected but the PTT not connected since we have a footpedal
inserted there.
The elecraft cable connects the K3 to computer’s COM4. If using HRD this works
fine. I am thinking that if we do NOT open HRD then Digipan can use this same
cable for PTT
I have followed the instructions for setting the K3 PTT to RTS-OFF and the same
in Digipan.
In test mode of the K3 if I click the RX/TX button in Digipan I have the
correct 4 bars ALC with 5th blinking, so I guess the transmit is working?
unless you are using some kind of Port slitter you can only have one
program accessing a serial port. so you are correct that HRD or any
other program accessing the K3 needs to be closed. To have the 4 bars /
5th blinking you are fine on transmit. to be sure that its transmitting
the right thing turn up the monitor and you should hear the warble.
I am confused about archive posts discussing VOX for PTT. Can I ignore that?
Is that a different option or is that necessary?
it seems that you have the PTT working fine with the RTD/DTS so yes you
can ignore the VOX discussion.
We do not seem to be decoding any signals but I don’t know how to tell if that
is because I have done something wrong or there are no signals strong enough to
receive. I have tried several bands.
what do you see in the waterfall at the bottom of the screen. you
should see blue with some yellow snow with several vertical bars (under
busy band conditions) that stream from top to bottom. the vertical
bars start as other stations transmit. if you move the red diamond
with the flag above to one of these vertical bars with your mouse you
are tuned to the frequency of that one station and should see some
decoding. weak faded bars are weak signals and stronger ones will
of course be strong sigs turning red for really strong signals. You
should be able to decode even the weak faded lines to some level of
readability.
if you see nothing just a black waterfall there are a few things to
look at.
first check that the line out level on the K3 is turned up this is set
by pressing Config button for half a second then rotate VFO B to LIN
OUT. it should read nor XXX XXX being a level in my case the its
004 quite low but I am not using a Signalink instead I am using the mic
input to the computer. The second to check is digipans settings for
sound Card ensure that it is using in your case the Signal Link.
also check that the levels are set correctly. this is best described in
the Signalink manual so no point repeating it here.
The K3 is set to Data A, but Digipan does not know about data mode... It has
band-by-band settings for frequency, then 3 choices of tone, USB, or LSB. I
have tried each with no difference that I can perceive. Which am I supposed to
choose? Maybe something more basic is wrong?
This is just how the frequency is displayed in the scale above the
waterfall. I would recommend either USB (this is what Data-A does)
or Tone. When USB is selected it will show the actual frequency of
the signal you are receiving assuming that you are tuned to the
frequency listed in (Configure -- Band..) from the menu bar. this is
important as Digipan does not read actual frequency from the K3. but
the default listed frequencies here are the common frequencies used for
PSK. If tone is selected it will show you the offset of the signal
from the displayed frequency on the K3.
THANKS to anyone with enough patience to assist!!!
If it is foolish to use Digipan because fldigi is lots better, then tell me
that too!
Digipan is a great launchpad to get started with digital. you can get
the basics here and as you want more you can always migrate to others
later such as FLdigi or DM780 MMVARI The list goes on and on.
I am an FLdigi fan mostly because it will do many other modes including
RTTY and Helscriber and those modes that sound like the 1950s TV
version of a computer beep beep beep. plus it will support Hamlib
commands that will read frequencies and info from the K3 and allow
some basic control of the rig such as changing frequencies band etc.
The negative here is that as you add features you add complexity.
however it seems that FLDigi and the K3 integrate well out of the
box. in the setup it says K3 Beta but it seems to work fine as far
as I can tell.
Hope this helps
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