I'll take a look at both of those suggestions. I do try to have the decode around 3 or 4, but code that'll decode with the preamp off doesn't even make the CWT bar flicker with it on. So there's more at work here than signal strength. That's why I asked what I did. But I'll try to work on technique and see if it's just me being thumb-fingered or something.
On Thu, Dec 13, 2018 at 2:44 AM Gerald Manthey <[email protected]> wrote: > Gwen > > If you hold down the Text Dec button (CWT) button what is your THR set to. > This is what you adjust for sensitivity for the decode. > > Mine is usually set to around 3 and I can decode from s4 to s9. If the > signal is real weak I usually Adjust the RF gain more and turn the THR down > to 2 and it will decode fine. > > I usually run with my RF Gain set at 3 o’clock all the time. > > There is a program that is called MRP40 that decodes almost no matter what > your radio is set to. One of the best decodeer programs out there. But it > cost. > > I used it at first and after using that and getting on the air it kinda > self taught me morse code. Hihi. > > Ok let me know if you have any other questions or if I can help. I hope I > understood the questions right and this helps. > > Thanks > > Gerald KC6CNN > > > > > > > > *From: *Gwen Patton <[email protected]> > *Sent: *Wednesday, December 12, 2018 7:23 PM > *To: *[email protected] > *Subject: *[Elecraft] CW Decode and Preamp? > > > > Please forgive me if this is a FAQ. If it is, just point me to where I can > > find the old answer and I won't bring it up again. > > > > I can usually get the CW decode to work if I can clearly hear the signal. > > The CWT bar flashes and the text scrolls, and it gets a lot of characters > > right. BUT... > > > > ...that's only if I have the preamp OFF. > > > > I've tried using the preamp but decreasing the RF gain. I've tried using > > the preamp and the attenuator. I even tried setting a couple of bands to > > only 10db preamplification. But if the preamp is on AT ALL, the decode > > either never gets a "lock" and the CWT bar is flickering randomly (no > > matter what the threshold setting is) with no decode, or the CWT bar is > > solid, no flashing, and there's no decode. > > > > If have the preamp OFF, the same signal will usually decode at least > > somewhat, and sometimes excellently. Most of the time, W1AW can decode > > fairly easily...though FLDIGI and CWGET seem to decode more reliably. > > They'll decode 80-90%, while mush is appearing on the PX3 display lines. > > But at least I get something with the preamp off. > > > > But there's just some times when the signal is weaker and I can't get the > > threshold to crack without the preamp. But then I get no decode at all. > > > > Am I doing something WRONG? Is there some step that I'm not understanding? > > Heck, I've seen past entries in the list where some have said they can't > > get decode unless the preamp is ON! > > > > Or is there some known issue with preamp + decode that I haven't seen? Mind > > you, my antenna, while not fantastic, is adequate for me to get to Europe > > on FT8 at 35 watts. I even got from Philly to Fargo on 50w FT8 on 30 > > meters, using an indoor magnetic loop I built. So it's not my antennas. I > > have signal, but paradoxically, when the signal is strengthened by the > > preamp, I get lower decode performance. I'd expect that in high-noise > > conditions -- amplifying the noise as well as the signal and hashing them > > both -- but when the noise floor is low and the signal is just made more > > solid with the preamp, I should be able to decode it with the same > > technique as when I use it on a stronger signal without the preamp. > > Shouldn't I? Or am I simply not grasping some fundamental issue? I've read > > the manual, I've read mailing list archive messages, I've experimented with > > my own second rig on a dummy load sending a canned CW message (K2 s/n > 1641). > > > > This will, I hope, be a moot point in a few months. I'm trying to learn to > > copy the CW barebrained instead of using the decoder. (I got rusty from > > when I first learned it back in 1999.) But I want to at least be able to > > check my copy using the decode function if I can until then. Between them, > > maybe I can hold a coherent QSO! > > > > Thanks, > > Gwen, NG3P > > > > -- > > > > -+-+-+-+- > > Jenny Everywhere's Infinite: Quark Time > > http://quarktime.net > > ______________________________________________________________ > > Elecraft mailing list > > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > > Post: mailto:[email protected] > > > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > > Message delivered to [email protected] > > > -- -+-+-+-+- Jenny Everywhere's Infinite: Quark Time http://quarktime.net ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [email protected]
