The guidance Joe gives is coherent and complete and a great contribution for interested parties. .
It takes a lot of work to get a ham radio and a jumble of external gimmicks to do all the work of making ham QSOs...if one very generously credits FT8 as a QSO! :-) Mike / KK5F -----Original Message----- >From: Joe DeVincentis <[email protected]> >Sent: Dec 1, 2020 8:11 AM > >These are the steps I usually go through: > >1. Ensure PC has an accurate time source. Verify against something like >https://time.gov <https://time.gov/>. If the website updates its seconds at >the same time as your system from a visual perspective, then you're close >enough. > >2. If you are using an FTDI based USB to serial converter for CAT control, be >sure Serial Enumeration in the advanced properties for the COM port is >unchecked (it can do weird things to your system). I also check the box to >disable modem control at start up. > >2. In the WSJT-X settings ensure that Test CAT and Test PTT work correctly. >Be sure that the Test PTT causes the radio to go into TX. I use either CAT >control or H/W control for PTT trigger depending on what I can do with the >H/W. I generally prefer H/W control. It's faster in the system to flip a >bit, then to send a string a bits via the RS232. > >3. Setup the Audio in WSJTX to point to the correct devices. > >4. In the Windows Sound control panel ensure levels for both Recording and >Playback for the device in use for the radio are somewhat reasonable - say >75%. It's just a starting place. Also be sure the devices are not the >defaults - that will prevent sounds being sent to the radio you don't want. >Can't tell you how times I hear audio play back of either alerts or some >streaming media come through. All newly plugged in sound devices are >automatically made default by Windows. IMHO, it's a stupid thing for Windows >to do and I've never found a setting to prevent that. > >5. Check the receive is reasonable in WSJTX - generally between 40 and 60 on >the WSJTX meter. Play with settings in the sound control panel and/or the >radio until things look right. > >6. Set the radio for 0 power and hit the tune button in WSJTX. The radio >should go into TX. > >7. Using the Sound panel control for the radio playback device, the Pwr slider >in WSJTX and/or the radio mic gain, tune until ALC is just starting kick in. >On other Elecraft radios, that's usually the 5 ALC bar flickering. I try not >to have any setting at the max. > >If any step is not working, diagnose and fix that step before proceeding. >This is what I have found works best for me. Your mileage my vary. > >73, >Joe, KO8V > >> On Dec 1, 2020, at 08:04, Mark Moeller <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> I am working to get my KX2 setup for FT8 and appreciate any help. >> >> My setup includes: KX2 connected to a G5RV antenna, Windows 10 laptop, USB >> Sound Card, Mic & Phone cables. I am receiving FT8 signals fine, but cannot >> make contact with anyone else. >> >> Note that I make CW contacts with no issue, so believe my antenna is fine. >> >> There are many FT8 settings to configure, so unsure where the issue is. >> >> Thank you in advance for advice and/or pointing me in the right direction. >> >> -- >> Mark A. Moeller >> KA9LWK >> [email protected] >> ______________________________________________________________ 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]
