Re: [Elecraft] ALC for Digi, One Last Check Please

2019-06-25 Thread Bob McGraw K4TAX 

Kev et al:

The most complex issues have the most simple solutions.   It's just 
knowing where to hit it with the hammer.


Glad the non-issue is resolved and glad to assist.

73

Bob, K4TAX


On 6/25/2019 3:32 PM, Kevin, N4TT wrote:

Bob:

You nailed it again. 1500 Hz is where I normally set my audio so when 
I do my quick test before operating this pulsating is what I see.


I went to 1700 Hz (and a few others) and ran the same tests. It was 
steady as a rock in tune and exactly as expected in transmit (4+1 
blinking).


Sometimes things looked real good. Sometimes they looked strange 
(pulsating). I always felt there was something intermittent but now I 
know. The issue is simply where I chose to test. I'd have never 
figured that out.


Thanks and 73!
Kev N4TT



On Tue, Jun 25, 2019 at 4:17 PM Bob McGraw K4TAX > wrote:


The pulsating is the result of the refresh rate of the display and
the
1500 Hz tone.  Change the TUNE tone to a non- 500 Hz interval such as
1250 Hz. or 1700 HZ as such.   Yes, in FLDIGI the TUNE tone is a
single
frequency you have selected on the waterfall scale or in the box
at the
bottom of the screen.

When you setup and adjust the audio levels, the radio mode must be
DATA
A for PSK-31.  The audio level for correct ALC indication should
show 4
bars solid with the 5th bar flashing.  The Elecraft radios DO NOT
operate like other brands in regards to the ALC indications. The
actual ALC in the Elecraft starts at and after the 5th bar on the ALC
scale.   Before that the "audio level" is indicated.    Then set
the PWR
knob on the radio for the power output you desire.   DO NOT adjust
the
audio level to change power.

There are 3 places where audio level is controlled and each one
needs to
be correct.  First is the SPKR level out of the computer. This should
be about 30%  {-18 dB} or so.  Then output attenuation on the lower
right of FLDIGI which should be about -10 dB to -15 dB .  Then the
Line
Gain on the radio {adjusts by the MIC knob} to about 30. These are
"ball park" numbers and should get you up and running with a clean
signal.   If any one or more is near minimum or near maximum, you
need
to investigate further.

If needed I can send screen captures.

73

Bob, K4TAX


On 6/25/2019 2:42 PM, Kevin, N4TT wrote:
> I've made a few PSK-31 contacts on the K3s and I've not gotten
any bad
> reports. However, I'm still a little concerned about what I see
for ALC.
>
>
> The video below (no audio) shows the ALC meter responding first
to a "TUNE"
> command from fldigi. This sounds like a pure tone in the
headphones but the
> ALC meter responds oddly, almost like it is pulsating. I
expected ALC to
> pretty much be steady.
>
> Next in the video is just clicking T/R in fldigi with no typing.
It sounds
> as expected in the headphones (a trilling sound). The ALC
response looks
> better but I can still see the pulsations in there. I expected
to see 4
> bars solid and the 5th flashing.
>
> https://photos.app.goo.gl/4AaLaVu1r8UDv5LT9
>
> Am I reading too much into this? Is this how your K3s responds?
>
> I'm using the K3s sound card. Level in Windows is -14.7 dB.
Level in fldigi
> is -12.7 dB. The level control on the K3s is set for 18.
>
> 73,
> Kev N4TT
> __
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net

>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to rmcg...@blomand.net

>

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Re: [Elecraft] ALC for Digi, One Last Check Please

2019-06-25 Thread Nr4c 
Reducing Windows output helps in most situations like this. 

Sent from my iPhone
...nr4c. bill


> On Jun 25, 2019, at 3:42 PM, Kevin, N4TT  wrote:
> 
> I've made a few PSK-31 contacts on the K3s and I've not gotten any bad
> reports. However, I'm still a little concerned about what I see for ALC.
> 
> 
> The video below (no audio) shows the ALC meter responding first to a "TUNE"
> command from fldigi. This sounds like a pure tone in the headphones but the
> ALC meter responds oddly, almost like it is pulsating. I expected ALC to
> pretty much be steady.
> 
> Next in the video is just clicking T/R in fldigi with no typing. It sounds
> as expected in the headphones (a trilling sound). The ALC response looks
> better but I can still see the pulsations in there. I expected to see 4
> bars solid and the 5th flashing.
> 
> https://photos.app.goo.gl/4AaLaVu1r8UDv5LT9
> 
> Am I reading too much into this? Is this how your K3s responds?
> 
> I'm using the K3s sound card. Level in Windows is -14.7 dB. Level in fldigi
> is -12.7 dB. The level control on the K3s is set for 18.
> 
> 73,
> Kev N4TT
> __
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net
> 
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to n...@widomaker.com 
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Re: [Elecraft] ALC for Digi, One Last Check Please

2019-06-25 Thread Kevin, N4TT 
Bob:

You nailed it again. 1500 Hz is where I normally set my audio so when I do
my quick test before operating this pulsating is what I see.

I went to 1700 Hz (and a few others) and ran the same tests. It was steady
as a rock in tune and exactly as expected in transmit (4+1 blinking).

Sometimes things looked real good. Sometimes they looked strange
(pulsating). I always felt there was something intermittent but now I know.
The issue is simply where I chose to test. I'd have never figured that out.

Thanks and 73!
Kev N4TT



On Tue, Jun 25, 2019 at 4:17 PM Bob McGraw K4TAX 
wrote:

> The pulsating is the result of the refresh rate of the display and the
> 1500 Hz tone.  Change the TUNE tone to a non- 500 Hz interval such as
> 1250 Hz. or 1700 HZ as such.   Yes, in FLDIGI the TUNE tone is a single
> frequency you have selected on the waterfall scale or in the box at the
> bottom of the screen.
>
> When you setup and adjust the audio levels, the radio mode must be DATA
> A for PSK-31.  The audio level for correct ALC indication should show 4
> bars solid with the 5th bar flashing.  The Elecraft radios DO NOT
> operate like other brands in regards to the ALC indications.   The
> actual ALC in the Elecraft starts at and after the 5th bar on the ALC
> scale.   Before that the "audio level" is indicated.Then set the PWR
> knob on the radio for the power output you desire.   DO NOT adjust the
> audio level to change power.
>
> There are 3 places where audio level is controlled and each one needs to
> be correct.  First is the SPKR level out of the computer.  This should
> be about 30%  {-18 dB} or so.  Then output attenuation on the lower
> right of FLDIGI which should be about -10 dB to -15 dB .  Then the Line
> Gain on the radio {adjusts by the MIC knob} to about 30.   These are
> "ball park" numbers and should get you up and running with a clean
> signal.   If any one or more is near minimum or near maximum, you need
> to investigate further.
>
> If needed I can send screen captures.
>
> 73
>
> Bob, K4TAX
>
>
> On 6/25/2019 2:42 PM, Kevin, N4TT wrote:
> > I've made a few PSK-31 contacts on the K3s and I've not gotten any bad
> > reports. However, I'm still a little concerned about what I see for ALC.
> >
> >
> > The video below (no audio) shows the ALC meter responding first to a
> "TUNE"
> > command from fldigi. This sounds like a pure tone in the headphones but
> the
> > ALC meter responds oddly, almost like it is pulsating. I expected ALC to
> > pretty much be steady.
> >
> > Next in the video is just clicking T/R in fldigi with no typing. It
> sounds
> > as expected in the headphones (a trilling sound). The ALC response looks
> > better but I can still see the pulsations in there. I expected to see 4
> > bars solid and the 5th flashing.
> >
> > https://photos.app.goo.gl/4AaLaVu1r8UDv5LT9
> >
> > Am I reading too much into this? Is this how your K3s responds?
> >
> > I'm using the K3s sound card. Level in Windows is -14.7 dB. Level in
> fldigi
> > is -12.7 dB. The level control on the K3s is set for 18.
> >
> > 73,
> > Kev N4TT
> > __
> > Elecraft mailing list
> > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net
> >
> > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> > Message delivered to rmcg...@blomand.net
> >
>
> __
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to kkinde...@gmail.com
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Re: [Elecraft] ALC for Digi, One Last Check Please

2019-06-25 Thread Bob McGraw K4TAX 
The pulsating is the result of the refresh rate of the display and the 
1500 Hz tone.  Change the TUNE tone to a non- 500 Hz interval such as 
1250 Hz. or 1700 HZ as such.   Yes, in FLDIGI the TUNE tone is a single 
frequency you have selected on the waterfall scale or in the box at the 
bottom of the screen.


When you setup and adjust the audio levels, the radio mode must be DATA 
A for PSK-31.  The audio level for correct ALC indication should show 4 
bars solid with the 5th bar flashing.  The Elecraft radios DO NOT 
operate like other brands in regards to the ALC indications.   The 
actual ALC in the Elecraft starts at and after the 5th bar on the ALC 
scale.   Before that the "audio level" is indicated.    Then set the PWR 
knob on the radio for the power output you desire.   DO NOT adjust the 
audio level to change power.


There are 3 places where audio level is controlled and each one needs to 
be correct.  First is the SPKR level out of the computer.  This should 
be about 30%  {-18 dB} or so.  Then output attenuation on the lower 
right of FLDIGI which should be about -10 dB to -15 dB .  Then the Line 
Gain on the radio {adjusts by the MIC knob} to about 30.   These are 
"ball park" numbers and should get you up and running with a clean 
signal.   If any one or more is near minimum or near maximum, you need 
to investigate further.


If needed I can send screen captures.

73

Bob, K4TAX


On 6/25/2019 2:42 PM, Kevin, N4TT wrote:

I've made a few PSK-31 contacts on the K3s and I've not gotten any bad
reports. However, I'm still a little concerned about what I see for ALC.


The video below (no audio) shows the ALC meter responding first to a "TUNE"
command from fldigi. This sounds like a pure tone in the headphones but the
ALC meter responds oddly, almost like it is pulsating. I expected ALC to
pretty much be steady.

Next in the video is just clicking T/R in fldigi with no typing. It sounds
as expected in the headphones (a trilling sound). The ALC response looks
better but I can still see the pulsations in there. I expected to see 4
bars solid and the 5th flashing.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/4AaLaVu1r8UDv5LT9

Am I reading too much into this? Is this how your K3s responds?

I'm using the K3s sound card. Level in Windows is -14.7 dB. Level in fldigi
is -12.7 dB. The level control on the K3s is set for 18.

73,
Kev N4TT
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