[Elecraft] Digital Mode

Tue Nov 11 21:21:53 EST 2008

Iain,

Thanks for the information and I will print this out and follow it. I need to get the cables.

Greg
Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2008 23:46:01 -0800
From: ml-user+45128-1041276041 at n2.nabble.com
To: connectmenow at hotmail.com
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Digital Mode

Hi OM,

Long answer to a short question (and it's late, so apologies if any of

it doesn't make sense)...

To transmit in digital modes with HRD + DM780, you'll probably want to

connect the RS232 port on the K3 to a serial port on your PC, as well as

audio, but you can start of with receive-only with just an audio

connection from the "line out" of the K3 to the input on your computer's

sound card. A stereo audio cable with 3.5mm (1/8") jack plugs on both

ends will do.

Start up DM780 (not HRD) and see if you get noise (different colours) in

the waterfall at the bottom (with the K3 on, obviously). If not, maybe

you have more than one sound card. From the "Tools" menu, choose

"Options", then click on the "SoundCard" tab, and choose the right

device and source (line in, mic - whatever you have connected to). You

may need to bring up "Soundcard", from the "View" menu, and unmute the

RX device and set the volume.

When you get noise in the waterfall, tune to a digital mode frequency

(e.g. 14.070) and look for signals to decode. Choose the appropriate

mode (right above the waterfall) and then click on the waterfall where

you see a signal, and it should be decoded as text for you. I've never 

used Olivia, so can't help with specifics there, but you should be able

to find it in "Modes". You could start off with BPSK31 or RTTY, as those

are more common.

When you want to transmit, you'll probably want to make the serial

connection for automatic keying of the radio. You may be able to do it

with VOX instead, but I haven't tried that. There are other benefits to

making the serial connection - you can see the actual frequency you're

using in the software, quickly QSY to saved frequencies, center the

signal you want with couple of mouse-clicks, etc.

If you don't have real serial ports, you'll need a USB-to-serial

adapter, like the KUSB.

The "auto-find" thing might work, but I prefer to do things explicitly.

First, on the K3, set CONFIG:RS232 to "38400 b". Then launch HRD.

Specify "Elecraft", "K3", the serial port that the K3 is connected to,

and speed 38400. If you're using a built-in serial port, it's probably

COM1 or COM2. If not, right-click on "My Computer", choose "Properties",

then "Hardware" then "Device Manager", then double-click on "Ports" and

look for it there.

When HRD connects successfully, it should display the current VFO A and

B frequencies, amongst other things. You'll then need to start the IP

server. In HRD, to go "Tools" -> "IP Server", then check "Start server

when HRD starts" and click "Start".

Now you can go back to DM780, and configure it to use HRD for keying the

radio. In its "Tools" menu, choose "Options", then click on the "PTT"

tab, and select "via Ham Radio Deluxe".

Then go to "View" -> "Radio", and click on "Connect to HRD", if it's

not already displaying the current VFO A freqency.

Set the mode on the K3 to "DATA", and set "DATA MODE" to "DATA A" (hold

the "AFX" button, then turn the VFO B knob to select that).

You'll need another 3.5mm stereo audio cable to connect the output from

your PC's sound card to the "line in" of the K3.

Set "MENU:MIC SEL" to "Line in" on the K3.

Now you're ready for a test transmission. Put the K3 into "TX TEST" mode

(hold "MODE ^"), then click on "Send" in DM780. Adjust "MIC" (line in

gain) on the K3 until you see 5 bars on the ALC meter. You may need to

adjust the "Soundcard" "TX" settings in HRD to get it right. Click

"Stop" to end, and turn off "TX TEST" mode.

Then you're all set up and ready for digital. Simple, huh?

     ~Iain / K6IAM

-.-. --.-N3TU -.-. --.- wrote:

> I'm new to digital. I just downloaded Digital Master 780 so I can run Olivia

> on MARS. Also included in that package is Ham Radio Deluxe. Never done thing

> before. I'm from old school so bear with me.  Right now, I don't have

> anything hooked to the sound card on the computer. How do you have your K3

> hooked up for digital? I know the plug type where the mic and headset are on

> the back of the computer but I need to know what to do on the back of the

> radio. I am assuming it is the mono/stero in/out on the back of the radio

> which takes the same plug on the back of the computer. Without the plugs

> right now, I get an red "X" error message on Ham Radio Deluxe that says:

> frequency =0   ! Make sure your radio is switched on and not in the memory

> mode     !! If you are using a homemade-non standard cable you may need to

> select RTS or DTR.

> 

> 

> Now,  when I choose Elecraft and K3, the flow control/Interface power is in

> ghost form and can't be selected. I also used the auto find to find the com

> port. So I am guessing that I need the sound card hooked up for these two

> programs to work. I do get the packet cluster. I can't get the radio or

> anything else to show up. Anyone using digital and can break it down for me?

> How do you have your digital set up for Olivia and Ham Radio Deluxe? 
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