[SMCARA] FTdx-3000 Question

Thu Nov 6 06:12:05 EST 2014

Well, not sure why it would do it but leaving it unplugged over-nite
corrected the issue. I did push a few buttons so not sure. But all I know
its back-up online and ready to try again tonight. Just listened this
morning. Thanks to everyone for the advice. I need to join that 3000 Yahoo
Group!
73
Bill

On Wed, Nov 5, 2014 at 7:26 PM, Grant Farrand <gmfarrand at yahoo.com> wrote:

> Bill, I think my problem was that I had the radio on a frequency outside
> of the ham bands and the MOX button was pushed.
> I know that if you try to transmit outside the band the TX light blinks.
>
> 73
>
> and.... In God We Trust !!!
>
> Grant Farrand
>
> gmfarrand at yahoo.com
>
> Amateur  Call sign W4GMF
>
> Virginia Fone Net #29
>
> W4GMF Westmoreland Co.Repeater Sponsor  146.895mhz  (-)  pl tone 146.2
>
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>   ------------------------------
>  *From:* Bill Jones <merc669 at gmail.com>
> *To:* Grant Farrand <gmfarrand at yahoo.com>; "smcara at mailman.qth.net" <
> smcara at mailman.qth.net>
> *Sent:* Wednesday, November 5, 2014 7:18 PM
>
> *Subject:* Re: [SMCARA] FTdx-3000 Question
>
> Have neither but Will hope for the radio to rest overnite and or talk to
> Yaesu and write down instructions . Will pass to all what I find out.
> Hopefully someone else talked to them and has a number but will look
> online. I am sure there is a number there. Thanks!
>
> Bill
>
> On Wed, Nov 5, 2014 at 7:10 PM, Grant Farrand via SMCARA <
> smcara at mailman.qth.net> wrote:
>
> Ya, Tom said it pretty well. The only thing I would like to add is that
> one of the best ways to set your audio is to put another radio on your
> frequency with a set of headphones. you will not need much of an antenna
> since it will be so close to you, just a few inches of wire will do fine
> and you will still need to turn down the receiver RF gain.
>   Then transmit on your radio that you want to set your audio on while
> listening thru the headphones on the other radio.
> You will find this makes it very easy to set your audio and also pay
> attention to the background noise when you are not talking ( like between
> words or syllables) when your gain is to high you start to have background
> noise, hum and popping in the mic from your breath hitting the mic.
>   If you do not have a second radio you can use your police scanner tuned
> to your frequency to do the job also.
>
> Sounds like a good topic for the Elmer Net tonight.
>
>
> 73
>
> and.... In God We Trust !!!
>
> Grant Farrand
>
> gmfarrand at yahoo.com
>
> Amateur  Call sign W4GMF
>
> Virginia Fone Net #29
>
> W4GMF Westmoreland Co.Repeater Sponsor  146.895mhz  (-)  pl tone 146.2
>
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> ________________________________
>  From: Daniel Metcalf <kb3uun at gmail.com>
> To: smcara at mailman.qth.net
> Sent: Wednesday, November 5, 2014 11:55 AM
> Subject: Re: [SMCARA] FTdx-3000 Question
>
>
> I agree with Tom, thanks Grant for that answer. I can't believe the
> processor would drive the radio that hard even at the lower settings. I do
> seem to remember a discussion either on Ham Nation or On-Air about the use
> of radio processors and how we should set it up for the ideal audio quality
> but don't engage it until it is needed to give your signal that extra
> punch.
> I will have to remember this when I get my hands on another FTDX-3000.
>
> HAVE FUN!
>
> Dan
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: SMCARA [mailto:smcara-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Clarke,
> Tom AIR4.0P NATOPS
> Sent: Wednesday, November 5, 2014 10:53 AM
> To: smcara at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [SMCARA] FTdx-3000 Question
>
> What a succinct and reasoned explanation!  Thanks, Grant.
>
> I have always felt that over use of the processor function in our radios is
> the reason for such lousy sounding signals that abound on our bands.
> Trying to make an SSB signal sound like a studio quality FM broadcast is an
> unnatural act also!
>
> If you have the ability (equipment) to monitor your transmitted signal on a
> scope, you can tell a lot about how it will sound.  The flat-topping and
> spur generation from the AKTR ( all knobs to the right!) advocates makes
> life trying on the HF bands.  A quick look at the scope as you adjust the
> amount of processing will help you to a good sounding signal.  ALC is a
> tool
> to help you from overdriving the PA in your rig.  If you hit the PA too
> hard, the ALC will "throttle back" the drive to prevent the bad things from
> happening.  Anytime the ALC is above the recommended level, you are turning
> the rig into a compressor.  Remember, as Grant said, your output meter
> involves inertia/ballistics and will only indicate 20-30 percent of the
> power that is actually "going up the coax"!  If you try to drive the meter
> up to a 100 watts on a 100 watt rig, you are overdriving the "you know
> what"
> out of it.  If you want a mind-numbing project, go get a Handbook and read
> up on PEP and the math  behind it!
>
> The FM crowd is not exempt from this "tomfoolery" either.  Resist the urge
> to use that old CB power mike on your shiny new FM rig.  Stick with the
> factory mike or at least try to match impedances and levels from any
> replacement mike.  We probably should hold a "deviation" session at one of
> our meetings.  A good commercial deviation meter will help "level the
> playing field" as the politicians love to say.  Nothing is worse than
> having
> to "ride the volume" control due to differences in levels from the various
> users.
>
> Lest I come across as too "curmudgeonly", there is no problem with having a
> rack of studio audio gear and $500 dollar microphones, but please use a
> scope and adjust accordingly.  If you solicit an audio report from someone,
> ask them to be honest!  I have heard folks give glowing audio reports to a
> signal that is distorted, overdriven, and with restricted bandwidth (i.e.,
> tinny, too bassy, etc).  Some of the newer radios have an "equalizer"
> function that can be adjusted to your voice.  A few minutes listening to
> the
> monitor function of your transceiver or with the help of an honest on the
> air assistant will do great things for your audio.
>
> Tom/W4OKW
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: SMCARA [mailto:smcara-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Grant
> Farrand via SMCARA
> Sent: Tuesday, November 04, 2014 7:01 PM
> To: jbr13 at md.metrocast.net; SMCARA
> Subject: Re: [SMCARA] FTdx-3000 Question
>
> Hi Jason,
> I run my FTDX 3000 with the Yaesu MD200 mic or a computer type headset/mic.
> I run the mic gain at 25 on the MD200 and at 20 on the computer headset,
> and
> at this setting my ALC mostly stays on zero and only moves off the zero
> mark
> if I talk very close into the mic. I do not believe in using the processor
> except for maybe some rear DX. The processor just overdrives everything.
>
>
> Unless you are looking at your signal with a scope, you will not see what
> your radio is really putting out on SSB. It is just to fast for a analog
> meter to show it. I know some analog meters have a avg/peak setting but
> they
> still respond to slow to show your true output reading. If you show a 100
> watts in CW key down, you will have a 100 watts in SSB, you just wont see
> it
> on the meter.
>
> Listen to my radio on the Virginia Fone Net and you will see what a mic
> gain
> of 25 with no ALC movement and no processor sound like.
>
> 73
>
> and.... In God We Trust !!!
>
> Grant Farrand
>
> gmfarrand at yahoo.com
>
> Amateur  Call sign W4GMF
>
> Virginia Fone Net #29
>
> W4GMF Westmoreland Co.Repeater Sponsor  146.895mhz  (-)  pl tone 146.2
>
>
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> ________________________________
> From: "jbr13 at md.metrocast.net" <jbr13 at md.metrocast.net>
> To: SMCARA <smcara at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Tuesday, November 4, 2014 8:48 AM
> Subject: [SMCARA] FTdx-3000 Question
>
>
>
>
>       BODY { font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px; }
> Hello all,  I run my FTdx-3000 at 100W output, with a Heil Mic, and have
> tweeked my EQ and Para EQ settings.  I am running 25 Mic Gain, and 45 on
> the
> Proc.  I have talked with several guys that know my voice and they report
> this sounds great.  I also constantly get reports that my audio sounds
> great
> from DX stations.  My problem is my ALC is usually running over the top of
> the ALC line on the meter.  It is different on most bands, but always over
> the line. On 10M and 15M it is higher than most. I have tried to back the
> Mic Gain and Proc down to get ALC down some, but I have to pretty much turn
> my Mic Gain to 10, and Proc to 15 to get it to dip much at all. Plus when I
> turn both down, I see my output power drop 10-30 Watts. My optimized G5RV
> is
> about 40 feet from the radio outside.  I am not sure what is cuasing the
> ALC
> to be a little high.  I have turned back all the EQ sittings to defaults
> and
> turned off Processor, and Mic EQ, ALC drops close to peak ALC line, but
> audio really drops off, as well as a drop in power out.
>
>     I put a MFJ inline Isolator/ current bulan inline at the antenna this
> past weekend, but that changed nothing.
>
>     Ideas, Comments???
>     N3YUG Jason Rearick
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