I've been using JT65-HF for about month or so now, and have read most of what I can get my hands on concerning the transmission setup.
Now, everything I've seen basically says, setup the transmitter to the highest power you want to use, then use the sound card volume controls to make adjustments to the output. OK, that sounds easy enough, but then some articles also say that you *should not* have any ALC readings on the dial at all. Yet there are some times it appears the only time I'm actually getting out is if there are a few lines showing on the ALC meter. (Using an IC-718).
What's the exact deal, and how can I tell if my signal is clean or distorted?
I have done it basically the way you state, Neil, but you will find differences depending on the rig/interface setup used. Here I do not use an interface with my Kenwood TS-480 but have two audio cables direct from the rig to the computer sound card. If I want to run 10 watts, I set the 480 for 10 watts, then adjust the speaker output until I see no ALC reading. Doing that, I get whatever power output I have it set for, and I've never had any complaints of a distorted signal after close to 2000 JT65 contacts.
Wes W1LIC
________________________________ From: NeilZ <ne...@personal-techie.com> To: jt65-hf@googlegroups.com Sent: Monday, May 7, 2012 4:01 PM Subject: [jt65-hf] Question on tranmit signal ALC readinds
Hi all,
I've been using JT65-HF for about month or so now, and have read most of what I can get my hands on concerning the transmission setup.
Now, everything I've seen basically says, setup the transmitter to the highest power you want to use, then use the sound card volume controls to make adjustments to the output. OK, that sounds easy enough, but then some articles also say that you should not have any ALC readings on the dial at all. Yet there are some times it appears the only time I'm actually getting out is if there are a few lines showing on the ALC meter. (Using an IC-718).
What's the exact deal, and how can I tell if my signal is clean or distorted?
Thanks,
Neil Z KB3TVU
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You will probably find that the audio drive needed will vary a bit
depending on the amateur band in use and also on the DF offset for any
particular band. I monitor output power level, ALC level, and also
the power supply current. The ALC level will give you a ready
indication of over-drive while fluctuations in power output and supply
current will indicate insufficent drive. I accept small variations
but adjust the drive when needed.
I check my signal quality with an independent receiver and JT-65
setup. Did it quite often when starting with this mode but now I'm
used to how it all works I do it seldom.
How the signal responds to ALC action probably depends on the rig you
are using. My TS-590S appears to produce a clean signal for quite
large variation in ALC action. I try to adjust for the lowest drive
level that gives no change in power or current as the tones change.
That level is just at lowest level where the ALC meter activates.
Andy k3wyc
On May 7, 1:01 pm, NeilZ <ne...@personal-techie.com> wrote:
> I've been using JT65-HF for about month or so now, and have read most of
> what I can get my hands on concerning the transmission setup.
> Now, everything I've seen basically says, setup the transmitter to the
> highest power you want to use, then use the sound card volume controls to
> make adjustments to the output. OK, that sounds easy enough, but then
> some articles also say that you *should not* have any ALC readings on the
> dial at all. Yet there are some times it appears the only time I'm
> actually getting out is if there are a few lines showing on the ALC meter.
> (Using an IC-718).
> What's the exact deal, and how can I tell if my signal is clean or
> distorted?
My old icom 7000 always showed one bar of alc, and I had to lower the output
power of the rig to get a stable output of a constant 20 to 30 watts with
the signal link.
Now with the 756 it dosent matter where my power setting is, I bought a more
stable interface as well, a Navigator, and now just don't have those issues
at all.
Don zl1atb
From: jt65-hf@googlegroups.com [mailto:jt65-hf@googlegroups.com] On Behalf
Of NeilZ
Sent: Tuesday, 8 May 2012 8:01 a.m.
To: jt65-hf@googlegroups.com
Subject: [jt65-hf] Question on tranmit signal ALC readinds
Hi all,
I've been using JT65-HF for about month or so now, and have read most of
what I can get my hands on concerning the transmission setup.
Now, everything I've seen basically says, setup the transmitter to the
highest power you want to use, then use the sound card volume controls to
make adjustments to the output. OK, that sounds easy enough, but then some
articles also say that you should not have any ALC readings on the dial at
all. Yet there are some times it appears the only time I'm actually
getting out is if there are a few lines showing on the ALC meter. (Using an
IC-718).
What's the exact deal, and how can I tell if my signal is clean or
distorted?
Thanks,
Neil Z
KB3TVU
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"JT65-HF" group.
To view this discussion on the web visit
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To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
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Maybe your rig works differently from mine, but if I set the rig for the highest power I intended to use (almost always 20 Watts) it would be very easy to drive it into ALC range with too much audio. Instead, I leave my Omni 7 set at 100 Watts and do all the power control with the level control of my soundcard. I usually stick at 20 Watts, but I find that I can run all the way up to 60 or 70 Watts without ALC.
On Monday, May 7, 2012 3:01:04 PM UTC-5, NeilZ wrote:
> Hi all,
> I've been using JT65-HF for about month or so now, and have read most of what I can get my hands on concerning the transmission setup.
> Now, everything I've seen basically says, setup the transmitter to the highest power you want to use, then use the sound card volume controls to make adjustments to the output. OK, that sounds easy enough, but then some articles also say that you <b>should not</b> have any ALC readings on the dial at all. Yet there are some times it appears the only time I'm actually getting out is if there are a few lines showing on the ALC meter. (Using an IC-718).
> What's the exact deal, and how can I tell if my signal is clean or distorted?
On Tuesday, May 8, 2012 7:35:28 PM UTC-4, Bert - W0RSB wrote:
> Maybe your rig works differently from mine, but if I set the rig for the > highest power I intended to use (almost always 20 Watts) it would be very > easy to drive it into ALC range with too much audio. Instead, I leave my > Omni 7 set at 100 Watts and do all the power control with the level control > of my soundcard. I usually stick at 20 Watts, but I find that I can run all > the way up to 60 or 70 Watts without ALC.
> On Monday, May 7, 2012 3:01:04 PM UTC-5, NeilZ wrote: > > Hi all,
> > I've been using JT65-HF for about month or so now, and have read > most of what I can get my hands on concerning the transmission setup.
> > Now, everything I've seen basically says, setup the transmitter to > the highest power you want to use, then use the sound card volume controls > to make adjustments to the output. OK, that sounds easy enough, but then > some articles also say that you <b>should not</b> have any ALC readings on > the dial at all. Yet there are some times it appears the only time > I'm actually getting out is if there are a few lines showing on the ALC > meter. (Using an IC-718).
> > What's the exact deal, and how can I tell if my signal is clean or > distorted?
On Wednesday, May 9, 2012 4:45:46 PM UTC-4, NeilZ wrote:
> Thanks Bert ... I may have interpreted the manuals and stuff I read. > I've always had a problem with the digital modes, and I'm still learning .. > ;)
> Neil
> On Tuesday, May 8, 2012 7:35:28 PM UTC-4, Bert - W0RSB wrote:
>> Maybe your rig works differently from mine, but if I set the rig for the >> highest power I intended to use (almost always 20 Watts) it would be very >> easy to drive it into ALC range with too much audio. Instead, I leave my >> Omni 7 set at 100 Watts and do all the power control with the level control >> of my soundcard. I usually stick at 20 Watts, but I find that I can run all >> the way up to 60 or 70 Watts without ALC.
>> On Monday, May 7, 2012 3:01:04 PM UTC-5, NeilZ wrote: >> > Hi all,
>> > I've been using JT65-HF for about month or so now, and have read >> most of what I can get my hands on concerning the transmission setup.
>> > Now, everything I've seen basically says, setup the transmitter to >> the highest power you want to use, then use the sound card volume controls >> to make adjustments to the output. OK, that sounds easy enough, but then >> some articles also say that you <b>should not</b> have any ALC readings on >> the dial at all. Yet there are some times it appears the only time >> I'm actually getting out is if there are a few lines showing on the ALC >> meter. (Using an IC-718).
>> > What's the exact deal, and how can I tell if my signal is clean or >> distorted?
On Monday, May 7, 2012 3:01:04 PM UTC-5, NeilZ wrote:
> Hi all,
> I've been using JT65-HF for about month or so now, and have read most of > what I can get my hands on concerning the transmission setup.
> Now, everything I've seen basically says, setup the transmitter to the > highest power you want to use, then use the sound card volume controls to > make adjustments to the output. OK, that sounds easy enough, but then > some articles also say that you *should not* have any ALC readings on the > dial at all. Yet there are some times it appears the only time I'm > actually getting out is if there are a few lines showing on the ALC meter. > (Using an IC-718).
> What's the exact deal, and how can I tell if my signal is clean or > distorted?
> Thanks,
> Neil Z > KB3TVU
I leave my transmitter power at 100%, and adjust the output power using my sound card. On some radios, if you lower the transmitter power, you will get an ALC reading, since you will need to increase your sound card output level to obtain the desired output power. I think it just causes you to run the sound card at a higher level where it is less linear than if it is adjusted to a lower setting.
