I am a newcomer and am setting WSE and Linrad on Debian. One of my problem was fixed by kindness advice from Leif.
At this moment I have another problems. One is receiving sometimes stops (noise level downs -5dB and receiving internal birdie only) for 5-20 minutes and returning. I guess my power supply cause a trigger and already ordered new one. But anyone has same problem and fixed, please let me know your detail.
Two is a internal birdie on center frequency of each pass band. In problem one situation, also it is.
> At this moment I have another problems. One is receiving > sometimes stops (noise level downs -5dB and receiving > internal birdie only) for 5-20 minutes and returning. I > guess my power supply cause a trigger and already ordered > new one. But anyone has same problem and fixed, please > let me know your detail.
In case your power supply becomes overheated so it switches off or reduces the +15 or -15 DC supply (or both) you should see it easily with a volt meter. I am not aware of anything else that could produce a similar effect. Maybe better positioning could improve coolign?
> Two is a internal birdie on center frequency of each pass > band. In problem one situation, also it is.
The center frequency corresponds to DC voltages and they are not amplified by the Delta 44.
The center spur can be slightly reduced by modifications on the Delta 44.
During normal operation on 144 MHz when your preamplifier should lift the noise floor by about 15 dB the center spur should not be visible or very weak.
Thank you for your advice. I repaired (changing) DC power supply and
an electric fan is installed in side of the systems. So, the problem
is not reproduced. And, I am going to modify the first step of Delta
44 (GND cutting at Dsub connector) soon. I'm not old age but my eyes
are presbyopic...
>> At this moment I have another problems. One is receiving
>> sometimes stops (noise level downs -5dB and receiving
>> internal birdie only) for 5-20 minutes and returning. I
>> guess my power supply cause a trigger and already ordered
>> new one. But anyone has same problem and fixed, please
>> let me know your detail.
> In case your power supply becomes overheated so it switches
> off or reduces the +15 or -15 DC supply (or both) you should
> see it easily with a volt meter. I am not aware of anything
> else that could produce a similar effect. Maybe better
> positioning could improve coolign?
>> Two is a internal birdie on center frequency of each pass
>> band. In problem one situation, also it is.
> The center frequency corresponds to DC voltages and they
> are not amplified by the Delta 44.
> The center spur can be slightly reduced by modifications on the
> Delta 44.
> During normal operation on 144 MHz when your preamplifier should
> lift the noise floor by about 15 dB the center spur should not
> be visible or very weak.
I have still have the problem without any error message. I'm using two Kenwood PA18-3A Regulated DC Power Supply now and their volt meters are OK (about +15.5 and -15.5). Of course, I get many signals while normal operating. Can you see a screenshot? http://gongon.com/JM1WBB/linrad-1.png In waterfall it was normal operating at orange ellipse and other times were receiving stopping... Can you anyone advise me?
>> At this moment I have another problems. One is receiving >> sometimes stops (noise level downs -5dB and receiving >> internal birdie only) for 5-20 minutes and returning. I >> guess my power supply cause a trigger and already ordered >> new one. But anyone has same problem and fixed, please >> let me know your detail. > In case your power supply becomes overheated so it switches > off or reduces the +15 or -15 DC supply (or both) you should > see it easily with a volt meter. I am not aware of anything > else that could produce a similar effect. Maybe better > positioning could improve coolign?
It seems that my RX10700 has problem. While trouble condition,
Linrad get a signal on 2.5 MHz and doesn't get a signal on
10.7 MHz from signal generator. (HF Rig with dummy load)
And I saw two other statuses of the waterfall. One was 3 times
only:
http://gongon.com/JM1WBB/linrad-2.png Two is continuing:
http://gongon.com/JM1WBB/linrad-3.png last one is like self oscillation or using super preamp and I
get big noise from PC's speaker. It will go to normal level if
outputs from RX10700 is offline. I was aware that WSE boxes are
heating. Then, WSEs are cooled by electric fan and was reseted
by power OFF/ON, WSEs is working well now. But I got cold :)
http://gongon.com/JM1WBB/linrad-4.png
Must WSE boxes have forced air cooling? I suspect the gap is
needed more and someone said it is needed 2cm gap at least
before... Gap of current setup at test bench is about 1 cm.
73,
Isao / JM1WBB
On 2009/05/25, at 22:21, Isao SEKI - JM1WBB wrote:
> I have still have the problem without any error message.
> I'm using two Kenwood PA18-3A Regulated DC Power Supply
> now and their volt meters are OK (about +15.5 and -15.5).
> Of course, I get many signals while normal operating.
> Can you see a screenshot?
> http://gongon.com/JM1WBB/linrad-1.png > In waterfall it was normal operating at orange ellipse
> and other times were receiving stopping... Can you
> anyone advise me?
> tia 73,
> Isao / JM1WBB
> On 2009/05/15, at 4:33, Leif Asbrink wrote:
>> Hello Isao,
>>> At this moment I have another problems. One is receiving
>>> sometimes stops (noise level downs -5dB and receiving
>>> internal birdie only) for 5-20 minutes and returning. I
>>> guess my power supply cause a trigger and already ordered
>>> new one. But anyone has same problem and fixed, please
>>> let me know your detail.
>> In case your power supply becomes overheated so it switches
>> off or reduces the +15 or -15 DC supply (or both) you should
>> see it easily with a volt meter. I am not aware of anything
>> else that could produce a similar effect. Maybe better
>> positioning could improve coolign?
> It seems that my RX10700 has problem. While trouble condition, > Linrad get a signal on 2.5 MHz and doesn't get a signal on > 10.7 MHz from signal generator. (HF Rig with dummy load)
You might try to put the 9-pin dsub that belongs to the RX144 into the RX10700 to see if you have the same problem. (Both units have 4 crystals.) Select 144.0, 144.5, 145.0 or 145.5 and test with the signal generator for signals at the RX144 input which should be centered at 10.675, 10.7, 10.725 or 10.75. (Ignore the error messages for non-connected units)
In case there is a poor connection in the dsub(s) chances are good you will detect it this way.
If the RX10700 does not show anything even with a very strong input signal, the LO is most probably not running. Did you try to change the frequency in the 10.7 band to see if another frequency works.
When a WSE unit is powered up and before Linrad has sent a command to it, the state of the latches holding the info about which crystal to use is undefined. It could be no crystal at all or it could be several crystals. When several crystals are selected, several oscillator transistors are powered simultaneously and the total gain in the LO becomes too high causing various peculiar phenomena.
Every time a unit has been without power it has to be programmed by Linrad to start working again. If you are in a receive screen, type 'X', then 'B'. It is not enough to just select a frequency. Linrad would only send data to the units that need re-programming and trusts that other units still remember their settings.
> It will go to normal level if > outputs from RX10700 is offline.
Yes, the RX2500 only has one crystal so it does not have any memory.
> I was aware that WSE boxes are > heating. Then, WSEs are cooled by electric fan and was reseted > by power OFF/ON, WSEs is working well now. But I got cold :) > http://gongon.com/JM1WBB/linrad-4.png
> Must WSE boxes have forced air cooling?
No, but they must not be allowed to heat each other. Normal temperature is 45 to 50 degrees with boxes vertically and a 3cm air gap between boxes with provision for air to get in from beneth and out at the top.
> I suspect the gap is > needed more and someone said it is needed 2cm gap at least > before... Gap of current setup at test bench is about 1 cm.
Check the temperature. The units should work properly at much higher temperature, but the lifetime of electrolytic capacitors would suffer.
In case the RX10700 oscillator stops working at some specific temperature I think you would find that the other three crystals still work at that temperature. If they do not there could be some other temperature related error. One of the serier regulators might turn off for example.
Thanks for your support. I tested the RX10700 again in this
evening. (it is mid-night in JA)
1) Gap is 3cm by my son's old Lego blocks.
2) When had a problem, result of your suggested test was NG.
When had no problem, it was OK.
3) Local oscillator testing with the spectrum analyzer
- When had a problem, LO didn't work or maybe worked with
incorrectly X'tal.
- When had a problem, voltage of R4, R5, R6 and R10 were
minus level. And all of X and Y at the U6/U7 were High.
But it seems to me that hardware test in Linrad was OK.
- When had a problem, the X'tal selection occasionally
changed if the coil was touched by my finger.
- Changing normal/problem by D-sub on/off.
- working normally at the start but will go problem and
return to normal suddenly.
I was aware after re-connecting 4 boxed that 143.975,
144.025-075, 125-175, 225-275, 325-375, 425-475 were NG and
others were OK between 143.975 and 144.500 MHz. But all of QRG
are NG now.
I'm very confusing... What is no good in my systems? PC?
>> It seems that my RX10700 has problem. While trouble condition,
>> Linrad get a signal on 2.5 MHz and doesn't get a signal on
>> 10.7 MHz from signal generator. (HF Rig with dummy load)
> You might try to put the 9-pin dsub that belongs to the RX144
> into the RX10700 to see if you have the same problem.
> (Both units have 4 crystals.) Select 144.0, 144.5, 145.0 or
> 145.5 and test with the signal generator for signals at the
> RX144 input which should be centered at 10.675, 10.7, 10.725
> or 10.75. (Ignore the error messages for non-connected units)
> In case there is a poor connection in the dsub(s) chances are good
> you will detect it this way.
> If the RX10700 does not show anything even with a very strong
> input signal, the LO is most probably not running. Did you
> try to change the frequency in the 10.7 band to see if another
> frequency works.
>> And I saw two other statuses of the waterfall. One was 3 times
>> only:
>> http://gongon.com/JM1WBB/linrad-2.png >> Two is continuing:
>> http://gongon.com/JM1WBB/linrad-3.png >> last one is like self oscillation or using super preamp and I
>> get big noise from PC's speaker.
> When a WSE unit is powered up and before Linrad has sent a
> command to it, the state of the latches holding the info about
> which crystal to use is undefined. It could be no crystal at all
> or it could be several crystals. When several crystals are
> selected, several oscillator transistors are powered simultaneously
> and the total gain in the LO becomes too high causing various
> peculiar phenomena.
> Every time a unit has been without power it has to be programmed
> by Linrad to start working again. If you are in a receive screen,
> type 'X', then 'B'. It is not enough to just select a frequency.
> Linrad would only send data to the units that need re-programming
> and trusts that other units still remember their settings.
>> It will go to normal level if
>> outputs from RX10700 is offline.
> Yes, the RX2500 only has one crystal so it does not have any
> memory.
>> I was aware that WSE boxes are
>> heating. Then, WSEs are cooled by electric fan and was reseted
>> by power OFF/ON, WSEs is working well now. But I got cold :)
>> http://gongon.com/JM1WBB/linrad-4.png
>> Must WSE boxes have forced air cooling?
> No, but they must not be allowed to heat each other.
> Normal temperature is 45 to 50 degrees with boxes vertically
> and a 3cm air gap between boxes with provision for air to get
> in from beneth and out at the top.
>> I suspect the gap is
>> needed more and someone said it is needed 2cm gap at least
>> before... Gap of current setup at test bench is about 1 cm.
> Check the temperature. The units should work properly at much
> higher temperature, but the lifetime of electrolytic capacitors
> would suffer.
> In case the RX10700 oscillator stops working at some specific
> temperature I think you would find that the other three
> crystals still work at that temperature. If they do not there could
> be some other temperature related error. One of the serier regulators
> might turn off for example.
> 3) Local oscillator testing with the spectrum analyzer > - When had a problem, LO didn't work or maybe worked with > incorrectly X'tal. > - When had a problem, voltage of R4, R5, R6 and R10 were > minus level. And all of X and Y at the U6/U7 were High.
???????????? When all X and Y on U6 and U7 are high, the voltage on R4, R5, R6 and R10 must be high too. It is the same test point;-)
Anyway, the same voltage on all is an error. One, and one only should be negative while the others have to be positive.
> But it seems to me that hardware test in Linrad was OK. > - When had a problem, the X'tal selection occasionally > changed if the coil was touched by my finger.
Touching the coil should not affect anything.
> - Changing normal/problem by D-sub on/off. > - working normally at the start but will go problem and > return to normal suddenly.
Do you really mean it will return to normal suddenly without any activity on the computer from your side?
I could imagine a loose connection or a short in the control interface between the computer and the WSE unit, but it seems unlikely that the unit would go back to normal operation by itself.
If there is an intermittent error you might find that Linrad sometimes can send a command sucessfully but that random pulses due to some short or loose connection could store incorrect data in U3.
If something causes an error on the SELECT line to the RX10700 the data in U2 will be transferred to U3 and that will likely cause an error. U2 only has the correct data when Linrad uses the SELECT line to clock in the new data.
Maybe you have some other software that writes to the parallel port occasionally? Perhaps the parallel port is in some kind of unusual mode that is not compatible with the way it is used in Linrad.
> I was aware after re-connecting 4 boxed that 143.975, > 144.025-075, 125-175, 225-275, 325-375, 425-475 were NG and > others were OK between 143.975 and 144.500 MHz. But all of QRG > are NG now.
> I'm very confusing... What is no good in my systems? PC?
Connectors, cables or the PC. I think. Can you monitor the voltage on the RX10700 SELECT line? Does it change by itself? It should stay permanently low except when Linrad reprograms the RX10700 frequency.
(Just be careful to not send +15V or -15V into the computer parallel port if you measure on the d-sub. More safe to do measurements on U4 in the WSE box.)
Yes, I must monitor SELECT line for RX10700. I will setup
later.
- LO of RX10700 sometimes has the hiccup without command
from Linrad. I've seen changing frequency or losing in
display on spectrum analyzer.
- Hardware test on Linrad is no problem. HC03 is maybe OK.
- When working stable, no problem with joggling the Dsub
and the cable.
- I'm running terminal window(s) and Linrad only but I do
not know any daemon of the fedora 10 touches parallel
port...
>> 3) Local oscillator testing with the spectrum analyzer
>> - When had a problem, LO didn't work or maybe worked with
>> incorrectly X'tal.
>> - When had a problem, voltage of R4, R5, R6 and R10 were
>> minus level. And all of X and Y at the U6/U7 were High.
> ????????????
> When all X and Y on U6 and U7 are high, the voltage on R4, R5,
> R6 and R10 must be high too. It is the same test point;-)
> Anyway, the same voltage on all is an error. One, and one only
> should be negative while the others have to be positive.
>> But it seems to me that hardware test in Linrad was OK.
>> - When had a problem, the X'tal selection occasionally
>> changed if the coil was touched by my finger.
> Touching the coil should not affect anything.
>> - Changing normal/problem by D-sub on/off.
>> - working normally at the start but will go problem and
>> return to normal suddenly.
> Do you really mean it will return to normal suddenly without
> any activity on the computer from your side?
> I could imagine a loose connection or a short in the control interface
> between the computer and the WSE unit, but it seems unlikely that
> the unit would go back to normal operation by itself.
> If there is an intermittent error you might find that Linrad sometimes
> can send a command sucessfully but that random pulses due to some
> short or loose connection could store incorrect data in U3.
> If something causes an error on the SELECT line to the RX10700 the
> data
> in U2 will be transferred to U3 and that will likely cause an error.
> U2 only has the correct data when Linrad uses the SELECT line to clock
> in the new data.
> Maybe you have some other software that writes to the parallel port
> occasionally? Perhaps the parallel port is in some kind of unusual
> mode that is not compatible with the way it is used in Linrad.
>> I was aware after re-connecting 4 boxed that 143.975,
>> 144.025-075, 125-175, 225-275, 325-375, 425-475 were NG and
>> others were OK between 143.975 and 144.500 MHz. But all of QRG
>> are NG now.
>> I'm very confusing... What is no good in my systems? PC?
> Connectors, cables or the PC. I think. Can you monitor the voltage
> on the RX10700 SELECT line? Does it change by itself? It should
> stay permanently low except when Linrad reprograms the RX10700
> frequency.
> (Just be careful to not send +15V or -15V into the computer
> parallel port if you measure on the d-sub. More safe to do
> measurements on U4 in the WSE box.)
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