New to FreeDV setup questions

[Bob Morris]

Hello, new here.  Just discovered FreeDV  Bob W0EG

My current setup is an older computer running the current Windows 10, ICOM IC-7300, and a Logitech USB headset.  It is basically working but it has a computer related problem.  I did hear and decode one signal on 14.236 from a guy in Texas who someone on the QSO finder said was running 600 Watts.  Other than that, no signals heard or seen on the 7300’s spectrum display.  I do hear lots of SSB activity.

My problem is getting transmit and receive to both work with the same PC sound setting.   From Windows settings, system, sound, advanced, I have one App Volume slider control for the FreeDV app (when it’s running).  It seems to control both the radio to app and app to radio together.  If advanced enough to see background noise on the waterfall in receive, it overdrives on transmit as seen on the ALC.  If I adjust it down so that it just tickles the ALC on transmit and gives me about 45 Watts peak, the receive is too weak.  This is different from WSIY-X that has its own control for transmit drive that I usually set for about 40W.  I may try a post on the digital voice Google group.

 Setup:

FreeDV version 1.5.2 devel

Processor AMD Athlon(tm) II X4 620 Processor 2.60 GHz
Installed RAM 8.00 GB (7.75 GB usable)
Device ID 4B161989-63CC-4231-A380-A87BF7F28F2B
Product ID 00325-80520-16011-AAOEM
System type 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor
Pen and touch No pen or touch input is available for this display

Edition Windows 10 Home
Version 20H2
Installed on ‎10/‎29/‎2020
OS build 19042.867
Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 120.2212.551.0

[wal...@k5wh.net]

Bob,

 

Sorry I missed you on the QSO finder, I have been doing some work in the hamshack this afternoon.

 

I will send you a link to my Zoom channel, and I will be more than happy to work through the configuration with you.

 

Look forward to catching up with you.

 

 

Walter/K5WH

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[Bob Morris]

Thanks 

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[Mooneer Salem]

Hi Bob,

There should be volume controls for the sound devices themselves, not just for the FreeDV application. It might be easiest to go into the legacy Control Panel (Start->type "Control Panel", then choose "Large Icons" or "Small Icons" from the "view by" drop down to see the "Sounds" option). You can then click on the Playback and Recording tabs and click on Properties for the IC7300's sound devices to adjust levels. If that doesn't work I'm sure Walter and others on the mentioned Zoom channel will be able to help :)

Thanks,

-Mooneer K6AQ

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[Bob Morris]

Mooneer Salem  Thank you!

 I found the level control for the Speakers USB Audio CODAC  as you suggested  

on the legacy control panel under Playback, (double click USB CODAC), Levels.  

I was able to get the xmit level set correctly.

Bob

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[Bob Morris]

I suggest that a future version of the UI include a transmit level control similar to the one on WSIT-X or Fldigi.

[David Rowe]

Thanks for your suggestion Bob.

Have other FreeDV users experienced the need for such a control?  If so - please explain why other methods (such as finding and using the operating system sound card controls) weren't useable?

On my system, I already have three level controls between FreeDV and the Tx RF (sound card level on Linux, USB level and Tx power on my IC7300 radio), so I haven't been inclined to add another "knob" to the system for fear of making it too complex. 

To date we have delegated sound card level adjustment to the operating system (we support 3 operating systems).  The general principle is not to add features to FreeDV if it's already handled elsewhere.  Any feature has to be portable across all three operating systems.

There is little we can do about raising the Tx level from a level control in FreeDV - the sampled audio is already near the 16 bit maximum sample level.  We must avoid any clipping due to increasing the level as it will distort the FreeDV signal. A FreeDV level control could lower the level.

Another possiblity is hooking into the operating system sound card level control somehow, however that is likely to be operating system specific which will make maintenance tricky.

Thanks,
David

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[Mark Jessop]

I found I had to wind my output level control to my IC-7610 (which is buried in a bunch of Windows settings dialogs - not easy to access at all!) way down to be able to use FreeDV with my radio. 

... then with WSJT-X or fldigi I sometimes need to wind it up again. 

Being able to attenuate the FreeDV output somewhat to avoid having to go dig through settings when firing up other software would certainly be valuable. Whether this is best as a slider, or an attenuation number somewhere in the FreeDV settings I'm not sure... Ideally it wouldn't have to be adjusted often after initial setup.

 

73

Mark

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[Bob Morris]

David and Mark.  I did get it working and made a contact.  I had forgotten about the legacy sound control panel as Windows 10 tries to hide such things.  After running FreeDV, I did have to turn up the power control on WSJT-X to get back to my desired 30W reading on my peak meter.  Not sure yet if this will have any effect on FreeDV.  I know that you are in the early development stage with FreeDV and am glad that you and others ae working on it.  I hope to help at some point.  I just found that WSJT-X and Fldigi made the settings easer and I like the ability to adjust the power on the fly as I change bands and under different conditions.

73

Bob

[Mooneer Salem]

Definitely noted for the future for sure. I can see how it'd be useful if, say, it was possible to switch between modes without needing to stop/start again (as an example). :)

-Mooneer K6AQ

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