Signalink

[Mal B]

Please.. can someone tell me in simple terms... what the Audio settings should be using the Signalink, this was working I thought, but now no TX audio... to be honest you need a PhD in computer science to sort and understand this, I'm not surprised not many people are using it.... sorry but spent hours trying again to get it all working... Signalink, Icom 7000 with correct cables, PC with win 10, Realtek sound card for Spkrs and Microphone... this was working, but since switched off FreeDV and back on not working...

Thanks

Malc

[Peter Godlieb]

hi admin

you hope you doing well

thanks for contacting me

i really was a wonderfull day on your office

i hope we can talk together again

vanessa

[george 'bubby' call]

Set output 100 set input 50. It works for my signalink usb.

---

From: digita...@googlegroups.com <digita...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Mal B <malc...@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, February 26, 2019 4:44 PM
To: digitalvoice
Subject: [digitalvoice] Signalink

 

Please.. can someone tell me in simple terms... what the Audio settings should be using the Signalink, this was working I thought, but now no TX audio... to be honest you need a PhD in computer science to sort and understand this, I'm not surprised not many people are using it.... sorry but spent hours trying again to get it all working... Signalink, Icom 7000 with correct cables, PC with win 10, Realtek sound card for Spkrs and Microphone... this was working, but since switched off FreeDV and back on not working...

Thanks

Malc
 

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[M JB]

Hi, Ok thanks, I have the volume settings in the PC set ok, what I'm struggling with is the To Radio,  Mic in or whatever, From speaker, RX TX  From speaker, To Radio... USB Codec or soundcard... etc. I followed the instructions from FreeDV set-up but they are either wrong, something else is wrong, or I'm thick... it's one of those things... HI  The trouble is I dont understand the connectivity between the Signalink, PC and radio, I can't sort of picture it, so from Radio, from speaker doesn't make sense, I'm sure ONCE you know it, then it's easy...  all I need is the Audio config settings listed and what goes where on the drop down lists....   also the PC audio what goes where, like is the Audio out the USB Signalink card or the PC card.. is the Mic the USB or PC sound card Mic..

Cheers.  Malc. 

Sent from Samsung Phone

---

From: digita...@googlegroups.com <digita...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of george 'bubby' call <ghc...@hotmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, February 27, 2019 2:23:15 AM
To: digita...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: [digitalvoice] Signalink

 

[Raul [M0ZZM]]

Mal, in principle the Signalink is a USB soundcard.

Basically the Signalink and radio side, call it RF side, is the same as you'd have it in any other digital mode; the other side, call it Audio, is the way you have it on talking on Skype. For FreeDV, which sits in the middle, to work, you need to configure it in a way that it will use one soundcard (e.g. the Signalink) to do the RF audio I/O and the other to listen to it and speak via a headset, spiderphone or whatever other transducers you wish to use to hear the decoded (or analogue) RF and input your voice.

If I understood correctly the issue you are facing, you can't identify what input and output you want to use and for what channel - well, if this is not the case then I'm joining the list of people who just can't get it.

To resolve, unplug the Signalink from the PC, open the configuration menu and check what USB codec options you have. Take picture of the screen with your phone (who on earth takes notes these days?), exit, plug the Signalink back in, switch it on and check again. The new ports are the ones you need: the microphone is what comes in from the RF side (your input is to the PC) and the speaker is the output (you are sending an audio signal out to the RF side). This is just a non-scientific trial and error method but it worked for me.

I hope it makes sense.

To reassure you, and I know I probably does not help your frustration, I managed to make it work - or so I believe, as nobody heard my digital signal so far and I haven't yet decoded anyone. But I can put out a signal that sounds like a digital thingy and can also see the waterfall correctly and hear well when I press the analogue button.

Over to you!

[M JB]

Thanks Raul, you obvioussly struggled initially as I am  doing now, you would think the getting started documentation would be a lot better, clearer and not written assuming you know all about it, this is probably why so many people are put off, plus a lot of it is ancient and just plain wrong..  some info dated seven plus years ago I have found and completely out of date.....

  ok, so i am a little clearer, I sort of know the principle...  but I calculated with the USB soundcard options, the PC options, the To Radio and from Radio, to speaker to Microphone, TX and RX there are 196 different permutations to use...  all  I want is the six you need setting... haha.. so I will try your method and see how i get on, if successful I would be happy to try and be your first QSO, we can sort a time and band, I am already trying to do this with two others but they are struggling to get it all set and working as well...  Thanks for now...   Malc

Sent from Samsung Phone

---

From: digita...@googlegroups.com <digita...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Raul [M0ZZM] <m0...@rdob.org>
Sent: Wednesday, February 27, 2019 4:38:55 PM

[earw...@gmail.com]

Mal, I feel your pain!

Not sure what OS you're using but Linux Mint here. I don't know if this has happened to you but FDV (currently using v1.3) sometimes saves the audio config. incorrectly. Of course the next time you try to use it you get an error message that the config. is invalid.

I've now taken screenshots of the correct audio config. tabs so I don't have to think to hard when having to re-enter them!!

73s Andrew G3NR

[Bruce Perens]

Although this won't help you, the industry is attempting to address the problem: newer rigs like the Icom 7300 just need a USB cable plugged into them, and a number of them go even farther than that and host FreeDV internally, without need for a computer.

[M JB]

At this rate it looks like I will need to buy one.... HI..

Interesting, I didn't know that, I know some have C4FM which can be used on HF, that's really what I would like, but FreeDV seemed s good start, how wrong I was... 

Cheers and thanks for info.

Malc

Sent from Samsung Phone

---

From: digita...@googlegroups.com <digita...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Bruce Perens <br...@perens.com>
Sent: Friday, March 1, 2019 4:31:01 PM

To: digita...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: [digitalvoice] Signalink

Although this won't help you, the industry is attempting to address the problem: newer rigs like the Icom 7300 just need a USB cable plugged into them, and a number of them go even farther than that and host FreeDV internally, without need for a computer.

On Fri, Mar 1, 2019 at 8:15 AM <earw...@gmail.com> wrote:

Mal, I feel your pain! 

--

[Bruce Perens]

C4FM is 12.5 kHz wide and limited to 10 meters and above. FreeDV is really the only solution that respects that other people need to use the band too.

[Mike B]

Cheers, Well we best make the most of it then... just need to get it to work that's all.. !  then I can go annoy the C4FM group.. 

Cheers

Malc

On Fri, 1 Mar 2019, 16:41 Bruce Perens, <br...@perens.com> wrote:

C4FM is 12.5 kHz wide and limited to 10 meters and above. FreeDV is really the only solution that respects that other people need to use the band too.

--

[David Rowe]

Hello Malc,

Can you please tell us specifically which sections are out of date or
incorrect and need editing?

Cheers,
David vk5dgr

On 28/02/19 03:40, M JB wrote:
> Thanks Raul, you obvioussly struggled initially as I am  doing now, you
> would think the getting started documentation would be a lot better,
> clearer and not written assuming you know all about it, this is probably
> why so many people are put off, plus a lot of it is ancient and just
> plain wrong..  some info dated seven plus years ago I have found and
> completely out of date.....
>   ok, so i am a little clearer, I sort of know the principle...  but I
> calculated with the USB soundcard options, the PC options, the To Radio
> and from Radio, to speaker to Microphone, TX and RX there are 196
> different permutations to use...  all  I want is the six you need
> setting... haha.. so I will try your method and see how i get on, if
> successful I would be happy to try and be your first QSO, we can sort a
> time and band, I am already trying to do this with two others but they
> are struggling to get it all set and working as well...  Thanks for
> now...   Malc
>
> Sent from Samsung Phone
>

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> *From:* digita...@googlegroups.com <digita...@googlegroups.com> on

> behalf of Raul [M0ZZM] <m0...@rdob.org>

> *Sent:* Wednesday, February 27, 2019 4:38:55 PM
> *To:* digita...@googlegroups.com
> *Subject:* Re: [digitalvoice] Signalink

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> *From:* digita...@googlegroups.com
> <mailto:digita...@googlegroups.com>
> <digita...@googlegroups.com
> <mailto:digita...@googlegroups.com>> on behalf of george 'bubby'
> call <ghc...@hotmail.com <mailto:ghc...@hotmail.com>>
> *Sent:* Wednesday, February 27, 2019 2:23:15 AM
> *To:* digita...@googlegroups.com
> <mailto:digita...@googlegroups.com>
> *Subject:* Re: [digitalvoice] Signalink

>  
> Set output 100 set input 50. It works for my signalink usb.
>

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> *From:* digita...@googlegroups.com
> <mailto:digita...@googlegroups.com>
> <digita...@googlegroups.com
> <mailto:digita...@googlegroups.com>> on behalf of Mal B
> <malc...@gmail.com <mailto:malc...@gmail.com>>
> *Sent:* Tuesday, February 26, 2019 4:44 PM
> *To:* digitalvoice
> *Subject:* [digitalvoice] Signalink

>  
> Please.. can someone tell me in simple terms... what the Audio
> settings should be using the Signalink, this was working I thought,
> but now no TX audio... to be honest you need a PhD in computer
> science to sort and understand this, I'm not surprised not many
> people are using it.... sorry but spent hours trying again to get it
> all working... Signalink, Icom 7000 with correct cables, PC with win
> 10, Realtek sound card for Spkrs and Microphone... this was working,
> but since switched off FreeDV and back on not working...
>
> Thanks
>
> Malc
>  
>
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[malc...@gmail.com]

Hello David... thanks for the reply...

Well you can't get much closer to the top man than yourself, so very much appreciated finding the time...

I should say that what you and the other David have done is certainly noteworthy, however I am still struggling to get it to work as no doubt you will have read, 'frustration' is the word that comes to mind. There is clearly something I am missing or doing wrong, I have had some pointers from the guys on here which I am thankful for, but there also several others who I am in discussion with who are in the same boat as myself, we are dead keen to try it but just can't get it to work...

During my search for the knowledge I have watched the videos (that are available) read the many and various instructions there are from numerous places before asking for help on here, during that search I have come across many dated, wrong, and lacking in detail documents, the detail is what is needed.

Several of these documents you will have no control over as they originate from the likes of Signalink, and other Groups and I completely understand there is not much can be done, although I will try and backtrack to find them and perhaps they could be asked to remove them, at least the very dated ones.

What I can say at least regarding the FreeDv information and using Signalink I have highlighted below...

One major problem is the Signalink manual is dated, it talks about windows 7 etc, but it does try to explain about setting the Audio settings default for the PC, this is marginally covered in the FreeDV manual but simply says, "Make sure you understand which recording audio device is the input from the rig (received audio) and which from your microphone and which playback device output is going back to the rig (transmit audio) and which will be the decoded digital audio that you will hear in your headphones or through a speaker" the trouble is I don’t understand, that’s why I went to the user manual.

The Signalink document is so out of date it doesn’t compare to using Win 10 settings as far as I can see which doesn’t help.

On the FreeDV site, FreeDV.org the User Manual is basically full of software, no help to me to be honest.

The FeeDv Quick Guide and Detailed document is helpful but as above assumes prior knowledge, when you get to the actual Audio config, at least for using the Signalink the settings do not work also there is no info on setting the PC Audio settings, that has to come from the Signalinlk manual which as mentioned is dated and seems incorrect for Win 10, there is a photo of Signalink in the FreeDV manual but then it is never referred to again which perhaps is the missing link...?

The FreeDv Video Guide for Microsoft Windows Users - the link does not work, would have been useful.

The FreeDv Video Quick guide for microphones - the link does not work, would have been useful to select the appropriate headset probably.

So really no further forward, it still does not work, this may be a combination of PC audio settings, FreeDv audio settings, headset and heaven knows what else.
The annoying thing is I think for a short while it did work, of course I never thought to note, photo all of the settings (they ended up being done by trial and error and the wind in the right direction) then I purchased a headset, fiddled with the settings and even though I have gone back to the original setup without the headset I cannot get it to work.

This is not a moan but hopefully seen as constructive as I am very keen to utilise this on HF and to encourage others it really needs to be made a lot simpler, I have worked professionally with RF for over thirty years, I use DMR, Wires X, Fushion D-Star and yes it was a steep learning curve but there was a lot of info available which paved the way, this just has me stumped... I would say 30 + hours trying different combinations, that can't be right...

Regards

Malc

-----Original Message-----
From: digita...@googlegroups.com <digita...@googlegroups.com> On Behalf Of David Rowe
Sent: 01 March 2019 20:56
To: digita...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: [digitalvoice] Signalink

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[wal...@k5wh.net]

Malc,

Sorry that I don't know what time zone your in, but I would love to spend some time with you, to help get you going on FreeDV.

I am in the US, Houston, Texas, Central timezone here.

And I can set up some personal time with you via my ZOOM channel so we can work through your issues.

The config screens for audio might seem complicated at first since you have 4 things for audio and 1 for ptt, that have to be set correctly for it work properly, but after a couple minutes they get real easy to get completed.

If you have already set up your station for FT-8 or some other digital mode, then your 90% there, as you would use exactly those settings for the DIGITAL side. If not, still not a problem.

I have set up a couple things here that can get us communicating in the short term.

I have recently created a talkgroup for DMR called "Amsat 98006", as well as one for Fusion called "US Amsat 11689" that we can use at any time to help with this, as we have multiple guys here in the states that we talk with in-between the FreeDV qsos, or even in parallel at times. The talkgroup and reflectors are not linked together yet, but I plan to make that happen in the next few week.

I just ordered a Signalink box earlier today to replace an older interface I have been using, so I will be able to create some more up to date pics of things to your earlier point this week.

But in the interim, let me know when we can sync up and walk through the necessary configurations so we can get you on the air.

Also, I can email you some test files to play back from your system to test your receive setup when ready.

All the best,
Walter/K5WH

[David Rowe]

Hello Malc,

Thanks for the feedback. Yes, FreeDV can be difficult to setup. Thank
you Walter for offering to help Malc.

From my side it's difficult to cover all possibilities of radios, sound
cards and operating systems with a small group of developers. There
just are two of us who currently have the skills and time to work on
FreeDV GUI. One of them is me - and I'm already putting 1000's of
hours/year into the DSP side.

I'm not entirely sure how to bridge the gap you are experiencing.
Perhaps studying experiences like yours and working on improved
documentation and GUI improvements. Given the Signalink is so common we
could perhaps automate it's setup with FreeDV GUI.

If anyone would like to maintain the documentation and/or work in the
user interface area, please feel free to contact me.

I've removed the dead links from freedv.org that you mentioned, as I
couldn't find them on YouTube any more either.

Cheers,
David