FT-991A radio configuration settings for FreeDV - help requested.

[Barry Jackson]

Hello,
A local station is having difficulty setting up FreeDV RADE with Windows 10.

As far as we can tell there is no issue with Freedv or Hamlib as RX is
fine and the FreeDV PTT switches the rig to TX OK.

The issue is that there is no sign of RF out during transmit.

He tested replacing the rig with his USB headset in the audio config and
the transmit tones were audible in the headset.

So, it does seem to be down to the radio configuration and something
related to activating the correct 'mic' input for FreeDV to use.

Could someone using FreeDV with an FT-991A please help with a list of
the settings they are using?

Any help will be very gratefully received!

Thanks,
Barry
G4MKT

[ma...@flyfast.net]

The 991A is one of the most flexible transceivers in the amateur space. With this flexibility comes MANY viable configurations. This is a key reason that so many operators have issues with this radio.

Ultimately, the "same" configuration that will run wsjtx, js8call, vara, or any other digital data mode, will work for Freedv. Do any of these work? If so, it is most likely a misconfig in the Freedv audio section.

Matt
AL0R

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "digitalvoice" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to digitalvoice...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/digitalvoice/3649aff1-7b4c-4f52-89ac-56893a113c6c%40gmail.com.

[Barry Jackson]

On 24/09/2025 14:23, ma...@flyfast.net wrote:
> The 991A is one of the most flexible transceivers in the amateur space. With this flexibility comes MANY viable configurations. This is a key reason that so many operators have issues with this radio.
>
> Ultimately, the "same" configuration that will run wsjtx, js8call, vara, or any other digital data mode, will work for Freedv. Do any of these work? If so, it is most likely a misconfig in the Freedv audio section.
>
> Matt
> AL0R
>

Yes it works fine with FT8 and the FreeDV audio config looks fine.

[ma...@flyfast.net]

This then comes down to how he wants to use the radio. This is where the flexibility and variability come into play.

Assuming data mode is used, menu 72 would be USB. It is also possible to run this in regular SSB, which would require an alternate setting. And of course, if the 991A soundcard isn't being used, then there are yet other options to make this work.

Ensure that the Windows playback level for the radio audio device is adequate. If using data, ensure DT GAIN is adjusted appropriately. If using SSB, MIC GAIN instead.

Since ft8 works fine, in theory, none of the radio/audio levels should need to be touched.

Matt
AL0R

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "digitalvoice" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to digitalvoice...@googlegroups.com.

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/digitalvoice/aa66a8c7-4983-43f7-8470-1895f029c731%40zen.co.uk.

[Mooneer Salem]

FYI, there are options in Tools->Options->Rig Control that will allow use of USB/LSB instead of DIGU/DIGL (along with disabling mode changes entirely). Those may be of use in helping to diagnose and/or create a viable configuration for FreeDV. 

As for the FT-991A, I don't have one unfortunately so I'll defer to others as to what configuration they're using for FreeDV.

-Mooneer K6AQ

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/digitalvoice/0cbe01dc2d72%24df6174e0%249e245ea0%24%40flyfast.net.

[Barry Jackson]

Hi Mooneer,
He is no closer with TX.
He replaced the radio with his USB headset in FreeDV audio settings and
can hear the FreeDV tones on TX so the problem is getting the audio from
the rig sound card to the 'transmitter'.

Its not easy to diagnose as he is 25 miles away and I have not touched
Windows for ~15 years :(

However I just need to clarify something.

I have assumed that there is no radio audio configuration change between
Analog and Digital FreeDV modes sent by Hamlib, such that all radio
audio settings may be tested in Analog mode. Is that correct?

Put another way, if the radio RX signals can be heard in the FreeDV
headset in Analog mode then the transceiver -> FreeDV audio path must
also be correct for 'Digital' RX as well.

Barry
G4MKT

> On 24/09/2025 14:23, ma...@flyfast.net <mailto:ma...@flyfast.net> wrote:
> > The 991A is one of the most flexible transceivers in the amateur
> space. With this flexibility comes MANY viable configurations. This
> is a key reason that so many operators have issues with this radio.
> >
> > Ultimately, the "same" configuration that will run wsjtx,
> js8call, vara, or any other digital data mode, will work for Freedv.
> Do any of these work? If so, it is most likely a misconfig in the
> Freedv audio section.
> >
> > Matt
> > AL0R
> >
>
> Yes it works fine with FT8 and the FreeDV audio config looks fine.
>
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
> Groups "digitalvoice" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it,
> send an email to digitalvoice...@googlegroups.com

> <mailto:digitalvoice%2Bunsu...@googlegroups.com>.

> To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/
> digitalvoice/aa66a8c7-4983-43f7-8470-1895f029c731%40zen.co.uk

> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/digitalvoice/
> aa66a8c7-4983-43f7-8470-1895f029c731%40zen.co.uk>.

>
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
> Groups "digitalvoice" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it,
> send an email to digitalvoice...@googlegroups.com

> <mailto:digitalvoice%2Bunsu...@googlegroups.com>.

> To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/

> digitalvoice/0cbe01dc2d72%24df6174e0%249e245ea0%24%40flyfast.net
> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/
> digitalvoice/0cbe01dc2d72%24df6174e0%249e245ea0%24%40flyfast.net>.

>
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
> Groups "digitalvoice" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send
> an email to digitalvoice...@googlegroups.com

> <mailto:digitalvoice...@googlegroups.com>.

> To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/
> digitalvoice/

> CAAzDfxMXVhLuu7cjAqwLLvoQgH6jJ3%2BZM6KFpodtWMcL%2B%2BLC9A%40mail.gmail.com <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/digitalvoice/CAAzDfxMXVhLuu7cjAqwLLvoQgH6jJ3%2BZM6KFpodtWMcL%2B%2BLC9A%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>.

[ma...@flyfast.net]

When you say "analog mode" are you referring to clicking the analog button in Freedv? Or the "plain" ssb mode on the radio? If the former, then yes, the audio path is the same. If the latter, then no, and I mention this below.

I had addressed this in my previous reply.

This then comes down to how he wants to use the radio. This is where the flexibility and variability come into play.

Assuming (radio) data mode is used, menu 72 would be USB. It is also possible to run this in regular SSB, which would require an alternate setting. And of course, if the 991A soundcard isn't being used, then there are yet other options to make this work.

To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to digitalvoice...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/digitalvoice/27b5a908-60ea-403c-8bd4-2de7f3e67641%40zen.co.uk.

[Francis, ON3BSQ]

Hello,

We have a weekly Tech Round at Fridays in our Radio Club. We tested recently SSTV & FreeDV 2.0. I myself do not have a FT-991A, but we arrived at following small set

of settings of one of the particiopants that were good for SSTV & FreeDV (and also for FT8 ). The transceiver was connected to the PC through an USB cable.
I must say the FT-991A used OmniRig instead of Hamlib.

Op donderdag 25 september 2025 om 16:19:32 UTC+2 schreef ma...@flyfast.net:

[Francis, ON3BSQ]

Forgot to say, we used transceiver modes DATA-USB, DATA-LSB & DATA-FM.

Op donderdag 25 september 2025 om 22:56:17 UTC+2 schreef Francis, ON3BSQ:

[ma...@flyfast.net]

A comment on the menu settings. This is exactly the point I stated earlier in that there is more than one way to configure your 991A to achieve operation.

 

Setting 33 to ENABLE can cause a number of other applications to not key the radio. Be aware of that if you enable this and other apps don’t key.

 

71 could be RTS or DAKY, depending on what you need to function. Additionally, if using Hamlib, you can choose to exert PTT via CAT, making menu 71 irrelevant. The same applies to 76 if you run FM and 108 if you don’t run in data mode.

 

FT-991A settings voor DATA-modes

================================

031 CAT RATE = 38400bps (OMNIRIG)

033 CAT RTS = ENABLE

062 DATA MODE = OTHERS

064 OTHER DISP = 1500HZ

065 OTHER SHIFT = 1500HZ

066 DATA LCUT FREQ = OFF

068 DATA HCUT FREQ = OFF

070 DATA IN SELECT = REAR

071 DATA PTT SELECT = RTS

072 DATA PORT SELECT = USB

076 FM PKT PTT SELECT = RTS

077 FM PKT PORT SELECT = USB

079 FM PKT MODE = 1200

106 SSB MIC SELECT = MIC

================================

ON3BSQ 19Jul2025

 

Matt

AL0R

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/digitalvoice/5b4b7b8a-05ff-4ff6-bdb4-87a126359825n%40googlegroups.com.