HL2/PowerSDR and CW Skimmer (client not server) has anyone gotten this to work?

[dsolbe...@gmail.com]

I can find a lot of discussion on CW Skimmer server and HL2, but nothing on CW Skimmer with IQ input via Power SDR.

I have tried everything that I can think off and can't get this to work.  I am not seeing any output from PowerSDR on VAC1 or VAC2 when I check the box for IQ output.  In the past I have gotten this to work with other SDR's using HDSDR and NAP3, so I know how to connect virtual audio cables.

I found a write up on the Internet but this was for an older Flex radio that wasn't using VAC 1 for the radio audio.

What am I missing? Or can't this be done with HL2 and Power SDR?

I am using CW Skimmer with audio output but I really would like a broader display.

Don

K9AQ

[dsolbe...@gmail.com]

I am still struggling to get CW Skimmer do work with IQ output from PowerSDR OpenHPSDRmRXPSa v.3.5.1

I can't get any audio out of VAC2 when the Direct I/Q is set for output to VAC.  I double checked the output using Digital Audio Meter, and I can also see there is no audio when looking at it with the Windows sound center.

I have used three different VAC's and nothing is working.  

As a test, I did the same test on my Elecraft K3 with an LPPAN SDR and NAP3.  I get audio output with no issues and CW Skimmer works fine.

I am running out of ideas.

Can anyone help?

73,

Don K9AQ 

[Duncan Clark]

In message <9ef41636-eb9b-4999...@googlegroups.com>,
dsolbe...@gmail.com writes

>I can't get any audio out of VAC2

VAC2 only works when RX2 is enabled.

What I managed to get working was using RX2 for digital only outputting
and inputting the audio to JTDX via Virtual Cables and all under CAT
control using VSPManager.

However one still has to jump through hoops because going back to say
USB on Rx1 only, PowerSDR doesn't remember to tick back things it should
already have ticked in it's database i.e. Leveller, CFC, Equalizer Tx on
and so on. It forgets those settings when one goes to RX2 for Rx and Tx.

That's why I was hoping to get away with two different databases, one
for digital and another one for SSB/CW.

For Skimmer these are old but may offer pointers:

PowerSDR Configuration
1. Use PowerSDR 1.18.3 and above
2. On the Setup-Audio->VAC page select the option to use the RX2
3. On the Setup->Audio page, set the sampling rate to 96 KHz and the
buffer size to 1024
(for this example)
4. Set the RX2 VFO frequency to 14.056.000 MHz
5. Make sure SR (spur reduction) is off
CW Skimmer Configuration
1. Set the Radio Type to SoftRock (NOT SoftRock-IF)
2. Set the CW Pitch to 600 (or whatever you use for the PowerSDR Pitch
Frequency)
3. Set the LO Frequency to 14046400 (RX2 freq - 9khz IF freq - 600hz vfo
pitch)
4. Set the Sample Rate to 96khz
5. Start PowerSDR then CW Skimmer

or

https://helpdesk.flexradio.com/hc/en-us/articles/206603566-Configure-CWSk
immer-with-PowerSDR-for-Wide-Band-Operation

Duncan
--
Duncan Clark
G4ELJ

[dsolbe...@gmail.com]

Duncan,

Thanks for the reply.  Even with RX2 enabled I can't get any output from the VAC when IQ output is selected. With the setup that you have used, are you sending audio signals or I/Q?  I have read that you need to use Softrock IF to a  get the full decode bandwidth out of CW Skimmer.  That is the setting that I use with NAP3.

Until I get this figured out, if it is even possible, I am sharing my headset audio thru an outboard mixer and then feeding it into a dedicated soundcard.  I am using that soundcard to feed the CW audio into both MRP40 and CW Skimmer.  I know I could do this with software, like Voicemeeter, but this is easy to setup and it works. This setup works well but the CW Skimmer bandwidth is limited to the audio bandwidth.

Don K9AQ

[Duncan Clark]

In message <9ef41636-eb9b-4999...@googlegroups.com>,
dsolbe...@gmail.com writes

>I am still struggling to get CW Skimmer do work with IQ output from
>PowerSDR OpenHPSDRmRXPSa v.3.5.1

I have it working fine.

You have to run RX2 for the VAC IQ.

See attached.

On mine I have to use an arbitrary audio I have available for the VAC2
input. It wouldn't start when using a VB-Cable.

You must use MME

Ignore what the panadapter etc says for RX2. Doesn't appear to know
about HL2 and RX2 assignment and just duplicates RX1.

On Thetis, I/Q are reversed compared to PowerSDR OpenHPSDRmRXPSa
v.3.5.1, plus it has a 0Hz spike.It does show RX2 waterfall and
panadaptor correctly.

Another gotcha.

If you use another program that wants access to Omnirig, the first
program launched will hog the connection, despite using different COM
ports, such that the second program says Omnirig is not installed i..e I
can't have both VE3SUN's DX Summit program talking to PowerSDR at the
same time as trying to get PowerSDR talking to CW Skimmer with CAT.

Other than that it all works fine.

[dsolbe...@gmail.com]

Thanks Duncan

I think I have tried everything that you show but I will try to exactly duplicate it tomorrow.  What VAC program are you using?

Don K9AQ

[Joe LB1HI]

Don,

Try use VAC1 192000 . Works OK here .
VAC1 out / HiFiCable / WSJTX

73, Joe

lb1hi

 

[dsolbe...@gmail.com]

Duncan,

I set up PowerSDR and CW Skimmer exactly has you have yours setup and I still was not able to get any IQ output.

So I installed PowerSDR and CW Skimmer on a different computer., using the same VAC software.   I was able to get it working!  

This means that either it is a hardware problem (unlikely) or a PowerSDR version.  I run the release of PowerSDR that was modified by WB0WNQ to provide proper operation of Pure Signal.  On my laptop I installed the latest release of OpenHPSDR mXPS V3.4.9

I have a very complex setup that I use everyday on SSB with Puresignal so I am reluctant to try to install another release of PowerSDR.  Since I really don't operate much CW, I am going to leave well enough alone and if I really need CW Skimmer for a DX expedition I will use my Elecraft K3 with LPPAN and NAP3.

Maybe someday I will give this another try.

Don K9AQ

[Joe LB1HI]

PS.
Choosing VAC 1 is related to CAT.

Because the CAT follows RX 1. So having the Softrock-IF set in the CW Skimmer, the frequency of the spots is displayed correctly.

You can listen to the RX2 by using the output to another audio device, eg. speaker / headphones.

73, Joe 

[Joe LB1HI]

Sri CW Skimmer not WSJTX. (audio driver MME) 

[Reid Campbell]

Hi Don,

If my memory serves me right, WB0WNQ modified a parameter in the PS setup that had to be different for the HL2. The problem was, it wasn't saved over power cycles. That was fixed several releases ago in the PowerSDR 3.5.0 Beta's. You still have to modify it initially in Linearity/Advanced/SetPk. I think the value was about 0.233 but could check in your current setup. The value wasn't changed in the code as Steve was thinking of making it compatible with the Hermes further down the line. 

You can get the latest Beta from:

https://github.com/mi0bot/OpenHPSDR-PowerSDR/releases/download/v3.5.0_Beta_11/OpenHPSDR_3_5_0_Beta_11.zip

Cheers

Reid
Gi8TME/Mi0BOT

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[W. Jozef]

What about 3.5.0 1a ?
Any info ?. Thanks .
https://github.com/w5wc/openPowerSDR/tree/master/Project%20Files/bin/Release

73, Joe

[Duncan Clark]

Hi Don,

I would install Reid's version of PowerSDR, which is what I am using,
and try that.

I promise you it will not break your existing PowerSDR because it get's
installed to it's own folder and most importantly it creates it's own
distinct database separate from 3.4.9 or any other.

I have 3.4.9 installed plus 3.5.10 plus Thetis and they all have their
own individual databases in their own folders and cannot get mixed up. I
can run any of them and they maintain their own individual settings.

IMHO when PowerSDR works it works well but it doesn't half make mistakes
with the database so always worth having backups.

On my system running an I5 with 8Gb RAM running Win10x64 I have to
remember to Stop PowerSDR before I try to close it. If I simply hit the
X, as you would normally do for any other windows program, PowerSDR just
hangs for me.

Badly behaved.

Give 3.5.10 a try if only for HL2.

Duncan

In message <1d77355c-5260-48ca...@googlegroups.com>,
dsolbe...@gmail.com writes

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G4ELJ