HL2 Power Output SDR Console V3 VS THETIS 2.8.11

[George Pap]

Hello all. 

New to HL2 and after succesful setup of wsjtx via Vcable and Com0Com i can operate FT8 with the HL2.

Problem is that when using SDR console i get only 2.8 to 3W compared to Thetis that i get 5.5 to 6W output with everything else being the same on my setup. Antenna, band (15M), tuner, bridge, etc. 

Hermes config page on my SDR console indicates all TX values to 100%, also when i hit tune i get a full of 5-6W also from the SDR Console but when transmitting from WSJTX i get that 2.8 to 3W only. 

So, is there something that i need to configure on SDRC and i m missing it? In Thetis you can adjust TX per band etc. I cant find any similar setting on SDCR except the Transmit Panel which is set to full power for the PA.

TU 73 , George

[radi...@mail.com]

Hi George

From your description it sounds like the audio from WSJT-X is not set to sufficiently high level on SDRC and/or leaving WSJT-X. I always operate with the audio "Spectrum" scope in the bottom of the TX DSP panel of SDRC open. This is also very useful to check with voice modes that the audio is not clipping or overdriving the TX (SDRC) audio input stages.

So when pressing "Tune" button on WSJT-X, set the resulting test tone generated in WSJT-X to just reach a little lower than 100% on the SDRC audio scope. See attachment screengrab. 

You can adjust the audio level in both WSJT-X and also the audio "mic" gain slider of SDRC so you may also need to increase audio level leaving WSJT-X. You can select one of the three presets on the SDRC audio TX DSP panel to save all the settings just for digi modes (including input source) then quickly switch back to one of the other three presets for voice modes. Don't forget to turn off PROC in SDRC for the digi modes. Then you should see your power come to normal.

Basically if you get full power with "Tune" on SDRC, it can only be lack of audio drive that causes the low power, because the TUNE signal in SDRC is simply an audio tone applied to audio input. You can see the TUNE tone appear on the audio spectrum scope and in fact you will see it is not actually set to 100%, it's about 80% of full level.

Hope it helps.

73

Max

[George Pap]

Thanks a lot Max, your help appreciated!!! 73 !