PowerSDR /IF Stage dies before main screen

[KI0KN]

Hi all,

I've searched the forums and internets for answers on this, but everything I found I've already checked.  I've got an LP-PAN adapter (pulling IF from Yaesu FTDX-5000) hooked to a an ASUS Xonar U7 card.  I've installed the latest PowerSDR/IF program by double clicking the setup.exe (not the .msi).  I have HRD running and working properly ahead of launching.  I have made sure that the XML file is in fact in place before launching.  When I launch PowerSDR/IF Stage, the little box comes up and starts zipping through all the text messages at the bottom as it's loading, but before the main screen comes up, it crashes and dies.

Nap3 works fine with this setup.

I have looked through the files structure for logs to indicate why it's crashing and haven't found any.  I've tried unstalling/reinstalling. I've tried with HRD up and not up, i've tried everything I can think of with no luck so far.

Any ideas for me?

Thanks.

  KI0KN  James

[Larry Phipps]

Try resetting the database file. It sounds like you have a corrupt file or a corrupt sound card entry.

Larry N8LP

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[KI0KN]

Thanks Larry,  I went in and replaced the xml file with a fresh copy of the one that is distributed with the software.  Instead of crashing now, it sits on a message about initializing the sound card forever and never completes!  Is there some documentation somewhere on what the database should have in it?  I am happy to troubleshoot this myself but seem to be really struggling with finding any docs on the process!!

Thanks for your help.  -James  KI0KN

[rogla...@aol.com]

I was wondering if your sound card driver has been loaded and the sound card is powered and on during Power SDR  IF initialization, The other thing is the USB cable is seated properly. These are some of the things I had to check while setting up my system. Larry is definitely your best resource for advice though. I hope this helps. Regards, Roger AA1LY

[Larry Phipps]

It sounds like you may not have a valid sound card driver loaded. When you use the default database.xml, it sets the driver to MME and points to the default sound card in Microsoft Mapper. Make sure that a working sound card is set in the Windows Sound control panel as the default. Once PSDR starts, you can change the card it looks for. The Input pulldown will enumerate all the available cards if the driver choice is set to MME.

If you have an xml editor, you can search the file for the sound card entry if you like. You could use a normal text editor as well, but it's a bit tedious (it's a large file).

Larry N8LP

[KI0KN]

Hi Larry,

I went ahead and wiped out the xml file and the wisdom file.(after uninstalling that is).  I did have a sound card in the machine that didn't have a good driver.  I removed that card physically from the machine.  Now, I have 3 sound cards.  The internal one built on the motherboard (showing up as "High def sound card") (also, it's set as the default).  I also have a USB attached sound card that I use for my RigBlaster Plus II.  Finally, I have the Asus Xonar U7 USB sound card.  All 3 are working perfectly, show valid drivers, and generally seem to be in fine shape.

I reinstalled PowerSDR IF Stage.  Now, when I start it, the splash screen comes up and hangs forever at "Initializing PortAudio" and never completes.  If I interrupt that and try to restart it, it goes back to crashing immediately like it did before.

I opened the XML file with an XML editor, but honestly I don't really know what I am looking for.  The general layout of the file makes sense, but I don't know what I might change.

So that's where I am at.  Hoping you might be able to point me at the next place to look?

Thanks very much.  -James  

[Larry Phipps]

I don't have an idea. Possibly the built in card uses the C-Media chipset that is used by the U7 and it is causing a conflict. I would try installing NaP3 and see if it behaves the same way. It is based on PowerSDR/IF and also use the PortAudio module, but it stores the xml data in a different format and in a different location. That would indicate whether their truly is a sound card issue, or something about the PowerSDR/IF installation.

The last few NaP3 versions are available on my website at
http://www.telepostinc.com/Files/

The last stable version is v3.1.0. The latest version with the most features is v4.0.0 RC1, but it has a few bugs.

Larry N8LP

[Sam Morgan]

I had a similar problem with the Asus Xonar U7 USB sound card on Win7
64-bit. Sometime it worked and then later when I tried again it would
fail. I found out it didn't like the motherboard's 3.0 USB ports. When I
plugged it into a USB 2.0 hub, it started working just fine.

Maybe try a different USB port and see if you get lucky.

--
GB & 73
K5OAI
Sam Morgan

[Larry Phipps]

And make sure that the slide switch on the bottom is in the 2.0 position.

Larry N8LP

[KI0KN]

On Friday, October 10, 2014 7:28:09 AM UTC-6, Larry wrote:

And make sure that the slide switch on the bottom is in the 2.0 position.

ok Thanks.  I'll check the switch on the bottom.   The machine it's plugged into doesn't have USB 3.0 at all, so that's not an issue.

I did mention in the OP (it's kinda way at the top now and lost!!)  that this thing works perfectly with Nap3.  I installed nap3, used the instructions i found on Telepost's website and it worked right out of the chutes.   It's only PowerSDR/IF that I can't get to start.   I messed with it a bit this weekend more and haven't gotten anywhere further, it's still just getting stuck on the PortAudio step.  

The strange thing is that if I kill it and try and start it again, it instantly crashes and the box disappears.  I have to un-install the xml file and put the standard one back in for it to try again.

Does the XML file get written to during initialization? I haven't tried to diff the original and one left after the hang yet...

  Thanks everyone.  -James  KI0KN

[Larry Phipps]

It's rewritten whenever you make a change.

Larry