IC-7100 and DRA-36 use for VARA FM WIDE
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Dan;
As you noted on another message thread, I've been able to get full VARA FM 'WIDE' throughput using a DRA-45 board with my IC-7100. The key radio setting for 9600 bps packet or VARA FM WIDE is having 'Connectors > 9600bps Mode' set to 'ON' The IC-7100 Full Manual states: 9600bps Mode (Default: OFF) Connectors > 9600bps Mode (9600bps Mode) Select whether to allow data transmission at 9600 bps, or not on the [DATA2] socket. ? OFF: Disables data transmission at 9600 bps on the [DATA2] socket. This is used for regular audio or slower data transmission only. ? ON: Enables data transmission at 9600 bps on the [DATA2] socket. Connectors Set mode (Continued) Also, on my IC-7100, 'Connectors > DATA MOD' is set to 'ACC', and 'Connectors >?VSEND Select' is set to 'OFF'. My radio's 'Connectors > DATA MOD Level' setting is at the default '50%' value.With the above settings,?your DRA-36 must be configured with the JU4 jumper in the 'B' (9600) position, so that the?audio input on the DRA-36 C-Media sound chip is connected to?receive audio delivered through the 9600 bps pin of the radio's DATA2 connector. When you have your radio and DRA-36 properly configured, and adjusted, for 9600bps packet / VARA FM WIDE, you'll find you can leave the system in this configuration and make reliable connections with VARA FM NARROW (1200) gateways and P2P stations. However, you'll probably have problems using SoundModem to connect to 1200bps packet gateways and P2P stations.? Unless you can find some reasonable compromise settings when leaving the radio in the 9600bps configuration, you'll probably need to change a couple of settings on the radio, and the JU4 position in the DRA-36, to switch back and forth between 1200bps packet and VARA FM modes. I've been experimenting with options in the SoundModem config file, which may help with this problem. I'll post another reply if I come up with anything. 73 Mark - AD7EF |
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Dan;
I'll also point out that Icom support advised me that the IC-7100 sound-card hardware is limited to a 300 Hz - 3KHz tx-audio bandwidth. That bandwidth is suitable for 1200bps packet and VARA FM NARROW operation, but it is inadequate for 9600bps packet capability that's required for full-performance VARA FM WIDE throughput. 73 Mark - AD7EF |
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Dan;
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My ‘Connector > ACC/USB Output‘ setting is ‘AF’. Check that your mini-DIN 6 to?mini-DIN 6 cable is fully populated (has all 6 conductors). On the PC ‘Sound Control Panel’, on the ‘Recording’ tab, watch the VU level meter to the right of the “Microphone - USB PnP Sound Device“ item should show one or two bars on receiver noise. If there are no bars, check the level set for this control panel item. You’ll probably need it set 50% or higher. Also, try adjusting the input trim-pot (the large one) on the DRA-36 to a higher level. Keep in mind that the receive audio is coming from a different point in your radio circuitry than for the 1200bps configuration. I didn’t use a ‘scope for setting up my IC-7100 system, but I do have another complete 9600bps system (DRA-45 & Kenwood TM-V71) that I can use for a table-top end-to-end P2P setup. I also can monitor the channel with my FT-60 hand-held. Mark - AD7EF On Saturday, July 4, 2020, Dan Goldston <SCGoldstonS@...> wrote:
Mark, |
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Dan; Keep in mind that too high a tx level will shut down your modulator... all you’ll hear is in-modulated carrier in this case. |
开云体育Guys and Gals,
I'll add the following.? It's not in regard to TX level, but rather RX level. Some people have reported that the setting of the receiver audio level is "touchy" when adjusting R12 (the larger control) on any of the RA or DRA series radio adapters.? Some versions of Windows have "AGC" control which will try to counteract your setting of R12.? AGC needs to be turned off to regain full manual control of the receiver audio level.? This setting is buried deep in the menu system, but hopefully you can find it and turn it off.? Doing so allows the Microphone gain to be adjusted in conjunction with R12 so the control can be centered and not all "one ended". ---- Here's another more recent issue regarding Windows: "Sound Card Error" after Windows 10 update Version 1803. The most recent Windows 10 update to Version 1803, is shutting off microphone access for some users due an incorrect privacy setting. This results in an error message when starting the communication program (Fldigi, WSJT-X, Digipan, etc.). If you have just updated your Windows 10 OS with update 1803 and are experiencing this error, then follow the steps below to resolve it. Please note that this solution applies to update 1803 only. To the best of our knowledge, prior updates have not caused this problem. If you have experienced a different problem after a Windows 10 update, then we would suggest that you double-check that your sound card settings in Windows and the communication program are correct (these settings can change after a Windows update). Special thanks to Richard, KE6SHL, for providing us with this information! 1 - Close any communication programs that may be running. 2 - In Windows, go to All settings, then Privacy. 3 - Scroll down to App Permissions, Microphone. 4 - On the right side panel, select/enable "Allow access to the microphone on this device". 5 - Microphone access for this device should now be ON. If not, then click Change and switch it to ON. Note that you can apparently have the switch under "Allow apps to access your microphone" off and the radio adapter will still work. Hope this additionally helps... Kevin W3KKC Masters Communications On 7/4/2020 5:27 PM, Mark Davis wrote:
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Mark Davis
Kevin Custer