When using FT-8, the Volume is almost always in the red zone.
No matter what I adjust, I can't seem to find middle ground. The Sound settings in my Mac are either too low, or too high. Again, no middle ground. Any suggestions to get it into the Green more consistently?

On 9 May 2022, at 05:11, Rod Murray VA3MZD <va3mzd@...> wrote:

When using FT-8, the Volume is almost always in the red zone.
No matter what I adjust, I can't seem to find middle ground. The Sound settings in my Mac are either too low, or too high. Again, no middle ground. Any suggestions to get it into the Green more consistently?

Narrow band digital modes are special beasts. So special gain treatment is needed.

The WSJT manual recommends the optimum way to adjust it, which is:

- On a FT-817 enable “IPO” which reduces gain in the mixer, hence reduces distortion.

- Disable AGC. It makes no sense for narrow digital modes actually.

- Use RF gain to achieve an optimum S/N ratio checking the WSJT meter. It should be in the green zone.

As for the volume, control it checking the input level meter in the operating system making sure you don’t get digital clipping.


For these digital modes proper gain staging is critical.


73,


Borja EA2EKH

Agreed.

Also check the external soundcard levels in the OS, utility, or device panel. Sometimes the gain/volume is cranked up by default.

On Monday, May 09 2022, 11:15:23, Borja Marcos wrote:

On 9 May 2022, at 05:11, Rod Murray VA3MZD <va3mzd@...> wrote:

When using FT-8, the Volume is almost always in the red zone.
No matter what I adjust, I can't seem to find middle ground. The Sound
settings in my Mac are either too low, or too high. Again, no middle
ground. Any suggestions to get it into the Green more consistently?

Narrow band digital modes are special beasts. So special gain treatment is
needed.

The WSJT manual recommends the optimum way to adjust it, which is:

- On a FT-817 enable “IPO” which reduces gain in the mixer, hence reduces
distortion.

- Disable AGC. It makes no sense for narrow digital modes actually.

- Use RF gain to achieve an optimum S/N ratio checking the WSJT meter. It should
be in the green zone.

As for the volume, control it checking the input level meter in the operating
system making sure you don’t get digital clipping.


For these digital modes proper gain staging is critical.


73,


Borja EA2EKH

--
Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored.
--- Aldous Huxley

On 9 May 2022, at 11:43, Pietro Molina <pietro@...> wrote:

I don't know the apple world very well, but I'm sure you can regulate the input level. Maybe there is a sort of AGC or gain is too high.
I suggest having an external sound interface for digital mode, if you use the PC for other jobs besides the radio.

There is no fancy stuff in Apple’s internal audio interface.

As I said, the key is to adjust the input level for the operating system so that you avoid clipping.


73,




Borja - EA2EKH

Thanks for all the advice here! Much appreciated. Will endeavour to test out all these suggestions, one by one, to see if I can optimize the audio!

Rod
VA3MZD

On Apple machines you should have a setting for audio levels under system settings/sound.? You should have a choice for the device you are using (either internal or external sound card) and then you can choose either input or output level.? It is possible for your sound interface, you have the default selected which is microphone.? Check your settings and select line input, the difference is about 50 dB.?
--
Al Skierkiewicz
WB9UVJ

You may want to look at using Soundsource () to manage the audio levels into the mac. A typical mac will have a mic level audio input so you may need to look at using some sort of pad or use a separate USB sound card (like a digirig) to avoid the mac audio system. Even a venerable iMic can provide switchable line in or mi-in levels.
My 2c worth
Doug VK2DCR

Years ago I got frustrated with the process of adjusting audio input and output on a laptop so I built a dedicated interface box.? It has audio isolation transformers and level pots for audio in and out, and optoisolators for the RTS and TXD lines.? (RTS is used for PTT and TXD is used for FSK.)

PDF schematic attached.

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Rod,

it would help to focus the replies if you indicated exactly how you are interfacing the 818 to your Mac.

As others have indicated, the most reliable method is to exchange audio at line level from the DATA socket on the 818 to a line level input on the Mac. You probably—not used a Mac since they had screens built in!—need either an external line level audio dongle or to use a resistive attenuator (and decoupling capacitor) in to a mic level socket.

On my 817ND, predecessor to your 818, I successfully use an external USB Behringer UCA202 line level audio dongle with levels as noted below:

The FT-817 interfaces at high audio levels, somewhat below those of a 0dBV line level¹ audio dongle. This allows:

• the audio input level to the FT-817 to be set at up to 1V_pk-pk (≈354尘痴_rms, single tone), preset on the FT-817

• the audio level for transmit to be controlled principally by the data communications software on the computer. (According to a level setting procedure described below)

• the audio level on receive to be well within the A/D overload point (the max output from the FT-817 is specified as 300mV_pk-pk, ≈110mV_rms) with no further ado

The connection between the FT-817 and the PC comprises:

• a USB line level A/D & D/A audio converter dongle (with integral USB cable to PC)

• a custom² audio cable between the audio dongle and the FT-817

This approach is chosen since the FT-817 interfaces at levels which permit the line level audio dongle to operate well within its dynamic envelope.

Audio dongle

The audio dongle employed is a Behringer UCA202.³. The maximum input & output levels are 2dBV (≈1.26V_rms). The technical performance would appear to be pretty good⁴.

11V_rms I (0dBV), or 316mV_rms (-10dBV) on older equipment, is the usual consumer audio line level, except for CD players which usually provide 2V_rms (+6dBV).

2Home built, since no commercial equivalent seems to be readily available.

3Manufacturer’s info at .

4See .

HTH, 73, Stay Safe,

Robin, G8DQX

When using FT-8, the Volume is almost always in the red zone.
No matter what I adjust, I can't seem to find middle ground. The Sound settings in my Mac are either too low, or too high. Again, no middle ground. Any suggestions to get it into the Green more consistently?

I am indeed using a Digirig. But when I go to the Sound settings and adjust the input slider of the Digirig, there’s a fine line between “green” and “red” in the FT8 meter. Haven’t yet worked through the other suggestions above but will do so soon. Appreciate all the input!?

73
Rod

I have Soundsource installed for another purpose but will check it out for the Digirig. Thx!

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I have a problem when FT8 try to transmit. No body can "hear" me and when i see on power meter, there is no power output.
I try to adjust the power output. No changes. When i try connect my head phone to my external card, I can hear the "signal" sent from wsjt when it was transmit.
I am running on window7, USB external sound card, U5 Link.

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Check that your PC is set for USB speakers on the Windows 10 sound settings

I’m not next to my 817 right now but I seem to recall that -if you haven’t, already- you need to select digital mode on the rig; not just USB mode. I’m sure someone on here will confirm/explain better!

73 - Martin, G4EFE

it's told on the WSJT-X manual, USB *if radio doesn't have any digi mode*

On Sunday, June 12 2022, 22:13:10, Martin Peters via groups.io wrote:

I’m not next to my 817 right now but I seem to recall that -if you haven’t, already- you need to
select digital mode on the rig; not just USB mode. I’m sure someone on here will confirm/explain
better!

73 - Martin, G4EFE

--
People who get nostalgic about childhood were obviously never children.
--- Bill Watterson

That’s right Martin! And select USB codec for speakers in the wsjt x file - settings - audio menu
73
Ivor G4RJA