With the proliferation of digital modes and the apps that work with them I've started to notice that I have to constantly go back and adjust the ALC on the rig. I'm on Windows10 and I have set the ALC up for VARAHF/VARAC. But when I go to Soundmodem/EasyTerm I see my ALC is way up. Is it necessary to revisit the speaker level each time I change apps? Since the last time I was operating packet
in the early 90s I didn't jump from mode to mode so it was not a problem. I'm running into it going from Pkt to PSK31 on FLDigi to VARAC. If that's the way it works then I just need to incorporate it into my process. I just want to know if I'm doing something wrong?

73
Mike

Mike, in windows 10 was able to adjusted my ALC for AX25 by adjusting the windows sound settings. I did have to leave a very small amount of ALC
showing on my rig (1 ot 2 bars on my 7300).?

Then I went to VARA and was able to slide the audio leave up toward 0 and produced plenty of audio to drive the radio.?

Now I can switch between the modes with no adjustment required.?

Glenn/N3MEL
?

Thanks, Glenn. that's what I did. Unfortunately When I get Soundmodem adjusted so that it just barely shows any ALC then go to VARAC I have the VARAHF modem drive maxed out. I have to go back to windows sound level and bump it up to get it to give enough to drive it enough. So I guess for some combinations of equipment and software it is a requirement to keep tweaking it back and forth. Thanks, Glenn.

Mike

On Sun, Oct 15, 2023 at 03:24 PM, Mike N5PWP wrote:

I just want to know if I'm doing something wrong?

Hi Mike! Nope, I don't think you are, as I've had the same problems over the years. I do the same thing as you do - I adjust the audio output level in the Windows Sound panel for maximum power / minimum ALC at the transceiver while using SoundModem, and then I adjust the audio output controls in the other software that I use (Fldigi, JS8Call, JTDX, etc.) for the same maximum power / minimum ALC. Generally that's around -3 or -4 dB in those programs. VarAC has to be at around -1 or 0 dB for the best output. I don't know why it's different than the others. I assume it has something to do with the different apps accessing the audio devices with different APIs or device drivers.

It was much more difficult to get consistent levels across all of the various software when I was using my PCs internal soundcard, ie. the audio input/output on the back of the PC. I added a cheap Sabrent USB soundcard ($10 at Micro Center), and things seem to be a bit more consistent overall, but not perfect.

One thing that threw a wrench in the works was Direwolf, another software TNC. For some reason it needs WAY higher audio input levels than any of the other software that I use.?

Another oddity - I can adjust the individual input/output audio levels for Fldigi by using the Volume Mixer in Windows, but not for any of the other applications. Again, this is probably related to how the different apps access the audio system.

Oh, and I've tried various flavors of Linux, with various audio utilities (ALSA, PAVU, and others that I don't remember) and never got it sorted out there either. Audio levels would change at random, devices seemed to disappear. It was not fun.

So no, it's not you! :D

Cheers,
Steve K4RVA

开云体育

Steve

Thanks for that. Even though I've been licensed since 1990 I haven't done a lot with the digital modes until now. I did packet with a PK88 on 2M and I set the level and forgot it. I then tried packet again a few years ago using DireWolf and since it was one mode it was easy. Now I'm jumping around since I've gotten on HF and the problem reveals its self. Thank you for the assurance that I'm not missing something. I just need to modify my process to include tweaking. Maybe I will stop jumping modes so frequently and just stick to one for a while. Hmmm, which one to stick to? I always seem to gravitate back to packet since that is where I started but I'd really like to try my hand at PSK31 and RTTY. Oooh, and there's Olivia and Contestia. I keep calling CQ on all of them. Sooner or later I'll stumble across another digital nomad.

73 and hope to connect up with you on packet, Steve... or PSK31...or FreeDV even....
Mike