Small Wonder Labs
PSK-40 Transceiver Kit 03/09/10
2000
26
FREQUENTLY-ASKED QUESTIONS
:
•
How do I adjust the soundcard settings?
With DigiPan alreadly opened, click on Configure and
select 'Spectrum drive'- the following appears
The master volume setting affects drive to the
transmitter and may also be accessed by clicking on
the speaker icon in on the Windows task bar (lower
edge of screen, right end.) Double-clicking this icon
brings up the dialog box above.
You may use the slider under "Microphone" to set
receiver levels.
You may single-click on the speaker icon to get
just the master volume slider. This control adjusts the
transmitter drive levels
. Try starting with Half-scale.
•
I've clicked on a good signal but nothing's
showing up!
There are several possible causes.
-
Make sure it's a PSK31 signal- it should have the
typical 'railroad tracks ' appearance on the display.
If it's just a pair of vertical lines, it's an 'idling'
pattern and there's no information being sent.
- If the signal is badly smeared by propagation
conditions, the phase information may be lost -
PSK31 is susceptible to polar (auroral) flutter.
- DigiPan has an adjustable squelch threshold. Click
on the 'SET' menu choice at the top of DigiPan
and select "Squelch Threshold"- check to ensure
the threshold slider isn't set too high for the signal
you've selected and adjust if needed.
•
What is the 'IMD' indication and how it used?
Whenever DigiPan detects an idling pattern on a
received signal, it calculates an intermod figure by
measuring sideband energy at the frequencies which
are generated by a overdriven transmitter. Note: your
QRP signal may be near the noise floor to begin with-
an IMD reading obtained from operators you're in
QSO with may not be meaningful under these
conditions
•
Why didn't you use VOX? - it would have saved a
cable!
- Windows makes assorted noises when you change
settings- these are prone to turning VOX on.
- When DigiPan is not in use, your soundcard may be
used for other applications. If the rig is left powered,
you don't want your favorite CD going out on the air!
