DAX crashing on startup

Mike va3mw

I am having a strange issue that DAX is always crashing on startup on Win 7-64. I have tried it on 3 computers now, all with the same issue. I have even reinstalled from scratch and with clean reboots. Has anyone else seen this?

Chris DL5NAM

Same config here. No problems. Only idea: did you install SSDR (includes DAX) on C:  or other disk?

Mike va3mw

No. All very generic.

Jim Gilliam

What are the symptoms of your "crash"? Does it just not work? Lock up? Sound distorted?

Mike va3mw

Jim... the one and only symptom is that DAX will not start and produces a crash report in the event viewer. It means I can't use DAX at all for digital modes. I can use the radio for SSB and CW, but that is it. Being that I am the only one reporting this, I appreciate that is is an possible environment issue that is causing this.

Jim Gilliam

HI, Michael,

Wish I could suggest something but I have never had that problem with DAX on any of my computers on start-up. Just issues of distortion which would be resolved by resetting the program. I hope you can find a solution.

JIm, K6QE

Walt - KZ1F

I used to have the same problem, I think. In my case the DAX display applet would terminate. Is that the same thing you see? Bring up task manager, find and terminate process on dax_32,then restart sdrdax_1.3.8 from the start menu. Where you didn't mention what version of ssdr you are running, ensure ssdr and sdrdax are the same release. Occasionally it still happens here, 1.3.8, but it is less frequent than it used to be, to my recollection. As I recall from Dudley, the issue is actually in the radio side of SmartSDR. It may well be completely fixed in 1.4.


Walt kz1f

Tim - W4TME

I have changed this post to a problem topic and converted this topic to a support HelpDesk ticket (http://helpdesk.flexradio.com) for expedited issue resolution.  If anyone else is experiencing an issue similar to this one, please submit a HelpDesk support ticket for issue resolution.

Jim Gilliam

If 1.4 is providing high quality audio what will be the reason for keeping the DAX? Why is the Flex radio even involved in digital modes? Why not just send high quality audio to a client computer and have the computer use this audio with third party digital programs?

Jim, K6QE

Tim - W4TME

DAX is for operating digital modes.  Remote LAN is for operating the radio without having a mic or speakers physically connected to the radio.

Streaming high quality audio from the radio to the PC (and vice versa) is what both do now.  Third-party digital mode applications cannot interface with streaming VITA-49 audio; they interface via a sound card so DAX must emulate one to allow you to use your favorite digital mode program.

Jim Gilliam

I am completely confused!!! How do I stream audio to a client PC on the LAN without using the DAX? I must really be missing something. When I monitor audio on my LAN client computer, I  enable a DAX number on this client (and also in the slice)  then use the DAX to route it to my sound card so I can hear the audio on my PC. It is very similar of how I would route the audio from my 5000 to a LAN remote client using my VAC program.

It was my understanding with the new audio program, I no longer would need the DAX. The client program supplied by Flex would list the available audio routes I could choose and I could direct the audio to my sound card without the need for the DAX.

Tim - W4TME

I am completely confused!!! How do I stream audio to a client PC on the LAN without using the DAX? 

It is the upcoming LAN remote feature in SmartSDR v1.4.  DAX was never intended or officially supported to be used to do remote operation, although you can use it for that purpose.

Nigel

I had a few "problems" with a DAX install a couple of days ago.  I cleared the problem by doing the install with "run as administrator" I had to install and uninstall then re-install.  This cleared up my problem crash and lack of DAX channels.

Hope this helps

Nigel G0JKN/W2

Walt - KZ1F

Is it also fair to say Tim that DAX provides for multiple channels to, perhaps in the most frequent use case, provide digital input and digital output as in split PSK. Whereas a radio standardly has a single speaker and mic.

Tim - W4TME

I think it is more accurate to say that DAX provides bi-directional digital audio streams between the slice receivers and the PC, emulating a sound card interface on the PC.

Jim Gilliam

What will be the difference between the digital audio stream of V 1.4 suitable for audio and microphone than that of the DAX? Why can't this "extra" digital audio stream be used for both audio/microphone/digital?

Tim - W4TME

See my comment above.  DAX emulates a sound card interface, making the radio look like a sound card so it can interface with digital mode programs.  The Remote LAN feature that will be in SmartSDR v1.4 allows you to use the PC's default record and playback sound devices instead of the microphone and headphone/speakers that are physically (directly) connected to the FLEX-6000.

Jim Gilliam

My last question arises from the codec that is provided on my Icom 7800. I can easily use all the digital modes as well as high quality microphone/audio. However all the tones necessary to effect digital modes is done from third party software and the sound card on my client computer. It would seem applying the same logic to the Flex would do away with the DAX requirement that seems to be a thorn with many users.

KY6LA_Howard

Jim Aren't you trying to take a step backwards in time? From My experience most people do not have any problems with DAX once they understand what it is and how to set it up properly. DAX is the Flex Version of virtual audio cable. Frankly I don't understand why when you were already in the digital domain (DAX) that you would want to convert a digital signal to audio domain then have the audio sound card revert the audio signal back to the digital domain as you were doing with your 7800 so that third-party digital software can deal with communications. The conversion from Digital domain to audio domain introduces artifacts and distortion and then again the reverting back to digital domain by the sound card introduces new artifacts and new distortion. DAX does us a favor of avoiding all those unnecessary two step conversion issues.

Jim Gilliam

Your point is well taken and I would agree whole-heartedly except I find it much easier to regress and I haven't had any of the artifacts to which  you allege. I will patiently bide my time and keep my big mouth shut.

Jim