No N1MM CWX local side tone

Ken W6XB

I am using SmartSDR V2.2.8 in conjunction with N1MM.  The Flex CWX works great with local CW side tone.  However, when using N1MM with the CAT1ASC macro, it keys the remote Flex just fine, but there is no local side tone.  Is there a fix to add side tone?  It is very difficult to operate a CW contest remotely with no local side tone!  It would be best to have SmartSDR add this side tone, but I suppose a work-around would be for N1MM to add a local side tone option.

Tim K9WX

Are you using a Maestro? When I got my 6600 3 weeks ago, I found there was no CW sidetone from the Maestro. I eventually learned that I had to have my headphones plugged into the radio or use the radio speaker to hear the sidetown.

Stan VA7NF

Back to basics:

• The radio is a server that COMMUNICATES with the clients (Maestro, SmartSDR, other user clients including SmartCAT connected to N1MM+)
• All communications take time, a.k.a. LATENCY
• Our brain is extremely sensitive to latency - we use it to determine audio direction
• Feedback of delayed signals (>100ms) create mental confusion

FlexRadio have decided that there should be no feedback of any client to itself or other clients.

Item of significance is using N1MM+ in contesting and using its recordings (both CW and VOICE).  I need to hear (know the status of) message playback.  The only solution to this is picking up the audio FROM THE SERVER, i.e. plugging the headphones into the 6000 server.

From BETA SmartSDR 1.0 onward there have been calls for some form of feedback.  My 6700 is rack mounted (slightly remote) and others are significantly more remote making wiring to/from the physical server difficult.  Just yesterday, during FD planning, a club member, partially in jest but seated in reality, said "You paid how much and need this kind of wiring?"

Personally I would prefer the XMIT monitor to OPTIONALLY come back to me.  The part I would turn off is my CW key and mic coming back in the headphones and the part turned on is cw sidetone and voice coming from a DIFFERENT client (N1MM+).
My 25 cent worth since the first signature series 6000. (Would have been 2 cent opinion but now 25 due to inflation and Canada has eliminated the penny ;-) )

Ken W6XB

I am well aware of time latency.  I have no argument there. I am requesting a local side tone, just as is provided when using the CWX option.  I am only asking Flex to do the same thing with N1MM CAT1ASC macro characters as when using CWX:  please provide a local side tone for the local N1MM CAT1ASC just like CWX is already doing!

Let's hear what the Flex software people have to say.  It should be one or two lines of code to add local side tone for CAT ASC characters.  I'd do it myself if I had the source code.

Ken W6XB

No, I am not using a Maestro.  I am using the SmartSDR V2.2.8 on a Windows 10 laptop.  The N1MM program resides on the same laptop.  This system talks to a remote Flex 6700 through the Internet,  The whole system works flawlessly.  SSB is great and CW is great using CWX with its nice local side tone.  My only problem should be easily fixed in the SmartSDR software, and that is to also provide a CW side tone for N1MM functions when sending characters using the CAT1ASC macro.  I am not asking for the world, just one small addition to make CW contest operating a joy!

Ken W6XB

I hope Flex recognizes the seriousness of this request and how much more attractive it would make their product.  It should be a trivial software revision since CWX already does it!

Bill NE1B

I agree!  This has annoyed me as a Contest Operator at Multi-Op and home stations for 3 years now.  I need a local client sidetone on my N1MM+ laptop (which is also running SmartSDR) developed from the CAT ASC keying of the remote Flex radio server.  Dots and dashes (OOK) to tones!  No latency since it is locally generated at my laptop.

Kari Gustafsson SM0HRP

I agree on the urgency of this feature. I believe it will come but when? Till then I use the Remote Rug boxes to get the local feedback on CW. Works extremely well as this solution is well proven.

Matt NQ6N

I agree this would be a very nice feature to add.  In the meantime I've created a small program to let you connect a Winkeyer to the Flex, so that the Winkeyer side tone is available and paddles can be used with the 6000 series w/o a Maestro. 

https://groups.io/g/RemoteKeyerInterface

Just mentioning it as it has allowed me to have a few rag chews, which I prefer to do using paddles, and to have the paddles available for exchanging pleasantries during a contest. 

Ken W6XB

Yes, remote side tone works.  However, CWX demonstrates the beauty of local side tone.  I just want the same for N1MM keys!

Marc

Marc

2 years later ......... & still no "local" sidetone. Whats happening? CWX generates a local sidetone so why SmartSDR cant do it when connected to a software like N1MM etc. 

Marc

& still no "local" sidetone. Whats happening? CWX generates a local sidetone so why SmartSDR cant do it when connected to a software like N1MM etc.

KChuck

I finally broke the code and have N1MM working locally at the remote radio site with my Flex 6700 on Windows 10 with great side tone and audio back to my home 200 miles away. Here are the key points:

1. Use AnyDesk for remote viewing of screen and audio. It's free and superior to all others. It's easy to install, has great security, no ports to set in firewalls, and very clean, low latency audio.
2. Connect the audio output of the Flex radio to the line input of the PC.
3. Go to Windows sound settings and configure for line input and check the box for "Listen to this device". This routes the audio to your default audio output device (usually your speakers on the PC).

I have used everything imaginable (Skype, Flex's remote control, . . . ) and nothing works better. You can create a white list along with password control so only those you want can access the remote station.

Now John (W0ZZ) and I can really enjoy remote control CW!

Ken, W6XB