Cannot register with SmartLink 6500 new firmware

James Lee

updated firmware 6500, which has never had problems to date. When I click icon to open SDR  I get invitation to register with Smart Link. Pressing "register" button does nothing. 

JohnSweeney

Are you using Internet Explorer 10 on your computer? If so, please upgrade to IE11 and you will be able to register. Most web sites no longer accept IE10 due to security issues.

James Lee

Hi John:  thanks for the tip.  i do not use Internet Explorer on this new PC that I just bought for "shack use only".  My problem disappeared when I finally did something correctly (?) and registration suddenly took place and suddenly my screen lit up.  The 6500 is back on the air and just worked somebody on 40 CW, all seems dandy now except propagation of course lousy.

73
Jim'
NK7B

JohnSweeney

Sorry - no easy software download to fix propagation!

James Lee

HA HA.

k3Tim

Smart SDR version 5.0 will fix propogation in 2023 when it's released.

James Lee

I have now fallen from my chair laughing and broken left ankle.  My attorney will be contacting you, 
HI.

James Lee

Can anybody tell me what this alien signal is. Always present as shown here, wanders back and forth around 7183. Real pain because several nets use this freq. It is a whistling sound and like wind blowing. Cannot ameliorate with NR, bandpass changes, etc. It is very annoying and sometimes as strong as S7. Thanks.,

KD0RC

Hi James, that is likely a switching power supply in your location, or perhaps at a neighbor's house. Try unplugging wall-warts, TV sets, laptop power supplies, etc to see if you can isolate the piece of equipment causing the issue. Note that simply turning things off usually has no effect, they need to be physically unplugged.

Once you identify the culprit, ferrites on the power and other cabling might help, and might not. It depends on the mechanism that the RF is using to get into your radio. If it is direct radiation from the device, there is not usually much that you can do. If it is radiating from a power or other cable, mix 31 ferrite beads often help.