60m band TX not ready. Interlock preventing transmission

Raul Pla

I was able to add 60m 5357 Khz on WSJT and work a few contacts 2 days ago. Now I see the TX not ready message on the lower right on SSDR on the radio desk. I hit the tune button on WSJTx and get the interlock message. What did I change or what happened?

Aside from WSJT, I used to Tune (transmit) from SSDR OK on or around 5357 before. software is 3.8.19 as nothing else has changed.

Rick_KJ5WO

Mike-VA3MW

Odds are you have your transmit bandwidth set too high and have the possibility of transmitting out of band.

Somehow, you have changed your High Cut (the audio Low Pass Filter) to more than 3000hz.

If you step it down, you'll see that MOX and TUNE will be - ungreyed.

73

Mike-VA3MW

Erika's solution will work but really isn't required on a FlexRadio since the Transmit bandwidth is flat. I believe the transmitted signal is still within the legal 3khz bandwidth. (I need to think about this one more).

It would only be required for situations that might take you beyond the dial frequency beyond +3000 hz.

Rick_KJ5WO

I have the same issue with V3.8.20. I don't normally operate on 60m but checked it after your comment and have the same interlock message.

73's Rick

KD0RC

This is typically caused by having your transmit bandwidth set too wide. Try setting the high limit to 2800 Hz and see if that fixes the problem.

Raul Pla

Thanks Mike, you are right. I had the high cut at 3100. However I had not looked at that pane because it's on the PHNE (phone) button at the top of the group. Now at 3000 SSDR will transmit.

At the slice flag I found the DIGU was at 2.0K which I think was me poking around before I posted a message. That's back to 3K now.

WE learn something new on SSDR all the time. Len was right as well.

Erika - KØDD

Ok gang. Heres the secret. Set transmit to 5.357 digiu. Move your transmit low cut to 1500hz. set your high cut to 2000. You will set fake it on wsjtx sorfware. Receive can be set 100 to 3000... you can now use any reasonable 200 to 2900 transmit offset and even run fox / hound on ft8 in that window without locking out. You might want to create a 5.357 trans profile... do not forget to put your transmit bandwidth back to normal if getting on ssb. Have at it guys... Erika Poo K0DD 60m Diva

Sergey KN7K

Delete

David Decoons, wo2x

I found 100-2800 TX bandwidth with Fake It disabled (set to None for 60 meters) works here.

If you use Fake It then as Erica stated, you must keep TX BW between 1500 and 2000. This would prevent you from operating in Hound mode (if any DX were to operate FOX on 60).

73 Dave wo2x

John KB4DU

Fake It not needed for the Flex. It is intended for analog radios that have a bell-shaped transmitter passband. Fake it moves the tx frequency to the center of the tx passband. Since the Flex passband is flat across the range Fake It just adds complications with no benefit.

Ken Wells

1) The maximum Transmit Bandwidth allowed for US stations on 60 Meters is 2.8 MHz. This means your TX Bandwidth settings should be set for 100-2900 or lower for 60 Meters, otherwise the radio will inhibit transmission for being "out of band."

2) You also need to turn "Fake It" off, or WSJT-X will try to shift the TX Frequency up or down to keep the TX Audio within the center of the TX Passband (Not necessary on the Flex) "Fake-It" will also result in "Out of Band" warnings.

3) Also, be sure that your radio "dial frequency" is properly set to 5.357 MHz and that you do NOT have XIT or SPLIT turned ON.

This should get you going on 60 Meter FT8

Mick W8BE

From the WSJT-X manual it advises that Fake It will keep the transmitted signal between 1500 and 2000 Hz. So if I keep my filter to 100/2900 then why is 60m different than any other band.? I agree turning Fake it off fixes the issue. I am not why as the signal should not be at the edge of the pass band.

• Split Operation: Significant advantages result from using Split mode (separate VFOs for Rx and Tx) if your radio supports it. If it does not, WSJT-X can emulate such behavior. Either method will result in a cleaner transmitted signal, by keeping the Tx audio always in the range 1500 to 2000 Hz so that audio harmonics cannot pass through the Tx sideband filter. Select Rig to use the radio’s Split mode, or Fake It to have WSJT-Xadjust the VFO frequency as needed, when T/R switching occurs. Choose None if you do not wish to use split operation.

KD0RC

Hi Mick, the Fake-it concept and operation was developed for older rigs with analog filtering that rolled off as opposed to SDR rigs like the Flex that have nearly vertical filter skirts and a very flat response within the passband.

60 meters is different from other bands because of the channelized nature where you are not allowed to transmit more than 2.8 KHz from the lower edge of the channel. If fake-it moves you too far up in frequency, you can move out of the channel and the Flex firmware stops the transmission from happening. The problem is not just maintaining a 2.8 KHz width, but also keeping that bandwidth stationary with respect to the position of the channel.

On a personal note... I would probably work more 60 meters, but I really don't like the channelized nature of it, not to mention the very limited number of channels.

John KB4DU

The analog radio filtering would result in reduced transmitted power out for frequencies near the edges of the filter bandwidth. Flex tx filters don’t do this, with flat response across across the filter bandwidth.