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New 6400M - 2 questions

Erik Carling EI4KF
Erik Carling EI4KF Member ✭✭✭
in FLEX-6000 Signature Series

After a day operating, I have two 'issues' that I would be grateful for help with.

1 When in SmartControl and tuning a band with the radio VFO knob, although the frequency changes smoothly as seen on the radio, in SmartSDR it is 'jumpy', not smooth. I am on 10Hz tuning step though the step size doesn't matter. It seems the display has a fractional lag.

2 When Txing FT8 I am perfectly decoded, but if I monitor my signal I hear ususally two scratchy sounds during a 15 second transmission. There is also a coincidental momentary jump on the panorama display. It is some kind of artifact. I cannot cure it.

The radio is connected to the computer (which a fast one Ryzen 5800X, 16GB RAM, high end graphics) by ethernet cable.

Anyone any ideas please? Thank you de Erik EI4KF.

Best Answers

  • Wayne VK4ACN
    Wayne VK4ACN Member ✭✭✭
    Answer ✓

    Hi Eric

    It sounds like a loose connection, but its all digital with Dax, so I dont worry about it too much.

  • Erik Carling EI4KF
    Erik Carling EI4KF Member ✭✭✭
    Answer ✓

    The problem with making several changes at once and then finding that a problem has gone is not knowing what it was exactly that cured it. I did not have the problem at all yesterday and again not today. So I undid all changes, mostly regarding improving latency in the computer which I see now did not help. However, in my case, what effected the improvement was making a change in the FT8 software moving Split Operation from None to Fake It. When I returned to None, immediately the issue came back. I could see it in the panorama, hear scratchy artifacts twice per 15 second TX in the headphones and, on another radio, I heard two brief clicks. Put that setting back to Fake It and none of observations are present. I don't know why but it's good that its gone - hopefully permanently but time will tell.

  • John KB4DU
    John KB4DU Member ✭✭✭✭
    Answer ✓

    That would be a good test, or listen to the flex on a websdr radio. The monitor function doesn’t use the output of the transmitter. Also, it is possible to set up a receive only antenna to the rx port and use full duplex mode. There is more on this in the manual.

  • Mike-VA3MW
    Mike-VA3MW Administrator, FlexRadio Employee, Community Manager, Super Elmer, Moderator admin
    Answer ✓

    Don't forget, you don't need a WebSDR to listen to yourself. You have multiple receivers in your Flex radio to listen to yourself.

    Full Duplex (FDX) is a very powerful tool that your FlexRadio has. Something that no other radio has.


    https://youtu.be/p79V9Nn8l0U


Answers

  • Erik Carling EI4KF
    Erik Carling EI4KF Member ✭✭✭

    No 1 is solved. It was caused by using AutoCenter 3rd party software. Turn that off and everything is silky smooth.

    So its the scratchy noise that occurs sporadically during FT8 transmission that I need help with if anyone has any ideas.

    Thanks, Erik.

  • Wayne VK4ACN
    Wayne VK4ACN Member ✭✭✭

    I occasionally get the scratchy sound on monitoring my Ft8 transmissions too. Dont know what is causing it.

  • Erik Carling EI4KF
    Erik Carling EI4KF Member ✭✭✭

    Hi Wayne. I thought it was a constant problem, having just acquired the radio and faced with it immediately. Actually it is as you state, occasional. I am not going to worry about it too much.

  • WX7Y
    WX7Y Member ✭✭✭✭

    What version of Firmware are you running

    most of the Older versions had issues with DAX getting statically after a few hours and just a DAX restart fixed it.

    if it is not DAX then you can try shutting down the radio and remove the DC power it off for a couple minutes then power it back on

    if that doesn’t work then last but not least do a hard reset on the radio

  • Wayne VK4ACN
    Wayne VK4ACN Member ✭✭✭

    Im running the latest 3.2.39, but havent noticed it yet.

    Its always been intermittent

  • Erik Carling EI4KF
    Erik Carling EI4KF Member ✭✭✭

    I am on the same of course as its a new radio. I must say I haven't noticed it today.

  • John KB4DU
    John KB4DU Member ✭✭✭✭

    How. are you monitoring the transmit signal?

  • Wayne VK4ACN
    Wayne VK4ACN Member ✭✭✭

    Just with monitor turned on and through the speakers. Probably should try turning one of the other transceivers on and try that

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