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Squelch Function

Glenn Depp
Glenn Depp Member ✭✭
in SmartSDR for Windows

I have used the squelch functioning in the third party FRStack3 program for quite a while now. It works great. I like that flex has begun implementing it here.

My ONLY question is WHY NOT IN DIGU/L modes. I use those not USB for 99% of everything.

I would like to see it added the the DIGU/L modes as well, only makes sense. Or I guess I will have to continue with third party software.

Comments

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

    It was decided that using Squelch in a digital mode would hinder the reliability of decoding.

    There was a lot of discussion regarding that and CW and in both cases, based on a very large committe that would cause more problems with loss of hearable information.

    If you can come up with a good use case as to why Squelch would be a good thing in digital modes, please share. And, to be fair, why Squelch in digital modes is a bad idea.

    We need to see both sides.

  • reed
    reed Member ✭✭

    My two cents:

    • Digital modes and CW probably shouldn't use squelch since in general for those modes we want to pull out every last piece of fringe signal possible
    • It's reasonable to still offer the squelch functionality in those modes if somebody wants to use it for whatever reason
  • Geoff AB6BT
    Geoff AB6BT Member ✭✭✭

    What would be the use of squelch when using WSJT-X?

    The only thing I can think of is if you want to work only strong stations and ignore the weaker ones.

    Does anybody do that?

  • reed
    reed Member ✭✭

    Maybe not WSJT-X, but I could see somebody setting up squlech on DigU mode for SSTV, where they might not want to bother capturing an image that is going to be 90% noise.

  • Geoff AB6BT
    Geoff AB6BT Member ✭✭✭
    edited October 2024

    Glenn…on what digital modes do you find squelch useful?

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

    Most SSTV modes have a squelch built into the image capture and start on the Sync signal.

  • Glenn Depp
    Glenn Depp Member ✭✭

    I mainly operate outside the HAM bands and run hardware and software digital modes. Main mode being M110A/B. Squelch is always a good idea, being able to disable or enable at the users desire. Using USB in these modes causes the signal to go through processing which is never desired. I use the Stack3 program just about all the time. The only audio it blanks is the speaker audio not DAX so for 99.9% of users this effects NOTHING. It does however effect hardware modems as the audio currently being applied to the AUX port IS the speaker audio so it will also turn off received audio to the modem. For software programs using the DAX this muting of audio does nothing, they still receive all audio all the time.

    I do believe the AUX port needs to be it OWN audio source with NO filtering or modifications so audio going to these external devices has pure signal without modification for best results, however this is not currently the case.

  • John KB4DU
    John KB4DU Member ✭✭✭✭

    This reminds me of the autosave on the profiles. Flex arbitrarily changed them to auto saved rather than user saved because their “committee” believed it would reduce support requirements. The problem with this approach is there is no known “good” point for someone experimenting with profile changes. Using an on-off switch for autosave or squelch would let the operator chose rather the “committee” choosing for us.

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