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Poor quality audio

JoeH
JoeH Member ✭✭
in SmartSDR CAT
I'm a new Flex user, with current software using a Windows 11 PC, & 6600. The audio quality in barely usable - both with attached speaker and to the PC. The ONLY way this is even usable is by using the RX equalizer and upping 350 500 1k audio range to hear voice. This was a refurb unit directly from Flex. Does the unit need servicing or is the way these are? Are there other tests I can do to confirm?

Comments

  • Russ Ravella
    Russ Ravella Member ✭✭✭
    edited May 18

    Hi Joe,

    Assuming you've verified you're starting with everything at their default settings (including the TX equalizer and BW settings and your mic is OK if the problem is occurring with your transmitted voice), that's definitely not normal. How is the audio through headphones connected directly to the radio ?

    The first thing to always try when things are acting weird is a complete factory reset. There are specific guidelines in the support section on the FRS website for doing so. You can find them here:

    https://helpdesk.flexradio.com/hc/en-us/articles/360020078612-How-to-Completely-Reset-a-FLEX-8000-6000#:~:text=Press%20and%20hold%20the%20Power%20button%20for%20approximately%205%20seconds,flashing%20green%20power%20button%20LED.

    Follow all the "wait times" religiously and don't skip any steps including physically unplugging the radio. There have even been cases when doing this reset once didn't fix something but performing it a second time did.

    If it sounds the same after that I'd go ahead and submit a support ticket. As a new user, you're probably not familiar yet with how effective and responsive Flex support is. You'll be impressed.

    GL Russ KR6W

  • KD0RC
    KD0RC Member, Super Elmer Moderator

    Hi Joe, Everything that Russ said plus a question - are you using powered speakers and are they plugged fully into the speaker jack?

  • John KB4DU
    John KB4DU Member ✭✭✭✭

    can you describe what you mean by “terrible audio”? Is the audio distorted and hard to understand? Or is it too soft or hard near? Or something else.

  • JoeH
    JoeH Member ✭✭
    Thanks for the comments folks... I mean it's nearly inaudible. I've tried headphones and different powered speakers. I get pretty good volume when adjusting the EQ - that is, a station I can clearly hear with the EQ adjusted and NR and ANF engaged, if I turn OFF the EQ, I can barely hear them. The is an RX problem only - most folks say I can be heard clearly so not the mic or TX. I hate to go the factory reset way, but maybe I must. Not sure what's lost with that....
  • Trucker
    Trucker Member ✭✭✭✭

    I would suggest you go ahead and do a Factory Reset. That can clear out any hidden adjustments that may have caused the problem you are having. One thing to be ready for is the AGC-T and other settings will come up at a very high level. So, if your powered speakers or you are wearing headphones, you could get a big blast of audio. If none of the suggestions that you have received work it might be time to open a Help Desk ticket on the off chance that the radio has problems itself.

    James

    WD5GWY

  • Trucker
    Trucker Member ✭✭✭✭

    Since you are using a 6600 non-M radio, and you have powered speakers connected to the powered speakers output on the back of the radio, be sure you don't have PC audio selected ( button in upper right of SmartSDR) if the button is Blue, then the audio will be routed over your network to your computer and there won't be any audio coming from your powered speakers connected to the back of the radio. AGC-T effects the audio level. And there are three different volume controls on the main screen of SmartSDR that can effect the volume. One on the Slice receiver flag, one on the upper right corner of the main screen and another on the right side of the screen just above the AGC-T slider.

    You might try posting a screen shot of your SmartSDR display. That could make helping you a little easier.

    James

    WD5GWY

  • JoeH
    JoeH Member ✭✭

    I guess I need to see about factory reset. I assume I cannot backup any settings like my TNFs and Memory etc. What exactly will I lose on a factory reset and is there a way to backup these things to prevent loss?

    And the only SmartSDR manual I can find is Sept 2019. Is there nothing newer?

    thanks,

  • KD0RC
    KD0RC Member, Super Elmer Moderator

    Hi Joe, before doing a factory reset, export your profiles. This will save your profiles (global, mic and transmit), memories, TNF settings, persistence settings, etc. After the reset, you can do a profile import to put your radio back where it was.

    That is the latest user manual.

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