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AU-520M, SmartSDR and no transmit power output

Trucker
Trucker Member ✭✭✭✭
in SmartSDR+

Using SmartSDR on my Windows 11 pc, I can see the microphone audio level meter move while speaking into the microphone. But, no power output indicated. RF power slider at maximum. PC audio selected in upper right corner of SmartSDR. PC selected for the microphone input. Clicking on MOX, speaking into microphone, plenty of audio. But, no indication of actual power output. I have rebooted the radio and the computer. Same results. If I turn the Tune Power slider all the way up, and click on Tune, I get over 500 watts indicated on the power meter. I have no problem transmitting with a microphone connected to the radio while using the front panel. I have checked Windows Firewall and it has given SmartSDR full permissions. I figure it's something simple. But, for the life of me I don't see what it is. My microphone is a Behringer 8500 Dynamic microphone hooked to a Focusrite USB audio interface. It works fine with a Anan 8000DLE and Thetis. So, I don't think it is a hardware issue.

James

WD5GWY

20260128_232313.jpg

Comments

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

    Helpdesk ticket created

  • Trucker
    Trucker Member ✭✭✭✭

    Thanks Mike.

    James

    WD5GWY

  • Trucker
    Trucker Member ✭✭✭✭

    Problem located and fixed. I have spent the last several days trying to get SmartSDR version 4.1.5 to work with my Focusrite Scarlett Solo USB audio interface. Receive audio gets through without any problems. But, when transmitting there is no power output shown even though the level meter indicates SmartSDR is getting audio input from my microphone. I made sure that PC Audio was selected in the upper right corner of SmartSDR and that PC was selected as the microphone input in P/CW panel. Clicking on MOX and speaking into the microphone produced audio level indication in the level meter. But, NO POWER OUTPUT! After responding to the Help Desk ticket that Mike opened for me, Tim finally replied. He asked for a screenshot and a few other questions. I provided that information. And since the weekend was here,I didn't expect a reply until Monday. So, I did a lot of research here in the Community and other places. I read about DAX interfering with microphone input and I made sure it wasn't selected. I even had it not start when SmartSDR starts. Finally, on another pc, and after encountering the same problem, I completely removed SmartSDR and all of it components from the second computer. I then reinstalled SmartSDR. BUT, I did not install DAX or CAT. Previously, Windows 11 complained about possible incompatible files in SmartSDR. This time, without selecting to install DAX and CAT, no complaints from Windows 11. I started SmartSDR and redid my settings. ( no profiles saved) I tested transmit and speaking into the microphone I had full output power! So, it appears that DAX ( most likely ) is the culprit in this case. Fortunately, I don't do digital modes. So, not having DAX available isn't an issue for me. I hope Flex Radio fixes this problem as I am sure that there are others who would like to use a external USB audio interface and also do digital modes.

    James

    WD5GWY

  • Trucker
    Trucker Member ✭✭✭✭

    Spoke too soon. While the second computer works great after removing everything associated with SmartSDR, DAX and CAT, my main computer still has the problem. I am beginning to think that there is some kind of compatibility issue with the Focusrite Scarlett Solo USB interface and SmartSDR itself. The second computer is using a Universal Audio Volt 1 interface. I " think" the difference is because the Scarlett Solo has a microphone input and a instrument input. And that is confusing either SmartSDR or Windows 11. The UA1 only has a single microphone input and nothing else. It is odd that Thetis has no problem with either interface.

    James

    WD5GWY

  • Trucker
    Trucker Member ✭✭✭✭

    Final comment on this issue. While the Focusrite Scarlett Solo USB audio interface works well with the Anan radios and Thetis, SmartSDR has a problem with it. I reinstalled SmartSDR once again on my main computer and also installed DAX and CAT. Using the UA Volt 1 both SmartSDR and Thetis work fine. Full transmit with both applications.

    I believe that the real problem is the Scarlett Solo has two inputs. One is for a microphone and the other is for a instrument. For some reason, that confuses SmartSDR. There's no way that I have found to disable the instrument input in the Scarlett Solo application. The only thing that can be done is turn down the input level.

    At least the problem is solved and I can use my AU-520M either direct from the radio, or from my desktop computer or even my laptop. Happy days are here again!

    James

    WD5GWY

  • Trucker
    Trucker Member ✭✭✭✭

    One more final comment.

    The Solo has two inputs. #1 is an instrument input. #2 is a microphone input. There is a button that is supposed to disable the #1 instrument input. What it actually does is change the preamp for that input to be a line level input for things like a keyboard ( piano). It doesn't actually turn off the input. And turning down the level control has little effect. After doing another Google search I found a question on Redit from someone only wanting to use the #2 microphone input. The response was to go into " Preferences ", found under several dots .... on the upper right corner of the Scarlett Solo application. Once that menu opens, go down to the selection to " combine " the inputs. Once I did that, SmartSDR not only used the microphone input, but it also produced full output power from the AU-520M. For whatever reason, SmartSDR couldn't select just the microphone input ( even though the tool tip shows that it is selected in the input selection drop down box when hovering the mouse pointer over it) and, oddly enough, Thetis for the Anan radios has no problem selecting the correct microphone input. But, now,it works properly. Power output in SmartSDR and Thetis.

    James

    WD5GWY

  • km9r.mike
    km9r.mike Member ✭✭

    For whatever reason, SmartSDR couldn't select just the microphone input ( even though the tool tip shows that it is selected in the input selection drop down box when hovering the mouse pointer over it) 

    I plug my Heil headset into the back of the PC and SSDR V4 has zero issues with mapping the mic input into my 8600 with "PC" selected for mic. I hear ops using usb mic have no issues as well.

    Never joined the voodoo/ ESSB clique so I do not utilize an external sound card and a DAW. Happy to hear you got it going and sounds like SSDR should be looking for a different type of input when "PC" is selected and user is using an external sound card that also has an instrument input since mighty Thetis seems to have that issue dialed in.

  • km9r.mike
    km9r.mike Member ✭✭
    edited February 2

    I had a second thought about your issue and it may not be SSDR related at all. I am not a Thetis user but I do try to understand other platforms and the way I understand things is Thetis utilizes a third party virtual audio cable to input audio from the pc to the rig. SSDR on the other hand uses windows audio mapping somehow to get mic audio ( either 3.5 mm input or usb input to the pc) into the rig by selecting PC on SSDR. Select PC and SSDR says hey look for windows audio on either of these two inputs. When you talk into your PC enabled mic that audio goes to the flex when you manually select mox or Vox is enabled.

    Seems to me if you select rear pc speaker output as the output to your DAW or simply as the output from your external sound card (if you are not using a daw) then run a 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable from your PC rear speaker out to the rear PC mic in then SSDR should have zero issues finding audio to send to your AU-520M.

    I have no idea how SSDR finds that audio, I just know it can with USB or rear PC inputs. I know it also utilizes DAX when playing .wav files stored on the PC so in theory it should recognize DAX as a valid output of the external sound card or daw but I have never tried to do that but I do not think SSDR is currently setup to recognize that configuration. When playing a .wav file from my PC and "PC" is selected in SSDR if I am not mistaken the .wav file takes priority over any mic input at the time and when the .wav is finished DAX de energizes and SSDR looks back to PC mic audio for input.

    As you know you could have also sent the output of your daw to an external output of your sound card or the output of the external sound card (if you do not use a daw) to an output jack on your external sound card and then input that into the mic in on the back of your AU-520.

    SSDR does not currently accept virtual audio cables as a valid audio input into a flex. Just physical audio cable inputs or via windows sound when PC is selected.

    Regardless good that you got it to work but it seems to be just recognizing it somehow as a PC mic source so if you are using a daw it seems to me it might only be getting the input to the daw somehow and nothing else.

    The way I understand things, SSDR would need either a DAX or a Virtual Audio Cable selection in the SSDR "mic" dropdown selection so a FLEX radio could accept a DAW output from a PC or external sound card output from a PC. It accepts .wav files great via DAX so it is possible but currently not an option afaik.

  • Trucker
    Trucker Member ✭✭✭✭
    edited February 2

    I don't use my external sound card interface with a DAW. I use it to be able to have the lowest latency possible by being able to bypass the normal Windows audio system and use the ASIO drivers to get lower latency. Once setup properly, I find it works better ( for me) than using the default Windows Sound system . My external powered studio monitors provide plenty of audio. More than what Windows itself can provide.

    James

    WD5GWY

  • Trucker
    Trucker Member ✭✭✭✭

    I forgot to mention that Thetis doesn't require 3rd party audio cables anymore. It has a version built-in to Thetis itself. Or, you can select the Windows audio system as well as ASIO drivers for an external sound card interface. The Windows sound system has several drivers built into it that normally aren't exposed from the Windows Sound settings itself. I have used a USB microphone plugged into my laptop and operated SmartSDR that way. I have a friend that has used a Bluetooth headset with his laptop and operated SmartSDR that way as well. There are lots of ways to move audio to and from a Flex radio and a computer.

    James

    WD5GWY

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