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5. Click on the Transmit button of your digital mode program. It should switch PowerSDR to transmit.
Transmit a test signal (e.g. several CQ calls) in the mode you plan to operate and use the TX Gain
(8) control to adjust the volume of audio coming from your digital mode program. Set the TX
Meter (4) to ALC and adjust for 0dB to calibrate transmit. Click on Receive on your digital mode
program and PowerSDR should switch back to receive.
6. You are now ready to begin a QSO. If a 50 ohm dummy load was connected, connect an antenna in
its place. Tune to the desired frequency using one of the methods outlined in the Tuning Methods
section above. Select either DIGL or DIGU (6) for lower or upper side band digital mode operation
respectively. Select DRM (6) for DRM mode operation.
Note 1: The DIGL, DIGU and DRM (6) mode buttons bypass all signal
processing in PowerSDR, except for AGC and Filtering. With DIGL and
DIGU you have control over the filter width using the filter buttons (7).
DRM mode invokes a fixed 10kHz wide double side band filter.
Note 2: DIGL and DIGU (6) apply an offset when using Spectrum Click Tuning
(see above). By default, the offsets are set to 1200 Hz (SSTV) in DIGU
mode and 2210 Hz (RTTY) in DIGL mode respectively. These offsets
can be modified on the Setup Form - General Tab, Options Sub-Tab.
Hint: When operating digital modes you have two options with regards to using
filters. On the one hand you can use a wide band-pass filter in PowerSDR
and use the filters within your digital mode program for selectivity. On
the other hand you can home in on a specific signal with PowerSDR’s
filters and ignore the filters in your digital mode program. Although
circumstances and operator preference will dictate which to use, many
operators have found especially the second option to be of value to them.
If you already have VCOM and VAC up and running, you may ignore the following sub-sections.
We will now focus on installing and setting up N8VB’s VCOM driver and VAC. We will then use MixW
as an example on how to use these utilities to operate digital modes.
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146 FlexRadio Systems
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