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TOPIC: Connecting MRP4066 via VAC control panel

Connecting MRP4066 via VAC control panel 14 Oct 2018 20:33 #1

  • ve3wdm
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Just want to start our with baby steps with regards to getting my CW code reader MRP4066 functioning. I have VAC Control Panel configured up to Port 11 and was just wanting to understand the setting in VAC and expert SDR software. Next I will try to get WSJT-X working I have already been trying with no success. I have been using the UMA to configure WSJT-X but with no success. I hope with getting MRP4066 going that will help my understanding of the virtual port thing.
Thanks in advance
Mike
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Connecting MRP4066 via VAC control panel 14 Oct 2018 20:52 #2

  • g0cgl
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  • Erik EI4KF / G0CGL
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VAC 1 is RX and VAC 2 is TX. Therefore, for any software to receive, attach it to VAC 1.


Attachment Capture_2018-10-14.png not found

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Connecting MRP4066 via VAC control panel 16 Oct 2018 00:21 #3

  • ve3wdm
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Good evening Erik, thanks very much for the screen shot and I setup MRP40 as is shown in the picture and got nothing. I am wondering if there are some issues with other settings either with ExpertSDR or my sound card in the PC. I do have an external USB Xonar U7 and Signalink USB for other applications with my Elecraft KX3. Im not sure if there is an issue going on or a setting that needs to change to get MRP40, virtual audio lines and my Sun SDR to get along and talk?
Mike
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Connecting MRP4066 via VAC control panel 16 Oct 2018 07:28 #4

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  • Erik EI4KF / G0CGL
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Hello Mike, the sound card is irrelevant because we are only dealing in software defined audio paths and not hardware defined. If you have set up ESDR2 VAC per the User Manual Addendum then it should work. That it doesn't is a mystery unlikely to be diagnosed at a distance and requires a Team Viewer session to check your settings.

Erik.
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Connecting MRP4066 via VAC control panel 16 Oct 2018 10:12 #5

  • ve3wdm
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Good. morning Erik, I figured as much that there was a separation between the hardware and software but I wanted to check and make you aware of it just in case. I will closely go over the VAC settings within the Expert SDR software and compared to the addendum. Sometimes it’s a simple checkbox missed. If I do find myself needing assistance on the weekend I can setup a TeamViewer time.
Thanks again Erik
Mike
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Connecting MRP4066 via VAC control panel 16 Oct 2018 10:19 #6

  • ve3wdm
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Just as an added note not only the VAC Expert SDR VAC setup but more so the I will also go over the VAC comport setup from within the VAC software as well.......most likely I assume to which you were referring to in your post.
Mike
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Connecting MRP4066 via VAC control panel 16 Oct 2018 10:36 #7

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Hello Mike - yes review VAC control panel set up on page 6 (UMA version 5 or 5.1), and ESDR2 set up on page 7. Don't worry about the gain figures in that latter photo and start with 0dB. In VSPE it is only VAC 1 and 2 that are important at the moment.
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Connecting MRP4066 via VAC control panel 16 Oct 2018 10:46 #8

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Thanks very much for your time Erik.
Mike
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Connecting MRP4066 via VAC control panel 19 Oct 2018 18:31 #9

  • ve3wdm
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Good afternoon Erik, I found some time to get back on the PC and start sorting out the MRP40 receive issue. I found some settings in the VAC program to not be correct and I adjusted them. I now have a functioning MRP40 software program...:)) With some experimenting I found at times the MRP40 sounds was not working:
1. With just the main receiver on VFO A MRP40 works just fine.
2. With both main receiver VFO A and B on (Sub RX) MRP40 work just fine.
3. With main receiver VFO A only on and RX2 on I loose sound to MRp40. This may had been one of my issues from the start as I always have RX2 on.
4. With main receiver VFO A on and B on (Sub RX) and RX2 on MRP40 has sound.
5. With main receiver VFO A on and B off (Sub RX) and RX2 on MRP40 has no sound.

I then went into the SDR software to the VAC tab receiver 2 and made the same settings as receiver 1 but I got an error " can't open VAC stream!@ Unanticipated host error"
Any ideas about this??

One last interesting thing that starting happening over the past week........now and then when I start the software all works just fine I have the main RX1 window open and the RX2 window open upon startup. When I toggle off RX2 the MOX on RX1 comes on and I am not able to do anything. The MOX will not turn off the only solution is the shut the software down and restart. When I restart all is fine until I attempt to turn off RX2 and the MOX issue happens again. Also if the program starts up with just RX1 if I attempt to turn on RX2 same MOX issue happens.
Now here is where it gets a bit fun..........at times when I restart the program all seems to work just fine and there are no issues. I was not sure if you had any input on something happening like this?
Mike
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Connecting MRP4066 via VAC control panel 19 Oct 2018 19:08 #10

  • g0cgl
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Hello Mike,

It sounds like the proverbial dog's breakfast - a nice mess.

OK - so I tested your scenarios with MRP40. I concur, it loses its audio input in the situations you mention. All I can add is that, as other software that utilizes VAC does not suffer similarly, it seems logical to conclude that there is something amiss with MRP40.

The VAC settings for RX2 must be unique for that receiver. You will see from the UMA that VAC 1 and 2 are set for RX1 and VAC 3 and 4 for RX2.

If I start ESDR2 with RX2 open and then toggle it off, I get several issues including your MOX problem but also the ESDR2 window resizes to something smaller. Basically with this usage there are a number of bugs.

Incidentally, I cannot help but say this: MRP40 is unlikely to perform well in a SDR environment (in terms of decoding efficency). It is designed for a 3 khz hardware defined radio. If you compare its decoding with that of SDC for example, you should readily see the difference. I have not tried it but there is a MRP40 version for SDR software defined filters which can be downloaded from the Polar-Electric website. It may decode better and not suffer from losing track of the VAC line.

Erik.
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Connecting MRP4066 via VAC control panel 19 Oct 2018 19:18 #11

  • ve3wdm
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Erik thanks for your reply and I will give the SDR version of MRP40 a go but will also download and look at the SDC decoding as well. With regards to the "MOX" issue it really only started to happen to me within the last week or so. It is very hit and miss as to whether or not it happens. Is this a bug that has to be brought to Rome's attention? I am very surprised it has not been mentioned before.
I will keep plugging away with the decoding as I really only use it during CW contests when the CW speed hit crazy speeds. I'm good up to about 30-35 wpm but some op's like to fly a lot higher than that.
73,
Mike
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Connecting MRP4066 via VAC control panel 19 Oct 2018 19:43 #12

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Hello Mike - I will email him. I had always toggled off RX2 before closing ESDR2 and so had never seen these problems.

Yes, decoders have as much value as anything else and they come into their own in contests. SDC's decoders are quite good and the decoding windows for VFO A and B can be un-docked and permanently moved where you want them. In my experience only the Afreet CW Skimmer out performs SDC - but that one costs money.

Erik.
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Connecting MRP4066 via VAC control panel 19 Oct 2018 20:02 #13

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I will try toggling RX2 off before shut down and see how it works. This evening over some nice warm tea I will look over the SDC manual.
73,
Mike
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Connecting MRP4066 via VAC control panel 19 Oct 2018 20:06 #14

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Also check the UMA, SDC section, for additional info that may help where the SDC manual is lacking.

Erik.
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Connecting MRP4066 via VAC control panel 19 Oct 2018 21:19 #15

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I found a temp work around for the MOX issue I am having:
1. Double click on Expert SDR on desktop.
2. Click on red start button and software starts with RX1 window open.
3. Click on RX2 and on RX1 MOX comes on and RX1 and RX2 are frozen.
4. I click MOX on and then off in RX2 and RX2 starts to work.
5. I then click red start button program stops running.
6. I then click red start button program starts running and MOX issue is gone. Well gone until the program is shut down and restarted and then I have to go through the following steps again.
73,
Mike
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