cw skimmer does not decode on 6 meters Topic is solved

[IK8HCG]

I have this strange problem with cw skimmer.
CW skimmer works regularly in all frequencies, but in the 6 meter bands I don't get the decoding of CW signals. the program reads the freq. on the left window it reads the signals in morse code, the percentage is working but no call on the right side so I can't select any signal because it doesn't read the call, the word decoders is 0

[ke9ns]

That does not make any sense unless the signals are just too low to decode?
Maybe take a screen shot of the CW SKimmer with the CW signal present.
Does the CW signal look distorted as viewed in CW Skimmer?

I found a CW beacon on 50.072 mhz near me, but I currently dont have a real 6m antenna.
I could just barely hear the CW, and just barely see it in CW Skimmer. I could see it better in my PowerSDR waterfall.
I will have to wait for a band opening and see if I can decode anything on 6m

Darrin

[IK8HCG]

Hi Darrin
it is clear that Cw skimmer only perceives in the presence of medium-high signals. but the skimmer works normally. yesterday the opening in Europe was scary and the RTS were beyond s9, the window that displayed the dots and lines was well marked.
I'll try to make a video for you at the first opportunity.
as always Tnx

[ke9ns]

As a test, I ran FLDIGI to see if I could decode the 6m Beacon. FLDIGI had a hard time but it did decode the CW.
CW Skimmer was not decoding anything.
I may try running CW Skimmer with just 3khz wide audio, instead of the wide IQ audio, and see if it runs better?

[IK8HCG]

Hi Darrin
I'm waiting for some propagation to open up for Europe with CW activity. one thing is certain when from 6 meters I switch to the other frequencies the cw skimmer displays the circles which then become calls and in the decoding bar it begins to translate the station.

while I was writing to you I noticed some strong signals on 6 meters and I sent you a video

[ke9ns]

I see the video
Very strange.

Take a screen shot of the VAC1 settings on HF and a screen shot of VAC1 on 6m

Also, Make sure you do not set the Buffer latency too low. If its too low and your PC is unable to keep up, it can cause issues with the audio output.

[IK8HCG]

Hi Darrin
keep in mind that i m running now with flex3000

Take a screen shot of the VAC1 settings on HF and a screen shot of VAC1 on 6m
i'll do.

Also, Make sure you do not set the Buffer latency too low. If its too low and your PC is unable to keep up, it can cause issues with the audio output.
Setup-General-Options Process Priority= Abobe Normal
Setup-Audio-Primary Buffer size 1024, Sample rate 96000
VAC1 select (A) Buffer Latency A=120, B=120
VAC2 not enable 120
VAC1 Buffer size 2048, Sample rate 48000

If its too low and your PC is unable to keep up, it can cause issues with the audio output
with these settings it works regularly across the entire HF spectrum, I also see signals at 160m where there is no antenna

[ke9ns]

Those settings look good to me.
Very strange.

Next time 6m opens up for me I will test it out.
I have used FT8 on 6m many times before with no issues, but I have never used the CW Skimmer on 6m.

[IK8HCG]

[IK8HCG]

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[ke9ns]

It sure looks like it should decode.

I just did a test. I used another radio to transmit CW on 6m into a dummy load at less than a 1 watt.
So the received CW signal on my Flex-5000 was around -100dB with my noise floor at around -125dB
CW Skimmer worked perfectly on 6m

I am scratching my head on this one?

I even tried transmitting on 8m 40mhz (into a dummy load) and it worked perfect.

What are your CW Skimmer: Settings->Misc? Mine is set to 1500 decoders and Adaptive is ON
Settings->Radio is set to SoftRock-IF
Settings->Audio is WDM (I always use Windows DirectSound instead of MME). Channels Left/Rigth = I/Q



Darrin

[IK8HCG]

where are these functions 1500 decoder and Adaptive is active in cwskimmer?

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[ke9ns]

Settings->Misc

[IK8HCG]

was setted 1000, adpiteve flagged

[IK8HCG]

Darrin solved everything apparently without understanding.
I have flagged Disable windows animation. but what does this have to do with decoding?

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[ke9ns]

I assume the Max number of CW Decoders is a setting to limit the CPU loading on a busy band (like during a contest),
but I was thinking that maybe you had it set to a very low number or 0
I am glad you got it working, but I am not sure why it was not working before?

Also interesting that you can set CW Skimmer to ignore outside of CW segments, but you need to properly select your "Band Plan" to your location otherwise it will not decode CW. This is probably to also reduce CPU load as it tries to decode all signals on the available bandwidth.


Darrin