cw skimmer does not decode on 6 meters Topic is solved

General Info for PowerSDR KE9NS v2.8 (for the SDR-1000, Flex-1500, Flex-3000, and Flex-5000 only).
Post Reply
IK8HCG
Posts: 43
Joined: Thu Aug 05, 2021 4:58 pm

cw skimmer does not decode on 6 meters

Post by 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
User avatar
ke9ns
Site Admin
Posts: 515
Joined: Mon Nov 05, 2018 9:38 am
Location: Illinois, North West Suburbs
Contact:

Re: cw skimmer does not decode on 6 meters

Post by 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
Creator of PowerSDR KE9NS v2.8, based on the Flex Radio PowerSDR v2.7.2 software.
Flex-5000, LDMOS and Titan Amps, G5RV, and Mosley TA-33 Junior
IK8HCG
Posts: 43
Joined: Thu Aug 05, 2021 4:58 pm

Re: cw skimmer does not decode on 6 meters

Post by 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
User avatar
ke9ns
Site Admin
Posts: 515
Joined: Mon Nov 05, 2018 9:38 am
Location: Illinois, North West Suburbs
Contact:

Re: cw skimmer does not decode on 6 meters

Post by 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?
Creator of PowerSDR KE9NS v2.8, based on the Flex Radio PowerSDR v2.7.2 software.
Flex-5000, LDMOS and Titan Amps, G5RV, and Mosley TA-33 Junior
IK8HCG
Posts: 43
Joined: Thu Aug 05, 2021 4:58 pm

Re: cw skimmer does not decode on 6 meters

Post by 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
User avatar
ke9ns
Site Admin
Posts: 515
Joined: Mon Nov 05, 2018 9:38 am
Location: Illinois, North West Suburbs
Contact:

Re: cw skimmer does not decode on 6 meters

Post by 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.
Creator of PowerSDR KE9NS v2.8, based on the Flex Radio PowerSDR v2.7.2 software.
Flex-5000, LDMOS and Titan Amps, G5RV, and Mosley TA-33 Junior
IK8HCG
Posts: 43
Joined: Thu Aug 05, 2021 4:58 pm

Re: cw skimmer does not decode on 6 meters

Post by 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
User avatar
ke9ns
Site Admin
Posts: 515
Joined: Mon Nov 05, 2018 9:38 am
Location: Illinois, North West Suburbs
Contact:

Re: cw skimmer does not decode on 6 meters

Post by 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.
Creator of PowerSDR KE9NS v2.8, based on the Flex Radio PowerSDR v2.7.2 software.
Flex-5000, LDMOS and Titan Amps, G5RV, and Mosley TA-33 Junior
IK8HCG
Posts: 43
Joined: Thu Aug 05, 2021 4:58 pm

Re: cw skimmer does not decode on 6 meters

Post by IK8HCG »

Image
IK8HCG
Posts: 43
Joined: Thu Aug 05, 2021 4:58 pm

Re: cw skimmer does not decode on 6 meters

Post by IK8HCG »

HF.png
HF.png (555.11 KiB) Viewed 17637 times
50mhz.png
50mhz.png (534.43 KiB) Viewed 17637 times
User avatar
ke9ns
Site Admin
Posts: 515
Joined: Mon Nov 05, 2018 9:38 am
Location: Illinois, North West Suburbs
Contact:

Re: cw skimmer does not decode on 6 meters

Post by 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
Creator of PowerSDR KE9NS v2.8, based on the Flex Radio PowerSDR v2.7.2 software.
Flex-5000, LDMOS and Titan Amps, G5RV, and Mosley TA-33 Junior
IK8HCG
Posts: 43
Joined: Thu Aug 05, 2021 4:58 pm

Re: cw skimmer does not decode on 6 meters

Post by IK8HCG »

where are these functions 1500 decoder and Adaptive is active in cwskimmer?
skimmer4.png
skimmer4.png (522.37 KiB) Viewed 17476 times
skimmer3.png
skimmer3.png (512.87 KiB) Viewed 17476 times
skimmer1.png
skimmer1.png (516.83 KiB) Viewed 17476 times
skimmer2.png
skimmer2.png (516.21 KiB) Viewed 17476 times
User avatar
ke9ns
Site Admin
Posts: 515
Joined: Mon Nov 05, 2018 9:38 am
Location: Illinois, North West Suburbs
Contact:

Re: cw skimmer does not decode on 6 meters

Post by ke9ns »

Settings->Misc
Creator of PowerSDR KE9NS v2.8, based on the Flex Radio PowerSDR v2.7.2 software.
Flex-5000, LDMOS and Titan Amps, G5RV, and Mosley TA-33 Junior
IK8HCG
Posts: 43
Joined: Thu Aug 05, 2021 4:58 pm

Re: cw skimmer does not decode on 6 meters

Post by IK8HCG »

was setted 1000, adpiteve flagged
IK8HCG
Posts: 43
Joined: Thu Aug 05, 2021 4:58 pm

Re: cw skimmer does not decode on 6 meters

Post by IK8HCG »

Darrin solved everything apparently without understanding.
I have flagged Disable windows animation. but what does this have to do with decoding?
skimmer.png
skimmer.png (519.14 KiB) Viewed 17439 times
User avatar
ke9ns
Site Admin
Posts: 515
Joined: Mon Nov 05, 2018 9:38 am
Location: Illinois, North West Suburbs
Contact:

Re: cw skimmer does not decode on 6 meters  Topic is solved

Post by 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
Creator of PowerSDR KE9NS v2.8, based on the Flex Radio PowerSDR v2.7.2 software.
Flex-5000, LDMOS and Titan Amps, G5RV, and Mosley TA-33 Junior
Post Reply