SignaLink™ - Tigertronics
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1. This step is normally not necessary But if you have wired the accessory power from your radio and are not sure if it is adequate to power the SignaLink you can easily verify the voltage First make sure the pc board is on an insolated surface no metal or wire clippings under board Turn on the radio and press the Power switch on the SignaLink The green power led should illuminate Using your multimeter volts verify the voltage between chassis ground and test point TP 1 near the left rear corner of the SignaLink pc board Figure 3 The voltage should be at least 6 75 volts for proper operation If the voltage is not adequate you will need to remove the power jumper on JP 1 and power the unit externally see Connecting Power Signa ink TICEOTR wnc O coacta yr aire I Pi Figure 3 Location of TP 1 JP 1 and JP 2 AUXILIARY AUDIO OUTPUT The SignaLink has an Auxiliary Audio Output jack on the front panel that can be used to attach an external radio speaker or headphones for monitoring receiver audio Inside the SignaLink we have provided jumper JP 2 to allow you to select when the external audio jack is active By default we have jumpered both positions on JP 2 which makes the audio available all of the time However you can move the jumpers to allow the jack to be active only when the SignaLink is ON or OFF To make the jack active when the unit is ON jumper pins 1 amp 2 To make the jack active when the2. If your manual shows this voltage is available on a mic pin then you can skip now to the Connecting The Radio section That section will cover making the actual power connection If power is not available on the radio mic connector then you have a couple of other easy options for powering the SignaLink The first option would be to obtain power from whatever 12 volt supply powers your radio To do this you will need to make a short cable from that power supply to the external power jack on the back of the SignaLink The jack requires a 2 1mm 5 5mm power plug We have provided this plug in our installation kit for your convenience You will need to wire the plug to your power supply in the appropriate manner The polarity of the plug should be center positive Be sure to wire the plug with the correct polarity and be sure to install a fuse in the line for safety The second option for powering the SignaLink is to use a Wall Transformer This is the quick and easy solution but it does require an outlet If you choose this option you will need to select a transformer with an appropriate rating A common problem in selecting wall transformers is that they almost always put out more voltage than you expect This is because they are rated for output voltage at a specific load current If the load on the transformer is below the rated load then the voltage output will be higher than the rated output Under a light load it is not uncommon for
3. for the SignaLink s Auto PTT circuit With the switch pressed IN the radio will remain keyed for approximately 800 milliseconds after signal input has stopped like VOX delay This setting is especially well suited for CW modes but can be used in most other modes as well When the Delay switch released OUT the delay lowers to about 28 milliseconds This setting is suitable for CW QSK operation and for modes that require fast turn around times like Packet It is also the best position for many other digital modes like PSK 31 and MT63 Note that the operation of this switch was reversed on the early Rev B and Rev C SignaLink models VISIT OUR WEB SITE If you have Internet access please visit our web site at http www tigertronics com Our site contains the latest news about Tigertronics products support information and other information of interest to all Hams and SWLs This is also the best source for downloadable programs that work with our products We also have all of our distribution software and documentation available for download as well The site is updated often so stop in on a regular basis and get the latest news and updates YOUR COMMENTS WELCOME Tigertronics has made every effort to make the SignaLink the best product possible We welcome any comments or suggestions that you would like to make Please drop us a note to let us know about your experiences tips you would like to share with ot
4. SignaLink is very easy to install and operate However if it is not installed and operated correctly you will not realize its best performance and in extreme cases you can damage your other equipment Therefore it is extremely important that you take the time to read these installation instructions carefully to avoid any possible problems If after completing the installation you have any difficulty please refer to the Troubleshooting section near the end of this manual It covers most of the common problems that you might run into Technical Support for the SignaLink is also available if you need it Please see the Technical Support section of this manual for more information WHAT YOU WILL NEED If you purchased the optional SignaLink Accessory Kit then you should have everything that you need to complete the installation and start operating If not then you will need to purchase the following items from your local electronics supply store e You will need two Shielded audio cables with a 3 5mm stereo plug installed on each end These cables must be long enough to attach the SignaLink to your sound card s Mic and Speaker jacks e If your radio does not provide speaker audio on the microphone connector see your radio manual then you will also need one shielded audio cable with 3 5mm mono plug installed on each end This cable is to connect your radio s External Speaker or Headphone Jack to the SignaLink
5. mic ground it may have a slight resistance to chassis ground Any other ground pin should test very close to zero ohms If you do not get the expected continuity in this test try checking against the numbers in the reverse order 1 8 2 7 3 6 etc It would probably be very helpful to make a new table using the reversed number sequence to avoid mistakes This step should establish whether or not the radio connector is reverse ordered and allow you to correct the numbers on your table Once you are confident about the ground lines you can move on to other pins If your radio had Accessory Power you should be able to turn ON the radio and use your multimeter volts scale to test for power on the appropriate pin of JP 1 You can test the PTT pin as follows First check the pin with your multimeter volts You should see a voltage on the PTT pin 5 12v when the radio is ON You should be able to key the radio by grounding the PTT line For the sake of safety you might want to ground the PTT pin through a small value resistor 100 1000 ohms in case it s not the pin you think it is Be sure your radio power is set to LOW and an antenna or dummy load is connected for this test as the radio will go into transmit with the line grounded If the Speaker signal is available on your mic connector you can try attaching a speaker or headphone to the appropriate pin on JP 1 to see if you can hear audio There is no easy way to test
6. the mic line but there will be little doubt about it if the other lines are correct The main thing you are looking for here is to determine whether or not the connector numbers are reversed on your radio If you have any unresolved errors you should double check your numbering in the Operators Manual again JP1 Radio Mic Connector O O 3 O O 7 c JO Ol O lt Ols pwr O O 4 pir O Oj 3 mic O O 2 sper O 7 O 1 Figure 1 Jumper Wiring Diagram Draw Jumper Wires Once you have verified your pin out and are comfortable with the results you are ready to label the lines in Figure 1 and draw in the jumper wires To do this you simply need to draw a line between the pins on the left of JP 1 G PWR PTT Mic amp SPKR and their appropriate match on the right side of the diagram For example draw a line between PWR pin on the left of JP 1 and the line that you labeled Accessory Voltage The PTT pin should be connected to the pin that you labeled PTT and so on An example of the Jumper Wiring Diagram for a Kenwood TS 450 is shown below JP1 Radio Mic Connector 8 Ground 7 Mic Ground 6 _ ReceiwveAudio Aall ET 5 8 VDC PWR 4 PTT 3 e MIC 2 Packet Standby PTT SPKR 1 Mic Input Figure 2 Example Jumper Wire Diagram for TS 450 VERY IMPORTANT NOTE You are about to install the jumper wires The wires must be 24ga AWG or you will damage the socket It
7. unit is OFF jumper pins 3 amp 4 For example if you only install the jumper on pins 3 amp 4 the audio jack will only be active when the SignaLink is OFF This is a nice way to mute the speaker when you are working the digital modes Note that if your radio had audio on the mic connector you can also use the rear panel SPKR connector for an external speaker This jack is wired directly to the SPKR pin on JP 1 IMPORTANT Attaching or removing an external speaker while you are using the SignaLink will change the loading on the radio s speaker circuit which will probably cause a change in the level of audio going to the sound card In this case it may be necessary to re adjust the audio level to compensate SET AUDIO LEVELS Before you operate your SignaLink on the air you will want to adjust the Receive and Transmit Audio levels Incorrect adjustment of these levels can cause poor performance or unreliable operation This procedure tells you how the levels should be set It assumes you already know how to use your computer to set sound card levels If you are not familiar with setting the sound card levels please refer to a more detailed step by step procedure for doing this in the back of the manual Before you can adjust the audio levels the SignaLink must be connected to the sound card and radio Both the SignaLink and the radio should be powered ON and a communications program that you have selected should already b
8. wall transformers to provide twice their rated output voltage This means that a typical 12 volt transformer might put out as much as 25 volts under little or no load which would exceed the SignaLink input voltage ratings Because of the very light load 10ma provided by the SignaLink you will need to select a transformer with a rated voltage well under 12 volts We would recommend a 6 volt transformer with a low current rating Below are some transformer sources that are appropriate Radio Shack P N 273 1758 6v 300ma You will also need the 2 1mm 5 5mm OD adapter plug P N 273 1716 Mouser Electronics 1 800 346 6873 P N 412 106054 6v 500ma Mouser also has a 9 Volt 200ma wall transformer P N 412 109024 that will work Digikey 1 800 344 4539 P N DPD090020 P 5 or DPD090020 P5 TC These are both 9 Volt 200 ma units that will work fine CONNECTING THE SOUND CARD The SignaLink connects to the sound card through two shielded audio cables with 3 5mm_ stereo connectors Connect one cable from the jack labeled Computer SPKR on the SignaLink to the jack labeled Speaker Output on your sound card Connect the other cable from the jack labeled Computer MIC on the SignaLink to the Microphone Input on the sound card Note that if you normally have speakers connected to your sound card and want to keep them connected while the SignaLink is installed you will need to use a stereo Y adapt
9. would be best to use the wires we provided for this purpose to avoid damage Install Jumper Wires Now that you know where the jumper wires go all you need to do is install them This is best done by gripping them close to the end with needle nosed pliers When pushing the wires into the socket be very careful not to bend them back and forth or they might break If you break a wire off in the socket there is no way to remove it You will have to have a new socket installed This should not be an issue if you are just a little bit careful If you plan to change the socket configuration often for different radios you might prefer to use a Dip Header for programming rather than wires The Dip Header is a small terminal block that you can solder the wires onto and then simply plug into JP 1 when it s finished This is by far the best method if you need to switch radios often The Dip Headers are available from electronic suppliers like DigiKey P N A103 ND Mouser P N 544 16PT 02 Radio Shack P N RSU11323763 Once you have all of the jumpers installed take a minute to look them over You might want to compare your jumper settings to the sample settings shown in the Jumper Settings section of the SignaLink CDROM If you are using the external SPKR or PWR input jacks on the rear of the SignaLink then you should NOT have any jumpers going to the SPKR or PWR pins on JP 1 Measure Accessory Voltage
10. Finerironics Grants Pass Oregon SignaLink Sound Card Radio Interface 154 Hillview Drive Grants Pass Oregon 97527 541 474 6700 Fax 541 474 6703 Internet http www tigertronics com Installation amp Operation SignaLink Model SL 1 i amp i On Pwr Delay PIT Aux an l amp Sound Card Radio Interface INTRODUCTION The Tigertronics SignaLink opens up a whole new world of digital communication possibilities Now you can operate all of today s most popular modes without having to purchase an expensive multimode controller The SignaLink bridges the gap between your computer s sound card and your radio to provide instant compatibility with a multitude of sophisticated communications programs Programs are available for every imaginable mode including PSK 31 MT63 RTTY SSTV APRS and Packet More than 80 programs are available through our web site alone and many more can be found by searching the Internet software archives The SignaLink is designed and manufactured using only the highest quality components Assembly is done using state of the art robotic production equipment Strict testing of every unit and our high level of quality control insures you of a premium quality product that will provide many years of dependable service A great deal of effort has gone into the design and manufacture of the SignaLink and we are very proud to make it available INSTALLATION OVERVIEW The
11. ON note the position of the slider and then increase its level by about 50 The sound card s volume level is now properly set Any further adjustments should be made using the radio s Microphone Gain control see the next step e Now that the sound card levels are set correctly you can use the radio s microphone gain control to adjust the transmit power to the desired level Before you adjust the power level you need to check your radio s manual and find out what the recommended maximum transmit level and duty cycle are Most digital modes are similar to RTTY and cannot be run at full power without damaging your radio Receive Audio Follow the steps below to set your receive audio level e Set your radio s volume control to about 25 of full volume e If it s not already running start the Windows Volume Control program again by clicking on the Start Button and selecting Programs Accessories Multimedia or Entertainment and then Volume Control e From the Options menu select Properties to display the Properties page In the Adjust Volume For window select Recording e In the Show the following volume controls window verify that the Microphone box is checked When you are done the Properties window should look similar to the one shown in Figure 8 Properties 2 x Mixer device Sound System Mixer 134 x Adjust volume for f Playback e Rican c Other foice Command od Show the
12. PECIFICATIONS Power Supply 6 75 15 VDC 13 ma max Freq Response 100Hz 30KHz In Out Impedance 600 ohm Attenuation Radio To Sound Card 200 1 Sound Card to Radio 5 1 Auto PTT Delay Fast OUT 28 ms Slow IN 800ms MOSFET Transistor Rating 15v 75 ma Max PTT Circuit Radio Connector Mic Spkr Pwr PTT RJ 45 Spkr 3 5mm Mono Sound Card Conn Mic Spkr 3 5mm Stereo Other Connectors Aux Spkr 3 5mm Mono Aux Power 2 1mm Coaxial Case Extruded Aluminum 6061T4 Dimensions 1 1 x 2 7 x 3 2 Operating Temp 30C to 60C Troubleshooting and Detailed Adjustment Procedures TROUBLESHOOTING These are the most common problems as reported by our Technical Support Staff If you cannot resolve your problem or if you do not find your problem listed here then please refer to the Technical Support section of this manual Radio Won t Transmit SignaLink s PTT Indicator Is OFF It is important to remember that the SignaLink keys the radio automatically when it detects transmit audio If the PTT light on the SignaLink is OFF then it is most likely because the sound card is not sending a signal or the signal level is too low Verify the following e Sound card not functioning properly If you are not sure if your sound card is functioning you should perform the Sound Card Test following this section e Sound card levels set too low Repeat the procedure for setting the a
13. Volume and Microphone Volume to 50 This setting should be adequate for normal operation All further adjustment of receive level within your communications program should be done with the radio volume control GENERAL RADIO SETTINGS After performing the initial sound card level adjustments you will normally only need to adjust the mic gain and speaker volume when operating your programs The mic gain will control your output power and speaker volume will control the audio level going to the sound card Most programs include guidelines for making these adjustments IMPORTANT Virtually all communications programs require that you TURN OFF any Speech Processing or Compression features in your radio This is to insure RF linearity You must also TURN OFF your VOX circuit when using the SignaLink SIGNALINK OPERATION Operation of the SignaLink is very simple The SignaLink receive circuitry is active at all times You do not need to turn the SignaLink ON to receive signals through it The transmit circuitry is only active when the unit is turned ON When active the SignaLink will trigger your radio s PTT whenever it sees sound card activity so it is important to keep it turned OFF when it is not in use to prevent accidental transmissions Perhaps the only other thing that needs to be understood is the function of the front panel Delay switch This switch is used to control the Hang Time
14. e installed on your computer Note that you will be using the communications program to generate the audio tones that are used to adjust the level controls so CW programs should NOT be used unless they have a continuous Tune mode A PSK 31 program like DigiPan is ideal for making these adjustments e Transmit Audio For this test you can set your radio to SSB and turn the mic gain all the way down so that it will not actually transmit Select TUNE in your communications program Call up the Volume Control Panel and select Adjust Volume For Playback Make sure that the Master Volume and Wave Volume are not muted check box Adjust the Master Volume for 75 of full volume Next set the Wave Volume to zero and then advance it slowly noting the point where the SignaLink PTT light illuminates Increase the level to a point about 50 higher than the point where PTT activates This should be the optimum setting for the transmit controls Turn TUNE off when you are finished When using your communications program you should never have to set these levels again All further adjustments during operation should be done using the mic gain control e Receive Audio For this adjustment you need only to call up the Volume Control Panel and select Adjust Volume For Record Make sure that the Master Volume and Microphone Volume are selected check box Set both the Master
15. er lines Because the location of these signals on the Mic connector varies from radio to radio we have provided a Microphone Programming Socket see JP 1 in Figure 3 The Programming Socket provides a convenient way to route the various signals to the correct pin on the mic connector This is accomplished with press in jumper wires so no soldering is required Since the Programming Socket is a standard DIP 16 format you can also use a Dip Header Module for programming rather than wires This module approach requires soldering but does have the advantage that the resulting module can be quickly changed to re configure for different radios The Header Modules are available from Tigertronics and other suppliers like DigiKey and Mouser Signal Lines Every installation requires connecting to at least three of the mic connector pins These are Mic Input PTT and Ground On many radios there are actually two ground connections Mic Ground amp PTT Ground The Programming Socket has multiple ground G connections for this reason On many radios the mic connector also provides access to Supply Voltage and Speaker Audio Supply Voltage has already been discussed in the section on Connecting Power If your radio has power available on the mic connector then you will be instructed to connect it later in this section If Speaker Audio is not available from the mic connector on your radio then you will need to ins
16. er cable on the sound card output We have supplied a Y adapter in our Optional Accessory Kit for your convenience IMPORTANT NOTE We do not recommend the use of a Y adapter unless you are using amplified speakers Conventional speakers often times cause slight overloading of the sound card output which results in minor distortion This distortion is generally not noticeable to your ear but can greatly impact the quality of some digital modulation signals like PSK 31 It is generally preferred not to leave the speakers connected unless they can be switched OFF when not in use You will find most of the digital modulation schemes very loud and very annoying anyway CONNECTING THE RADIO CAUTION Before connecting the SignaLink to your radio read this entire section thoroughly Both the SignaLink and your radio can be damaged by improper installation The SignaLink attaches to the radio through an 8 pin RJ 45 connector located on the rear of the unit A radio cable with the appropriate Mic connector for your radio was supplied with the SignaLink for this purpose One end of this cable plugs into the SignaLink s RADIO connector and the other end plugs into the radio s microphone connector This cable brings all of the radio s microphone lines into the SignaLink so that you can connect to any line that is required The SignaLink uses the radio s Ground PTT Speaker Output Mic Input and Accessory Voltage pow
17. following volume controls _ Post Mix V Microphone V CD Line Figure 8 Recording Properties e Click OK to close the Properties window e The Volume Control panel should now show only the Recording controls It should look similar to the picture 11 shown in Figure 9 Recording Control fel E3 Options Help Microphone CD Line Balance Balance boys Volume M Select T Select Advanced Sound System Mixer 134 Figure 9 Record Level Controls e Set the sound card s Master Volume and Microphone Level controls to mid range Verify that these controls are selected by the Select check box below each control If only one level control can be selected at a time then select the Microphone input NOTE The Master Volume control may not be shown e The sound card s volume levels are now properly set Any further adjustments should be made using the radio s Volume control Click the X in the upper right hand corner of the Volume Control window to close it and save your settings SignaLink and AutoPTT are trademarks of Tigertronics Copyright 2001 2005 Tigertronics All Rights Reserved NOTE This manual updated for SignaLink Rev D units 10 1 05 Rev D Notes
18. her users or how we might do a better job for you LIMITED WARRANTY Tigertronics warrants the SignaLink to be free of defects in material and workmanship for a period of 90 days from the date of shipment Tigertronics will repair or replace at its option any parts found to be defective during the warranty period This warranty does not include any unit that has been subject to misuse neglect improper installation or operation This warranty is in lieu of all others express or implied and no person or representative is authorized to assume for Tigertronics any other liability in connection with the sale or use of this product Tigertronics will not be responsible for any expense or loss of revenue or property incurred by the user due to operation or malfunction of this equipment Tigertronics reserves the right to make circuit or component changes or to incorporate new features at any time without obligation RETURN POLICY A Return Material Authorization Number RMA must be obtained from the factory before any product will be accepted for return or repair Items received at the factory without an RMA clearly marked on the OUTSIDE of the package WILL BE REFUSED Items being returned must be sent prepaid Returned items should have a note attached showing the RMA customer name return address phone number and action requested Units being returned for watranty repair must be accompanied by a copy of the original sales
19. ies page The Volume Control panel should now show only the Recording controls It should look similar to the picture shown below Recording Control iii Ea Options Help Microphone CD Line Balance Balance Volume Volume I Select T Select Advanced Sound System Mixer 134 Figure 4 Record Level Controls Set the Sound Card s Master Volume and Microphone Level controls to mid range Verify that these controls are Selected by the Select check box below each control If only one level control can be selected at a time then select the Microphone input NOTE The Master Volume control may not be shown Click on the X in the upper right hand corner to close the Volume Control Your new settings will be saved automatically Now that the recording and playback controls are set to a usable level we are ready to record and playback a test sound Start the Sound Recorder program by clicking on the Start Button and selecting Programs Accessories Multimedia or Entertainment and then Sound Recorder The Sound Recorder program should look like the picture below Note the location of the Record Stop and Play buttons qj Sound Sound Recorder oi a x File Edit Effects Help E Position 0 00 sec 0 00 sec Play Stop Record Figure 5 Sound Recorder Screen Shot To begin recording click the Record button If everything is working correctly you will see the posit
20. invoice showing the date of purchase Customers wishing to return a product for REFUND for ANY REASON must receive an RMA within 15 days from the shipping date shown on the original sales invoice Customers returning products for refund will be charged a Restocking Fee equal to 20 of the purchase price to cover the cost of re testing and re stocking Products that have been damaged or modified in any way may not be returned Contact our Technical Support department for the RMA TECHNICAL SUPPORT BEFORE YOU CALL The vast majority of technical issues can be resolved with the information that is available in this manual and on our web site If you thoroughly investigate these resources you will probably never need to call Please take some time to read through this manual and then check the online support resources to be sure that you have the most current software and documentation available Thank you If you encounter a problem that you cannot resolve with the SignaLink not software please contact our Technical Support Staff at 541 862 2639 They are available every Monday Wednesday and Friday from 1 00 PM to 5 00 PM Pacific Time Be sure to have your equipment available for testing when you call Please DO NOT mail email or fax your technical inquiries We realize that calling is a little more expensive but more can be accomplished in a few minutes on the phone than can be done in hours of writing GENERAL S
21. ion slider moving from left to right and the Position display incrementing You should also see the scope display in the center of the program window track the audio signal If nothing happens or if you get an error message then see the Sound Card Problems section below If everything appears to be working then let the program record for a few seconds and then click the Stop button We now have a test sound recorded that we can play back through the speakers To play the sound click the Play button You should hear the sound through your computer speakers If you do then you can close the Sound Recorder program Your sound card is functioning correctly If you don t hear the sound playback then you need to proceed to the Sound Card Problems section Sound Card Problems While Tigertronics does NOT provide support for sound card problems we have listed a few troubleshooting tips here to help you with some of the most common problems If you are unable to resolve a problem with your sound card then you will need to contact your computer s manufacturer or a computer repair shop for help If the record and playback features of the Sound Recorder program seem to work but no sound is ever heard or seen on the scope display then check the level controls You might have one of the volume controls muted de selected or set too low If the volume controls look ok then check your cabling Verify that the cables have the right t
22. just your sound card and radio audio levels for optimum performance Before you can adjust the audio levels the SignaLink must be connected to the sound card and radio Both the SignaLink and the radio should be powered ON and a communications program that you have selected should already be installed on your computer Note that we will be using the communications program to generate the audio tones that are used to adjust the level controls so CW programs should NOT be used unless they have a continuous Tune mode A program like DigiPan is ideal Transmit Audio Follow the steps below to set your transmit audio level e Start the communication program and leave it in Receive mode e Run the Windows Volume Control program by clicking on the Start Button and selecting Programs Accessories Multimedia or Entertainment and then Volume Control The Volume Control panel should look similar to the one shown in Figure 6 E Master Volume iof xi Options Help Master Volume CD Line Wave MIDI Balance Balance Balance Balance lt Y x _ A Ne _ s Ra RI RASNA Volume Volume Volume Wicd Mute T Mute IV Mute Sound System Mixer 134 Figure 6 Volume Control Panel e From the Options menu select Properties to display the Properties page In the Adjust Volume For window select Playback 10 In the Show the following volume controls window verify that
23. page In the Adjust Volume For window select Playback e In the Show the following volume controls window verify that the Master Volume and Wave controls are selected The Properties Page should look like the one shown in Figure 2 Note that the Master Volume control may be labeled Volume Control Properties Mixer device Sy gt Adjust vokume for Playback C Recording Other foice Cormmand Show the follovang volume controls M Master Volume M CD Line M Wave MIDI Figure 2 Sample Properties Page Click OK to close the properties page The Playback volume controls should now be displayed Set the Master Volume and Wave controls to 1 2 of full volume Verify that the Master Volume and Wave Level controls are NOT muted The Balance controls should be left in their center position From the Options menu select Properties to display the Properties page In the Adjust Volume For window select Recording In the Show the following volume controls window verify that the Microphone box is checked When you are done the Properties Page should look similar to the one shown below Properties 2 x Mixer device Sound System Mixer 134 x Adjust volume for Playback Recording C Other oice Command Show the follovang volume controls Post Mix Mi Microphone M CD Line Figure 3 Record Properties Click OK to close the propert
24. r output for this purpose Disconnect ALL CABLES from the SignaLink before you start this test e Using a stereo cable connect the Speaker or Headphone output of your radio to the SPKR jack on the rear of the SignaLink Be sure to use the jack that s labeled SPKR not the one labeled Computer SPKR e Using another stereo cable connect the SignaLink s Computer MIC jack to your sound card s Microphone input jack not the Line Input Make sure no other cables are connected Before we can record a signal we need to adjust the radio and computer volume controls Please note that the volume settings used here are for test purposes only The controls will need to be re adjusted later using the procedure found in the Adjusting Audio Levels section of this manual For now adjust the audio level controls as follows e Set your radio s volume control to half of full volume e Run the Windows Volume Control program by clicking on the Start Button and selecting Programs Accessories Multimedia or Entertainment and then Volume Control The Volume Control panel should look similar to the one shown below E Master Volume amt x Options Help Master Volume CD Line Balance Balance b F Ve F Ss Volume Volume 7 T Mute al VV Mute Sound System Mixer 134 Figure 1 Volume Control Panel e From the Options menu select Properties to display the Properties
25. requency etc radio wave propagation problems can often prevent you from receiving Some modes are more susceptible to this than others For example even though PSK31 usually works very well with weak signals sometimes even strong PSK31 signals cannot be copied at all because of multipath and Doppler Shift propagation problems Other modes like HF Packet and RTTY do not work well with weak signals and are susceptible to multipath and Doppler Shift Windows System Sounds Cause The SignaLink To Transmit Since the SignaLink is activated by sound card output it is important that it is turned OFF when not in use The sounds that are generated by Windows during different system events Startup Shutdown File Close etc can be transmitted if they are inadvertently sent to the SignaLink TESTING YOUR SOUND CARD If you are having unexplainable problems or are simply not sure if your sound card is working at all you can use the following test procedure to verify sound card operation This test uses the Sound Recorder program that comes with Windows to test your sound card s record and playback functions Before you begin the test you need to verify that your computer speakers are plugged into the sound card and that all programs that use the sound card are closed To test the record function of the sound card we need to have an audio source connected to the sound card s Microphone input We will use your radios external speake
26. so it can be relatively short A length of two feet is about right To verify your radio wiring you will need a multimeter A 3 32 Allen Wrench will be needed to remove the SignaLink s cover and needle nosed pliers would be very helpful to install the programming jumpers You will need some software for testing when the installation is complete Sample software selections for popular modes PSK 31 RTTY CW etc are supplied on the optional Accessory Kit CDROM If you did not purchase the accessory kit then you will want to select some software from our web site and download it for installation and testing CONNECTING POWER CAUTION Before applying power to the SignaLink read this entire section thoroughly Both the SignaLink and your radio can be damaged by improper installation The SignaLink requires a power source of 6 75 to 15 volts DC at 10 milliamps This is low enough that it can usually be powered by the Accessory Voltage found on the microphone connector of most radios If Accessory Voltage is not available from the radio then power can be supplied through a 2 1mm power jack on the rear of the unit Powering From Your Radio To determine if the SignaLink can be powered from your radio you will need to check the pin out of your radio s mic connector in the radio Operators Manual Most radios have a small amount of power available typically 8v 10ma for microphone accessories DTMF pad LEDs etc
27. ssory Power Mic Ground ____ PTT or Chassis Ground Note that some radios only have one ground pin Speaker and Accy Power are not always available e Verify Pin out This step is Extremely Important since not all manufacturers use the same numbering convention for their connectors This is especially true of radios using RJ 45 mic connectors This brief verification process could ward off a major disaster when you turn on the power This procedure verifies that the pin numbers which you just identified in the Operators Manual do in fact match the numbers identified on the Programming Socket The easiest way to do this is to use a multimeter to verify some of the more important lines Before you start you will need to make sure the radio power is OFF make sure NO JUMPERS are installed in JP 1 and the supplied cable is connected between the SignaLink and the radio Note that you should not find the lines scrambled They will either be in the correct order or they will be completely reversed pin 1 8 2 7 3 6 etc First check the Ground pin or pins recorded earlier You can do this by checking for continuity between the radio chassis and the pins numbered on_ the Programming Socket JP 1 JP 1 is a very convenient place to probe since it is wired 1 1 to every pin on the radio connector You will be checking against the numbers you recorded earlier from the Operators Manual Note that if your radio has a separate
28. tall a short 2ft jumper cable from the External Speaker or Headphone jack on your radio to the SPKR jack on the rear panel of the SignaLink If this signal is available on the mic connector then you will connect it later in this section Before proceeding with jumper installation you should verify in your radio manual that the radio PTT requirements do not exceed the specifications of the SignaLink keying circuit Verify that the PTT is Grounded to make the radio transmit and the PTT signal does not exceed 15 volts 75ma This is well within the ratings of all modern radios but could be a problem on some older rigs If your radio exceeds these specifications or requires some other keying arrangement then you will need to key the radio using a low voltage low current relay Identifying Jumper Locations This is a two step process First we will identify the mic connector pin out and then we will verify that they are correct The verification process is very important since incorrect wiring could damage your equipment The final steps will be to draw a wiring diagram using Figure 1 and actually install the jumpers e Lookup Mic Pin out In your radio s Operator Manual find the page that identifies the pin out of the microphone connector Using the manual identify the pin numbers assigned to the following signals and record them below ____ PTT Sometimes called Standby ____ Mic Input Speaker Audio Acce
29. the Master Volume and Wave level controls are selected When you are done the Properties Page should look like the one shown in Figure 7 NOTE The Master Volume control may be simply labeled Volume Control Properties x Mixer device Sound System Mixer 134 gt Adjust volume for Playback C Recording C Other Show the following volume controls Vi Master Volume Mi CD Line v Wave v MIDI Cancel Figure 7 Playback Properties Click OK to close the Properties page Set the sound card s Master Volume control to approximately 75 of full volume Set the sound card s Wave level control to minimum The Balance controls should be left at their center position Verify that the Master Volume and Wave level controls are NOT muted check box Any other controls that you are not using can be muted to reduce the amount of noise picked up by the sound card Verify that all special audio processing features are turned OFF This includes features like Mic Boost Bass Boost Audio Expander etc These features must be turned OFF or they will distort your transmit audio Put your communications program into transmit mode If the program has a Tune or Adjust Transmit Drive mode then select it The SignaLink s PTT light should be OFF at this point Now slowly slide the sound card s Wave level control up until the PTT LED turns ON When the LED turns
30. udio levels from the sound card see Adjusting Audio Levels e Sound card cables reversed Make sure you have not reversed the mic spkr cables to the sound card and that they are plugged into the correct sound card jacks Most sound cards are poorly marked so you may need to refer to your computer s manual to verify the correct jack location Radio Doesn t Transmit Even Though The SignaLink s PTT Indicator Is ON If the SignaLink s PTT light comes on but the radio doesn t transmit then you have jumpered the PTT incorrectly on JP 1 This should not be an issue if you tested the PTT line as outlined in the jumper section If you find ANY jumper connected wrong then we recommend that you go through the entire jumper installation procedure again Radio Transmits But Power Output Is Too Low Power is normally adjusted using the radios mic gain control If the gain control is fully clockwise and you still have not reached full power then you have the sound card output level set too low Review the Adjusting Audio Levels section of the manual again My Transmit Signal Is Wide Or Distorted This is generally the result of over driving your radio or having forgotten to turn off your speech processor compressor Some radios simply do not perform well at full output in applications like PSK 31 Try turning the mic gain down to reduce distortion and see if it improves the quality of your signal I Can t Seem To Receive There are se
31. veral possible causes for this problem e Sound card not functioning properly If you are not sure if your sound card is functioning you should perform the Sound Card Test following this section e Sound card or radio level controls set too low or muted Because there are multiple controls that effect audio levels it is very easy to have one set wrong See the Adjusting Audio Levels section to correct the problem e Sound card cables reversed Make sure you have not reversed the mic spkr cables to the sound card and that they are plugged into the correct sound card jacks Most sound cards are poorly marked so you may need to refer to your computers manual to verify the correct jack location e Computer too slow or incompatible with software Software not configured properly Check the documentation for the program that you are using and verify that your computer meets the minimum requirements If you are using a PCI sound card make sure that the program will work with it Some programs will NOT work with PCI sound cards at all Verify that the program is configured correctly and be sure that you are using it correctly If all else fails test using a different program Why Can t I Receive Some Stations No matter how good your antenna and radio are there will always be some stations that you cannot copy even with strong signals While the reason for this may be because of operator error wrong mode or baud rate off f
32. ype of connector installed 3 5mm stereo and are plugged into the right jacks If you receive an error message when you click the Record or Play button then you need to verify that all other programs that use the sound card are closed Problems can occur if more than one program tries to access the sound card at one time If all of the other sound card programs are closed and you still receive an error message when you click the Record or Play button then your sound card or its drivers may not be installed correctly Refer to the instructions that came with your sound card or computer to re install the card and or drivers If all of the Sound Recorder control buttons Record Play etc are disabled then your sound card drivers are probably not installed correctly Refer to the instructions that came with your sound card or computer to re install the card and or drivers Note that it is normal for the Play Rewind and Fast Forward buttons to be disabled until after you have recorded a sound DETAILED PROCEDURE TO SET LEVELS This is a Step By Step procedure to assist those who are not already familiar with setting sound card levels using the Windows Volume Control Panel Before you operate your SignaLink on the air you will want to adjust the Receive and Transmit Audio levels Incorrect adjustment of these levels can cause poor reception over modulation or improper operation This procedure will show you how to ad
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