ts530s and digi modes

[MM0CJT]

Has anyone used the ts530s and a soundcard interface and has had success.

what were the problems in getting this working.

what software did they use.

what were the radio settings.

does anyone know of any sites that would relate to this radio and data modes ( not yahoo groups )

many thanks de mm0cjt   sandy

[G0GQK]

There should be no problems if you have the correct wire connections and leave the 530 to warm up properly for at least half an hour to prevent drifting. PSK won't tolerate drifting

Mel G0GQK

[MM0CJT]

Thanks for the reply mel. The interface i built has two optos in it. It recieves very well. No acc1 socket. When i first connect it up between the radio and computer there is the clicking noise as if it is getting ready to send.the vox is on and it is well warmed up.the radio will go into transmit mode when i use the pk232 for rtty so i know that it will send.i have tried using hrd and digipan and when i transmit a macro there is nothing.i have set the radio up for that frequency on the drive and plate and i am putting out about 30 watts so thats not a problem.maybe im just not getting the correct soundcard mic level when trying to tx so and this maybe tbe problem trying to get a ballance between the radio and the computer so will have another go today.there is a remote 7 pin socket on the back of the radio could that not be wired up to as i have tried to find info on it but as usual nothingexept the pinouts for the socket.

Many thanks mel

Mm0cjt sandy

[VA7CPC]

Thanks for the reply mel. The interface i built has two optos in it. It recieves very well. No acc1 socket. When i first connect it up between the radio and computer there is the clicking noise as if it is getting ready to send.the vox is on and it is well warmed up.the radio will go into transmit mode when i use the pk232 for rtty so i know that it will send.i have tried using hrd and digipan and when i transmit a macro there is nothing.i have set the radio up for that frequency on the drive and plate and i am putting out about 30 watts so thats not a problem.maybe im just not getting the correct soundcard mic level when trying to tx so and this maybe tbe problem trying to get a ballance between the radio and the computer so will have another go today.there is a remote 7 pin socket on the back of the radio could that not be wired up to as i have tried to find info on it but as usual nothingexept the pinouts for the socket.

Many thanks mel

Mm0cjt sandy

A few questions:

. . . Does the interface you built have transformers?  "Two optocouplers" sounds strange, to me -- I didn't know
. . . . . they worked for analog signals.

. . . What is the pinout for the 7-pin socket? 

. . . Are you feeding audio from the soundcard "Line out" or "headphone" jack, through the interface, to the
. . .      radio's "microphone in" socket?

My _guess_ is that the PK232 uses "FSK keying" when you run RTTY.  That's a different method of modulation than what you need for PSK31.  FSK changes a control voltage to switch the radio from MARK to SPACE frequency. 

       Charles

[MM0CJT]

Hello charles and many thanks for the feedback.

Please accept my apologies as it is 2 tansformers and not opto's

The diagram that i am using is at the link below under isolated interface in section 2
http://www.eqso.org/faq/ptt-Interface-Circuits.htm

Basically the AF comes from the headphones socket on the radio to the circuit board

There is a audio cable to line in of soundcard from interface

There is a audio cable from line out of soundcard from interface

There is a 9 pin rs232 plug from interface to comport 1 for ptt

The 7 pin remote wiring is as follows

pin 1 spkr out
pin 2 relay common gnd
pin 3 ptt for footswitch
pin 4 relay close on transmit
pin 5 relay open on transmit
pin 6 alc input
pin 7 12 vdc on tx (10ma max)

many thanks mm0cjt  sandy

[VA7CPC]

Two comments:

1) Since the 7-pin connector doesn't have a "modulator" or "data in" or "audio in" pin, you can probably forget about it.

2) There's a missing part in your description of the interface:

. . . . How does the AF modulating signal (the "soundcard output") get from the interface to the rig?

We'll solve this one yet . . .

                Charles

[MM0CJT]

hi charles.

There is a cable connected to p12 positive and p11 negative going to a mono jack on the phones socket of the radio.


mm0cjt  sandy

[VA7CPC]

Two transformers is good!

If you press the "XMIT" button on PSK31 software, two things happen:

(1) a pin on a COM port (either DTR or RTS, I think) goes from "low" to "high";
. . . the interface picks that up, and grounds the rig's PTT line;
. . .  the rig goes into XMIT mode.

(2) the soundcard starts generating an AF tone (it's a standard two-tone PSK31 "idle" signal);
. . . the interface takes that tone, and sends it to the rig's SSB audio input -- either via a "microphone" input,
. . . . . . . .or a "DATA IN" or "modulator" or "phone patch" input on the rig.

If you see the TS-530 go into XMIT mode, but the power meter isn't moving, part (1) is working OK, and part (2) isn't.

So to check:

Set the computer's soundcard level to maximum.

a)  plug headphones into the soundcard's "headphone" or "line out" jack.  If you hear a nice loud PSK31 warble when you press the software XMIT button, you have the first step working.

. . .  If not, check the software settings, ensure that the software is driving the right soundcard.

b) Re-connect the interface to the computer.   Get access to the interface's "AF transmit" line, that feed the rig's microphone or modulator input.   Connect a headphone to that line (and ground).  When you press the software's XMIT button, you should hear a PSK31 tone in the headphones -- maybe softer than from the soundcard.

If you can't hear anything, either the interface is not working, or (if it has a volume control) the volume control is set to 0.

If you _can_ hear a PSK31 tone, and you're using the correct pins to get the signal into the rig, something is wrong with the rig or its settings.  Either wrong MODE (should be SSB or PACKET, _not_ RTTY), or something is actually broken in the rig.

I assume you've worked voice SSB, and everything is OK with that.

When you get some power out, you must reduce the soundcard output level until you have _no ALC_ on the TS-530.  PSK31 is a "continuous duty" mode, and you'll be safe running 1/2 power or below.

Keep on plugging . . .

               Charles

[MM0CJT]

Hi charles, i have managed to get it transmitting psk31 at last as it was just a case of getting the radio settings on the front correct.

i am going to try some settings regarding getting the alc reduced but keep the power level up.

i used a reciever to check to see if the radio was transmitting and it was looking good.

so if i have anymore questions i will come back to you.

many thanks for your help

mm0cjt   sandy