[bars] PSA for FT8/FT4 users - HOLD TX FREQ

[Adam Smith]

Chris, All -

One thing that wasn't clear to me as a new FT-mode operator (I'm still not
a very regular user) was how I should control power output.  There are many
positions taken / methods used if you search for this online.  Since you're
basically using USB from the radio's perspective, the actual transmitted
power is controlled both by the power setting in the radio, and the
settings in your computer & software which create the audio input.

The advice I've gotten most from operators I trust is - set the radio to
the maximum intended power level.  E.g. on a desktop rig this could be
100%/100W, or say half that if you want to de-rate for digital mode duty
cycle.  Then use the power output slider at the lower right side of the
WSJTX interface to control the actual output level.  Make sure that Windows
(or other OS, but Windows always seems to change things when you're not
looking) isn't applying some other level control (there are per-interface
and sometimes per-program settings in the Sound control panel or whatever
it's called).  Watch the meters on the radio to assess your actual peak
output and to make sure that ALC is not reaching 100%, which will cause you
to splatter.

Probably a good idea to start with low power and ramp up after you show
that you have the audio and control paths working.  You can also check that
audio is being sent by routing it to the speakers instead of to the radio
audio interface.

If you come back to the setup after having things disconnected (or after
Windows has updated), and find that you seem to have no output, check the
settings on the computer side first.  Especially on Windows I find that
often the COM port has changed, or gotten disconnected from the digimode
program, or something ... or the audio/"mixer" settings have changed and
are sending the output to the wrong place.  Related to that - make sure
that you're not sending *all* sound from your computer to the rig audio
interface when it's plugged in - including beeps/alerts, music you're
playing, etc.

Again, I'm not the most regular FT* user, but you asked for some
starting-point tips and those are things I've run into while dabbling with
FT-x, Feldhell, js8call, etc.  Glad to hear from others too.

73,
Adam / AA1N

On Sun, May 4, 2025 at 11:14 PM Tim - K1DC via bars <bars at w1hh.org> wrote:

> Congrats, Chris!
>
> Please ping me if you have questions.
>
> Tim/K1DC
> On 5/4/2025 16:00, Christopher Lennon wrote:
>
> Well thanks for the encouragement all.
>
> It turns out that getting receive to work was as simple as connecting all
> the cables together and turning it on.  Getting it to transmit was another
> matter.  Hours of YouTube videos later and the settings were right and the
> G90 quirk that line input gain needs to be maxed out.
>
> I didn't call CW, so I didn't show up on the psk reporter, but I completed
> a QSO with KU4OC.
>
> Thanks!
> Chris
> W2BPL
>
> PS I had hold TXfreq checked!
>
> --
>
> Courageously sent from a non-Apple device that *includes* a headphone
> jack.
> ------------------------------
> <https://k1dc.com/img/k1dc-qsl-card-front.png> Tim Carter - K1DC
> +1.978.710.0133 <1.978.710.0133>
> k1dc.radio at gmail.com
> https://k1dc.com
>
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>
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