Fix Rig & Audio Errors | WSJT-X CAT Control

[@patrickve6prmmiller605]

My USB cable from my IC-7100 to Dell Laptop has 2 clamp on Ferrite nodules installed, which did not solve the problem. I had a 3.3" MnZn PC40 Toroid in my project box, so I wound it exactly the way you did and the problem is solved! I just made 2 FT8 contacts on 80m. Thank you very much!!

[@HankBeauregard]

Your video was very helpful and got me looking in the right area. I changed the usb cable to a good quality with toroids and it helped. I was moving things around and the problem came back then I discovered the cable was laying across the top of my switching power supply. I moved the power supply and the problem is gone. This had bee driving me crazy for weeks and thanks to you it was resolved. Keep up the good work!! W1HFB

[@HamRadioDX]

Great to hear mate!

[@AmRadPodcast]

I use FT240-43 cores on my coax, at the antenna, USB cables, and control cables; lots of issues on my end, though I'm pretty much sitting on my dipole. Good advice - ferrite is the way to go. Lower frequencies, 31 mix cores. Have a nice day!

[@HamRadioDX]

Great tips and yes, I did some research and mix 31 certainly better for the lower frequencies. Interestingly most of my issues come from 30m, 20m and 17m.

[@greg5929]

I just dropped the T240 toroid with 4 turns - elimated the 80m feedback; but I do loop 8 turns of the coax feedline onto an iron fence (small 12 inch or so loop) in the backyard before the feedline penitrates the house/rig. All clean across all the other bands.

[@WC9Beau]

Thanks for making me feel better about my mess. I used the FT140-43 on my USB and my Power cable. Seems to help with noise also.

[@HamRadioDX]

G'day Beau! Haha I have mess everywhere. Did sort of a cleanup on the weekend too.

[@VK5ZSH]

I added 5 ferrite snap on beads to the usb cable and it working fine for me and it also helps with interference to the radio too ;)

[@filp999]

Your video was very helpful. I got all my error input issues resolved with your help. Thank you.

[@paulhastings3109]

The Yaesu FTDX-1200 here Been looking at Ft 10

[@winstonchurchill6506]

Been using ferrite rings since mid 1980s youngers day of cb radio.still use them so simple.cheers bud uk..

[@HamRadioDX]

Thanks Winston! Love your work

[@markwilliams6084]

Willing to try it. Cheaper option too. I am a 10 and 11 meter band user at home and mobile. Would this work for these bands ? TIA. Great video too.

[@HamRadioDX]

Yes they would Mark. For the common mode choke on your coax, check out the other video I reference in this video. There is a chart in the description that will show what toroid and how many turns to use for 10/11m. Cheers

[@GreyGhost-r4z]

Palomar-Engineers makes everything you want. Love that company.

[@benlewis7408]

Any recommendations on where to buy those toroids in VK? Tried Paloma engineers in the US and they wanted $160 postage for 4 rings!

[@HamRadioDX]

MiniKits mate - www.minikits.com.au/components/magnetics/ferrite-cores/31-material/FT240-31 www.minikits.com.au/components/magnetics/ferrite-cores/43-material/FT140-43

[@gargar8]

Same issues with IC-705 also place enough ferrite beads to make a prayer bead on the ATU to the radio and the USB cable itself , installed counterpoise and even changed the setting allowing charging by PC , Mobile and Table on the IC-705 thanks for the tips.

[@DonDegidio]

Hi Hayden, Good tips. Need to try a toroid on my USB cable. I get infrequent disconnects and all I need to do is click Retry when the dialogue box appears. Usually happens just as my FT450 goes into TX to reply. You and the family stay safe. 73 WJ3U

[@HamRadioDX]

Thanks Don, please let me know if it works. Just half a dozen turns for me, but your mileage may vary. Cheers mate

[@nejcs56ne95]

For efhw antennas: -move feed point further away from the building -add radials -if the above doesn't work use toroid cores like he said

[@michaklein1193]

Great ! works for me too.

[@thuff3207]

Not a bad idea to use a common mode choke. If you build one its a good idea to measure its real reduction of rejection. If you can get it 70 to 80db reduction you will see things work better. This reduces the need to add anything else to fight RF in the shack.

[@user-bx6vu]

Can a similar solution be used to reduce unwanted noise from LED lighting into the coax and back into the radio? If so, will it reduce the RF going out from the radio to the antenna on 144 MHz?

[@HamRadioDX]

Hey mate, check out this video here which deals with common mode current (and noise) suppression on the coax - kzbin.info/www/bejne/qGPHloWrhL19nKs

[@timkeller9087]

I had this issue with my 705, I tried on both ends of the USB but it would still happen on certain frequencies. What resolved my issue was a clamp on ferrite on the coax itself right before the connector with 2 turns.

[@HamRadioDX]

Good stuff!

[@temporarilyoffline]

That will do it.

[@HamRadioDX]

That'll do it

[@thomasmaughan4798]

An even simpler fix is just buy a long enough USB cable, 3 meters or 9 feet, and then at each end wind 6 to 10 turns and fasten with wire ties or zip ties. That chokes both ends and doesn't cost a minor fortune. Also works with antenna cable.

[@Damaniac1964]

Hi Thomas, 6 to 10 turns around what.. or just some turns.. if so what diameter? That RFI in my shack is driving me crazy ;)

[@thomasmaughan4798]

@@Damaniac1964 Just some turns. Each turn adds more inductance. How much you need depends on frequency and the magnitude of the problem. At 10 meters (28 MHz) probably only 2 or 3 turns provides an effective chock but at 80 meters I'd go with 10. It isn't a hard block; it is an impedance. You want to limit it only to the point that you don't get shocked by your own transmission or damage the transistors.

[@Damaniac1964]

@@thomasmaughan4798 Tnx Thomas, I give it a try.. I am mainly on 20 mtrs so I guess a 6 turn(ish) would get some improvement ;) Got some long USB cable around so.. appreciate the help ... 73, de PD1ECA ( Rob)

[@pc4ad]

If both are Mix-43 (I will assume it's those, using them myself as well), these are: - the large one: T240-43 - the smaller one: T140-43

[@HamRadioDX]

They are both mix 43. For the coaxial choke after doing some reading, a mix 31 is probably better.

[@pc4ad]

@@HamRadioDX I have read that too, but I am unsure (yet), will have to order some

[@wild-radio7373]

Thank you for this!♡♡♡

[@HamRadioDX]

No, thank YOU for watching Aname. Keep at it #hamharder

[@Steve-qn6bt]

Here's an odd one. I got WSJT-X working fine, made several contacts on 10 and 20 meters then on 40 meters the green receive audio level indicator on the left side of the display simply stopped responding to adjustments of either the external or internal soundcard volume or microphone level. It's stuck on whatever the last setting was, which thankfully was OK, but now I can't change it. The TX slider does work to keep the TX audio from engaging the ALC. The sound card volume control does work as it should on other things like KZbin videos. Seems like a lot of frustration just to get my laptop to say hi to other laptops.

[@aeron-mw7ofs]

Great stuff 👍👍

[@HamRadioDX]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@n1kkri]

I have a occasional RIG control drop out. I use a dedicated USB to TTL for my ICOM IC-746 and a SignaLink for the audio. I just upgraded from a perfectly working Windows 7 to Windows 10. I had it save my Files, Programs. For some reason it didn't like the driver for the Prolific USB to TTL cable. After much searching I found an older driver that worked. However just sitting there receiving after maybe 5 or 10 minutes the RIG control drops out. If I click Retry it restores it until the next drop out. WSJT-X version is 2.5.4 d28164. There is a newer version and I thought about trying it but I am thinking there could be a setting change to try before I go with the latest version. Any thoughts? thanks Ken

[@paulhastings3109]

Where do you all "everywhere " Who carries these and where on line 73 toroidal 43

[@HamRadioDX]

Hi Paul, There is a link in the description to toroids from Amazon and eBay. You can also search those part numbers and get them elsewhere. Cheers!

[@marcusm9549]

loose windows; :grin:

[@kevinkc3onohelijeepworld953]

Oh no not another 7300/9700 with rf getting into shack electronics 😳😁 I guess the torroid manufacturers are going to do well again this year. I know Ape helps bring up the palamar engineering bottom line with all the roids he buys 🤣

[@HamRadioDX]

To be fair I had these issues with my FT-991, so more the issue is the antenna than the radio. Interestingly I used to operate a 6 element 6 meter yagi which didn't have properly choke on the coax line. It used to pickup a heap of noise and also cause my radio to disconnect infrequently. I modified the yagi to a LFA loop yagi and the results were amazing. I might have to do a video one day on that.

[@mrtechie6810]

​@@HamRadioDXLFA?

[@massoud999]

Thanks, you solved my problem. Thanks for the video. 73 de 4Z5UY 🖖