My experience about EasyPal with HamSphere for the Windows XP

Transcription

1 My experience about EasyPal with HamSphere for the Windows XP (One computer with one sound card) Shu JO3KLS As you know, there are too many kinds of computers which we are able to use for hobby as EasyPal with HamSphere over the internet. Further, those computers have their own characteristics on a combinational circuit of the Sound Card and it CPU. Generally, the Sound Card dose work for both of EasyPal and HamSphere as a common resource when we run both of EasyPal and HamSphere on the one(1) computer with one(1) sound card at same time. This setup gives us, some time, problem to exchange a picture over HamSphere. My experience on this setup are as follows; A) There is systematic order to run EasyPal and HamSphere at start. How are you doing at start? Do you run EasyPal first then HamSphere, or run HamSphere first then EasyPal? 1 Generally, if you are able to receive the picture from your partner then you run EasyPal first and HamSphere next, and your partner runs HamSphere first and EasyPal next as Fig.1. This combination is the best for both of you and your partner. Run EasyPal first Run HamSphere first Run HamSphere next Run EasyPal next Sound card Internet Sound card Your PC Your partner PC Fig.1 Best combination between two stations 1

2 Fig.2 shows correct EasyPal screen when you are able to receive the picture well. 1 Position of the three white lines is properly at the green makers. 2 All of Time, Frame, FAC and MSC at Sync turn green from red. 3 SNR is more than 10dB. 4 The callsign of your partner will appear Fig.2 Correct EasyPal screen when receive picture 2

3 Confirmation of setup condition at your station You yourself are able to confirm your set up condition with the three white lines in the waterfall as shown Fig.3~Fig.6. When you select Tune at Action on the EasyPal screen(fig.3), the tuning tone is generated and three white lines will appear at waterfall as Fig.4. Fig.3 Select Tune Fig.4 Three white lines at waterfall 3

4 If you run EasyPal first and HamSphere next, the three white lines will properly appear on the green makers at top of the waterfall as Fig.5. If you run HamSphere first and EasyPal next, the three white lines are off the makers slightly as Fig.6. Compare carefully Fig.5 and Fig.6. Fig.5 When EasyPal run first (Position of the three white lines is properly at green markers.) Fig.6 When HamSphere run first (Position of the three white lines is not properly at green markers.) 2 If you are not able to receive the picture from your partner then both of you and your partner doing same setup at start as Fig.7. This is meaning that both of you and your partner run EasyPal(or HamSphere) first and HamSphere (or EasyPal) next. In this case, you or your partner should shut both of EasyPal and/or HamSphere down at once. After that, you or your partner should reboot them on the contrary as Fig.1. Run EasyPal first Run EasyPal first Internet Run HamSphere next Run HamSphere next Sound card Your PC Sound card Your partner PC Fig.7 Bad combination between two 4

5 Fig.8 shows incorrect EasyPal screen when you are not able to receive the picture. 5 Position of the three white lines is not properly at the green makers. 6 All of Time, Frame, FAC and MSC at Sync are not green. 7 No SNR number. 8 No callsign of your partner Fig.8 Incorrect EasyPal screen when receive picture 5

6 Confirmation of setup condition between you and your partner It is better you ask to your partner if he/she send tuning tone before send picture. When you are receiving tuning tone, if position of three white lines is properly at the green marker as Fig.9, then you are going to be able to receive the picture from your partner. If position of your receiving three white lines is slightly off from the green marker to the left or right as Fig.10, then you are not going to be able to receive the picture from your partner. Fig.9 Fig.10 B) How to operate both of EasyPal and HamSphere When you talk to your partner, select Microphone at Recording control of sound card as Fig.12. Recording control Stereo Mix Microphone Select Fig.11 Fig.12 To indicate the Recording control of sound card as Fig.11 is the point for this operation. 6

7 When you send the picture, select Stereo Mix at Recording control of sound card as Fig.13. Recording control Stereo Mix Microphone Select Fig.13 After select Stereo Mix, click the PTT on your HamSphere and then click TRANSMIT on your EasyPal when you send the picture. After select Microphone, click the PTT on your HamSphere when you talk to your partner. How to indicate the Recording control of Sound card. At EasyPal screen, select Setup with your mouse then click RX Input(not Vista) as Fig.14. When you click RX Input(not Vista), Recording control as Fig.12 or Fig.13 will appear. Keep an indication of this Recording control during your QSO. Fig.14 7

8 How to adjust output signal level Click TX Output(not Vista) where is just below RX Input(not Vista). ume control as Fig.15 will be shown. You need only ume control and WAVE as Fig.15. Adjust level with lever at both of ume control and WAVE. Do not mute both of ume control and WAVE. ume control ume control Mute(M) Mute(M) Keep signal level within green as Fig.16 Fig.15 When you are using EasyPal, keep modulation within green level to give high SNR at your partner. You better keep this level not only for EasyPal but also for any other mode on the HamSphere. Fig.16 8

9 When I start to run EasyPal, I had an indication as like as Fig.17. It was caused by Microsoft office 2007 as Excel or Word at my PC. So that I had to remove Microsoft office 2007 as Excel or Word from my PC. Fig.17 More than 512Mb memory is recommended One of my PC can send picture but can not receive picture. It is caused by insufficient memory. Memory is only 256Mb. Further, my guess is that more than 1 GHz CPU of PC is much better to run both of HamSphere and EasyPal at same time. I do not run any other program as Skype, Echolink and so on. When I QRV on HamSphere, I run only both of EasyPal and HamSphere. I am afraid, if any other program than EasyPal and HamSphere become a cause of bad condition on HamSphere or EasyPal. When I am watching HamSphere, sometime, the signal is getting very choppy. Under this condition, I am not able to receive picture. My guess is that this is not cause of my computer but internet line condition. I use a changeover switch between speaker output and microphone input. When my sound card do not work well for both of EasyPal and HamSphere, I use a changeover switch between speaker out put and microphone input at computer as shown attached schematic diagram. Under this condition, I do not need a changeover operation between Stereo Mix and Microphone at Recording control of sound card. If I select Microphone at once, then I do not need to indicate Recording control as Fig.11. I recommend you operate both of EasyPal and HamSphere in this way, if you have some problem on your sound card. As of November 9,

10 (ATTACHMENT) Schematic diagram of changeover switch (PC) EasyPal HamSphere Sound card Speaker Jack Microphone Jack (Changeover switch) A B A B A : EasyPal VR B : Voice 5 KΩ 1 KΩ Grand Speaker Microphone 10