FT8 TX issue

[jazzboypro]

Have you checked the monitor to verify WSJT-X is coming through the USB to the radio?

Its a long shot, but you might have a PA issue. Does the radio communicate with local repeaters ok?

Yes i can hear my FT8 signal when monitor is on and yes i can still hit all the repeaters with 3 watts as i used to.

Reading back through the thread, I can't see that you've tried replacing the USB cable. Easy to do and wouldn't be the first time I've seen a bad USB cable. Try swapping the USB cable out with another.

Just tried another USB cable, same results

 

[jazzboypro]

There has been some developpement...

I just noticed that the problem only happens on VHF. When using my 8600 i decode on most HF bands without problems. On VHF i know the 9700 is putting out a signal and it was heard about 30 minutes ago on PSK Reporter and i clearly see it on the 8600 waterfall and i also hear it when Monitor is on on the 9700.

So basically both the 8600 and 9700 seems to have problems receiving FT8 on VHF but the 8600 decodes nicely on HF

 

[n5ims]

According to time.is my clock is exact. The laptop is configured to use an internet based time server (time.windows.com)

That may not be accurate enough. According to the WSJT-X User Guide ( WSJT-X User Guide (princeton.edu) )

• The built-in Windows facility for time synchronization is usually not adequate. We recommend the program Meinberg NTP Client: see Network Time Protocol Setup for downloading and installation instructions. Recent versions of Windows 10 are now shipped with a more capable Internet time synchronization service that is suitable if configured appropriately. We do not recommend SNTP time setting tools or others that make periodic correction steps, WSJT-X requires that the PC clock be monotonically increasing and smoothly continuous.

Having a PC clock that appears to be synchronized to UTC is not sufficient. “Monotonically increasing” means that the clock must not be stepped backwards. “Smoothly continuous” means that time must increase at a nearly constant rate, without steps. Any necessary clock corrections must be applied by adjusting the rate of increase, thereby correcting synchronization errors gradually.

The typical Windows time system when configured to use a time server will at best sync the time to that server when the PC is booted, but after that it trusts the PC clock to keep time which often isn't all that accurate. If you reboot often it may be OK, but if you leave your PC on, the time will drift a significant amount. That said, it appears that your current issue isn't time related, but you may still need to address this later.

The waterfall shows what WSJT-X is receiving and your screenshots do not look right. It should look like what is pictured in the above linked User Guide (Section 6.3). It's possible that you are using the wrong soundcard or your radio is configured to use a different input than its internal sound card. The screenshot you posted in post 16 above makes me think that you are displaying some type of hum instead of what you should be. This could happen if the wrong input is selected or a related issue is happening. It could also happen if you are sending too much or too little audio to the software.

My suggestions at this point are:

1. Listen to your radio's audio to make sure that you hear the tones to verify that you are picking up signals. It'll sound like one or more tones being sent at the same time from the various stations transmitting at the time.
2. Change your computer's sound settings so the audio from your radio sounds like what you heard from your radio's speaker. You'll need to change so that source will go to your speakers. You'll need to reverse this setting once your testing is completed.
3. Change your computer's sound settings so the audio to your radio can be heard from your computer's speakers. You'll need to reverse this setting once your testing is completed.

Hopefully this testing will make sure that your audio is making it from your computer to the radio and from the radio to your computer. It will also make sure that you're receiving the FT8 signals as expected. Good luck!

Note: I see that there were some additional posts now and since things are working right on HF, many of my steps have been confirmed, which is good news! I'm not sure why VHF is working differently than HF, but my 991A the VHF/UHF part is different than the HF part as far as RF goes and frankly I haven't used that side much at this point. I do understand that FT8 has less activity on VHF, but if you have any at all, you should be able to make it work.

 

[jazzboypro]

That may not be accurate enough. According to the WSJT-X User Guide ( WSJT-X User Guide (princeton.edu) )


The typical Windows time system when configured to use a time server will at best sync the time to that server when the PC is booted, but after that it trusts the PC clock to keep time which often isn't all that accurate. If you reboot often it may be OK, but if you leave your PC on, the time will drift a significant amount. That said, it appears that your current issue isn't time related, but you may still need to address this later.

The waterfall shows what WSJT-X is receiving and your screenshots do not look right. It should look like what is pictured in the above linked User Guide (Section 6.3). It's possible that you are using the wrong soundcard or your radio is configured to use a different input than its internal sound card. The screenshot you posted in post 16 above makes me think that you are displaying some type of hum instead of what you should be. This could happen if the wrong input is selected or a related issue is happening. It could also happen if you are sending too much or too little audio to the software.

My suggestions at this point are:

1. Listen to your radio's audio to make sure that you hear the tones to verify that you are picking up signals. It'll sound like one or more tones being sent at the same time from the various stations transmitting at the time.
2. Change your computer's sound settings so the audio from your radio sounds like what you heard from your radio's speaker. You'll need to change so that source will go to your speakers. You'll need to reverse this setting once your testing is completed.
3. Change your computer's sound settings so the audio to your radio can be heard from your computer's speakers. You'll need to reverse this setting once your testing is completed.

Hopefully this testing will make sure that your audio is making it from your computer to the radio and from the radio to your computer. It will also make sure that you're receiving the FT8 signals as expected. Good luck!

Note: I see that there were some additional posts now and since things are working right on HF, many of my steps have been confirmed, which is good news! I'm not sure why VHF is working differently than HF, but my 991A the VHF/UHF part is different than the HF part as far as RF goes and frankly I haven't used that side much at this point. I do understand that FT8 has less activity on VHF, but if you have any at all, you should be able to make it work.

Yes much of your steps are confirmed since it works on HF. I did install the NTP client anyways...i'll keep poking around.

 

[jazzboypro]

I've played a bit with the audio settings on the laptop. Not sure if it's ok yet. I can see my own signal on the wsjt-x instance connected to the 8600



I don't understand what the frequency on the waterfall and the message window does not match the frequency at which the signal was transmitted (1550 Hz)

Again reception is ok on the HF bands.