VSC Digital Bridge - Excalibur

[chrissim]

Hello:

I take it that there's no other way to use decoding programs such as fldigi unless I purchase the digital bridge for the G31DCC?

I currently use two separate computers in conjunction with multiple receivers. I'd like to use only one PC - the one that controls the Winradio, to decode. It's inconvenient to fire up another PC and receiver to decode an SSTV transmission or WEFAX, etc.

Fifty bucks isn't bad for the software, but in some way I see it more as principle. I have a few receivers that mate seemlessly with third party software via PC soundcard and cable.

So then, no alternatives?

Thanks.

 

[DSheirer]

Have you tried Virtual Audio Cable VAC?

 

[DaveNF2G]

The absolute best place to get information and help for running SDR with a USB TV stick is the SDRSharp forum on Yahoogroups. The main program and plugin developers are there and very little of what happens in that group is repeated here.

 

[chrissim]

I have tried virtual audio cable: no luck unfortunately. After reading the description of VAC, sounded like it does what Winradio's program does, but it didn't work.

As for the other reply, I'm not sure why I would use a USB TV stick or SDR sharp. They simply don't fit into the equation. This is in reference to the Winradio Excalibur and using a decoder. As an example, if I use my Ten-Tec, I can use an audio cable going from either the line out or the headphone input to the mic jack of my PC or laptop - use any decoding program (I like fldigi), and decode the output.

The Excalibur operates from a USB to PC only, no other physical input exist (other than antenna of course). Winradio's solution is to purchase their digital bridge. I thought there must be some other way to do the same thing for free that Winradio charges for.

Thanks for the replies.

 

[chrissim]

HA! I was terribly wrong. VAC does indeed work, just took some adjusting.

So then, it's verified. Virtual Audio Cable (free) works just fine for decoding weather charts. Fun stuff.

Thanks again for the replies.

 

[Token]

The absolute best place to get information and help for running SDR with a USB TV stick is the SDRSharp forum on Yahoogroups. The main program and plugin developers are there and very little of what happens in that group is repeated here.

The OP was not asking about either a USB TV stick or SDR#, or did I miss something?

T!

 

[Token]

HA! I was terribly wrong. VAC does indeed work, just took some adjusting.

So then, it's verified. Virtual Audio Cable (free) works just fine for decoding weather charts. Fun stuff.

Thanks again for the replies.

This question, about VAC, how to use it, when to use it, etc, seems to come up often. But I don’t really understand why it gets asked in the first place.

At my primary listening desk I have multiple PCs (5) and run multiple SDRs (6), including the Excalibur and the Excalibur Pro. I do decoding or audio recording on every PC, either from the attached SDR or from one of the external audio mixers. I have never owned or required Virtual Audio Cable or any similar program. The PCs run one of several OS’s, three are XP Pro, one is Vista, and one is Win 7.

On every PC I have been able to select “Stereo Mix” or “Wave” as the default recording device. Once that is done the audio from the SDR is the primary recorded audio, and assuming the decode / record software allows selection of “Primary record source” then the audio goes where needed.

For example, my G33DDC Excalibur Pro is on a Windows 7 Pro machine. To get the audio from the Excalibur to Fldigi I right click the Speaker icon in the system tray (lower right corner). I then select “Recording Devices” from the provided list. Click on “Stereo Mix” and then select “Set Default”. If “Stereo Mix” is not on the list right click in the white area below the last available option and make sure there is a check mark by both of the options, “Show Disabled Devices” and “Show Disconnected Devices”. “Stereo Mix” should now be on the list and settable as Default, if not it will take more detailed trouble shooting.

Hit “Apply” and “OK” and the window should go away.

How the application you want to use is set to take Default Record source varies with the application, but I will use the example of Fldigi.

Open Fldigi. Under the “Configure” menu pull down to “Sound Card”. Under the “Audio” tab ensure that “PortAudio” is check marked. Make sure the “Capture” selection says “Primary Sound Capture Driver”. Hit “Save”. Close and reopen Fldigi, and all should be good to go.

Variations of this same effort have worked on all of my PCs / SDRs and with all of my applications I want to get sound to. There are one or two applications that are a pain in the rear, some of them wanting to, for example, default to say “microphone”. In the worst case application I have had to ensure every time I light it off that the correct record source is selected.

T!

 

[DaveNF2G]

The OP was not asking about either a USB TV stick or SDR#, or did I miss something?

T!

No, you didn't. I did. I apologize for being off-topic in this thread.

 

[chrissim]

Token:

Thank you for the tip. I never considered using your method. Using available resources makes more sense of course, only I didn't know those options existed.

The problem is lack of proper and widespread documentation. I spent a solid night searching for a solution using different search terms, never once did I come across anything that remotely resembles your advice.

Thank you for the input, it's appreciated. I'll definitely give it a shot.

 

[Jim_Shaffer]

This question, about VAC, how to use it, when to use it, etc, seems to come up often. But I don’t really understand why it gets asked in the first place.

At my primary listening desk I have multiple PCs (5) and run multiple SDRs (6), including the Excalibur and the Excalibur Pro. I do decoding or audio recording on every PC, either from the attached SDR or from one of the external audio mixers. I have never owned or required Virtual Audio Cable or any similar program. The PCs run one of several OS’s, three are XP Pro, one is Vista, and one is Win 7.

On every PC I have been able to select “Stereo Mix” or “Wave” as the default recording device. Once that is done the audio from the SDR is the primary recorded audio, and assuming the decode / record software allows selection of “Primary record source” then the audio goes where needed!

Stereo Mix used to be a well-known feature. I think the reason people don't know about it so much anymore is because I've had more than one system that had it disabled by default, and if it's disabled, it's also invisible by default. I also had one motherboard that just didn't seem to support it at all.

There is, however, one application in which the stereo mix option wouldn't be appropriate: digital voice modes such as DRM. (Unless decoding programs are a lot more immune to "noise" on their input than they used to be, but in any case you wouldn't want to listen to the digital signal while you're listening to the decoded audio, and you can't mute it or you wouldn't have anything to decode.)