WIRES-X
Help
Item 1:Yaesu System Fusion
Sites
Item 2:
WIRES-X Settings
Item 3: Mic Gain - Speech
Processing
Item 1:Yaesu System Fusion
Sites
Posted by John Kruk, N9UPC, National Sales
Manager, Amateur Division, Yaesu USA in Yaesu System Fusion Official
Group
Time to clear up some confusion that has been popping up on some
(Anti) Yaesu System Fusion sites. This is in regards to YSF and FCS
reflectors.
The first one and the biggest one is that YSF and FCS reflectors
are not owned, maintained, designed, or monitored by Yaesu in any way, shape, or
form. Yaesu System Fusion (C4FM) is an open protocol and people have made these
types of servers or reflectors for Yaesu System Fusion voice
protocol.
Some have crossed these FCS and YSF reflectors over to the
WiRES-X network but they are NOT, and I stress NOT, a direct connection to the
WiRES-X network. The only thing that can be directly connected to the WiRES-X
network is a HRI-200.
These devices have caused some audio issues especially when
doing a crossmode set-up (one digital voice mode to C4FM). This can create audio
issues or issues in where people are not heard but the callsign appears. This is
NOT a WiRES-X issue but usually a crossmode issue with the device.
Remember that these devices that give you access to these
reflectors are not true Yaesu System Fusion (C4FM) transmitters as they do NOT
have a DP-ID. Therefore, you need to be careful if you choose to block a node or
room because of the traffic or issues created by these bridges.
EXAMPLE: If you have a crossover from a device using an FCS or
YSF reflector to a WiRES-X node the node ID will be shown across the room.
Therefore, if you block that node because of issues you take out everything with
that node. Be it the users with Yaesu System Fusion radios going into the node
directly or the devices carrying the FCS or YSF reflector traffic.
WiRES-X nodes or rooms use actual numbers as the address to the
room. Therefore, when you attempt to save a room into a WiRES-X memory on a
radio they will save. If you attempt to save an FCS or YSF reflector it WILL NOT
work. EXAMPLE: Yaesu nodes start with a 1xxxx or a 3xxxx number and rooms start
with a 2xxxx or a 4xxxx number. So if you want to store say room 21001 into a
WiRES-X memeory slot you can enter 21001 or the room name. YSF reflectors do not
have a number associated with them and FCS numbers do not work. Even with FCS
the server 00x and reflector xx equal a five digital number the number would
always stat with a 0 (like 00xxx). The radio knows that 0 is not a valid number
and will not save it. It might until the radio powers off but then it will be
gone.
This is just to clear up questions about FCS and YSF that users
have had recently. This is not a post about saying which one is better than the
other. WiRES-X operation is very different then FCS and YSF operation. Thank you
for reading this and I hope that this answers peoples questions.
Item #2: WIRES-X
Settings
In order to make using WIRES-X a more pleasant
experience I would like to share a few suggestions regarding how
to setup WIRES-X.
One of the most
important adjustments is setting up your transmit audio level (mic
gain)to avoid audio over modulation and clipping. Quite often,
while listening to WIRES-X users engaged in a conversation, either
one, or both, comment that their audio is choppy, or being cutoff, some
don't just don't mention it to each other.
There are two principle reasons for this
problem, the first reason is that users fail to properly adjust their
transmit audio level within the WIRES-X software and overdrive their
transceiver transmitters which results in audio clipping, audio
clipping can be repeated through the local repeater, or on simplex
transmissions, fact is, it's just damn annoying to everyone else
listening.
The second problem has to do with incomplete
"audio packets. "Quite often when listening to conversations in progress on WIRES-X users will comment that
part of the their conversation was "chopped off" at the beginning or end
of their comments, once again, some don't just don't mention it to
each other.
What most users do not take into account is that
there's a "lag time" for the audio packets to travel from the user's node
station through the Internet network, and as I understand the Yaesu
Server has to validate each node, then to the user's receiving
node/repeater station. The user must press their PTT and allow a few
moments before beginning their transmission and allow a few extra
moments at the end of their transmission before releasing the
PTT, this allows all the hardware along the Internet path to lock
up and for the audio packets to complete the trip from node to node.
Another concern has to do with your transceiver
microphone, they're not all created equal, some mic's are hotter, or softer than
others, a transceiver with a hot mic will cause audio clipping, some users
simply speak louder into the mic while others speak more softly into the
mic. Point here is, you should set your microphone transmit audio and
receive audio levels using the built in WIRES-X software controls.
If your transceiver is equipped with an audio control
adjustment (mic gain control), or a speech compressor, you will also
need to adjust these controls in addition to the the audio adjustment
controls in the WIRES-X PC software.
Some years ago ICOM equipped a lot of their
VHF/UHF transceivers with microphones that were way too hot, in fact ICOM
actually offered a replacement chip resistor for the microphone to pad down
the audio. The down side was that unless you possessed the
equipment and skills to work with surface mounted componets, many were
not able to make the repair without damaging the
componets.
Quite often operators, especially new Hams will set
the mic gain too high and drive up the speech compression, which either causes
the audio to clip out of the pass band, or the audio generates mostly low tones
with all bass and becomes un-understandable. This can also happen if a mic is
too HOT, then one needs to back off the mic, or modify the mic. This problem can
be accentuated when going through a repeater.
Also remember if you hold your microphone too
close to your mouth, there's a good chance that you'll be over driving your
transceiver transmitter, your audio will be clipped/distored/muffled.
Lastly, if your Internet connection lacks sufficient
speed, you can experience audio packet dropouts. This can also happen if you
have networked numerous devices in your home/shack and it's being overloaded. If
your involved with running multple computers, WIRES-X, IRLP, an IMRS LAN,
wireless phones, tablets, a networked weather station, Internet gaming, TV's and
other VOIP communications, all being pumped through your router, it's best
that you contract with an Internet provider that can provide you with a "true
static IP" (connection), not dynamic, and sufficient speed to handle all the
data/devices you are, or plan to have operational in your home/shack. A
router can become a real choke point.
Generally speaking, you should use the necessary
equipment to adjust your audio levels, problem is, most do not own lab
instruments for this purpose, equipment like spectrum analyzers, oscilloscopes, tone generators, and other lab test
gear to perform these adjustments, in that case, you might be able
to request help from an Elmer, club friend, or other ham skilled in
performing these adjustments, most are willing to help if you ask. With time and
experience you will develop a feel for adjusting these settings without the need
of test instruments, however, the best way is to use appropriate test gear
for making these adjustments.
There are
temporary short term shortcuts to adjusting your audio level(s) without
employing test equipment, connect your transceiver to a dummy load, then
listen to your transmissions on a secondary transceiver, or receiver
monitor and adjust your transmit audio level accordingly.
Now Let's Discuss Sending
DTMF/Digital Tone Codes)
Most software, like WIRES-X allows
one to adjust audio levels, additionally, many modern VHF/UHF/HF transceivers
now allow one to adjust microphone audio/speech compression audio. If these
controls are not set properly you will be over driving your transmitter, which
in turn can cause "clipping", exceed deviation specifications causing your
tones not to be recognized/decoded, and cause spurious products to be produced.
There are deviation limits that must be observed.
Many transceivers like the Yaesu
FTM-100D, FTM-400XDR and many others allow one to adjust the sensitivity of
the microphone (gain), these levels can be adjusted to minimum, low, normal,
high, & maximum and you can easily overdrive your transmitter if you
speak too loudly into the microphone.
So how do I check, or make these
adjustments. Once again you will need to use the appropriate test equipment, a
tone generator, spectrum analyzer, oscilloscope, etc., and of course, you will
need the assistance of someone skilled to make these
adjustments.
Once again, there are short term shortcuts to adjusting your audio
level(s) without employing test equipment, connect your transceiver to a dummy
load, then listen to your transmissions on a secondary transceiver,
or receiver monitor and adjust your transmit audio level
accordingly.
Timing of sending tones is also important, become
acquainted with your microphone and execute the tones(s) in a uniform
manner, if you don't, you may well encounter problems with the receiving station
to properly decode your tones.
Once
again, you can request help from an Elmer, club friend, or other ham skilled in
performing these adjustments, most are willing to help if you ask. That's what
ham radio is all about, helping each other so we can share information
and learn from each other.
None of
this subject matter is intended to scare the new ham, it's intended as an aid so
ham radio will be an enjoyable experience for everyone. None of us are the
sharpest knife in the drawer, we all learn from each other, I've been learning
everyday of my amateur radio life for 38 years and I've made my share of
mistakes.
This
is the stuff they don't teach in most amateur radio license classes, just rote
memorization. Amateur radio is not "plug & play, it requires motivation to
learning and improving operating skills.
*************************
Technical
Article #1 - Mic Gain, Speech Processing (Compression), and IMD Intermodular
Distortion
Here's a little
tutorial on mic gain and speech compression that expains how it all works in a
transceiver.
New generation
multiband multimode rigs typically cover VHF/UHF/HF, these type of rigs have
independent mic gain and speech compression controls that the user can adjust
independently, older transceivers like a typical mobile rig do not allow
you to adjust mic gain or speech compression, it’s all preset in older
VHF/UHF mobile rigs.
Quite often
operators, especially new Hams will set the mic gain too high and drive up the
speech compression, which either causes the audio to clip out of the pass band,
or the audio generates mostly low tones with all bass and becomes
un-understandable. This can also happen if a mic is too HOT, then one needs to
back off the mic, or modify the mic. This problem can be accentuated when going
through a repeater.
The use of speech
processing (aka speech compression or clipping) has become the major bane
of amateur radio, especially mobile operation. It allows every little nuance of
engine noise, AC fans, the kids in the back seat, and that squeak in the left
quarter panel to be plainly heard. It is important to remember, the average
vehicle traveling at 60 mph, is at least 25 dB louder than the average living
room, and some are over 40 dB louder.
Most amateurs do not
know how to properly set their microphone and/or processing controls, resulting
in some really lousy-sounding, on-air signals. They might sound
passable when properly tuned in, but a few kHz away the distortion products (IMD
Intermodular Distortion) can be clearly heard.
It should be noted
at this point, that any form of speech processing does increase the average
power level. This fact does cause the signal to appear louder on the receiving
end. However, if used excessively, it also removes most of the nuances our brain
uses to comprehend what's being said.
Almost without exception, all
modern HF transceivers have some form of speech processing built-in
(unfortunately!). Speech compression in its simplest form, is nothing more than
an automatic level control. The softer nuances of speech are amplified more than
the louder ones. In some cases, a different (narrower) bandpass filter is used
and/or different DSP settings, and the dynamic nature of the ALC may be changed
to minimize IMD. However, over zealous use (excessive gain and compression
levels) will defeat any provision to prevent excessive IMD!
Speech
processing, however it is done, not only increases the average output power, is
also increases the average current draw! Depending on the configuration, it
could in fact double! This can easily tax the heartiest of electrical systems,
especially when running high power. As the voltage sags, the IMD goes up, and
readability decreases even more.
Here is the very best advice you'll ever
get with respect to using speech processing and/or excessive microphone gain in
a mobile—don't use it!
The problem is that
most new hams are excited with their new rig and their focus is on the new toy,
they fail to take the time to understand how the transceiver really works and
how these features affect the tranceivers overall peformance.
Unfortunately, a
lot of this is overlooked in amateur radio classes. Misadjustment of these
controls can cause all sorts of negative issues, one of which is generating
spurious emissions on the bands, something extremely frowned on by hams, their
signals spread over a wider specturm of frequency (called buck shotting), they
can even be cited by the FCC for generating spurious transmissions and even
fined (issued a forfeiture) for generating spurious emissions.
When you're running the WIRES-X PC software look at the menu bar and
you'll see an option titled "VIEW", click on it, cursor down until you see Audio
Adjustment(s) and select it, this is where you can make your audio
adjustments, I would suggest that you monitor your transmit audio utilizing
a dummy load connected to your rig during these
adjustments so you're not responsible for causing interference on the
frequency, if you have the necessary test gear, you can monitor your
audio on a spectrum analyzer, oscilloscope, and use a tone generator,
perhaps a ham friend/Elmer can help you with this, there are even some free PC
software based audio analyzers that you can use for this purpose.
Please keep in mind that the
Internet path between stations can be responsible for communications audio
packet dropouts, not all stations use the same path, Internet
communication paths can be perfect to marginal, also the speed of your hosting
provider plays a significant role in Internet communications. By all means
monitor your WIRES-X Node/Repeater, you're responsible for any interference you
cause, DO NOT LEAVE YOUR WIRES-X NODE UNATTENDED, be responsible and assign
someone as a control operator if you plan to be away from your repeater/node so
they can disable it until the issue can be resolved.
Bob Krueger,
AB7CQ
Web
Administrator
RPTR 1:
146.920/146.320 PL 123.0 (WIRES-X Room 28187)
RPTR 2:
444.600 / 449.600 PL 100 (LAN Linked)
Simplex IRLP
Node: 7515 PL114.8 (146.540)
Email: ab7cqradio@ebidpal.com
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