HELP! WITH FLDIGI APPLICATION--ON AN APPLE MAC

[W6PJJ]

Greetings:

I have considered using my Mac with some Digital modes. I downloaded (FLdigi) a few days ago to determine if I can make use of it. I operated digital modes for years beginning with Teletype machines back in the 60's and 70's. You can say what like about Analog but Analog allows the user to know precisely what is going on and test and trouble-shoot in the fly. In the 80's I began experimenting with Digital Modes and before the end of the Decade settled on a Kantronics PK-232 and with a number of different PCs a bag if ferrite beads and some patients I was fairly successful. I gave up on PC's about 5 years ago when I invested in several Mac Computers for my Photography Business and at the same time I reduced my activity with Digital Modes as the format progressed with newer Software generated Modes of operation. The Application (FLdigi) is a monster compared to other forms of Digital Software I have used, it is filled with many benefits and features but, so far I cannot find an in-depth user manual with Technical Support. I have read through the helps and looked at several online aids but they don't give much in the way of detail as to the more technical specifics. I have no way of seeing if the RX audio is being processed by the A/D system i.e there is no evidence of activity on a Tuning Indicator. I expected that there would be some form of tuning indicator on the main page of the application. Apparently the Waterfall screen can serve this purpose but there is no appearance of incoming digital information or presence of Audio into the A/D converter. Maybe I have missed a step or two in the various setup panels but so far I'm still in question. Are there some more technical support arena's that I might visit to answer my questions? Suggestions and advice are always welcome.

73's

Don'
W6PJJ

[G6NHU]

I use fldigi extensively on my iMac and I have no problems with getting a display on the waterfall. Without knowing what radio and interface you're using it's difficult to offer advice though.

I have a Kenwood TS-590S and that has its own sound card built in along with a USB interface so it simply appears as another audio device within OSX. I just select the appropriate device in fldigi and Bob's your uncle, it works.

[W6PJJ]

I use fldigi extensively on my iMac and I have no problems with getting a display on the waterfall. Without knowing what radio and interface you're using it's difficult to offer advice though.

I have a Kenwood TS-590S and that has its own sound card built in along with a USB interface so it simply appears as another audio device within OSX. I just select the appropriate device in fldigi and Bob's your uncle, it works.

Well, I imagine your correct I neglected to include the Transceiver. Presently I am using a Ten-Tec 585 the Paragon but, may decide to use a Yaesu FT-847. At the time of this writing I am having some marginal success. The greater problem is I cannot find a comprehensive set of instructions or procedures on the World Wide Web. I'm quite used to Schematics, Instruction and User Manuals but have not been very successful locating one on the Internet or on Forums. I pick up a tidbit here and there. I have learned more about the tuning Eye as they used to call them in the RTTY world and with more practice, reading and time... I would imagine we shall get there from here. Plug-n-Play has spoiled many of us even those who enjoy the technical aspect of interfacing Computer to Radio. I have done quite a bit of reading online about various interfaces, they are all pretty simple, no real DSP processing takes place there and as the Matre d. they have isolation, impedance maintenance and generate PTT duties for the Transmitter Receiver Interface. This interface I am very capable of building I cut my teeth back in the 60's with the Old Steel Mills, a 2B Strip Printer & Model 19 and when I was walking in tall cotton, a Model 28 KSR. You had to build your TU Loop supplies and the like... commercial equipment in those days was rare and when you found one you had to have a bucket of money to pry it loose from the owner. I much prefer todays method, no mechanical mill pounding away shaking the floor, no more tweaking, oiling and changing of messy ribbons. But, in those days it was mostly Analog, you could use test equipment to trouble shoot and did not have to chase around the WWW trying to find a Schematic. TNX for your reply, I will continue to browse the WWW for some good reading and technical notes.