High Noise coming into PC

The radios are Yeasue FTM-300 and FT-6000. Using the Mini Dim 10 Audio and Serial cable (did not have this issue with MiniDim 10 Audio cable.)
Tested with both USB C and USB A cables.

To get a little control over the noise, I added ferrites to the USB cables, In Mic properties, set the level at 20, AGC off, and Enable Audio Enhancements to off.

But there is still too much noise. Does anyone else have this issue?

Thanks,
W3AND

i don’t have your radios or other yaesu with the 10 pin Mini DIN.

however i would try different serial speeds if available from the radio menu.

perhaps high speed polling is noisy where lower speed may not?
crosstalk from a bent pin? cables switched/not seated?

sorry i couldn’t be more help
:slight_smile:
kb0wlf

Webmonkey,
Thanks for the reply.

I will look into the serial communication speeds, but I think it defaults to 9600.

This issue is happening with two completely separate setups.

W3AND

I have a Yaesu FTM-6000R which I use 2-10 times a week with the Digirig. I did not have this problem, after I built the following configuration.

I use a good power supply, the one recommended by my local HRO. Before I had a good PS, I used a battery when I did digital modes. The antenna is 10 ft away and 15 ft up, with a ferrite choke on the radio side of the leadline. My USB has a choke on the computer side of the cable. The Digirig audio cable has the built-in chokes.

73 Constrainted

Can you elaborate a bit on what you are calling “noise”?

Neither of these radios have any serial control.

Matt
AL0R

they do have serial programming though.

that’s what the optional cable runs lines for.

kb0wlf

1 Like

Matt,
It is a sound. It sounds like white noise. I can hear it if I set it to listen on the mic.

In FLDigi, it shows yellow across the spectrum.

Andrew

WebMonkey,
Correct on the serial connection.
The sound is only when using the Mini Dim 10 Combo cable.

Andrew

However, neither of these radios can be “used” while being programmed. Thus “serial control” is irrelevant during normal operation.

Matt
AL0R

And lowering the level in sound devices isn’t adequate?

Matt
AL0R

I used a digirig USB line isolator for my Yaesu, and placed ferrites on the power cords to my televisions, which resolved a lot of RFI, but I still have more work to do.

Matt,
Lowering the level of the microphone’s properties does not remove the sound.

Drew,
I have tried the Digirig USB cable, but it made no difference.
I have tried extra ferrets.

I examined the end of the cable for bent pins.

Thanks,
Andrew W3AND

Did you enable the attenuator? FTM6000’s typically require this.

Matt
AL0R

This is a line isolator:

USB Isolator – digirig

Drew,
The Isolator did not take the noise out.

Andrew

I want to help but its very difficult to have a full understanding of the problem by text. Are you able to upload a video with audio?

I also dont want to overexplain, so please forgive me if I do; I mean no offense. You want your transceiver squelch to be completely off with digital comms software like FLDIGI, so hearing white noise is a good thing. If your squelch is tuned to eliminate background noise, then you are not unlocking the full potential of what your system is capable of. So you should see color on your FLDIGI waterfall at all times. The white noise should be nice and smooth, like listening to the ocean. If its coarse and crackly, then you might have RFI from other appliances in your home. Those RFI sources would need to be dealt with individually and directly rather than through software settings.

I see that the radios you are using are 2m/70cm transceivers. With VHF/UHF, I turn my squelch all the way off. Then on the FLDIGI waterfall settings toward the lower left of the main screen, I set those numbers to -20 (left) and 70 (right). The actual colors of the waterfall can be changed in the configuration menu. Then I adjust my transceiver volume until the incoming audio causes the meter at the bottom of the main screen to be about -20 dB. We want the diamond shaped indicator to the right of that meter to remain green.

I am assuming you are using windows based on your description of your computer’s audio settings. I like to right click on the numbers to the right of the sliders (20, in the example you gave) and convert that measurement to dB. Then I set all sliders as close to zero dB as possible. You are right to turn AGC and enhancements off.

For the attenuation setting toward the bottom right of the FLDIGI main screen, with FM modulation over VHF/UHF I just set that to zero. This type of setup is very resistant to transmit overdriving in my experience, even with JS8Call which is very sensitive to overdriving on HF.

Drew,
I understand, and you can’t ask too much.

I’ve attached a file of the sound. The break in the sound is where I unplugged the audio cable from the DigiRig.

This is stated from the record on the laptop before going into any software. The noise is so bad that MMSSTV can not decode a graphic.

I have also attached a jpg of what the waterfall looks like in FLDigi, and this is with the SQL on within Digirig
The sound is like a waterfall, not the ocean. On my radios when doing digital, I do not have any of this sound.
My setting in the lower left is -35, I tried at -20, and no noise change, but the waterfall gets cleaner.

Turning the squelch makes no difference.

Thanks for all your help
Andrew

(Attachment Recording.m4a is missing)

(attachments)

Drew,
The forum rejected the recording.
If you want, you can send me an email and I will reply back with the recording
Andrew@andrewandbeth.com

Thanks,
Andrew

Can you post screenshots of your full FLDIGI screen and your Windows sound menus?

Also, have you shut off various breakers on your home’s breaker panel to see if there are any improvements to your incoming sound?

The waterfall gain numbers of -20 and 70 wont change the audio, but it sets you up for proper adjustment of that incoming audio meter with the volume knob of your VHF/UHF radio.