microHAM microKEYER Manual page 29

Many radios fail to provide a separate mode for digital operation or the serial control protocol
implemented by the radio does not report the digital mode when operating AFSK, PSK or
other audio based digital modes. This is true for all Kenwood transceivers, most TenTec
transceivers, most older Icom transceivers and the Elecraft K2. With those radios, digital
operation (except for FSK) must done using voice modes (USB or LSB).
The traditional method – feed the microphone jack from the sound card output through a
transformer – is not optimum for many reasons: you need to remember to turn off any speech
compressor and EDSP or other signal processing when using digital modulation operating
using in digital modes. In addition, the microphone amplifier in the radio can cause distortion
because it is optimized for voice and its frequency response is often not as flat as necessary
for digital modulating signals.
The proper method is to feed sound card audio to the microphone jack only for voice modes
(SSB, AM, FM) and to the jack designed for digital modes - generally on the transceiver's rear
panel – when using sound card based digital modes.
Even though the radio may not report a unique DIGITAL mode,
Router can make an intelligent choice and apply the DIGITAL or
VOICE configuration for Audio and PTT based on the operating
frequency from the radio. The VOICE/DIGITAL combo box is
used to control automatic switching when the operating frequency
is in the "Digital Band" as defined in the Digital Band Map and the
transceiver is in USB, LSB or FM mode.
Always VOICE: VOICE settings will be used regardless of
detected frequency. This should be used with most Yaesu
transceivers, late model Icom transceivers that support
USB-D and LSB-D and Elecraft K3.
Always DIGITAL: DIGITAL settings will be used regardless of detected frequency.
Select by frequency: Router will select DIGITAL settings when detecting a frequency inside the "Digital
Mode" boundaries. These boundaries can be fully customized in the Band Map by clicking the
Digital Band Map button.
Sound Card: is only visible with Windows Vista. It displays the Mixer ID, Wave In ID and Wave Out ID for
each input/output.
Side Tone: microKEYER includes an internal piezeo speaker for sidetone. The sidetone frequency is
selectable from 338, 450, 675 and 1350 Hz. Side tone can be disabled by selecting "none."
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