[wsjt-devel] Does the FT8 signal spike at the beginning of each transmission?

[Ed S. <w1...@co...>]

Hi Bill,

Another extremely helpful comment.

As you may have noted in my previous post, I am not co-located with the equipment.

Is it possible to access this menu via the serial interface?

Otherwise, I will have to wait until next month when I am at home again and have physical access to the radio.

Thanks.

73, Ed
W1KOK	


> >From W8JI.com, maybe 5000 has similar adjustments. If the IF Transmit Gain
> was too high the 1000 would exhibit huge power spikes on key down or
> pressing the mike PTT button.
> 
> Transmit Gain Menus
> 
> The FT-1000 MK V  has hidden transmit gain menus. They are accessed by
> pushing and holding FAST and LOCK while turning the POWER switch on. Both
> of my MK V's  and every MK V serviced here has had the TX IF gain set too
> high. This causes first character clicks on CW and spits and splatter on
> SSB.  Here is how to correct the IF gain to prevent ALC clipping on leading
> edges of CW and voice:
> 
> Press and hold FAST and LOCK before and during initial POWER on.
> 
> Press FAST and ENT at the same time. You are now in the MENU's and the
> display should say "0-1 GrPI-cH".
> 
> Turn the VRF/MEM CH counter-clockwise to 9-2. The display should say "t iF
> - GA in" This is the transmit IF gain menu.
> 
> Turn the SUB VFO knob clockwise one position to  " t iF - 018". This is the
> 1.8MHz transmit IF gain.
> 
> Press the ALC/COMP meter selector until the bar graph says "ALC".  Set RF
> PWR knob to full power.
> 
> With the radio on CW and a 50 ohm dummy load connected, close the key and
> adjust the MAIN VFO-A knob until the ALC display is about 75-85% of full
> scale on the illuminated bar marked "ALC".
> 
> Press the next band button (3.5), make sure the radio is still  on CW, and
> turn the SUB VFO-B knob clockwise one band to "t iF - 035".
> 
> Again adjust MAIN VFO-A until ALC is at 75-85% of full scale.
> 
> Repeat this process through all bands.
> 
> Most radios I have tested require a setting of 2 to 4 on TX IF gain, with 3
> being the most common setting.
> 
> This change will reduce SSB bandwidth and distortion. It will also reduce
> keyclicks and annoying thumps on the leading edge of each Morse character.
> 
>  Hope this helps;
> 
> Bill W2PKY
>