KGKSDR and Digital Mode Sowtware Setup


KGKSDR by M0KGK Setup

KGKSDR is capable to work as transceiver with only one sound card. But before installing you mast be sure that you have proper ASIO drivers. ASIO drivers come with some better (read expensive) card, but in most cases free ASIO4ALL drivers will be good solution for any sound card. It is possible to download ASIO4ALL drivers from http://www.asio4all.com/ for free. Actual is version 2.9.

Next step is to download KGKSDR Transceiver (current in version 1.1) from http://www.m0kgk.co.uk/sdr/download.php and install it. After start KGKSDR main screen should look like this:


First, we need to set sound card and enable ASIO4ALL driver. In options menu select Transceiver.

Enable ASIO drivers In Control Panel for sound cards that you plan to use in KGKSDR (Realtek High Definition Audio on picture). Set COM port and parameters for remote control of transceiver. In this case it is COM port 1. Other parameters set as on picture. Below COM port parameters is transmitter RF output power. In case of Avala-01 set power to 5W.


In Hardware Options (second screen) check single card.

In section General is very important to turn off receiver during transmit. CW monitor style set to "RX mute during TX". Avala-01 comes with built in CW monitor. In case "RX on during TX, received signal will be transmitted again and will be very distorted. Other parameters at this section sets CW filter and CW VOX system.

Set spectrum Y axis margins. Sets the relative dB amount for the top and bottom of the spectrum display. Relative dB amount depends on frequency (band) and hum level.

Alters the purpose of the mouse wheel. It is best to set this control as 100Hz tune.

The colours options dialog allows you alter the colours used for the display in KGKSDR:
Each item has an associated colour box next to it.  You can click on the colour box to change the colour of that item.
A series of buttons at the bottom of the dialog allow various preset colour schemes to be selected.

Receive screen should look like this. For SSB operation set spectrum console to 10kHz and for CW operation to 3-5kHz.

KGKSDR and MultiPSK setup

Most popular combination of SDR and digmode software is KGKSDR and MultiPSK by F6CTE. MultiPSK is not freeware but it can be used as free software without some fancy options. If you like it, contact F6CTE and make a dill!


All you need is loop.dll. First, download, unzip, loop.dll and copy in windows/system32 folder. To be sure, start KGKSDR and look for notice "HB9TLK.dll" at KGKSDR panel.  If it is there, everything is OK.


Download MultiPSK from http://f6cte.free.fr/MULTIPSK.ZIP, install or just unzip archive to prefer location. If you first start KGKSDR and then MultiPSK, you will get error message like this.

MultiPSK try to use same sound card that is already used by KGKSDR! You can solve this on two ways. First, click on OK and then choose  "SdR interface  (Loop.DLL)" from configuration menu, and then "RX/TX screen". Second, the better one, start MultiPSK first! I will continue assuming that you choose second solution.


So, start MultiPSK first. You will get MultiPSK configuration screen like on picture. Make sure that serial port is set to "none".

Set any other parameter as usual (call sign, grid, QTH, name...) and then click on "SdR interface  (Loop.DLL)" from configuration menu.


At last, click at "RX/TX screen" to open standard RX/TX console. You will notice that receiving screen and waterfall is blank. This is because KGKSDR is not started yet!

Minimize MultiPSK and start KGKSDR. After returning to MultiPSK screen you will see something like this.


All you need to do is to set  your prefer mode and make some QSOs.

KGKSDR  and WinPSK setup

It is very easy to exchange date between KGKSDR and WinPSK. All you need is loop.dll and the modified pskcore.dll
from HB9TLK. First, download, unzip, loop.dll and copy in windows/system32 folder. When you start KGKSDR you will notice HB9TLK.dll sign at faceplate.

HB9TLK.dll notice in KGKSDR

Download WinPSK v2.13 from http://www.moetronix.com/ae4jy/files/winpsk213.zip or WinPSKse (special edition) v2.23 from http://www.hamsource.com/winpskse/winpskse223.exe. Install WinPSK and open program folder (this is the folder, where you find
WinPSK.exe). Find PSKCore.dll and rename it to something else. I prefer PSKCore_original.dll (see picture).

WinPSK folder - rename PSKCore.dll

Then, download, unzip and copy modified pskcore.dll to WinPSK program folder.

WinPSK folder - new PSKCore.dll


Start KGKSDR and set mode to USB and frequency to PSK portion of any band. At last, start WinPSK, set your info and try to make some QSOs!

WinPSKse - two channel receive window

KGKSDR and PropNetPSK Client

Settings for PropNetPSK client and KGKSDR is not much different from WinPSK settings. Download, unzip, loop.dll and copy in windows/system32 folder. This procedure is just  same as we did before. When you start KGKSDR you will notice HB9TLK.dll sign at faceplate.
Download PropNetPSK client from PropNET.org and install it. At the end of installation do not start program. You need to open /windows/system32 folder and find pskcore121.dll. Delete or better rename this file to something else (I prefer pskcore121_original.dll).  Then, download, unzip and copy modified pskcore.dll to PropNetPSK program folder (should be C:\Program Files\PropNetPSK\). Rename just copied modified pskcore.dll to pskcore121.dll.

Original pskcore was in version 1.21 and new one is in version 1.19 but i did not notice any difference during testing. Start PropNetPSK client, open configure dialog and set your personal data as usual. Keep sound card configuration as is and set com port to "none" (see picture).

Save configuratin and exit program. Start KGKSDR and after that PrtopNetSPK client.  Final settings of PropNetPSK I leave to you. Very good starting point is PDF User Guide located in PropNetPSK program folder.

KGKSDR  and MixW setup

This setup is not tested with Genesis G40 or G3020 because of different levels at PC connection port. In case that you need Genesis solution, email me and I will try make new cable arrangement.

I spent many days trying to make KGKSDR working alongside with MixW. MultiPSK is good but for contests MixW is without competition. Main disadvantage of KGKSDR is lack of second serial port dedicated for CAT system (unlike PowerSDR). I will try to explain as simple as it is possible (only try :-)) how to attain a goal.

First of all, I must assume that you install and set Virtual Audio Cable like I did. It is very important to set VAC exactly as I explain before. Start KGKSDR and go to Options / Transceiver Menu. At first tab set sound card parameters like on picture. Notice that you need to change "Speaker out" to "Virtual Cable 1" and "Mic input" to "Virtual Cable 2". Confirm changes, set KGSDR frequency to PSK31 subband and start MixW.    


 

At MixW Sound device Settings menu (see picture) set "Device" to "Sound card", "Input" to "Virtual Cable 2" and "Output" to "Virtual cable 1". Confirm changes and leave this menu. 

 

At this point you will notice that MixW scope or waterfall start to show signals from KGKSDR

If you like to hear sound of digital signals you will need to start "Audio Repeater" from VAC package with parameters like on picture.

This was easy part. And now, something completely different! Worm up your soldering tools! It is possible to setup KGKSDR to work fully alongside with MixW digital multimode program. But, in this case, it is necessary to have PC computer with two serial RS232 ports. In most new desktop configurations there is only one serial port, but you can obtain one of cheap USB to RS232 adapters and set it to act as second serial port. Second serial port is dedicated only for RX/TX switching of Avala-01. Also, it is necessary to build one galvanic isolated adapter for connection between this Mixw dedicated serial port and Avala-01 back panel 3,5mm female jack.

There is two option for this cable. If you use my galvanic isolated interface, this cable will be easy to build.

Audio cables from and to sound  card will be omitted .

Second. and better option is to build simple optoisolated cable using this schematics:

Using this cable we will connect second, Mixw dedicated serial port and Avala-01 back panel 3,5mm female jack. Do not make mistake. This is Mixw dedicated serial port and will be set and use only by Mixw, so, all settings of this port will be done in Mixw not in KGKSDR. 

Install and start Mixw. In Mixw "PTT&CAT" menu set CAT to None (see picture).  Be sure that you remove check sign in front of "PTT via CAT command" and "Disabled"! Click to "Details" switch and set Mixw dedicated serial port. In this case on picture it is COM5. If you not sure in number of your second serial port, you can check this in Windows "Device manager".

 

Now we can check this cable connection and response of Avala-01. At this moment, leave KGKSDR as we did before during initial settings. Connect Avala-01 and PC as usual over RS232 cable (first PC RS232 port). Start KGKSDR and make sure that everything works. Set KGKSDR to USB or LSB modulation. Connect second, Mixw dedicated serial port, over new galvanic isolated cable to Avala-01 back panel 3,5 mm stereo connector. It is very important to not change KGKSDR serial port parameters that we set before (see picture). Via this parameters we can set Avala-01 serial adapter and also set behave of back panel 3,5mm connector that we will use for RX/TX switching!

Turn on Avala-01. Start KGKSDR and MixW. Go to KGKSDR screen and try to switch Avala-01 to TX using "Tune" switch". If everything is OK, proceed to MixW and try to switch to TX position (from MixW). If everything is good, MixW will switch Avala-01 to transmit over new cable!

Maybe, you will need to play little with input and output levels in KGKSDR and MixW to "squeeze" all RF power from Avala and set best receive in MixW, but, it is up to you. Do not forget, make some QSOs (if you still have a nerves after this "simple" setup)!