Configuring CW Skimmer to Interoperate With DXLab
CW Skimmer is an application that can simultaneously decode multiple CW transmissions.
Usage (de Andy K3UK)
"I use the CW Skimmer to feed my SDR-IQ received CW signals into CW Skimmer, which in turn feeds them to SpotCollector. Spotcollector lists the CQ calls I am hearing at my QTH, and announces any needed/unconfirmed DXCC entities. If I double-click on any needed stations in SpotCollector, my SDR-IQ QSYs to the needed frequency. Fairly standard stuff to those that already know how useful DX Lab applications are. However, there is more. Commander and W3OA's CW Skimmer to Commander application allow me to have my Kenwood TS-2000 in tandem with the SDR-IQ. When I need to transmit, the TS-2000 is on the same frequency as the SDR-IQ, and I can transmit in an attempt to work the DX. My favorite part of this is that I get to use DXLab's WinWarbler, which keys the CW circuits in my TS-2000, so I can use pre-configured macros similar to the way we use electronic keyers."
When used with a FlexRadio 3000 or 5000, CW Skimmer can decode only 24 kHz of spectrum unless a fixed LO is used to enable decoding of 48 kHz, but this impedes rapidly QSYing up or down the band. This limitation can be eliminated by configuring CW Skimmer to convey spots to SpotCollector (as described above) and by pairing Commander paired with PowerSDR via DDutil. Configure CW Skimmer to SOFROCK, not SOFROCK-IF, and specify a LO that's the mid-point of the frequency range you wish to skim. Double-clicking a CW entry in SpotCollector's Spot Database Display will QSY the FlexRadio to the desired signal.
Configuration
- track and set your transceiver's frequency from CW Skimmer
via "CW Skimmer to Commander" (tnx to Dick W3OA)
click on a callsign in CW Skimmer and have that callsign conveyed to DXKeeper, DXView, PropView, Pathfinder, and WinWarbler (tnx to Dick W3OA)
have callsigns decoded by CW Skimmer added to SpotCollector's Spot Database (tnx to Bill W9OL)
- Configure CW Skimmer
open the Settings item in CW Skimmer's View menu
select the Settings window's Telnet tab
set the Port to 7301
check the Enable Telnet Server box
click the OK button
configure SpotCollector: on the Configuration window's Spot Sources tab, choose an available "row" in the Telnet DXClusters panel
set the Host address to 127.0.0.1
set the Port to 7301
set the Caption to CW Skimmer
set the Username to your callsign
clear the Password
set the Cmd to C
check the Enable, Auto, and Hide boxes
- Configure CW Skimmer
Using Skimmer Server and Aggregator as a spot source (de Bill AA7XT)
Follow the CW Skimmer configuration instructions above, and enable Aggregator's Check here if users on this port should be asked for their call when connecting option.
Post a question or suggestion on the DXLab Discussion Group