Configuring SpotCollector to Audibly Announce the Creation of New Spot Database Entries for Needed DX Stations
On the Configuration window's Audio tab,
Verify that SpotCollector's sound files have been installed, and that SpotCollector can direct the Windows default playback device to produce audible sounds
check the Enable box in the top-left corner
if the Sound Files panel's Sound pathname box does not specify the file DX!.wave in SpotCollector's Sounds folder, click the Select button to the right of the Sound pathname box to display a standard Windows file selection window; use this window to select the file DX!.wave in SpotCollector's Sounds folder.
If SpotCollector's Sounds folder does not exist, or does not contain the file DX!.wave, you can obtain a complete set of announcement files by downloading and running http://www.dxlabsuite.com/spotcollector/Announcements.exe
click the Test button to the right of the Sound pathname box; you should hear the word DX announced; if you don't hear this announcement, then
- verify that Windows is configured to use the correct soundcard as its default playback device
verify that the default playback device is not muted or set to a low volume level; if you are using Vista or Windows 7, open the Windows Volume Mixer and make sure the Spotcollector slider is at maximum (this slider will not appear until SpotCollector attempts to generate a sound).
- verify that speakers or headphones are properly connected to the default playback device, and that any external amplifier involved is powered and set to an appropriate volume level
If you want callsigns to be announced phonetically, verify that SpotCollector's phonetic announcement files have been installed by typing a callsign into the Announce callsign phonetically panel's Test callsign box, and then click the Test button to the right of this box
if the callsign is not announced phonetically, you can obtain a complete set of phonetics files by downloading and running http://www.dxlabsuite.com/spotcollector/Phonetics.exe
Allow the mouse cursor to hover over each of the boxes associated with the settings on the left side of the Alarm Announcements panel until a small window explaining the setting's function appears; based on this explanation, decide whether to enable or disable the setting
In the Audio Alarm trigger panel, select the Needed option and check the Needed includes Unconfirmed as well as Unworked box; as you become more familiar with SpotCollector's capabilities, you may wish to modify these settings later.
Controlling the Audio Announcement Level
- de Joe W4TV
The Volume Mixer in versions of Windows from Vista onward and accessible via the Windows Control Panel via Hardware and Sound > Sound > Adjust system volume provides a an audio level slider for each application. To adjust the audio level for audio announcements generated by SpotCollector, on the Configuration window's Audio Alarm tab,
check the Enable box in the upper-left corner
in the Sound Files panel,
if the Intro pathname textbox doesn't specify the pathname of a .wav file in SpotCollector's Sounds folder, click the Select button to the right of the textbox and use the Open window that appears to select one
click the Test button to the right of the Intro pathname
in the Volume Mixer window, use the vertical slider labeled SpotCollector Configuration to adjust the audio volume
Missing Words in Audio Announcements
- de Bill G4WJS
If your announcements are missing individual words, a device driver defect may be routing the missing audio to another playback device (CODEC). To work around this, disable the device's enhancement features. On Windows 8,
- right click the speaker icon in the Notification area (in the lower-right corner of the Windows Desktop)
select Playback devices from the pop up menu
in the Sound dialog, double left click the playback device icon
in the Enhancements tab, check the Disable all sound effects box
click the OK button
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