Configuring DXLAB and the Icom 7610 for simultaneous independent VFO operations with HDSDR and CW Skimmer

de Andy K3UK

The Icom IC-7610 has two separate receivers that can be utilized by DXLab users to independently perform such tasks as monitoring CW Skimmer activity on one band, and monitoring FT8 activity on another band, or on other portion of same band. Alternatively, you can be making a QSO in SSB mode while CW Skimmer is patrolling another band for needed DX that is operating in CW.

The IC-7610 also provides I/Q outputs that can directly drive a panadapter like HDSDR, which can use the free (donationware) Virtual Audio Cables to provide CW Skimmer with received spectrum data.

Configured as described below, CW Skimmer and HDSDR get frequency information from Commander's Secondary CAT Serial Port. HDSDR displays a panadapter and converts audio received from the IC-7610 via ExtIO.dll to I/Q (IF) audio for CW Skimmer.

http://www.dxlabsuite.com/Wiki/Graphics/Commander/IC7610-HDSDR-CWSkimmer.jpg

  1. Update your IC-7610

    1. Download and install the IC-7610 USB I/Q package for HDSDR, which includes the USB device driver and DLL files

    2. Update your IC-7610 to the latest firmware version

  2. Configure Commander's Secondary CAT Serial Port

    1. establish a connected pair of virtual serial ports using VSP Manager, com0com or other virtual “null modem”; these instructions assume that connected virtual ports N and N+1 are created (e.g. 13 and 14)

    2. in the Secondary CAT Serial Port panel on Commander's Configuration window's Ports tab,

      1. set the CAT protocol selector to Kenwood

      2. select Follow & Lead Primary

      3. if you want Skimmer and the Panadapter to follow VFO B when in split, check Follow & Lead Alternate VFO when Split

      4. set the Port# to N

      5. set the Baud selector to 115200, Word selector to 8, Parity selector to None, and the Stop selector to 1, set DTR to Off, and set RTS to Off.

      6. check the Enable box

    3. Open the OmniRig Settings window and select the RIG 1 tab:

      1. set the Rig Type selector to Kenwood TS-2000

      2. set the Port selector to N+1

      3. set the Baud selector to 115200, Data bits to 8, Parity to none, Stop bits to 1, set RTS to Low, and set DTR to Low.

      4. set Poll Int, ms to 250

      5. set Timeout, ms to 4000

      6. click the OK button to close the OmniRig Settings window

  3. Configure HDSDR to synch with Commander's Secondary CAT Serial Port via OmniRig

    1. Click Options [F7] and click CAT to Radio (OmniRig)

      1. check sync Rig1 (TS-2000 => On-line)

      2. check sync from OmniRig

      3. check sync to OmniRig (if you want to tune the rig by clicking in the panadapter waterfall)

      4. check sync Tune frequency

      5. check sync Modulation

  4. Configure HDSDR to output IF audio for CW Skimmer

    1. Click Options [F7]

      1. Select IF as I (Left) /Q (Right)

    2. Click Soundcard [F5]

      1. in RX output (to Speaker) select CABLE Input (VB-Audio Virtual Cable)

      2. Click OK to close the Sound Card selection window

    3. Click Bandwidth [F6] and select 96000 for Output

  5. Configure HDSDR to obtain I/Q data from the IC-7610

    1. On HDSDR's Main window, click the ExtIO button to the right of the HDSDR frequency display; an I/Q Settings window will appear.

    2. In the I/Q Settings window, choose sub

    3. Close the I/Q Settings window

  6. Configure CW Skimmer: select CW Skimmer's View menu's Settings item to display the Settings window

    1. on CW Skimmer's Settings window's Radio tab:

      1. set Hardware Type to SoftRock-IF

      2. set Sampling Rate to 96 kHz

      3. set CW Pitch, Hz to your sidetone frequency

      4. set Audio IF, Hz as needed (typically -500 with HDSDR)

    2. on CW Skimmer's Settings window's CAT tab:

      1. Set CAT Interface to Use Radio 1

    3. on CW Skimmer's Settings window's Audio tab:

      1. set Signal I/O Device to CABLE Output (VB-Audio Virtual Cable)

      2. set Channels to Left/Right = I/Q

    4. on CW Skimmer's Settings window's Network tab:

      1. Click the Enable Telnet Server checkbox

      2. Leave the Destination Address at its default value of 127.0.0.1

      3. click the OK button

    5. select CW Skimmer's Command menu and ensure that there is no check mark to the left of the Blind Mode entry

Interoperating with a Software Defined Radio Console using connected virtual serial ports

Transceiver Control

Getting Started with DXLab