WINRADIO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q. Is it possible to customize the display to show alphanumeric entries instead of just the frequency?
A. Yes. When you enter the frequency into memory, add a textual description or a call-sign, and the default band description will be overwritten by your entry.
Q. With all the different communications modes on the air
today, why don’t the WiNRADiO receivers have these decoders built in?
A. WR keeps their decoding software as options in order to
provide a high performance receiver at low cost without charging for modes the
customer may never use. Many excellent, third-party decoders
are available, as
are those from WiNRADiO, such as shortwave DRM which they pioneered and are the
only fully-licensed vendor in the SWL market. That said, WiNRADiO does
manufacture specific-purpose receivers with integrated decoders, such as the G33
marine HF receiver.
Q. Can WiNRADiO receivers time- and date-stamp received messages?
A. Not in their basic configuration
which records to standard Windows ".wav" files, which do not permit date/time
stamping. However, when any of these receivers is part of the
MS- 8XXX multichannel system, the audio files are recorded in a proprietary extension
(.wwv) which does allow time and date stamping.
For tactical applications,
WiNRADiO offers specialized software which provides playback of such
date/time-stamped files, insertion of user comments (annotation),
and even automated, intelligent matching of separate audio files like duplex communications on separate channels.
Q. Is the claimed superiority of the WiNRADiO product line
recognized in the professional marketplace?
Hardware Conflicts... Q.
I've successfully installed my WiNRADiO software and the USB/serial adaptor in
my Windows XP, but when I attempt to open the program, I get the "Device
not found" message. (1) Right
click "My Computer", then left click "Properties," "Hardware," and "Device
Manager;" Q.
I've tried installing the WiNRADiO and USB/serial adaptor on my computer, but
when I try to run the program, I get the message, "Device not found."
(1) Right
click My Computer, then left click Properties, Hardware, Device Manager; Q.
My WR software doesn't seem to work with my U.S. Robotics modem; any fixes
available? Q.
I'm confused as to how to set up the USB adaptor. I have the usb2ser.inf
software correctly installed since it shows up in the ports entry of the Device
Manager, but the third installation step (configuring the control panel) doesn't
follow instructions. When I start up the WR I get an error message telling me
that the radio is not detected; I'm afraid that there may be a com port
conflict. 1- Go to
Start, Settings, Control Panel, WiNRADiO. Q.
I have three internal WR receiver cards recording just fine--the squelch light
blinks, the recorder light goes on and off, I've named and saved the file, but
as soon as I try to play it back, I can't hear a thing. How do I know if my
internal WR receiver card has its IRQ and DMA jumpers properly installed? If your
WiNRADiO application was already running, you will need to close and restart it.
Next,
you will need to set the IRQ and DMA to activate the Signal Conditioner and
Audio Recorder functions of your WiNRADiO. First try the factory defaults with
matching control panel settings. If that doesn't work, check your IRQ and DMA
allocation table in the Device Manager, and select IRQ/DMA settings, which are
not used by any other device on your PC. Although the DMA can be shared if
necessary, it can cause conflicts. Always match physical card settings with the
software settings in the Control Panel.
Software Questions... Q. Is the Digital Suite
compatible with all WR models? Q. What is the baud
rate of the WR products, and can it be changed? Q. What does the "Task Scheduler" actually do?
Q.
Does WiNRADiO provide a complete and open RS-232 command protocol? Q.
Is the protocol the same for all WR1xxx and WR3xxx receiver models? Q.
Is there a protocol document that is downloadable which shows the RS-232
commands and read-back strings? Q.
Is a Windows software controller package available for WR receivers? Q.
Are there WR3150 upgrades available? Q.
Why are there different USB adaptors for PC and Mac computers?
Outputs... Q. Are there any digital signals available from the WR receivers?
Q. What is the sweep
rate of the spectrum display unit (SDU) function?
A.
The same as the scanning rate, approximately 50 steps per second. Thus, if you
step in tiny 5 kHz increments, you will span 250 kHz per second, but if you
increase those step sizes to 25 kHz increments (as in North American aviation
band), you would span 1.25 MHz per second. Try to match the step sizes to the
band plan, and keep the spans (upper and lower frequency band limits) as small
as practical for more rapid, real-time sweeps. Q.
Can I see spread-spectrum signals on the display? A. Spread spectrum and
frequency hopping are possible to see provided the signals remain on air long
enough for the sweep to pass them, and the average signal level is high enough
to show a rise in the baseline. By selecting the continuous integration mode,
peaks accumulate with each pass of the sweep, emphasizing the rise above the
noise floor, and the composite traces may be saved to the hard disk for later
analysis.
Q.
How do I access free software upgrades? A.
Several XRS plug-ins may be downloaded for free from the WiNRADiO web site. The
waterfall enhancement, for example, shows Z-access sweeps over time, permitting
the observer to examine changes in spectrum users at a glance. For this and
other XRS plug-ins, visit http://xrs.winradio.com.
Reception Problems... Although problems with WiNRADiO products are few and far
between, the most common complaint is "poor sensitivity." Before reporting this,
be sure you have checked the following on your WiNRADiO receiver: (1) Are you using the wire test antenna that may have been
included with your receiver? Don't! It's for initial checkout only. (2) Is your antenna appropriate for the frequency range you
have tuned, and is it mounted outdoors? (3) Are you using low-loss coax (RG-6/U, RG-8 or similar)
to your antenna? (4) Are all connectors and adaptors tight and making
contact? (5) Is the receiver "DX/LOCAL" option set on "DX?"
(6) Was there a lightning storm prior to your noticing low
sensitivity? (7) Was the radio working satisfactorily prior to your
loading some additional software? (8) Have you tested your antenna system on another radio
for comparison? These hints usually solve the problem! Antenna Selection
There are several factors
that weigh in so far as the distance an antenna can hear, including: Height of the antenna;
Presence of obstructions;
Length and losses of the
transmission line; Gain of the antenna;
Direction in which a gain
antenna is pointing; Frequency of the signal
Sensitivity of the receiver
Presence of interference
Power of the transmitted
signal; Bandwidth of the signal
Solar effects (day/night,
sunspots, flares) Weather and humidity
Electrical storm presence
That said,
under normal circumstances, and using the non-directional AX12B with good coax,
good locations and a good receiver, the following could be expected: Q. My WR doesn't seem
to have the sensitivity of my regular scanner, what could be the problem?
There are wideband antennas available on the Grove web site which
are suitable. About
that noise ; "Ground loops" allow buzzes and hum to come through well-shielded
antenna systems. The best fix is to find a toroid (donut-shaped) ferrite ring or
square core (Radio shack 273-104) and wind several turns of the coax through it
close to the radio; a conventional radio-frequency-interference (RFI) bead
(Radio Shack 273-105) may work as well. Since
CRT monitors are especially strong radiators, LCD screens are recommended. All
cords should have ferrite-bead RFI (radio frequency interference) suppressors
mounted on them as close to the chassis as possible.
Alignment Q.
My WiNRADiO receiver works fine except the USB/LSB modes seem to be off
frequency; can they be calibrated? Q.
I have a WR unit that seems to be slightly off frequency; is there an easy fix
for this? 1.
Download and unzip the file
http://www.winradio.com/software/wrapi32-305.zip.
Networking… Q.
Can I operate more than one WR with my computer? Q.
But what about simultaneous recording of the several individual WR receivers? Do
I need an external mixer?
Additional Specifications… Q. What is the oscillator scheme and accuracy of the WR3500i?
Q.
Doesn’t the complex operation of the WR software use a substantial amount of the
hard-drive capacity?
A. Absolutely. WR is the only manufacturer to receive the 5
star rating from the independent World Radio-TV Handbook (WRTH) three years in a
row.
To their credit, WR actively solicits
improvement recommendations from
their clients and immediately acts on them when possible and practical.
A.
Be sure you've unzipped all files, then try the following:
(2) Left
click the "+" symbol next to "Other Devices" (or "Ports"); double-click "USB
Serial Controller" and remember the com port number;
(3) Go
back to "Control Panel" and double-click "WinRADiO;" delete any receivers
already installed;
(4) Click
"Add," then select "Serial" and enter the Com Port number noted in (2) above;
click "OK" to accept changes.
A.
Be sure all drivers are installed (unzipped), then try the following:
(2) Left
click "+" next to Other Devices (or Ports); double-click USB Serial Controller
and remember the com port number.
(3) Go
back to Control Panel and double-click WiNRADiO; delete any receivers already
installed.
(4) Click
Add, then select Serial and enter the Com Port number noted in (2) above; click
OK twice to accept changes.
(5) If
your receiver is on, turn it off, then on again; double-click the WiNRADiO icon
on your desktop to start the program.
A.
Yes, turn off the modem or unplug it and reboot your computer.
A.
When you install the USB adaptor, it frees your existing com ports and creates
an additional ("virtual") com port; this is what you are seeing in your Device
Manager. Your next step, then, is to connect your radio to this virtual com port
by following these steps:
2-
Left-click on the interface description to highlight it, and then select Edit.
3- Select
the Serial tab, then the new com port from the drop-down list; this will be the
highest-numbered port.
4- Press
"OK" twice.
You
will need to restart the WiNRADiO application; if it doesn't work right away,
turn the receiver (not the computer!) off and on and start again.
A.
This is a typical IRQ/DMA conflict; even with them improperly set, the receiver
will be able to receive, but you will lose DSP capability. Only the WR3000i-DSP
series cards require DMA and IRQ settings, but the I/O address header needs to
be set on all models, allowing your computer to select up to eight different
receivers. There
is a printed legend on the flat side of the card so you know which pins to jump
following the instructions in your manual. These three tables correspond to the
three jumper headers (DMA, IRQ, and I/O) on the component side of the board.
Turn the board over so that the antenna connector is on the right and
the ISA slot connector is at the bottom, locate the four-pin header marked
"JP-3" about two inches in from the left edge of the board. The jumper set to
the left is "DMA0", and to the right is "DMA3."
The next header is JP1, marked "ADDR"; it is used to set the I/O port
address. With the jumper in the first (left-most) position, the factory default
address of 180h is selected; the rightmost would be 1b8h. The final header (JP2) sets the IRQ; the left-most setting
corresponds to IRQ15, the right-most IRQ3. Be sure the PC is turned off before firmly inserting the card. Turn
the PC on and go to Start, Settings, Control Panel; click on the WiNRADiO icon.
Right-click on the interface type to highlight it; click on properties and
select ISA as the interface type, and 180h as the I/O port. Click on Properties
and select ISA as the interface type, and 180h as the I/O port. Click on OK to
exit properties, then OK again to exit the Control Panel.
A.
Only with the single receivers like the 1550 and 3000 series. The high-level
Multichannel Receivers like the MS8108, as well as the G303i shortwave receiver,
have their own special applications software packages.
A.
It initially establishes at 9600 baud, but can gear up to 115 kb. Custom baud
rates can be installed at the factory at the time of order.
A. This is like a receiver's clock timer. For example, on the MS8108, you could
specify which times and which frequencies your choice of receivers would come on
and record, while others may be "tasked" to play back.
Another possibility would be diversity reception, comparing signal levels on two
(or more) receivers tuned to different frequencies for a given shortwave
broadcaster, or different antennas on different receivers tuned to the same
station, with the best signal triggering the recording.
A.
Yes. There are no secret commands (other than factory test routines) which would
deprive the user of any capabilities available via the user interface.
A.
Not entirely, as some models have more capability than others; however, the
extra functions are simply additions to the standard basic set.
A.
Yes, although the commands are not "trivial" (like “F=101.9 MHz), but address a
much lower level (i.e., PLL control, IF path settings, etc.), requiring
professional insight. These documents are provided as they are, along with
source code examples. Visit
www.winradio.com to see such examples as well as some low-level source code.
A.
Yes, and it’s free at
http://www.winradio.com/home/download.htm
A. Yes, for all
internal and external models, including 3150, 3500 and 3700. Simply visit the
web page:
www.winradio.com/home/downloadappnew3000.htm.
A.
The early Keyspan Mac driver initially had problems under different versions of
Windows. In the meantime, WiNRADiO adopted a Windows-only adaptor which is less
expensive than Keyspan.
A.
No, they are all analog. Digitization is done by the on-board DSP on units so
equipped, and is accessible by application software, included user-provided
custom software (full API information may be requested from the factory).
(1) HF reception (under 30
MHz): Thousands of miles for broadcasters and two-way communicators.
(2) VHF (30-300 MHz): Up to
100 miles for broadcasters and two-way communications.
(3) UHF (300-500 MHz): Up
to 75 miles.
(4) Microwave (800-2000
MHz): 25-50 miles.
Naturally, these are only approximations due to the numbers of variables
pointed out above, but should give you an average expectation. Naturally, if
you're looking for a simple, low-power device like a bug or cell phone, we're
talking feet, not miles.
A.
Even though the WR receivers have excellent sensitivity, this is a common
complaint because there are many possible reasons. Most likely, the host
computer—especially the CRT monitor--is generating electrical "hash" which
raises the general noise floor of the receiver, inhibiting reception of weak
signals. Other household electronic appliances can produce interfering signals
as well. One
way to confirm this is to unplug the antenna cable while listening to the
background hiss or noise between stations and see if the noise diminishes
significantly. If it does, that's a sure sign of external interference. The
small wire antenna that may have accompanied your WR is merely to try it out; it
doesn't come close to the performance a properly-designed antenna. Ideally, your
antenna should be cut to frequency, high, outdoors, away from power lines, and
distant from your operating point. That's a tall order, but it's the best order.
For each of those specifications you compromise, your reception will be
degraded. A long
wire antenna works well for shortwave reception, but is next to worthless for
the VHF/UHF scanner bands; similarly, a short whip is a poor choice for
shortwave reception. Use separate antennas and a switch to choose, or connect
the two antennas to a standard TV VHF/UHF splitter, combining the two into one
input for the receiver.
A. Yes, without ever
taking the cover off or touching the radio! It’s a software fix downloadable at
no charge from:
www.winradio.com/software/wr1xxx-343.zip
A. Yes, using a software tool called Frequency Calibrator found on the
WiNRADiO web site:
2. Copy
the unzipped file wrapi32.dll over your existing one (probably located in
Windows/System32), making sure there are no other copies of this file on your
PC.
3.
Download and unzip the file
http://www.winradio.com/software/freqcal-102.zip
4. Run the
unzipped file FreqCal.exe.
5. The
calibration is done in any one of 3 frequency ranges: 0.15-400, 400-1114 and
1114-1500 MHz. Simply tune the receiver to the f1 frequency and enter in the
tuning error; repeat for the f2 frequency. This software can calibrate up to 8
receivers simultaneously--just fill the calibration values for receiver #1.
6. When
done, press Save and restart the WiNRADiO application.
A.
Absolutely. You can connect as many external units as you have serial ports,
including virtual ports, which are supported by WR software. For example, to get
two or three receivers running, you simply click twice or three times
accordingly on the WiNRADiO applications icon. Of course you will be hearing
two speakers at once, but you can: Physically
separate the two receivers to tell which is which; or (1) Feed
their external speaker jack outputs to the left and right inputs of your sound
card; or (2) Plug external speakers into the appropriate receiver jacks.
A. Not if you are using the "DSP" models; you can simply run several instances of
the WiNRADiO application program by simply clicking the on-screen icon once for
each receiver.
If you are using the MSM software (that requires a $5000 site license), you need
to run only one instance, and this software has additional facilities to support
multi-channel applications, such as mixing, compression codec, and date/time
stamping of recorded transmissions. The MSM requires the modifications of an
audio cable and mixer board at the time of order.
A. The WR3500i utilizes a digital phase-locked loop (PLL) which maintains 10 parts
per million (ppm) accuracy.
A. Not on a modern hard drive. Logging a single signal requires a mere 30 bytes for
a complete record! If your hard drive has even 6 GB free, that would allow 200
million records!