Listening to Side-tone from the Morconi Remote CW Unit
Listening to Side-tone from the Morconi Remote CW Unit
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The excellent, (relatively) inexpensive and easy to build MORCONI CW keyer by Max I8NHJ is a standalone Morse keyer, taking input from a Paddle, straight-key or computer (RTS/DTR keying) and supports remote CW operation of a transceiver. There are two versions of Morconi: a) 'Morconi Flex' interfaces with the 6000 and 8000 series Flex radios by converting CW to API calls overthe network and b) the 'Morconi Client/Server' where two (or more) units are used, a server at the radio and client(s) over a network, remotely. The 'Morconi Flex' version sends CW using the same approach as the Flex Maestro remote front panel.
To the left is the Morconi unit in use at my home QTH. The same hardware is used for the Morconi client and the Flex versions; the only difference is the hex code loaded on the microprocessor. The server unit is almost the same but does not require the speed pot or optional memory buttons. The unit in the photo is built without any memory buttons.
The Morconi side-tone is provided from a 3.5mm socket on the box. This raises the question - if you are listening to SmartSDR through headphones running on your PC, how do listen to the Morconi side-tone at the same time?
There are essentially two approaches to this: a) amplify the side-tone so you can hear it while you are wearing headphones - this may annoy your family; or b) merge the Morconi side-tone audio with the SmartSDR audio you are listening to on your PC. Below, I describe how I have achieved the latter.
On the Windows PC where SmartSDR is running, load 'Sound Manager' and check which PlayBack device is your 'Default Device'. See Fig. 1, my default playback device is a USB sound card, but in many cases it will be the inbuilt sound card.
You will need an additional sound card on the PC - feed the Morconi side-tone into the microphone input. In Fig. 1 showing my PC, the Xonar U7 playback device is this extra soundcard.
Fig. 1 - Default Windows Playback Device
Fig. 2 - Windows Recording Devices
3. Still in 'Sound Manager', look at the Recording tab and look for the sound card that takes input from Morconi. In Fig. 2 showing my setup, the Morconi side -tone is on the microphone input of the Xonar U7 unit.
4. Click on 'Properties' to show the details of this recording device.
5. Select 'Listen to this Device' as in Fig. 3.
6. 'Playback through this devce:' should be set to the same device that you are listening to SmartSDR on - this will be the 'Default Playback Device' you checked in step 1 (or you could select the actual device name from the list).
7. Select the 'Levels' tab and adjust the level so that the side-tone is comfortable in your PC headphones - I find it only needs to be quite low. There is also a setting in the Morconi configuration file that adjusts the audio output level.
You're ready!
Fig 3 - Windows Recording Device Properties (Listen)
Notes
I tried several USB sound cards. Cheaper ones introduced noise and some latency, I settled on an Asus Xonar U7 for the Morconi input but I use a cheap one for the normal, default sound. Your mileage may vary.
If you want to record the audio from a contest program (e.g. DXLog, Win-Test, N1MM+) note the following:
'Morconi Flex' version issues API calls to the Flex Radio. There is no Flex side-tone, you will only hear the local side-tone from the Morconi, when configured as above.
'Morconi Client/Server' setup keys the radio through the 'Key' socket on the radio's rear panel. In this scenario, the Flex side-tone can be heard through SmartSDR or from the radio's rear panel.
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