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If you operate PSK31, you already know the importance of a
properly tuned signal. Too much audio coming from your computer's sound
card, and you can create splatter over a large section of the band. Too little
audio and you might just be more QRP than you really want. The golden mean is
somewhere in between. But how to know what the proper audio setting should
be?
There are crude ways of estimating what your audio setting
ought to be, but these don't really guarantee best results--plus, you have to
tune up over and over again as you change audio frequencies, and as you use
your computer's sound card for other applications. Our solution has been to
develop a microprocessor-based RF signal sampler that periodically checks your
RF output, computes its IMD locally, and automatically sets the sound card's
audio level to provide the highest RF output with minimum distortion. The
program can be set to run continuously in the background, so that you are free
to enjoy transmitting perfect PSK31 signals! 
The hardware and software
to accomplish this is called the PSKMETER.
For details about just how PSK31 works, and some of the
original design concepts of PSKMeter, download KF6VSG's presentation at
Pacificom 2002: A Digital PSK31 Meter: a digital
field strength meter for your PSK31 station (1.3 megabytes).
For more in depth information on PSKMeter specifically, with
a description of the latest version of PSKMeter as of September 2003, download
KF6VSG's presentation at the TAPR/ARRL Digital Communications Conference 2003:
Building a digital field strength meter for your PSK31
station( 4.3 megabytes) This Power Point file has lots of the technical
details and is printer friendly, too.
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The PSKMETER is now
available
in kit form! You get a professional silk-screened printed circuit board
with all components, pre-programmed microprocessor, software and assembly
manual. The custom fitting enclosure is available as an option, as well as an
optional serial-to-USB converter cable that allows the meter to connect to your
computer's USB port instead of another com port. 
The assembled kit ready to plug into
your Windows computer and feedline. This is all it takes to guarantee that your
radiated signal is the very best it can be, automatically! No more splatter or
weak signals.
Download the assembly and software
manual (982 KB)
Download the latest PSKMETER
software (294 KB)
Download the Com Port Sharing
Driver (4.8KB for Windows NT, Windows XP or Windows 2000 only. For other OS's, use a
dedicated COM port or use the Serial-to-USB driver)
Download the Serial-to-USB Driver
(Eliminates the need for a COM port)
Download the Serial-to-USB Driver Manual
(1.8MB. Manual describing the step by step
installation of the driver)
Download SSITerm (our version of Hyperterm, if
you are using Windows Vista)
Learn more
about the PSKMETER or place an order for the kit
Place an order
for the enclosure
Place an order
for the Serial-to-USB Converter |
The PSKMETER kit is
shipped to you the same day your place your order. Download the
assembly manual and software, and you have
everything you need. |
PSKMETER is designed
to fit perfectly into the optional enclosure for a neat, professional
result. |
| What users are saying:
"Quite honestly, I think
the PSKmeter is the only simple, reliable way to determine your true IMD. I
hope they sell a bunch! PSKmeter is probably the MOST IMPORTANT development for
PSK31 since DigiPan!"
--Skip Teller, KH6TY
(creator of Digipan, commenting on Yahoo's PSK31 user's
group)
"The PSKMeter may be the Holy Grail PSK
operators have been seeking for several years. WIth a PSKMeter in the feedline,
there is no excuse to transmit a dirty signal."
--Steve Ford,
WB8IMY, QST Magazine, February 2004, page 66 (Short Takes).
"This is just a note to say
T*H*A*N*K* Y*O*U for 'PSKmeter'. This is one of the best kept secrets in the
PSK31 community!! I put it on my old 300Mhz laptop and it worked just fine.
The kit building went extremely well. The PCB is easy to solder to and
all the parts were clearly marked. It was no problem at all. Then I went on to
download the .EXE file and it worked perfectly with the USB COM port adapter on
the back of my laptop.
I hooked it to my new Ten-Tec Orion and I was
able to get -27db. I could see the immediate effect of PC audio drive, MIC
gain, and XMIT SSB DSP signal shaping (XMIT audio equalization settings). Very
interesting indeed.
Thanks a million for such a great instrument to
have in the shack. My PSK31 will indeed be the best I can generate!"
--73 de ken n9vv
http://www.n9vv.com
"...anyone really can build it. Once assembled,
the test instructions are entirely straightforward and easily followed.
Software works great. So does the PSK31 Meter !!!!
I
ordered the PSK31 meter and assembled it. I am hardly an adept kit builder. The
last kit I did was a Dynaco amplifier back in college [35+ years ago]. Aside
from being bemused by the state of my eyesight, I found the directions clear
and I was able to assemble the kit in a short morning. An experienced kit
builder could probably do it in about half that time. It worked on the first
attempt. I purposely mis-adjusted my transmitter and watched the PSK31 meter do
the adjustments and reach an optimal level. I tried too much drive and too
little drive. It worked either way. I ran a few on air tests with good results.
Really, it is a neat product.
"
--Robert
WW6G
"It works fantastic, great on PSK31 and PSK63...looks
very, very good. All in all it took me exactly 1 hour to build it including
parts checking, layout etc. Also skimmed over the manual before starting
construction which that time is included in the one hour. I found the manual to
be extremely well written and clear. I am now 63 years old, been licensed since
1956 and have build literally a hundred Heathkits over the years and your
manual was better than the old Heath Manuals. Great work
George!"
--John KL7GRF
Bayfield, CO
"Just a note to let you know best kit I ever
wired...I am 76 years old and have macular degeneration in my eyes so is
difficult to see but I wired it in about 2 hours and it works perfect...Thanks
for a great product. Everyone needs it for psk31 work."
-- 73 Mel WA5UBN
"I and all other radio amateurs who have seen the
device in action have been impressed and I believe when the word gets around
you will have many more orders. So thanks for a smart piece of kit
George."
--Regards, Eddie -
G4LZU.
"The PSKmeter is great and
I'm very pleased with your board and software and would be pleased to recommend
it to others. Thanks again"
--
John G0WHP
"I have built many
kits in the past. This one was one of the highest quality boards I have
seen."
-- Lee Olson
N9LO
"...the METER IS GREAT..I
would say MANDATORY for good psk work..tnx and have a nice
day...cul...73"
-- Dr.LOU
K3IM
"I ordered the PSK Meter
kit, USB serial Port, and enclosure recently, and was very impressed with the
short transit time to Canada. Congratulations on providing a very helpful and
useful piece of equipment. It was easy to build and it immediately gave me
valuable information. I am getting the best IMD readings I have ever seen.
Thanks again for a very high quality product. I'll be talking it
up."
--Bob
Partridge,VE3SRD
Past
President,
South Pickering Amateur
Radio Club
"I just do not see
how anyone that works PSK could do without PSKMETER. I just feel great knowing
that I am putting out a clean and strong signal and always get good reports
now."
--Arthur Petteway,
WB4MNK
"Greetings from Texas!
I just wanted you to know that your product is excellent in function and ease
of building and operation. I have had a few qso s with Ken ~ N9VV and Skip
KH6TY and I find their signals to be excellent with fantastic IMD
transmissions.
I finally had to
check it out for myself and it does what it says it does.. Hey ! Looking up
there in the corner of my MIxW screen and seeing -30 s for my IMD is great! I
find myself habitually watching it work in auto mode and experimenting with my
TS2000 s tx equalizations is fun too. Thanks again George for a fantastic
product ~ You just made us PSK enthusiasts a little more lazier.. no more
manual adjustments!! "
-- Gary ~
W5PSK
"It meets a real need,
it's cheap, and it's way cool to see something resembling an oscilloscope trace
of your transmitted signal on your PC."
-- Fred KC7YRN
"I have completed the PSK meter and it is working
beautifully with my Kenwood TS-520, Signalink SL-1 sound card interface and
MixW. I would like to thank you for making a great product available to the
hobby. I get -32 db IMD figures at all power levels."
-- Mike VE3JBT
"When I run with your kit, the power level gets adjusted to about
80W. My IMD reports are great, -30 or better."
--Rich Carter, KE1EV
"You've got a GREAT product and I certainly will
make that known locally in Hawaii. I was asked to give a presentation of PSK31
to new hams next January and PSK-Meter will certainly be a part of that
presentation."
--Jim Yuen
WH6GS
"WOW!!!! George, this little
unit really works well. I had no idea that even mundane things like changing
bands, power output, and possibly a host of other things could cause necessary
changes in sound card configuration. I can see why so many PSK31 signals are so
poor on the bands. I may have been one of them!! I'm sure you've seen how
terrible signals can be and are, particularly on 14.070. What a positive
influence your unit would have on the signals that would be heard on the air.
Well sir, thank you again for making such a great product."
--Ernie Rader, W5NH
"I just wanted to send a quick note of thanks for
your PSKMeter kit. This was the first kit I put together and I couldn't have
been more happy with the experience. Everything from the quality of the circuit
board to the instructions was first rate. Function-wise, it could not be easier
to use. Thanks again."
--Marc,
KC2MQI |
"I did a 'bench' test with my PSK20 and was amazed
how well the meter performed...(quite impressed to find I had been running
'hot' audio into that poor thing for nearly a year!)...this morning I wired it
into my main station...Kenwood TS-570DG and found same results...it runs truly
AS ADVERTISED and would strongly recommend it to everyone I chat with on PSK!
Its terrific product! I have already ordered and had shipped PSK meters for
Steve, N4ABC and John, KI4RO....thanks for a fine addition to ham radio!
"
--David, KB7ZZ
"The quality of the components in the PSK Meter
are only surpassed by the well written construction manual. A real pleasure to
build and it works well. "
-- 73
Mark K4VO
"Great kit – great
support!"
-- 73, Paul /
K9KDR
"...the
shipping was almost instantaneous. --- WOW. The
steps that you have taken to make this product
“buildable” are NOT great but OUTSTANDING.
I consider myself a kit builder with experience –
but I wanted to experience the way YOU suggested
that it be built. Wow what a technique!
Congratulations on a job so very well done!!! THANK
YOU again, at this point, for the art form of the
design, the art form of its quality, and the art
form of its outstanding construction instructions.
They are awesome!!!"
--Louis / W1AAJ
"What
a great little box. It’s an easy build and it does
everything its supposed to do."
--Jon / KF2E |
Questions? |