MixW Setup

Trials and Tribulations

 

“I was 17 when I started trying to set MixW up, now I’m 93 and it’s only been two weeks!”  There seems to be times when nothing goes according to plan, but help is only as far away as your microphone.  There are a number of MT63/MixW members who check into 1S1, including AFF1N, AFA1FZ and AFA1LW.  AFF1N has made all three net frequencies available for MT63 testing, when the net is not in operation.

 

In the meantime I thought a small tutorial might help.  This is very basic stuff, but could possible answer some questions.
Before we begin open MixW and click on "HELP/OVERVIEW". Scroll down to and click "using the MixW help section". You will download the help modules which are in ZIP format. Extract the files to the MixW root folder.
You will have to calibrate your sound card, so in HELP/INDEX, scroll down to and click on SOUND CARD CONFIGURATION. When that opens scroll down to the Calibrate and follow the instructions. This is of utmost importance before you begin any other setup action.

 

RS232 Plug To Com Port See Note 2

Here is the very basic layout for interconnections.  The “interface” is anything you would like it to be:  RASCAL, MFJ, RigBlaster or home-brew.  The commercial interfaces offer one thing that the home-brew doesn’t, that being automatic transmit/receive.  Here’s how it should all hook together:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note 1.  Some set up’s provide a single cable for the Microphone to Interface, some have a microphone and headset or aux-speaker cord.  If the microphone jack is used, and you want to work phone and digital, you will have to have an interface with a microphone jack. 

Note 2.  Commercial interfaces have a line with an RS232 or USB plug.  The RS232 goes to the Com Port on the back of the computer.  If there is a USB, that would, of course go to the computer USB port.  This line gives you automatic transmit/receive capability.  If you are not using this feature you will have to use manual (PTT) transmit/receive.

Note 3.  Some commercial interfaces offer a line that goes from the Data DIN jack on the transceiver to the interface in lieu of the line to the microphone jack.  Most older transceivers don’t have the DATA DIN jack.

 

Basics: MixW will work with a very simple set up.  A line from the transceiver’s headset or aux-speaker output to the computer microphone jack and another line from the transceiver microphone to the computer speaker out will usually work fine.  If you use this arrangement you can key the transceiver with VOX or PTT.  It’s better to isolate both of these connections by using a small audio transformer; see the Tech page for a simple schematic.

____________________________________________________________________________________________

MixW Set Up

 

MixW Screen

Activity Bar

Waterfall

Control Bar

Xmit Area

Receive Area

 

We’ll go straight to MT63 set up…..Click on Mode, MT63 and then Mode Settings:

MODE

Your MT-63 Settings should look like this picture.  The TX and RX frequency should be left where they are, 500 in each box.  Put a check in the “Allow manual tuning…………” Click OK.  Now click on VIEW….

                     ___________________________________________________________________________

Put check marks like I have them.  Now click CONFIGURE.

            ___________________________________________________________________________

Again, put the check marks where I have them.  Now go down to and click Sound Device Settings. 

            ___________________________________________________________________________

These are the default settings so your set up should look like this.  If not use the down arrow by Device, Input ,Output, etc, and select as shown above.   Click OK.  Click CONFIGURE again and then OUTPUT VOLUME.

                        ___________________________________________________________________________

Your picture might look a little different, but the settings for VOLUME CONTROL, WAVE and MICROPHONE should look something like the picture above.  Click the red “X” to close the Volume Control and Click on CONFIGURE again and then INPUT VOLUME.

                        ___________________________________________________________________________

Again, your picture might be a little different, but the idea here is to make sure the check mark is in Stereo Mix and NOT Microphone, Line In or Wave.  Click the red “X.”

                        ___________________________________________________________________________

You are set up. 

Resizing.  You can resize the top (receive) window, center (transmit) window and the waterfall window by resting the cursor over the horizontal line until you see the arrow change to two parallel lines.  Left click and hold as you move the cursor up or down.

You can move the receive flag up or down frequency (right or left) by holding down CTRL and hitting your right or left arrow.  That moves it 10Hz, to move it 1Hz, hold down ALT and hit the right or left arrow.  This changes the TX/RX frequency (see top picture).

 

You can work keyboard to keyboard or you can copy a message from a computer document and paste it in the transmit window and send it.   If you are using the PTT for transmit/receive, you have to key the transceiver then click on “TX” on the control bar.  You will see the “TX” start blinking on the activity bar.  Note that MixW works from a buffer, that is to say the information you send first goes into a buffer and then out.  That puts a delay of about five seconds on the sent signal.  When you have finished typing or sending your message, click on the “RX” and wait until the activity bar changes from “TX” to “RX.”  Likewise on receive, you will hear the signal and see it on the waterfall, but nothing will happen until the buffer is full.

 

Again, if you have problems please contact one of the MixW users on 1S1 or send me an email.