G7EIX PECKER
** PLEASE BE CONSIDERATE OF OTHER OPERATORS WHEN USING THE PECKER **
ALWAYS TUNE INTO A DUMMY LOAD AND NOT ON THE AIR. CHECK YOUR LOCAL REGULATIONS BEFORE USE. I DO NOT ADVOCATE THE USE OF THE PECKER AS AN ON AIR TUNING DEVICE
ALWAYS TUNE INTO A DUMMY LOAD AND NOT ON THE AIR. CHECK YOUR LOCAL REGULATIONS BEFORE USE. I DO NOT ADVOCATE THE USE OF THE PECKER AS AN ON AIR TUNING DEVICE
1. WHAT IS THE PECKER ?
** Updated on: 3/27/2020 While under COVID19 Isolation **
** I developed this back in 2012 - it has not been updated since, but it still works. It works on the latest version of Windows 10 (because I stuck to the rules when developing). **
The Pecker is a software application that emulates an existing hardware amplifier tuning aid operated in SSB mode as apposed to CW or AM. As such no carrier is used.
The Pecker uses your Sound Card or a SignaLink and works by generating a SawTooth Audio Tone which creates an approximate 70% off and a 30% on duty cycle. The transmitter remains in SSB mode during this tuning cycle.
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE PECKER (WAV FILE)
Once configured, Pecker can be left running on the desktop when not in use. To use the Pecker you simply find the frequency you want, select the SSB mode on your radio and hit the PECK ME UP button. Tune your amplifer as usual and the click the PECK ME UP button again to stop tuning.
The Pecker enables you to use a SignaLink with a traditional radio, or Software Defined Radios and virtual audio cables. I performed most of my testing on FlexRadio 3000 and FlexRadio 5000 models. But it works on the latest 6000 Series with DAX also.
If you would like more information on how a Pecker works - then please take the time to read one of the links below.
http://www.qsl.net/ei7ba/Woodpecker.htm
You can also check out my Blog at http://www.g7eix.com for more information on how the Pecker came to be.
** Updated on: 3/27/2020 While under COVID19 Isolation **
** I developed this back in 2012 - it has not been updated since, but it still works. It works on the latest version of Windows 10 (because I stuck to the rules when developing). **
The Pecker is a software application that emulates an existing hardware amplifier tuning aid operated in SSB mode as apposed to CW or AM. As such no carrier is used.
The Pecker uses your Sound Card or a SignaLink and works by generating a SawTooth Audio Tone which creates an approximate 70% off and a 30% on duty cycle. The transmitter remains in SSB mode during this tuning cycle.
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE PECKER (WAV FILE)
Once configured, Pecker can be left running on the desktop when not in use. To use the Pecker you simply find the frequency you want, select the SSB mode on your radio and hit the PECK ME UP button. Tune your amplifer as usual and the click the PECK ME UP button again to stop tuning.
The Pecker enables you to use a SignaLink with a traditional radio, or Software Defined Radios and virtual audio cables. I performed most of my testing on FlexRadio 3000 and FlexRadio 5000 models. But it works on the latest 6000 Series with DAX also.
If you would like more information on how a Pecker works - then please take the time to read one of the links below.
http://www.qsl.net/ei7ba/Woodpecker.htm
You can also check out my Blog at http://www.g7eix.com for more information on how the Pecker came to be.
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2. OVERVIEW OF THE SOFTWARE PECKER
Download the software using the link at the bottom of this page and then extract it to a folder on your computer. There is no installer, so you can place the pecker anywhere you like.
Once you have extracted the files, simply double-click on the PECKER.EXE application and you will be presented with main application screen.
Pecker Controls from top to bottom:
Sawtooth or SquareWave ** NOTE SHOWN
Tick the box of your choice of WaveForm that you wish to use.
Frequency
This sets the FREQUENCY of the Sawtooth in HZ. The default is 35 and is a great starting point. This can be adjusted while the Pecker is in PECK ME UP mode (TRANSMIT)
Amplitude
This is the VOLUME ** level of the tone. This can also be adjusted while the Pecker is in PECK ME UP mode (TRANSMIT).
** The default has been changed from 20% to 100% to match the H/W Peckers default setting.
Enable PTT Serial Port Control
If you have a SERIAL control cable for your radio you can utilize the RTS/DTS high function to key the PTT on the radio automatically. Check your radio manual for more information on how to configure this.
Enable RTS
Enables PTT on RTS HIGH (For Serial PTT)
Enable DTR
Enables PTT on DTR HIGH (For Serial PTT)
Select Sound Device
This is where you select the AUDIO OUTPUT line. The default is the SPEAKERS. If you click PECK ME UP while the speakers are selected you will hear the Sawtooth.
Download the software using the link at the bottom of this page and then extract it to a folder on your computer. There is no installer, so you can place the pecker anywhere you like.
Once you have extracted the files, simply double-click on the PECKER.EXE application and you will be presented with main application screen.
Pecker Controls from top to bottom:
Sawtooth or SquareWave ** NOTE SHOWN
Tick the box of your choice of WaveForm that you wish to use.
Frequency
This sets the FREQUENCY of the Sawtooth in HZ. The default is 35 and is a great starting point. This can be adjusted while the Pecker is in PECK ME UP mode (TRANSMIT)
Amplitude
This is the VOLUME ** level of the tone. This can also be adjusted while the Pecker is in PECK ME UP mode (TRANSMIT).
** The default has been changed from 20% to 100% to match the H/W Peckers default setting.
Enable PTT Serial Port Control
If you have a SERIAL control cable for your radio you can utilize the RTS/DTS high function to key the PTT on the radio automatically. Check your radio manual for more information on how to configure this.
Enable RTS
Enables PTT on RTS HIGH (For Serial PTT)
Enable DTR
Enables PTT on DTR HIGH (For Serial PTT)
Select Sound Device
This is where you select the AUDIO OUTPUT line. The default is the SPEAKERS. If you click PECK ME UP while the speakers are selected you will hear the Sawtooth.
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3. CONFIGURATION OF PTT
If you want the Pecker to automatically key the PTT of your radio then you will need to select the physical or virtual COM (serial) port that you have your radio connected to.
To do this you first need to enable PTT by enabling the function. Click on the Enable PTT Serial Port and the options will be enabled.
Then select the COM port from Select PTT Serial Port drop down.
Finally, select the raise high line you have configured on the radio. RTS or DTR. You do this by clicking on Enable RTS, or Enable DTR.
Once you have completed these options, the Pecker will automatically key the PTT of your radio.
You can test this by ensuring you have speakers selected in the audio output section and clicking the PECK ME UP button. To unkey, simply click the PECK ME UP button again.
** NOTE: If you do not utilize PTT Serial Port Control you will have to key the radio manually using a footswitch or Microphone PTT before hitting the PECK ME UP button.
If you want the Pecker to automatically key the PTT of your radio then you will need to select the physical or virtual COM (serial) port that you have your radio connected to.
To do this you first need to enable PTT by enabling the function. Click on the Enable PTT Serial Port and the options will be enabled.
Then select the COM port from Select PTT Serial Port drop down.
Finally, select the raise high line you have configured on the radio. RTS or DTR. You do this by clicking on Enable RTS, or Enable DTR.
Once you have completed these options, the Pecker will automatically key the PTT of your radio.
You can test this by ensuring you have speakers selected in the audio output section and clicking the PECK ME UP button. To unkey, simply click the PECK ME UP button again.
** NOTE: If you do not utilize PTT Serial Port Control you will have to key the radio manually using a footswitch or Microphone PTT before hitting the PECK ME UP button.
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4. CONFIGURING AUDIO OUT
The final step in configuration is selecting the output sound device that you will be using.
Simply select device you want the Pecker audio routed to from the Select Sound Device dropdown.
If you are using a Signalink, then you should see an item in the Select Sound Device dropdown listed as Speakers (USB Audio CODEC). This is the same output device you would use with a digital mode application such as DM780.
Other options will include LINE OUT if you have a connection to a LINE in on the radio, or Line 1 (Virtual Audio Cable) if you are using a SDR station.
The final step in configuration is selecting the output sound device that you will be using.
Simply select device you want the Pecker audio routed to from the Select Sound Device dropdown.
If you are using a Signalink, then you should see an item in the Select Sound Device dropdown listed as Speakers (USB Audio CODEC). This is the same output device you would use with a digital mode application such as DM780.
Other options will include LINE OUT if you have a connection to a LINE in on the radio, or Line 1 (Virtual Audio Cable) if you are using a SDR station.
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5. AND FINALLY
Once you have configured everything to your requirements you can choose to save the settings by clicking on the SAVE SETTINGS button.
The Pecker will automatically load the last saved settings each time you load the software. This way you can retain your default settings and make changes for testing etc. At any time you can click the LOAD SETTINGS button to revert your settings to the last saved.
And finally, you can keep the Pecker On Top of any other window while in use by enabling the Keep Pecker on Top function. This is very useful for those with limited screen size who may be using SDR software or Digital Mode and Logging software.
6. FOUND A BUG ?
You can contact me by looking me up on QRZ.COM. Drop me an email and I will look into any issues that you may be having.
Pecker utilizes the NAudio Library for waveform generation and playback. NAudio is an open source .NET audio and MIDI library. More information on NAudio can be found here:
https://github.com/naudio/NAudio
7. DONATION MAYBE ?
If you really find the Pecker useful and find yourself using it on a day to day basis, then please consider making a donation. Donations go a long way to keeping software maintained and also drive the development of other useful tools.
Once you have configured everything to your requirements you can choose to save the settings by clicking on the SAVE SETTINGS button.
The Pecker will automatically load the last saved settings each time you load the software. This way you can retain your default settings and make changes for testing etc. At any time you can click the LOAD SETTINGS button to revert your settings to the last saved.
And finally, you can keep the Pecker On Top of any other window while in use by enabling the Keep Pecker on Top function. This is very useful for those with limited screen size who may be using SDR software or Digital Mode and Logging software.
6. FOUND A BUG ?
You can contact me by looking me up on QRZ.COM. Drop me an email and I will look into any issues that you may be having.
Pecker utilizes the NAudio Library for waveform generation and playback. NAudio is an open source .NET audio and MIDI library. More information on NAudio can be found here:
https://github.com/naudio/NAudio
7. DONATION MAYBE ?
If you really find the Pecker useful and find yourself using it on a day to day basis, then please consider making a donation. Donations go a long way to keeping software maintained and also drive the development of other useful tools.
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REQUIRES WINDOWS
32BIT OR 64 BIT
.NET FRAMEWORK 2.0 AS A MINIMUM
32BIT OR 64 BIT
.NET FRAMEWORK 2.0 AS A MINIMUM