Odd audio behavior

[hf.iq.imbalance]

Hi. New user to SDR Console, but liking what i'm seeing thus far. That said, i've run into a very odd behavior using SDR Console 3.3 on a Windows 10 laptop with my Afedri-LAN (connected via ethernet). For the life of me, I cannot get intelligible audio from any SW broadcast stations. I've selected the correct mode (AM), have set a reasonable bandwidth for the receiver, and have made sure the RF gain and the audio gain aren't blowing things out. CPU is at 60%, GPU is at 10%, and it's showing an audio latency of 35ms. The best way i can describe it is that the audio sounds like trying to listen to a USB mode voice transmission in LSB mode.

A very odd observation is that if i tune into the 10Mhz WWV/WWW signal (again in AM mode!) the 600Hz 'second' tone looks (and sounds) like it's at 300Hz on the audio waterfall display. I do have the 10Mhz carrier centered pretty well, so that's not the problem.

This is an old laptop, so it's possible something else is going on. That said, any suggestions would be appreciated!

[jdow]

Are you new to SDRs in general?

The Afedri-LAN is connected directly to an antenna? If not let's do it just to get everything working. Then "Invert spectrum" should not be ticked in the radio's definition. I am presuming you are trying to work on HF. I am also presuming that simply switching to LSB does not clean it up any more than "Invert spectrum" cleans it up.

Let's start with making sure "Visual gain" is set to 0 dB. You can mess with it later. Then we work on the spectrum only. Run audio gain down to zero. Run the Afedri's gain down until signals and noise stop going down together. Bump the Afedri's gain up one notch. Nominally this is optimum noise setting. If any signals are peaking above the top line if the spectrum reduce gain until it's maybe 10 dB below the top line. You are worried, here, about the sum of all the signal "voltages". That is why I suggested 10 dB below the top line. Adjust from there. The spectrum display should look nice as shown in most SDR pictures.

Presuming you have not fiddled with filter definitions it should sound OK if you raise the audio levels. I am (rashly?) presuming all noise blanker and reduction options are off.

If this does not solve things some screen shots are needed. The control settings should be clearly shown so we can see what you are doing. This would be both for the main window as well as the definitions window and the definition for the Afedri - 3 screen shots total. Do not edit or inline them in the discussion. Just ATTACH them full size to your reply. (On this forum the Full Editor is needed for this.)

I really hope the above leads you to a solution, because if it doesn't the hunt for Red Oct... er a solution could be slow.
{^_^}

[hf.iq.imbalance]

I've been toying with software defined radio for quite awhile. Started with a PCR-1000 (arguably not a SDR!), but transitioned to an Afedri when they became available, and have a few RTL-SDR floating around here someplace. I'd been running my Afedri SDR-net using SdrDx on a Mac until the software was discontinued (thanks Apple) and I had to switch to a PC platform and HDSDR. While HDSDR works, i wasn't thrilled w/ the feature set so wanted to try something else...SDR console certainly is near the top of the list.

This isn't a gain problem. NB and NR are off, as is AGC. I've tried several different broadcasts and different modes (AM, USB, LSB) as well

I don't believe this is a computer specific problem...I've tried it on two different Win10 boxes, same audio issue.

One thing i am noticing...the Afedri definition is for an Afedri-LAN. There is a specific Afedri LAN-IQ model, but i have the SDR-Net model. Could this be a definition problem?

Attaching screenshots as requested...i grabbed the definitions and Afedri definition windows in one shot. Also including an audio sample of what should be a commercial AM SW broadcast...

Thanks!

[Peter]

I note you say AGC is Off ... if this is the AGC in the Display Panel, you will have to carefully manually adjust the Audio Output Level - much better to leave that AGC On.

Have you tried the latest beta ( SDR Console 3.4 ) ?

Finally, I've always found that it is a good idea to not have the radio centered on the signal being received - moving off to one side or the other by 10 Khz or so keeps you away from the possible DC effect of IQ imbalance.

Pete.

[hf.iq.imbalance]

Good suggestion re: latest beta. Installed and running but same problem. I've also tried using AGC on/off and tweaking the audio levels. I really think this is a problem in the definition for the Afedri SDR-LAN radio; i plugged in one of my RTL-SDR USB dongles and was able to receive broadcast WFM just fine (the audio sounded normal).

[hf.iq.imbalance]

AHEM....i'll answer my own question. The software is working just fine...it was getting confused by the output from the radio. You see, I have the dual receiver version (Afedri SDR-net dual channel) and i neglected to put the unit in single channel mode before launching SDR Console, so it was trying to deal with two separate inputs that were out of phase.

Thanks to everyone for putting up with this troubleshooting adventure.....

[KA1GJU]

How about a screen shot with the DSP panel showing?
Something like this:

[jdow]

Seems he figured it out Kriss. And boy howdy is that problem from somewhere in left field. I don't think I'd have ever thought of that problem. Kudos for him having the persistence to solve it.

{^_^}