Icom 7300 WSJT-X Combined With HRD And JT-Alert
Ham Radio Deluxe
HRD along with HRDLogbook work fine for me and I purchased HRD 6.3 not too long ago. The free version was still working good, but I chose to try the new one because it boasted FSK and having the Icom 7300 included as a rig.
(FSK works fine for me, but a few have reported trouble with delays and keying with FSK.)
Combined with JT-Alert 2.8.7, WSJT-X will log into HRDLogbook. This makes operating smooth and easy! My HRDLogbook is setup to automatically upload QSO's to QRZ.com (subscriber), eQSL and HRDLog.net. It even sends "On Air" activity to HRDLog.net and in-turn HRDLog.net sends that info (including QSO's) to my Twitter account automatically. It's somewhat like "self spots" on Twitter.
The only thing I have to complete is uploading to LOTW and HRDLogbook makes that easy.
Important operating settings: eQSL upload, HRDLog.net logbook and On Air uploads, QRZ.com upload.
WSJT-X
WSJT-X is a beautiful program for JT65, JT9 and WSPR and it's free. I've received some help from other Hams and I believe it is setup and operating at it's best with the Icom 7300. WSJT-X also runs really well on my Raspberry Pi 3. That's a lot of fun!
Important operating settings: Rig is Ham Radio Deluxe, Split Operation (Fake It), Mode is set to Data/Pkt.
VERY IMPORTANT: Time synchronization. I use NetTime. You can download and install it from here. Your computer clock must be within 1 second +/- of UTC.
For more on the waterfall, please see: WSJT-X Wide Graph Getting it Right.
For more information on setting the output power see: Icom 7300 Controlling Output Power Digital Modes.
Snapshots are on the next page. Click on the smaller image to bring up the full size photo.
What is the internet address for the clock to use with WSPR?
I use NetTime and it has prepopulated servers. One is 0.nettime.pool.ntp.org.
I hope this helps.
Best 73! Rich, K0PIR
I am now using the NET time for WSJT-X. I had previously asked for your suggestion.
Oh I see.
I have been using NetTime for a year or so and I hardly notice it running. I hope it works good for you. Best 73! – Rich, K0PIR
I am having a problem getting the WSPR-X to work display the signals. I am using Icom 7300. Would you also let me call you or you call me? 336 608 4854 home or 336 420 0170 cell
Hi Deryl,
I am at work right now hihi, but maybe you can tell me what problem you are having.
Did you set the sound card in WSJT-X for the USB Audio CODEC? Do you have a waterfall or is it black?
Once the sound card is set in WSJT-X you should see a waterfall (blue) and on your radio you’ll need to turn off NB, NR and at least put AGC on Fast. The mode on the radio should be USB-D.
Is that all done? If so, what is happening?
Do you have those things?
I do not see a waterfall. I have done what you said except my AGC does not have a fast mode. I am seeing stations coming in and calling CQ. When i enable TX,
it does not transmit. Using ICom 7300 with HRD latest version. . Codec is input and output.
I am using WSFT -x v1.9.0-rc1
Hi Deryl,
I think you’ve got it. In WSJT-X, look at the menu and click on “View” and then “Waterfall”
For some more info on AGC see: WSJT X Wide Graph Waterfall And Icom 7300 Settings
If you are not transmitting, you should have CAT selected in WSJT-X under File>Settings>Radio. What happens when you push “Test CAT” and then “Test PTT”? See these photos: https://k0pir.us/icom-7300-wsjt-x/4/
Okay?
Do you know a way to change the IC-7300 so that it remembers that I want USB-D?
I want to change the defaults to make it remember USB-D or at least make it remember
the last setting – a manual mode instead of automatically changing the MODE when i change bands.
When I change bands, it changes to LSB or USB depending on the band and I would like it
to stay in the mode that I have selected.
I have missed many calls because of looking at another band then changing back only to find that
I am in USB and not USB-D.
Thanks in advance for any assistance on this matter.
I also want to thank you for the great information provided on the IC-7300/HRD/WJST installation and configuration. I just got back in the hobby after a 40+ year hiatus and your instructions were invaluable.
Thank you for everything you do for this wonderful hobby.
Hi Charlie,
Great question! I think I understand your dilemma.
When I go to that portion (digital) of the band I would like it to go to USB-D.
The best I have right now is using the radios memories.
I wish I knew a better way. I have tried with memories in HRD and when I e-mailed their support, they said it couldn’t be done. I can set USB-D in MacloggerDX though 🙂 So what gives??
In WSJT-X it will stay at USB-D, but most of the time I have to set it first.
Thank you Charlie. I hope we find a solution.
Maybe someone else can help???
Best 73! Rich, K0PIR
Hi Rich, I have a related problem. I was running WSJT-X and had no problems, except that while the radio keyed up for transmission but with no output. That was solved when I switched from USB to USB-D. However, yesterday I installed HRD, and switched the WSJT-X settings to HRD from ICOM 7300. However when I tried to use WSJT-X on FT8 as I had in the past, the radio kept switching to USB with no output. I keep having to manually change it back to USB-D with just about every transmission.
Is there a fix for this?
73 de Rich 4Z1JJ
Hi Richard,
Good to hear from you. I think it’s probably a WSJT-X setting. On the Radio tab in WSJT-X, change Mode to Data/Pkt.
See if that helps. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
73,
Rich, K0PIR
Rich – I’ve had the following happen a number of times
1) I use the IC-7300, WSJT-X, and an iMac
2) mostly FT8, everything fine
3) I turn off WSJT, bring up flrig and fldigi, do a little RTTY
4) shut that down, open WSJT
5) now WSJT decodes well, but when I click Enable-Tx or test cat, the rig switched from USB-D to USB
last night I spent a while rebooting, reinstalling WSTJ/slab UART driver, resetting the rig, uninstalling the driver, every combination of things and nothing seemed to fix it – then I saw this thread, clicked on DATA/PKTS and all was well
not happy to leave well enough alone – I tried RTTY again using flrig/FLdig
same result, the radio shows USB-D, but WSJT switches that to USB when test cat is pressed or when Enable TX is clicked
I even have tried with a laptop that I used to use for WSJT and the IC-7300 – same result
any ideas ?
Hi Marc,
It’s good to hear from you and I have had trouble with my USB driver on my iMac. I can transit 3 times with WSJT-X and then it switches output to my speakers.
I’ve tried uninstalling, re-installing the driver numerous times. I think I’ll have to do a fresh install of the MacOS.
It’s good yours is working that much, hi. I never had trouble with my old iMac.
You’re issue may be the setting in WSJT-X. Check to see if you are using Data/Pkt under Mode and not something else. File>Settings>Radio
Rich, K0PIR
Hi Rick, I have a problem trying to connect my IC-7300 to HRD V5. when I turn on the radio and HRD is open it PTT the radio and if a have the radio turned up and open HRD it PTT the radio. It remains the radio PTT until I turned off. Which one could be the problem?
Hi Mel,
Nice to hear from you.
HRD: Is RTS or DTR in the connect window checked? Try swapping them and in look in the radio Connectors menu, look at your RTS SEND. Is it set to RTS? That’s what mine is and in my HRD connect window I don’t have anything checked. You may have to try a couple of different settings, but that is the problem.
By the way, I just have the USB cable and I can’t do work the HRD and the WSJT-x at the same time. TNX
With just a USB cable: In WSJT-X under settings and Radio. For the rig, find HRD in the drop down. It’ll work FB that way. Just have HRD started before opening WSJT-X. Thanks for commenting and let me know how it goes.
in the wjst-x settings just select in settings….mode none…..problim should be solved…..
may have been answered already skimmed replys….. good luck
Hi and thank you for commenting! That will work too.
I use Data/Pkt and no user intervention is needed. WSJT-X will set the correct mode (USB-D) when changing bands.
HNY!
Rich, K0PIR
I had another thought.
In the radio set DATA OFF MOD to MIC,ACC (that is the default) and then use the Data/Pkt in WSJT-X.
Thank you again and this should help others.
HNY!
Rich, K0PIR
Most of the images in https://k0pir.us/icom-7300-wsjt-x/2/ are not displaying, just a ?.
Thanks Jim! I’ll fix them right away. 73’s
Rich – I looked at an old screen shot , I had mode set to none and the radio set to USB-D
Now whatever I set the mode to, the radio goes to USB (not as set USB-D) when I try test cat or enable transmit
Like it’s completely ignoring mode or worse – locked in on USB mode only
Have another look at it because if you use Data/Pkt WSJT-X will set the mode for you. In other words if you were operating another mode, opened WSJT-X and selected a frequency using the drop down, it will change the radio to that frequency and mode to USB-D.
Rich, K0PIR
Wow – just changed the stop bits from 7-1 to 8-1 and back in business
The mode is set to none, radio to USB-D
Not sure why flrig causes such chaos and why my setup worked before this the other way
What a nightmare
Yep, mine is 8-1-none. Glad it’s working! I miss using the iMac. The monitor is much better than the one I have on the PC and I love MLDX and RUMLogNG.
There’s a screen shot on this page at the top. https://k0pir.us/macloggerdx-wsjt-x-jt-bridge/
Happy Dx’ing!
Thanks for commenting, it’ll help others.
Rich, K0PIR
So I just figured out one more clue
Somehow, after I shutdown FLdigi/flrig, my VFO A was in USB-D and VFO-B was USB, so I was working split in WSJT and it did not switch VFO B to USB-D
I thought the radio was switching to USB but actually just moving to VFO-B which was set to USB
Now there might get be something else going on, because I did set WSJT to Data/PKTS and that didn’t help, but now at least I think I understand how to quickly revert it
I just reset both to USB on the rig and set DATA/PKTS and it correctly sets the rig to USB-D
Not sure why I had so much trouble before.
What a mess, they say a good education is expensive, I am learning at the cost of time and lost hair
Hi Marc,
Are you using the Rig for Split Operation??? Try “Fake it”, it is easier. Both work well with the 7300, but Fake it is easier for the reason you mention.
I found when using the rig for Split Operation I had to be careful and sync the VFO’s before starting my WSJT-X communications.
Mode = Data/Pkt
Split Operation = Fake it
Thank you and that’s a great reminder.
Is that what is going on?
Rich, K0PIR
I’m pretty sure that was it – not sure yet when my 2 VF0’s get unsynced, somehow it happens when I fool around w fldigo/flrig
if you press and hold the A/B button while on VFO A, it copied the setup to VFO B – FYI
Hi and thank you for commenting. Yes, I found it is when operating in another mode and/or on another band and switch to WSJT-X. Holding A/B sncs then. I eventually went to “Fake it” because I would forget to sync at times. I still like using the “Radio” for split occasionally.
Thank you again!
73,
Rich, K0PIR
Hi Rich. Just got my 7300 and hooked it up per your guidelines. One puzzle: The receiving gain showing in the bottom left of the WSTJ-X screen won’t go above 45db even if I turn the ACC/USB AF Output setting to 100% in the 7300. I have checked the level in Windows 10 for this device and it is set at 100 as well. In your screen shots you looked to be getting 60db with the rig set at 45%. With my old setup using Signalink, I could get WSJT-X up as high as I wanted it (typically 60-70 db) by adjusting the Receiver control. Any ideas?
Thanks, Ken
Hi Ken,
Good to hear from you and thanks for commenting.
I use this method from the website for the proper level:
NB, NR, AN, MNF, AGC all off? Try that and the above. See what happens. You’ll probably have to turn some settings down.
Rich, K0PIR