Posted: 1/8/2015 9:32:56 PM EDT
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So I wanted to try something other than fldigi for digital mode work. So I downloaded the 30 day trial of HRD ver 6. Installed it but it wouldn't launch. Would only display the license screen with the eval license but it simply dies when I hit continue. Should have left well enough alone but nooooo I had to go and try the version 5 (free) download. Got it installed and working. I think. Holy smokes this thing is complex. Finally get the thing working and passing traffic, but it doesn't seem to modulate the signal as much as fldigi did judging by the amp meter being 1-2A less than when fldigi transmitted at the same power levels (both set to 0dB attenuation). I played with the audio TX calibration and it seems to be about the same but I'll need to get someone on the other end to compare the two.
HRD has a lot of amazing functions, and the waterfall if more aesthetically pleasing and picks up interprets less noise. But the interface is quite a bit more complicated than Fldigi. But I have a feeling that in the end it might be worth tackling the learning curve. All while I'm still trying to figure out these digital modes. This morning in fldigi on an MSFK QSO I had a feller drop an image file on me. Just popped up all on its own. While I knew this was possible I hadn't seen it in use before. And after some web crawling and a few fldigi crashes (one reason I started looking at HRD) I had it figured out. I think. What I do find annoying with HRD (ver 5 unk if same in 6) is that it requires a subscription to QRZ to do lookups where as fldigi doesn't. |
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I'm still using the last free version of HRD. You're right, it can do a lot! I basically use it for rig control, logging and DM780 for PSK. I use WSJT-x for JT-65 and JT-9.
I especially like how DM780 gives you the pop-ups based on your logbook to tell you if you have worked that call and / or band. And how the logbook makes it easy to upload / download to LOTW and eQSL. I don't do all the fancy stuff like the DX cluster with it. One other trick I found is to use VSPMGR to set up a virtual com port so WSJT-x can piggyback on HRD for rig control. Good stuff! I've thought about upgrading to the newest version, but the old one does all I want it to so why bother? Josh PS- rig is a Kenwood TS-590 with the single USB connection for control and the virtual soundcard. (no need for an interface!) |
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Quoted:
But the interface is quite a bit more complicated than Fldigi. Are you sure? fldigi: 
dm780 
dm780 feels much cleaner and well thought out. fldigi smells like buttons were dropped anywhere as features were added with no thought toward aesthetic. I think you'll find that once you get over the different interface dm780 is a much better application. |
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I've got both my fldigi macro rows at the bottom, but otherwise yes, I'd say it's a much simpler interface because it simply doesn't do as much as DM780/HRD.
However, I did something and porked my DM780 as now it doesn't modulate when I transmit. Power meter shows it only to be drawing 5A, which is what a non-modulated USB signal pulls on my radio. ALC meter shows nothing at all on the meter. The waterfall shows something is happening when I transmit, as does the TX monitor waveform in DM780. But I can't figure out why nothing is getting modulated out the radio. I'm thinking it's a simple menu setting but there's just too many damn configuration menus in this program. Granted it could all be a bug with ver 5. And while I can't get ver 6 to work, I emailed the support staff and they emailed me back so they could setup a time to troubleshoot the problem I'm having with getting past the license screen. I'm sure if I give it enough time I'll come around to it. The logging that it does looks great, and I really like that it does tell me if I worked the other station before by just hovering over the ID. We'll see what happens if the HRD folks are able to get me running or not. I don't have issue with spending money on it if it works for me. |
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Quoted:
Are you sure? fldigi: http://people.wallawalla.edu/~Rob.Frohne/websdr/Screenshot_jack_fldigi_pulse.png dm780 http://deepplaya.com/w7pea/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/image4.png dm780 feels much cleaner and well thought out. fldigi smells like buttons were dropped anywhere as features were added with no thought toward aesthetic. I think you'll find that once you get over the different interface dm780 is a much better application. Quoted:
Quoted:
But the interface is quite a bit more complicated than Fldigi. Are you sure? fldigi: http://people.wallawalla.edu/~Rob.Frohne/websdr/Screenshot_jack_fldigi_pulse.png dm780 http://deepplaya.com/w7pea/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/image4.png dm780 feels much cleaner and well thought out. fldigi smells like buttons were dropped anywhere as features were added with no thought toward aesthetic. I think you'll find that once you get over the different interface dm780 is a much better application. Agreed. I have the older freeware version of HRD and the 3.22 ver of fldigi, and I find HRD much easier to use. |
| I'm using the paid version of HRD and like it a lot. I use it for rig control, DM780 and logging. I use it with WSJTX for rig control and for auto logging of JT65/JT9 contacts. My understanding is that HRD will soon have a JT65/JT9 module that will eliminate the need to run a separate WSJT program. |
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FWIW, I found DM780 so bloated that I used Fldigi with HRD. I much preferred the streamlined nature of it. DM780 also seems to be more of a CPU hog.
Now that I'm using PowerSDR with a Flex I don't need HRD. I've stayed with Fldigi and gone over to DXKeeper for logging. The DXLabs stuff is also quite a bit of bloatware, though! 
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I run a Flex 5000 with DDUtil v3, and have HRD 6.2 and only use HRD Logbook and DM780. As some of you know, I have an intermittent problem with DM780 transmitting. I think I found a little corruption while troubleshooting that today. The junk in these fields is really long, it's way more than what you see on the screen.
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