We seek to understand and document all radio transmissions, legal and otherwise, as part of the radio listening hobby. We do not encourage any radio operations contrary to regulations. Always consult with the appropriate authorities if you have questions concerning what is permissible in your locale.

Author Topic: Any WeFax experts out there  (Read 2752 times)

Offline Hornet0123

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 371
  • Central Maine
    • View Profile
    • Email
Any WeFax experts out there
« on: December 17, 2014, 2051 UTC »
I recently started trying to decode wefax, I have bee mostly getting junk.  I have tried decoding from coast guard in Boston New Orleans, and Cali.  I have tried using Virtual Audio Cable, also tried running a cable from my speaker out jack back into the mic jack.  I have tried on my desktop (pentium quad core, 16 gigs) and my laptop (I5 8gigs).  I keep getting distorted pics.  Any Ideas?



Now listening on an Afedri SDR with a 450 ft Sky Loop
From the heart of Maine
Pls  QSL to dave [at] cebangor.com

Offline ChrisSmolinski

  • Administrator
  • Marconi Class DXer
  • *****
  • Posts: 31106
  • Westminster, MD USA
    • View Profile
    • Black Cat Systems
Re: Any WeFax experts out there
« Reply #1 on: December 17, 2014, 2111 UTC »
It looks like the signal is properly tuned and noise free. Is the software trying to detect the sync pulse at the end of each line, or free running? If the former, try the latter. Also, double check that the lines per minute is correctly set, to 120 ,if that is an option.

Shameless plug time, if you have an iPhone/iPad or an Android, give my app a try :-)

http://www.blackcatsystems.com/ipad-iphone-ipod-touch-shortwave-ham-amateur-radio-app/HF-Weather-Fax-radiofacsimile-nws-noaa-maritime-marine-high-seas-forecast-sailing.html
http://www.blackcatsystems.com/droid/hf-weather-fax.html

Chris Smolinski
Westminster, MD
eQSLs appreciated! csmolinski@blackcatsystems.com
netSDR / AFE822x / AirSpy HF+ / KiwiSDR / 900 ft Horz skyloop / 500 ft NE beverage / 250 ft V Beam / 58 ft T2FD / 120 ft T2FD / 400 ft south beverage / 43m, 20m, 10m  dipoles / Crossed Parallel Loop / Discone in a tree

Offline Hornet0123

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 371
  • Central Maine
    • View Profile
    • Email
Re: Any WeFax experts out there
« Reply #2 on: December 17, 2014, 2126 UTC »
I'm not sure about your first question, I will poke around a bit to try and find out, Lines per minute are set to 120.  I do have an ipad, will try that tonight
Now listening on an Afedri SDR with a 450 ft Sky Loop
From the heart of Maine
Pls  QSL to dave [at] cebangor.com

Offline refmo

  • Marconi Class DXer
  • ********
  • Posts: 7812
  • Northeast Kentucky
    • View Profile
Re: Any WeFax experts out there
« Reply #3 on: December 18, 2014, 0048 UTC »
Whenever I try using one of the virtual soundcards, I get distorted fax reception also.  I believe the virtual soundcard occasionally drops small bits of audio (undetectable to my ears, but not to the decoding software).  The same thing happens when I try to receive sstv using the virtual soundcard.
Northeast Kentucky
Please eQSL to refmo[at]outlook[dot]com
Radios: Afedri AFE822x, Airspy HF+, RX-888, RSPdx, Tecsun PL880
Antennas: 700' Loop Skywire, Wellbrook ALA1530LN Loop, 400' Beverage, 34' Vertical, low dipoles on upper bands.

Offline ChrisSmolinski

  • Administrator
  • Marconi Class DXer
  • *****
  • Posts: 31106
  • Westminster, MD USA
    • View Profile
    • Black Cat Systems
Re: Any WeFax experts out there
« Reply #4 on: December 18, 2014, 0116 UTC »
You mentioned you tried using a patch cable from the speaker out to mic jack - so I assume you're using some SDR software? Could it be dropping samples? I  use SdrDx and have no issues with that. I also use Soundflower as the virtual audio cable, but that's a Mac OS X only app.
Chris Smolinski
Westminster, MD
eQSLs appreciated! csmolinski@blackcatsystems.com
netSDR / AFE822x / AirSpy HF+ / KiwiSDR / 900 ft Horz skyloop / 500 ft NE beverage / 250 ft V Beam / 58 ft T2FD / 120 ft T2FD / 400 ft south beverage / 43m, 20m, 10m  dipoles / Crossed Parallel Loop / Discone in a tree

Offline refmo

  • Marconi Class DXer
  • ********
  • Posts: 7812
  • Northeast Kentucky
    • View Profile
Re: Any WeFax experts out there
« Reply #5 on: December 18, 2014, 0200 UTC »
I am still playing around with settings.  I have noticed setting BOTH recording and playback of the virtual soundcard to 16 bit 48000 Hz gives the best results (but still not perfect) on my system  (Windows 8.1).  I did not have these issues with my old XP machine.
Northeast Kentucky
Please eQSL to refmo[at]outlook[dot]com
Radios: Afedri AFE822x, Airspy HF+, RX-888, RSPdx, Tecsun PL880
Antennas: 700' Loop Skywire, Wellbrook ALA1530LN Loop, 400' Beverage, 34' Vertical, low dipoles on upper bands.

Offline Hornet0123

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 371
  • Central Maine
    • View Profile
    • Email
Re: Any WeFax experts out there
« Reply #6 on: December 18, 2014, 0219 UTC »
Well it seems to be an audio issue in my computers.  I tried decoding a youtube wefax , got the same thing- nice clear lines, but distorted.  I installed your app on my ipad, same thing.  However I just did a decode from new orleans CG on my tecsun portable with the ipad app.... it was a bit fuzzy, but everything lined up perfect.   I am using an SDR (afedri with SDR Console V2.3) 
Now listening on an Afedri SDR with a 450 ft Sky Loop
From the heart of Maine
Pls  QSL to dave [at] cebangor.com

Offline refmo

  • Marconi Class DXer
  • ********
  • Posts: 7812
  • Northeast Kentucky
    • View Profile
Re: Any WeFax experts out there
« Reply #7 on: December 18, 2014, 0228 UTC »
Hmmmmm.  I am also using an afedri with sdr console (versions 1.5, 2.2, and 2.3).
I don't know if I have tried receiving FAX or SSTV with SDRdx, I will try that when I get a chance.
Hoping it is not an afedri issue.
Northeast Kentucky
Please eQSL to refmo[at]outlook[dot]com
Radios: Afedri AFE822x, Airspy HF+, RX-888, RSPdx, Tecsun PL880
Antennas: 700' Loop Skywire, Wellbrook ALA1530LN Loop, 400' Beverage, 34' Vertical, low dipoles on upper bands.

Offline Hornet0123

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 371
  • Central Maine
    • View Profile
    • Email
Re: Any WeFax experts out there
« Reply #8 on: December 19, 2014, 1136 UTC »
Ok, well I seem to gave solved it, it was a couple  pieces of software causing the problem.  I was messing around on my lunch decoding a recording,  I scrapped the virtual audio cable software and tried one called ab-cable.  It started working.  When I got home a tried it with my SDR, but I was still getting distortion, although not as bad.  I downloaded a different program, HDSDR,  and bingo.  Clear copy
Now listening on an Afedri SDR with a 450 ft Sky Loop
From the heart of Maine
Pls  QSL to dave [at] cebangor.com

Offline refmo

  • Marconi Class DXer
  • ********
  • Posts: 7812
  • Northeast Kentucky
    • View Profile
Re: Any WeFax experts out there
« Reply #9 on: December 20, 2014, 0123 UTC »
Okay!  I couldn't find the ab-cable software you mentioned, but I did find vb-cable and installed it.
Also, made sure everything was set to the same bit rate,etc....
Now copying FAX with no timing gliches -- YAY!
Still using SDR Console.  If SDRdx had an easier way to manipulate the spectrum width and center frequency (similar to SDR Console), I would use it more (SDRdx has better audio quality than SDR Console, and marginally better AGC).

Northeast Kentucky
Please eQSL to refmo[at]outlook[dot]com
Radios: Afedri AFE822x, Airspy HF+, RX-888, RSPdx, Tecsun PL880
Antennas: 700' Loop Skywire, Wellbrook ALA1530LN Loop, 400' Beverage, 34' Vertical, low dipoles on upper bands.