Sending morse code over the internet with EhoCW

[Chuck aa0hw]

EhoCW has just released a new version which allows for multiple instances and the option of using WASAPI AUDIO.  WASAPI AUDIO DRIVERS are almost as good as ASIO DRIVERS in regards to cw timing accuracy and low latency.  Only EhoCW has the option to select WASAPI SOUND CARDS, no other software cw keyer was found that had this feature.  Two instances of EhoCW are used and setup exactly the same to send iambic morse code to two different sound cards - one instance to send audio to your computer sound card so you can monitor your sidetone,  and a second instance to duplicate the first EhoCW iambic keying but send its audio to another sound card, a virtual sound card, to be connected to the input of Mumble on iCW for sending morse code over the internet.

Here is the video tutorial for this setup:

HERE ARE THE LINKS MENTIONED IN THE VIDEO:
1. EhoCW
http://www.f8eho.net/?q=content/downloads
2. VB-AUDIO VIRTUAL CABLE
http://vb-audio.pagesperso-orange.fr/Cable/index.htm
3. PEDALBOARD2
http://www.niallmoody.com/apps/pedalboard2
4. VOXENGO AUDIO SPECTRUM ANALYZER
http://www.voxengo.com/product/span/
5. FABULATECH SERIAL PORT SPLITTER
http://www.fabulatech.com/serial-port-splitter.html
6. ARTICLE ABOUT FABULATECH and HAM RADIO
http://www.fabulatech.com/serial-port-splitter.html
7. DIAGRAM OF SERIAL PORT INTERFACES
http://i.imgur.com/7pOVfk3.jpg

[Chuck aa0hw]

The delay that was measured from actually tapping the morse code key until you actually hear the tone when using EhoCW with a WASAPI AUDIO DRIVER, is about 55 milliseconds.  This amount of latency for monitoring your sidetone from EhoCW, is not high enough to cause any trouble for sending well timed cw with your paddles using EhoCW in iambic mode.  EhoCW provides very accurate cw keying, adjustable raised cosine cw waveforms, and allows you to also hook up your Bug and Straight Key too.  There are 4 event pins on a typical serial port,  DSR, DCD, RI, and CTS.  The iambic paddle hooks up to the CTS and DSR which leaves the other two serial port pins free so that you can use them for your bug and/or some other morse code instrument, like a straight key or cootie key.  No other software cw keyer was found that has the option to use  WASAPI MODE for the sound card.  ASIO drivers are the best for software cw keyers, but requires the purchase of a USB ASIO SOUND CARD.   With WASAPI, you only need your computer sound card and a virtual sound card - (see the article about VB-AUDIO VIRTUAL CABLE for more info on virtual sound cards)

[Chuck aa0hw]

Here is the 2nd part in this video series, where we show you a unique setup for being able to send morse code over the internet, with a software cw keyboard like CwType,  using 2 instances of EhoCW, a virtual audio sound card like VB-CABLE, and both the FABULTECH Serial Port Splitter and Serial Port Kit

In this 2nd part of the video series of sending morse code over the internet with EhoCW, we show you how to setup up a software cw keyboard. 2 instances of EhowCW are used to act as a software CPO, to key cw, from what every is sent by CwType. One instance of EhoCW(in straight key mode) sends cw audio to your computer sound card so you can monitor the sidetone from CwType. The other instance of EhoCW, sends cw audio through a virtual sound card to the input of mumble for sending morse code over the internet on iCW. Both instances of EhoCW are in straight key mode, and are being "keyed" by CwType at the same time and with the same speed and accuracy. Keying EhoCW as a CPO, is just like keying your own rig and listening to the sidetone. Fabulatech's Virtual Serial Port Kit, and Virtual Serial Port Splitter are needed to route all the cw keying signals.

Here are the links mentioned in this video:

1. Download the virtual audio device here:
http://vb-audio.pagesperso-orange.fr/Cable/VirtualCables.htm
2. Download the latest version of EhoCw here:
http://www.f8eho.net/?q=content/downloads
3. Download FABULATECH's Virtual Serial Port Kit here:
http://www.fabulatech.com/virtual-serial-port-kit.html
4. Download FABULATECH's Virtual Serial Port Splitter here:
http://www.fabulatech.com/serial-port-splitter.html
5. Download the free VU METER for windows sound card here:
http://www.vuplayer.com/other.php
6. If you want to use VOXENGO's VU METER you have to first download a VST HOST, like PEDALBOARD2 here http://www.niallmoody.com/apps/pedalboard2 and then download the free VST PLUGIN VOXENGO here http://www.voxengo.com/product/span/
7. Article about sending morse code over the internet with EhoCW here:
http://qrqcwnet.ning.com/profiles/blogs/sending-morse-code-over-the...
8. Article about FABULATECH and HAM RADIO here:
http://qrqcwnet.ning.com/forum/topics/useful-software-for-amateur-r...
9. For more information on iCW see these two websites here:
https://sites.google.com/site/icwoip/
https://groups.google.com/forum/?fromgroups#!forum/i_cw

NOTE: The prerequisite to understanding everything in the setups shown in this video is to watch the first video in this series https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4vLs6mzcZQ

[Chuck aa0hw]

Here is the 3rd video in this series, where we combine everything together and show you how to setup both your iambic paddles AND your cw keyboard using 4 instances of EhoCW and 2 instances of CwType.

In this 3rd video of the, EhoCW - morse code over the internet series, we show you how to combine everything together so that you can send cw, with both your paddles, and the cw keyboard. We use 4 instances of EhoCW in straight key mode to act as a code practice oscillator that will be "keyed" by 2 separate instances of CwType. One instance of CwType will only be used for the cw keyboard, and the other instance of CwType will only be used to send morse code with iambic paddles. CwType is the sender,in both instances and all 4 instances of EhoCW, in straight key mode will be the receivers. EhoCw is being "keyed" just like you would key your own rig for cw and hearing the rigs sidetone. To make this setup possible, WASAPI AUDIO must be used, and EhoCW is the only software cw keyer that we found that has WASAPI AUDIO SOUND CARD as an option. WASAPI offers excellent performance in both low latency and cw timing accuracy. This is an advanced setup to begin with, requiring quite a few programs and many settings to adjust, however, once you set them up for the first time, EhoCW will remember all of its settings. Any changes you make on either instance of CwType will automatically be sent out to both instances of EhoCW in this unique combination.

NOTE: a prerequisite for understanding everything in this video is to watch the first two videos in this morse code over the internet with EhoCW series.
PART 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4vLs6mzcZQ
PART 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlQWZ368g30

Here are the links mentioned in the video:
1. EhoCW
http://www.f8eho.net/?q=content/downloads
2. CwType
http://www.dxsoft.com/en/products/cwtype/
3. Fabulatech Virtual Serial Port Splitter
http://www.fabulatech.com/serial-port-splitter.html
4. Fabulatech Virtual Serial Port Kit
http://www.fabulatech.com/virtual-serial-port-kit.html
5. VB-AUDIO CABLES
http://vb-audio.pagesperso-orange.fr/Cable/VirtualCables.htm
6. Pedalboard2
http://www.niallmoody.com/apps/pedalboard2
7. Voxengo VST VU METER plugin
http://www.voxengo.com/product/span/
8. VU PLAYER windows sound card VU METER app
http://www.vuplayer.com/other.php
9. Article about Fabulatech and HAM RADIO
http://qrqcwnet.ning.com/forum/topics/useful-software-for-amateur-r...
10.. Article about sending morse code over the internet with EhoCW
http://qrqcwnet.ning.com/profiles/blogs/sending-morse-code-over-the...

For more information about iCW see here:
https://sites.google.com/site/icwoip/
https://groups.google.com/forum/?fromgroups#!forum/i_cw

[Chuck aa0hw]

Here is the 4th video in this series, where we simplify things a bit and use one instance of EHOcw as the master cw sender for both cw keyboard and cw paddles, and use a 2nd instance of EHOcw to act only as a software code practice oscillator which is being "keyed" by the 1st instance of EHOcw.

In this 4th video in the EHOcw series, we use only 2 instances of EHOcw - the first instance of EHOcw is used as a MASTER CW SENDER; the 2nd instance of EHOcw is used as a CODE PRACTICE OSCILLATOR that is keyed by the first instance of EHOcw.
Both cw keyboard AND cw paddles AND even a straight key are enabled on the 1st instance of EHOcw. Any speed adjustments only need to be changed on the 1st instance since the 2nd instance is only acting like a keyed CPO. This is possible by using EHOcw's ON AIR feature, where it sends out a cw keying signal to a designated serial port, in this case it will be a "virtual" serial port pair - null modem cable. This setup is a little easier to build, and it also is more convenient, since you only have to adjust the speeds on the 1st instance of EHOcw.

NOTE: if you notice that your 2nd instance of EHOcw, using the VB-CABLE in straight key mode, is STUCK ON when you first bring it up, close it out and try again. It will usually stop getting STUCK ON, the next time (or two) that you close it and bring it back up.
TO PREVENT THIS: try bringing up the first instance of EHOcw and make sure the OnAIR button is check marked before bringing up the 2nd instance of EHOcw that uses the virtual sound card in straight key mode as a software CPO.

HERE ARE THE LINKS MENTIONED IN THE VIDEO:
1. FABULATECH VIRTUAL SERIAL PORT KIT
http://www.fabulatech.com/network-serial-port-kit.html
2. ARTICLE ABOUT FABULATECH's SPECIAL PROVISION FOR HAM RADIO OPS
http://qrqcwnet.ning.com/forum/topics/useful-software-for-amateur-r...
3. VB-CABLE
http://vb-audio.pagesperso-orange.fr/Cable/index.htm
4. AUDIO REPEATER
http://software.muzychenko.net/eng/vac.htm#download
5. EHOcw
http://www.f8eho.net/
6. DIGITAL LEVEL METER
http://www.darkwooddesigns.co.uk/pc2/meters.html

[Chuck aa0hw]

Here is the 5th video in this EHOcw series where we show you in this video, how to setup EHOcw using an ASIO sound card.  When using an ASIO driver with EHOcw, you will get more accurate cw timing and lower latency.  Even using a budget ASIO sound card that costs about 30 dollars, the performance gains are significant.  This setup uses only one instance of EHOcw.   It also only uses the ASIO sound card as an "audio feeder" to send cw audio tones generated by EHOcw to the input of your normal computer sound card.  All audio will be heard on the normal computer sound card and again, the ASIO sound card is only used to feed high precision, high quality, low latency, cw audio into the input of your usual computer sound card.

This video will show you how to setup EHOcw to use an ASIO sound card. EHOcw, will operate with greater accuracy and lower latency when using an ASIO driver.

HERE ARE THE LINKS MENTIONED IN THE VIDEO:

1. EHOcw
http://www.f8eho.net/
2. BEHRINGER UCA222 ASIO SOUND CARD
http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/UCA222.aspx
3. GROUND LOOP ISOLATION AUDIO CABLE
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062214
4. ARTICLES TO SETUP EHOcw IN MANY DIFFERENT CONFIGURATIONS
http://qrqcwnet.ning.com/profiles/blogs/sending-morse-code-over-the...
5. DIGITAL AUDIO LEVEL METER
http://www.darkwooddesigns.co.uk/pc2/meters.html

[Chuck aa0hw]

HERE IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THE ADVANTAGES OF USING AN ASIO DRIVER WITH EHOCW

THE ASIO DRIVER IS TO THE LEFT AND ON BOTTOM - latency = 7ms

THE WASAPI DRIVER IS TO THE RIGHT AND ON TOP - latency = 55ms

THE ASIO DRIVER is more than a whole dit faster than the WASAPI DRIVER

This test is a PADDLE HANDLE TAP TEST -  tapping the paddle, is the mark on the left and is measured from that point over to the beginning of the CW TONE - by recording with a microphone that is equidistant from the IAMBIC PADDLES and the SPEAKERS -  using AUDACITY.