Tuning up your XR chip modem

Tuning up both the XR-2211 and XR2206 is quite easy today. I still remember the more difficult times. efore I got my !am tic"et# I had already built my first $00 and 1200 baud XR chip modem in 1%&&. I also used it for RTT' and the (T)R modes. I had no test equipment at the time to help me on the alignment of the XR2206. I *aited until I got my license. +hen that day arri,ed# I got on the air *ith -am# +./01 and "ept cran"ing on pots until I *as being decoded. The XR2211 alignment *as not any easier. I had to cran" on that 10 turn pot until the the loc" 234 lit up. 3,en then it needed some t*ea"ing. +hat tones to use5 Traditionally 2126 !ert7 (18R/( 894 22%6 !ert7 (-:8;3( tones *ere used to obtain the 1<0 !ert7 =cycle> shift. That is *hat I set all my modems for. The 838 ;:-1 and 100# and !82 uses these tones as *ell. ut then along came the T9;. They use a different tone pair and shift only because the modem chips =are not XR chips> the T9; manufacturers use are designed for land line use. These I;(s ha,e predefined tone pairs and shifts. 8 typical tone pair and shift these I;(s use are 2026 !ert7 =mar"> and 2226 !ert7 =space> to obtain a 200 !ert7 shift. There is no problem *ith copying a station *ith a different tone pair using a XR2211 decoder I;. The only difference *ould be the ?@) frequency readout. 1200 baud tones ha,e al*ays been the same. 1200 !ert7 for mar" and 2200 !ert7 for space to obtain a 1#000 !ert7 =cycle> shift.

8lignment for the XR2206 dual tone encoder

There are t*o general *ays to get your XR2206 tuned up. )ne is by using a stable tone generator# 7ero beating it against the tone coming out of the XR2206. The other *ay is to use a frequency counter. 0sing a tone generator5 0sing a tone generator *ill *or" unless you ha,e a drifty tone generator# or bad hearing. +hat if you don(t ha,e a tone generator or your generator is *ay to driftyA 'ou got a computer rightA 4o*nload this small program and you ha,e your self a tone generatorB 9o sound card is needed. It is a 4)- based program that uses the little spea"er inside of your computer. The program is self eCplanatory. It can be used to align any modem that is adDustable such as an 838 ;:-1 and ;:-100# !82# etc. There are t*o files to this program. (bbl160.eCe( and (tonegen.eCe(. (tonegen.eCe( is *hat starts the program. oth files ha,e been 7ipped *ith :/Eip20.F =4)->. The 7ipped file is called tg.7ip. To un7ip the file you must ha,e :/0n7ip 2.0.F =4)-> or better. )r# most of the +indo*s based 7ip programs *ill handle it as *ell such as +inEip. 9ote5 (tonegen.eCe( can only be run under 4)-. It *ill not *or" through a +indo*s %C 4)- boC. I tried it Dust to see *hat *ould happen. That(s o"ay because the !am program you are most li"ely to use *ith your modem is 4)- based so you should be in 4)- any*ay. 3nough about the tone generator program# onto the alignment... 8dDusting the mar" tone5 If you are using an actual tone generator# connect a spea"er to the tone generator. -et the tone generator of choice to 2126 !ert7# mar" tone. If you are adDusting for 1200 baud pac"et# mar" tone# set the generator for 1200 !ert7. ;onnect a spea"er# or better yet# an amplified spea"er to the 8@-/ output of the XR2206. 8dDust ,olume settings accordingly using the pot on pin $ of the XR2206. =Referring to schematic abo,e> Remo,e the connection bet*een pin 6 of the <.0. I; and pin % of the XR2206. 9o* ground pin % of the XR-2206. y doing so you ha,e selected *hat *ill become the mar" note. If you ha,e made the XR chip modem =li"e in the schematic abo,e> that is selectable for $00 and 1200 baud pac"et# ma"e sure the tones select s*itch is in the right position. 8fter turning the mar" pot fully countercloc"*ise# =starting point> you may begin turning the pot cloc"*ise

*hile listening to the tone coming from the XR2206 I; and your tone generator. 'ou *ant to 7ero beat *hat you hear. To set the space tone5 It(s the same as abo,e eCcept for t*o things. ;hange your tone generator frequency to 22%6 !ert7. If you are tuning for 1200 baud use 2200 !ert7. 8nd you need to un-ground pin % of the XR2206. :ut pin % to source =G?> using a 100" resistor. e sure to use the resistorB 'ou should hear the tone change coming from the XR2206 I;. 9o* adDust the space pot until you are able to 7ero beat the space tone from your generator *ith the space tone from the XR2206. 'ou(re done. ut don(t forget to remo,e the 100" resistor on :in % of the XR2206. =Referring to schematic abo,e> Reconnect pin % of the XR-2206 to pin 6 of the <.0. I;. Reset the audio output pot on the XR-2206 to meet the le,el required to dri,e your radio. 8lignment using a frequency counter5 4isconnect the po*er from your XR chip modem. ;80TI)95 'ou need to protect your frequency counter. -ome counters are super sensiti,e and can not handle much on the input. ;ounters li"e these can read directly out of the air# and read out the frequency of an !T 20 feet a*ay producing only 60 milli*atts. =.06 +att>. 0se a .1 microfarad capacitor in series *ith a 100/ resistor to ma"e a probe for your counter. =Referring to schematic abo,e> Remo,e the connection bet*een pin 6 of the <.0. I; and pin % of the XR2206. 9o* ground pin % of the XR-2206. y doing so you ha,e selected *hat *ill become the mar" note. ;onnect the probe of your frequency counter to the 8@-/ output of your XR-2206. 8pply po*er to your XR chip modem. 1a"e sure the audio output pot on pin $ of the XR2206 is turned up Dust enough for the counter to get a positi,e loc". If you ha,e made the XR chip modem that is selectable for $00 and 1200 baud pac"et# ma"e sure the tones select s*itch is in the right position. 8fter turning the mar" pot fully countercloc"*ise =starting point># you may begin turning the pot cloc"*ise. 'ou *ill see the frequency on your counter increase. ;ontinue turning cloc"*ise until you reach 2126 !ert7 =mar" tone>. If you are tuning for 1200 baud# use the tone select s*itch =if you made that type of modem> and turn the 1200 baud mar" pot until it reaches 1200 !ert7 To set the space tone5 It(s the same as abo,e eCcept for one thing. 'ou need to un-ground pin % of the XR2206. :ut pin % to source =G?> using a 100" resistor. e sure to use the resistorB 'ou should hear the tone change coming from the XR2206 I;. 9o* adDust the space pot until you are able read 22%6 !ert7 on the frequency counter. If you are tuning the space for 1200 baud use the tones select s*itch =you you made that type of modem> for 1200 baud tones and adDust the space pot for a reading of 2200 !ert7 on the frequency counter. 'ou(re done. ut don(t forget to remo,e the 100" resistor on :in % of the XR2206. =Referring to schematic abo,e> Reconnect pin % of the XR-2206 to pin 6 of the <.0. I;. 8nd last# after remo,ing the frequency counter of course# reset the audio output pot on the XR-2206 to meet the le,el required to dri,e your radio.

8lignment for the XR2211 tone decoder

There are couple of *ays you can tune up the XR2211. 1.> 8 tone generator of sorts =4on(t ha,e one you sayA +rongB Read on...> 2.> 8 frequency counter. The best *ay but not e,erybody has one. ... ut first# a comment on *hy you should not Dust dial anything up on the radio and start turning pots. The insanity route. 'ou ha,e decided to try to tune your XR2211 into a station on the air. This is not the best choice as it ta"es a long time to ma"e adDustments. 0nless you ha,e a perfect ear for RTT' and *hat not# it(s eCtremely difficult to calibrate on !@. 'ou *ould not "no* if you *ere tuned in eCactly *here you need to be. If you *ere on 2 meter @1 you *ould not ha,e any problems. 8lso if you tune into a RTT' H-) there is a

chance that the t*o stations are not on the same frequency. 8nother possible problem is that the stations are upside do*n =in,erted data>. This means you *ill only print garbage if you are tuned to the *rong tone. 'et another possibility# the modem you made# and or programs requirements are ma"ing you recei,e upside do*n and you don(t "no* it yet. 3,en still another problem that could cause you or the sending station to be in,erted is that you or they are in the *rong side band. Traditionally# 822 4IFIT82 ;)1109I;8TI)98R3 4)93 I9 2)+3R -I43 894 )9 3?3R' 894. ut today some fol"s do strange things and stay in upper side band because they thin" it is better in some *ay. ;hoice 1. 0sing a tone generator5 The XR2211 is a single tone decoder. Therefore it can not detect both mar" and space tones. There *ill be no other adDustment for that other tone to *orry about. In reference to the schematic abo,e# the loc" 234 *ill light up on the mar" tone only. The loc" 234 is a fair indicator for tuning# but it does not gi,e a good response for alignment of the XR2211. 'ou *ill need to connect a ,olt meter# or better yet an oscilloscope to pin < of the XR2211 to see *hat(s really going on. 1a"e sure the 10 turn ?;) pot is fully countercloc"*ise. 'ou may *ant to ,erify that it is so *ith an ohm meter. If you ha,e an actual# stable# tone generator connect it to the input of the XR2211 =recei,er audio in> 0-3 82)+ 89 804I) 23?32 8- :)--I 23. The lo*er the le,el# the better the alignment *ill be. The XR-2211 is quite sensiti,e. -et your tone generator to 2126 !ert7. =mar" tone> If you are aligning your modem for 1200 baud tones# set your generator for 1200 !ert7. If you don(t ha,e a tone generator5 The (tonegen.eCe( program =described else*here> *on(t *or" *ith the XR2211. eing the tone generator uses the spea"er inside your computer there is no simple *ay to couple to the computer spea"er and the XR2211 for alignment. I recommend you align the XR-2206 first# then use the XR-2206 to generate a mar" tone to the XR2211 I; for alignment. +hen you ha,e the XR2206 aligned....= for those *ho don(t ha,e a tone generator> 'ou no* ha,e a tone generator for aligning the XR2211 I;B In reference to schematic abo,e5 1. 4isconnect po*er to your XR chip modem. 2. Remo,e connection bet*een pin % of XR2206 I; and pin 6 of <.0. I;. $. Fround pin % of XR2206 I; so the mar" tone =2126 !ert7 =or 1200 !ert7 for 1200 baud>> *ill be produced. .. Reduce audio output le,el to minimum using the pot on pin $ of XR2206. 6. ;onnect 8@-/ audio output from XR2206 to audio input and XR2211 I;. ...8nd no* you ha,e a tone generator for our purpose. 'ou may need to adDust the the pot on the XR2206 I; if the audio is too lo* for the XR2211. Remember# you need to use the least amount of audio going into the XR2211 as possible for best alignment. +hen you ha,e your generator hoo"ed up to the XR2211# you are ready to begin the alignment procedure. 8pply po*er to your XR modem. 4o not ha,e a computer or radio connected to the modem. The ,olt meter should read near 7ero ,olts on pin < of the XR2211. Turn the pot cloc"*ise until the ,olt meter reads near source ,oltage. =approC. 12 ,olts> This indicates the XR2211 is in (loc"( on the mar" tone. 1a"e a note of *here the pot is. 9o* slo*ly turn the pot in the same direction until the ,olt meter reads approCimately 7ero ,olts again. The XR2211 has gone (out of loc"(. !o* far did you turn the pot bet*een loc" and unloc"A In my eCperience it has been about 1 to 1 1I2 turns bet*een *hen the XR2211 *ent into loc" and out of loc". Results *ill ,ary. 'ou may need to repeat the process a fe* times to be sure. 2et(s say the difference *as 1 full turn on the XR2211 ?;) pot. In this case the pot *ould need to be set 1I2 a turn past the point *here the XR2211 first came into (loc"(. That(s it. 'ou(re tuned up. 8nd the loc" 234 for the XR2211 should be lit up solid. @or those *ho used the XR2206 for a tone generator5 +hen you(re done using the XR2206 for a tone generator# be sure to un-ground pin % on the XR2206. Reconnect :in 6 of the <.0. to pin % of the XR2206. 8nd don(t forget to turn the audio output pot bac" up on the XR2206 to meet your radios mic. input requirements. ;hoice 2 0sing a frequency counter. If your frequency counter has no problems reading audio frequencies do*n to 1

!ert7 resolution# then this is definitely the *ay to go. I did it this *ay also and it *or"s great. ;80TI)95 'ou need to protect your frequency counter. -ome counters are super sensiti,e and can not handle much on the input. ;ounters li"e these can read directly out of the air# and read out the frequency of an !T 20 feet a*ay producing only 60 milli*atts. =.06 +att>. 0se a .1 microfarad capacitor in series *ith a 100/ resistor to ma"e a probe for your counter. @or this alignment# do not ha,e your radio or computer connected to the XR chip modem. e sure that the 10 turn pot on the XR2211 is fully countercloc"*ise =starting point>. 'ou may *ant to use an ohm meter to ,erify this. ;onnect the counter probe to pin $ of the XR-2211 I;. The counter should ha,e a positi,e loc" on a frequency some *here bet*een 1 to $ "ilohert7. Rotate the pot cloc"*ise. 'ou should see the frequency increasing on your counter. ;ontinue rotating the pot cloc"*ise until you reach the frequency of 2126 !ert7 =mar" tone>. If you are aligning for 1200 baud tones# tune to 1200 !ert7. That(s itB @or more information related to using a counter to align the XR2211 I;# see the XR2211 data sheets. The data sheets *ill indicate that you should remo,e components# etc. =more *or">. I did not do any of that and had no problems reading the ?;) frequency. !o*e,er# if you ha,e some trouble for *hat e,er reason in being able to read out the frequency properly# then re,ie* the data sheets. )ther notes on tuning the XR2211 for 1200 baud tones. If you are ma"ing an XR2211 to decode 1200 baud tone pairs# most li"ely you *ill be using it on 2 meter# or <0cm @1. 'ou don(t ha,e to *orry about being upside do*n =no such thing *ith pac"et># or being off frequency as *ith side band. 8lignment of the XR2211 can be done in this *ay5 1a"e sure the pot for the XR-2211 is fully counter cloc" *ise =starting point>. 0se an ohm meter to ,erify that it is so. It(s hard to tell *ith multi-turn pots as there is no (stop( in them. 9o* dial up a pac"et frequency on 2 meters. If you can get a pac"et buddy to send you some lines# great. If not# find an acti,e frequency. If your program or T9; has a :8--822 command# turn it on. This *ill allo* the program or T9; to :8-822 not so perfect pac"ets onto your computer screen. 3,en then it(s not li"e RTT' *here you get instant garbage. The ,olume on your 2 meter rig should be turned *ay do*n as the XR chip does not need much audio at all. 9o* rotate the ?;) pot on the XR2211 cloc"*ise slo*ly. 3,entually the loc" 234 *ill begin to flic"er meaning you are getting closer. -oon# you should see correct or (corrupted( pac"ets on the screen. ;ontinue adDusting slo*ly# pausing to see *hat happens on your screen. +hen you appear to be recei,ing good pac"ets be sure to turn your :8--822 bac" off. 8fter you do so you may find you need a little more t*ea"ing# but not much. That(s about it.