1. How do I know if my computer and sound card are compatible with the RoMac Basic Equalizer?

The smallest system that the software has been tested on is 400 MHz Celeron with 128 MB of memory with Windows 2000. The equalizer has been tested on Creative, Intel High definition sound systems, and some Dell Latitude Laptops.

Not all sound cards are created equal! Creative and Santa Cruz cards seem to have excellent quality.   Many inexpensive sound cards have very poor microphone preamplifiers. Also many built on the  motherboard sound cards, pick up quite a bit of noise from the motherboard its self.

The system was developed with a Creative Audigy 2Z card. It's also been tested extensively on the Turtle Beach Santa Cruz card. Although this card is discontinued, they are still readily available on EBay for usually less than $30.00. Apparently the Santa Cruz card was used in many Dell models and are quite plentiful. Although I have not tested the Turtle Beach Catalina sound card, it appears that this card is an updated Santa Cruz card. 

Without the license key the software operates for a cumulative running time of 25 hours.

2. I get reports of distorted audio while using the RoMac Basic Equalizer.

The peak indicator of the equalizer should be peaking up about 1/3 to 1/2 the way up. None of the indicators should ever be yellow or red. See the help file for the equalizer to understand setting up the audio levels in your system.

If everything looks good as far as the audio levels go, then it could be RF getting into the system. If your sound card to radio interface doesn't use an isolation transformer (600 ohm/600 ohm), then that is the first place to look. Use an isolation transformer! If you have built your own interface, enclose it in a metal box, not plastic. Make sure that neither side of the input (from line out) to the isolation transformer is grounded.

Use quality shielded cable and shielded type connecters. Make sure all connections are tight and soldered well.

Make sure the computer case is well grounded to the stations ground. Do not use a small gauge wire, use a piece of coax braid, preferably 1/2" wide. Make it as short as practicable.

You may try using some ferrite cores at the line out, line in on, and mic in on the computer. Wrap 8 to 10 turns using type 43  for HF work.

For really stubborn cases of RF on the audio, you may want to remove the sound card and bypass the tip and sleeve of the Mic In, Line In, and Line Out with .01 uF capacitors. Even though today's sound cards built using surface mount components, the area around the audio jacks still should have some room to work. You will probably need to an ohm meter to find which connections are the ground, sleeve and tip.

In my own station even while running the legal limit, I found that except for 160 meters my audio was clean. A grounding strap from the computer case to my station ground took care of the problem on 160 meters. My interface is home brewed, using an isolation transformer I purchased at a swap for $3.00.

3. I sometimes get reports that it seems that my last syllable of a word is being clipped when using the software for transmitting.

If you are keying your transmitter with a manual PTT arrangement, make sure to leave your PTT switch down just a bit longer than normal. If you are using the audio stream from the equalizer to drive the VOX in your transmitter, this will not be an issue.

4. I get an error that only one instance of the RoMac Basic Equalizer can be launched. 

Ensure your sound card drivers are up to date and DirectX compatible. Install DirectX 8.0 or higher.

The smallest system that the equalizer has been tested on is a 400 MHz Celeron with 128 Mb. You will need to upgrade your memory capacity and/or processor.

5. I get an error there is no sound card installed

6. License Key doesn't seem to work

7. Microphones and sound cards.