[SD-User] CW speed variations - FYI

[Richard W L Limebear]

Gang

For info:

I had heard of cw speed variation problems in the windows software but, before
a recent trip I made, I was confident it wouldn't affect me because it only
happened with my laptop on battery power and I intended to run on mains power.

WRONG. My mains psu (standard switch-mode type issued with the laptop) threw
out so much QRN that I *had* to run on batteries (and was limited to the five
hour battery life for operating sessions). Desperation works wonders sometimes;
I found a fix that worked for me (but YMMV). The problem was apparently caused
by the power-conservation configuration in the laptop.

The fix was to: 
1. go onto battery power (on mains power the power-saving configuration wasn't 
   visible - hence going onto batteries first); 
2. set the laptop power configuration to "full power" (rather than a power 
   conservation mode); 
3. start SDX. 

I did that every time I started a session but theres probably some way to make 
it permanent (buried somewhere in the control panel). 

Hope that helps someone.

Computer info: Toshiba laptop, Win-XP, SDX, keying/control via USB COM port.
Holiday info: ZB2/G3RWL, 6-days, 1580 cw QSOs.

BTW1: I notice that, if you have more than one USB port, and if you plug the
USB into another port, the COM-number changes and SD doesn't see it unless
you tell it the new number.

BTW2: if anyone can point me towards a lightweight laptop mains psu that does 
*not* create QRN I'd be most grateful (mine is 15v @ 3A if I recall correctly).

73
Richard W L Limebear G3RWL
g3rwl at amsat.org
FOC # 1188

          So many beautiful girls ..... (sob) so little time