Andromeda MIC & CW KEY input reverse

SM3PZG
Posts: 40
Joined: Thu Apr 21, 2022 8:36 am

Andromeda MIC & CW KEY input reverse

Postby SM3PZG » Fri Aug 26, 2022 11:03 pm

Have spent a couple of days configuring Andromeda. A lot to learn but a lot of fun. However when I connected a CW paddle to CW KEY input there was no CW. Just PTT touching one paddle. Connecting a HEIL headset with a 3-pole 3.5mm connector to MIC there was no audio.

So i tried connecting the CW paddle to the MIC input and CW was working great! I then connected the HEIL headset to the CW KEY input and audio was working.

BUT the audio is terrible with laud constant humming noise when not speaking. It sound like I am sitting inside a air conditioner.

I just cant believe that the CW KEY and MIC inputs were put in the wrong place. By the way someone at Apache Labs forgot his USB stick in the from USB port :-) I also thought the MIC connector would be a RJ45 so the mic I was planing to use will not work.

Anyways... Does anyone have a solution to this MIC, CW KEY problem?

73/Sam
SM3PZG
Posts: 40
Joined: Thu Apr 21, 2022 8:36 am

Re: Andromeda MIC & CW KEY input reverse

Postby SM3PZG » Sat Aug 27, 2022 11:18 am

I got rid of the humming background noise by turning off leveler.

I also connected a HEIL HM-10 mic with XLR connector with good audio following this wire diagram https://www.majorcom.fr/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/r414_9_image_xlr_vers_tp_thumbnail.png

73/Sam
K1LSB
Posts: 639
Joined: Wed Feb 05, 2020 5:25 pm

Re: Andromeda MIC & CW KEY input reverse

Postby K1LSB » Sat Aug 27, 2022 12:13 pm

Without owning an Andromeda myself, would it be possible to open the cabinet and simply swap the MIC and CW KEY jacks in the panel cutouts so they'd be where the design intended?

Mark
laurencebarker
Posts: 219
Joined: Mon Nov 11, 2019 7:39 pm

Re: Andromeda MIC & CW KEY input reverse

Postby laurencebarker » Sat Aug 27, 2022 1:44 pm

I'm not sure what's happening here. But I can give some information on the design:

The two 3.5mm jack sockets are for CW key and headphones.

The RJ45 connector is the microphone connector, wired as per Yaesu microphones.

All the front panel connectors go onto a PCB, so it won't be possible to swap them. The CW key and mic connectors are routed to the Orion PCB via a 10 pin ribbon cable header; it may be possible to make a modified cable to fix the signal routing if needed.
Laurence Barker G8NJJ
LA2NI
Posts: 21
Joined: Fri Apr 14, 2017 1:42 pm
Location: Tromsø,Norway

Re: Andromeda MIC & CW KEY input reverse

Postby LA2NI » Sat Aug 27, 2022 3:08 pm

It must be the connector J2 that is turned 180 deg. This will swap the CW DOT/Dash with MicPTT/Mic Gnd. The signals to the RJ45Mic connector is also mixed up. Either the header on Andromeda or on the Orion MKII board is turned 180 deg.

73, Kjell
LA2NI
Posts: 21
Joined: Fri Apr 14, 2017 1:42 pm
Location: Tromsø,Norway

Re: Andromeda MIC & CW KEY input reverse

Postby LA2NI » Sat Aug 27, 2022 3:11 pm

It can also be that the connector on the ribbon cable is installed the wrong way. By cutting the cable and install a new connector the fault is corrected.
73, Kjell
SM3PZG
Posts: 40
Joined: Thu Apr 21, 2022 8:36 am

Re: Andromeda MIC & CW KEY input reverse

Postby SM3PZG » Sat Aug 27, 2022 4:08 pm

There is no RJ45 MIC connector. The MIC connector is also a 3.5mm jack. Wounder why the RJ45 was replaced by a 3.5mm jack?

I got the TX audio sounding good and got great audio reports with microphone to CW KEY jack. All settings were saved. I then installed N1MM and rebooted. Now the humming nosie is back. All setting were the same. PTT without any mic connected panadapter shows low noise below -75dB. Plugging in the mic to the CW KEY jack noise increase to -60dB. Plugging in the CW paddle on the MIC jack noise increase even more.

Plugging in the mic were it suppose to go on MIC jack I can hear my voice but very very weak. CW Paddle on the CW KEY jack just PTT on one paddle. CW works fine on the MIC jack.

This is a very expensive station and I wounder why Apache Labs dont test the basic functions on the station before sending. Looks like someone very stressed and in a hurry assembled the station, even forgetting a USB stick in the front USB port!

So how do we solve this problem? I sounds like a problem I can not solve by myself? Send it to you Kjell?
User avatar
DH1KLM
Posts: 203
Joined: Fri Dec 29, 2017 10:36 pm
Location: Germany

Re: Andromeda MIC & CW KEY input reverse

Postby DH1KLM » Sat Aug 27, 2022 4:26 pm

Very interesting.
So you're trying to say that there is no longer a microphone RJ45 connector?
Please post a picture.

rj45.JPG
rj45.JPG (27.72 KiB) Viewed 4594 times
73 de Sigi / DH1KLM
SM3PZG
Posts: 40
Joined: Thu Apr 21, 2022 8:36 am

Re: Andromeda MIC & CW KEY input reverse

Postby SM3PZG » Sat Aug 27, 2022 5:57 pm

Here is a photo.

73/Sam
Attachments
photo_2022-08-27_19-55-19.jpg
photo_2022-08-27_19-55-19.jpg (66.22 KiB) Viewed 4583 times
SM3PZG
Posts: 40
Joined: Thu Apr 21, 2022 8:36 am

Re: Andromeda MIC & CW KEY input reverse

Postby SM3PZG » Sat Aug 27, 2022 6:06 pm

Backside of front.
Attachments
photo_2022-08-27_19-55-11.jpg
photo_2022-08-27_19-55-11.jpg (185.6 KiB) Viewed 4582 times
laurencebarker
Posts: 219
Joined: Mon Nov 11, 2019 7:39 pm

Re: Andromeda MIC & CW KEY input reverse

Postby laurencebarker » Sat Aug 27, 2022 7:31 pm

Interesting: the design has changed since Kjell and I worked on it!
Laurence Barker G8NJJ
SM3PZG
Posts: 40
Joined: Thu Apr 21, 2022 8:36 am

Re: Andromeda MIC & CW KEY input reverse

Postby SM3PZG » Sat Aug 27, 2022 10:45 pm

Hi guys,

Problem solved! All thanks to Kjell LA2NI. Kjell called me on the phone and suggested that the flat rainbow cable was set wrong upside down on the front panel. I had to file down 2 tips on the connector to be able to insert connector the wrong (right) way on front panel.

Now paddle works on the CW KEY plug. Microphone works on the MIC plug. And the humming noise is gone.

What a great world-class support Kjell! I suggest Apache Labs hire Kjell and put him in charge of customer relations and customer support.

73/Sam
dl4zbg
Posts: 159
Joined: Sun Apr 09, 2017 5:33 pm
Location: JO41QG

Re: Andromeda MIC & CW KEY input reverse

Postby dl4zbg » Mon Aug 29, 2022 6:38 pm

Very interesting. Seems that the Andromeda Frontpanel PCB has been redesigned. Biggest improvement seem to be the molex DC contactors. Feel free to post a few more fotos!

mni tnx

Volker

DL4ZBG

Return to “Microphones, Speakers & Audio Hardware”