Custom Products for the Digital Radio Amateur Enthusiast

DRA products are not shipped with paper documentation or a printed manual. This is done to save you money. Every DRA product has detailed online documentation. This information can be printed out - if you want a physical copy. To find the documentation for your product, navigate to the products main page and follow the links. This may require several clicks to get to the desired page of instructions.

Go here to access our Support Documentation.   Scroll down in the page to gain access to all of the available links.

Here are some steps you can take to initially start-up your DRA device. There are two sections; one covering the radio adapters with the DB9, and another below it covering the radio adapters with the Mini-DIN-6. Remember the four holes at the corners of the board are at ground potential for audio and digital signals.

This information explains what the status LEDs mean, and other things that are beneficial to understand what is normal and expected when operating the unit.

The level controls (potentiometers) are labeled the same on all DRA's:
R12 - Receiver Level - larger blue control.
R14 - Transmitter Level (right) smaller blue control.
R16 - Transmitter Level (left) smaller center blue control.

Initial setting of these controls are minimum for R12, and 50% for R14 and R16.

Additionally, VOX operation is covered at the bottom of the page for the DRA-65, DRA-70, and DRA-80.

Testing the DRA-30, DRA-45, and DRA-65 (with the DB9 radio interface connector).

The DRA radio adapter is really just a "external USB sound card" that has been optimized for connection to two-way radios. At this point - no radio is connected. Start by placing the jumpers into their default positions as outlined in the jumper settings document. When the adapter is plugged into a Windows computer, the green heart-beat LED should illuminate solidly during the entire time it's plugged in. Upon initial USB plug-in, the blue LED may briefly flash, but should quickly go out. For the DRA-65, depending on if you have the VOX enabled, the PTT LED may also briefly flash on then off. This is expected behavior. For now, the DRA-65's VOX should be disabled.

If everything is OK so far, you can attempt to play a song or other sound file. During the time audio is being streamed to the interface, the green (HB) LED will flash and the Blue LED will be on solid. How fast the green LED flashes is determined by the application. Some programs flash the green HB LED faster then others. If you're playing a music file, sound will appear on both TX audio output channels. If you were to connect a speaker or headphones to the TX audio pins of the DB9, you'd hear what's being played. Volume will depend on the sound settings in Windows and how pots R14 and R16 are set. The TX audio connection (DB9 pins 1-R - 8-L & 6-GND) will drive headphones or a small speaker directly. You could also use an oscilloscope to look at the sound that's being played.

At this point, you can connect the adapter to a radio.

Testing the receiver audio requires audio to be placed into the receiver connection (DB9 pin 5). At this point you could download and open VARA (FM or HF) and look for audio on the VU meter. The large blue pot (R12) sets the receiver audio level. Start with the control at a minimum setting - fully counter-clockwise. Then gently turn the pot up until you get a mid-point reading on the VU meter. You can tune your radio to an active channel and record that audio using Windows and its built in microphone testing procedure, or attempt to make a connection with the software to another station.

Testing the Hardware PTT requires the appropriate software (like VARA FM). If you download VARA FM, you can set the software to use the "USB PNP Device" and set the PTT to "RA-Board". You can make a test transmission to assert the PTT after pressing the "Test" button. There are several articles on our FAQ detailing how to use the hardware PTT on the DRA, and how to implement the DRA in various software programs like Winlink Express and UX7HO SoundModem. Remember, the blue LED must be on solid for the red PTT LED to illuminate. The PTT can not operate if the blue LED is not lit solidly. If the blue LED is flashing, something is wrong with the DRA.

Testing the DRA-36, DRA-50, DRA-70, and DRA-80 (with the Mini-DIN-6 radio interface connector).

The DRA radio adapter is really just a "external USB sound card" that has been optimized for connection to two-way radios. Start by placing the jumpers into their default positions as outlined in the radio adapters jumper settings document. At this point - no radio is connected. When the adapter is plugged into a Windows computer, the green LED should illuminate solidly during the entire time it's plugged in. Upon initial plug-in, the blue LED may briefly flash, but should quickly go out. For the DRA-70 & '80, depending on if you have VOX enabled, the PTT LED may also briefly flash on then off. This is expected behavior. For now, the DRA-70 and '80 VOX should be disabled.

If everything is OK so far, you can attempt to play a song or other sound file. During the time sound is being streamed to the interface, the green LED will flash and the Blue LED will be on solid. How fast the green LED flashes is determined by the application. Some programs flash the green HB LED faster then others. If you're playing a music file, sound will appear on both audio output channels. If you were to connect a speaker or headphones to the TX audio pin of the Mini-DIN-6, you'd hear what's being played. Volume (TX level) will depend on the sound settings in Windows and how pots R14 and R16 are set. The TX audio connection (DIN pin 1) will drive headphones or a small speaker directly. You could also use an oscilloscope to look at the sound that's being played.

At this point, you can connect the DRA adapter to a radio.

Testing the receiver audio requires audio to be placed into radio connector (DIN pin 4 or 5), and the BAUD selection header/jumper placed in the "1200" or "9600" position. At this point you can download and open VARA and look for audio on the VU meter. The large blue pot (R12) sets the receiver audio level. Start with the control at a minimum setting - fully counter-clockwise. Then gently turn the pot up until you get a mid-point reading on the VU meter. You can tune your radio to an active channel and record that audio using Windows and its built in microphone testing procedure, or attempt to make a connection with the software to another station.

Testing the hardware PTT requires the appropriate software (like VARA FM). If you download VARA FM, you can set the software to use the "USB PNP Device" and set the PTT to "RA-Board". You can make a test transmission to assert the PTT after pressing the "Test" button. There are several articles on our FAQ detailing how to use the hardware PTT on the DRA, and how to implement the DRA in various software programs like Winlink Express and UX7HO SoundModem. Remember, the blue LED must be on solid for the red PTT LED to illuminate. The PTT can not operate if the blue LED is not lit solidly. If the blue LED is flashing, something is wrong with the DRA.

Testing the VOX on the DRA-65, DRA-70, and DRA-80

Refer to the VOX information on the FAQ index page to set up your unit for VOX operation. No radio connection is required. Set the controls and jumpers as suggested in the article. When a song is played, (or you generate data or other audio), depending on its content, the red PTT LED will illuminate when sufficient audio content (level) is being produced. Under quieter musical passages, the VOX will not be able to produce a valid PTT signal. Since data doesn't have periods of quieter passages, reliable push-to-talk operation is always obtained, and is never a concern. Broadcasting music over Amateur Radio is illegal, and you should only test with musical content on a dummy load or speaker/headphone, or alternately by using the intended software.

Email Kevin Custer for additional support.