User's Guide

WR-3700 Series User’s Guide
7
Troubleshooting
Installation Problems
If you try to start-up your WiNRADiO receiver for the first time and you are presented with
a dialog box stating that the WiNRADiO receiver card could not be found, you most likely
have a configuration problem.
If you are using an internal WiNRADiO model, open the WiNRADiO configuration utility
from Control Panel by double-clicking on it. Click on ‘Auto Detect’. If no WiNRADiO card
can be found, then you probably have a hardware address conflict. Shut down the computer,
and try other jumper settings as described earlier in this chapter. Start up the computer and
try auto-detecting again.
If you are using an external WiNRADiO model, make sure it is plugged in and the power is
turned on (the red LED on the front panel should be illuminated).
If you are using the WiNRADiO software and find that the Spectrum Scope is obscuring the
panel, try to reposition the main WiNRADiO control panel window by changing it from full-
screen to a window, and positioning it in the top area of the screen. Shrink the size vertically
so there is a thin border around the panel. This should make your WiNRADiO receiver
easier to use.
If you are finding that shortcut keys are not responding (including the tab and cursor keys),
try clicking on the appropriate window with the mouse to activate the window. If you have
more than one dialog box open at the same time, try closing them until only one is left open.
Sensitivity Problems
The WiNRADiO receiver is very sensitive, so low sensitivity problems are usually due to
noise induced into the antenna by the PC monitor, less commonly the PC, or some other
external source. If the noise is strong enough, it can overload the receiver which responds by
automatically reducing sensitivity using its AGC (Automatic Gain Control) mechanism. This
problem is more common on low frequencies (under 30MHz). As a result, the reception can
become noisy and the receiver appears to be ‘deaf’.
This can happen if the antenna is poorly located, for instance if it is too close to the PC
monitor, or used inside a building with steel-reinforced concrete walls. Try repositioning the
antenna, or placing ferrite cores over its shielded lead close to the receiver, to break the
transmission of interference back to the antenna.
Another remedy which is often effective is to place an RF (radio frequency) filter between
the PC mains lead and the wall power outlet, to reduce interference caused by earth loops.
If these measures fail to produce the desired noise reduction , and if you are using an internal
receiver model, try moving the receiver card to a different slot inside the PC, as far as
possible from other potentially noisy cards, especially the video card, and the power supply.
Video monitors are also major sources of interference, and there are significant differences
between brands in this respect. You can establish the noise contribution of your monitor by
switching it off. If the noise diminishes substantially, check that the monitor lead is fitted
with a ferrite suppressor bead (the rectangular or cylindrical moulding on the lead). If not, fit
a suppressor, or acquire a quieter monitor.