Support for WR-G303i/G305i Receivers

If you have a problem with installation or performance of your WR-G303i/G305i receiver, please follow these steps first:

1. Installation problems (software reports "Can't find receiver" and reverts to demo mode)

2. Performance problems (upon successful installation)

 2.1. No sound
 2.2. Noisy reception
 2.3. Sluggish or freezing display and sound drop-outs
 2.4. Receiver is off frequency

3. Contact us (if everything else fails)

 3.1. Email support center
 3.2. Product return procedure

1. Installation Problems

1. Make sure the card is properly seated in the motherboard slot. Make sure you have the latest application software by checking the software download page. Verify that the software is installed correctly using the WiNRADiO G3 Series Diagnostic Tool.

2. If the card is still not detected, remove the WiNRADiO application using Start | Settings | Control Panel | Add Remove Programs. Then turn the PC off and remove the card. Then switch the PC on and reinstall the application software. Then switch the PC off again, and reinstall the card. Finally, switch the PC on again and start the application.

2.1. No sound

Firstly, please check the following:

 The supplied start-up or an external antenna is connected.
 The squelch is set to its minimum value (-130 dBm).
 The volume is set to its highest level and the Mute button is released.
 The Attenuator is off.
 The AGC is set to medium.
 The Audio AGC is on. (Or medium in the Professional Demodulator).

Then check if you see any signal peaks appearing in the spectrum scope in the Demodulator panel (under the AM, AMS, etc., mode selection buttons). If there is a flat line or only very little noise visible, check the following:

 The receiver output is connected to the sound card Line input using the supplied cable. (If your PC sound card does not have a Line input, you can use alternative inputs such as Aux or Microphone, but the software settings need to be changed accordingly.)

 The sound card is set up correctly. Especially make sure that the Recording Line input has been enabled (you will find this panel under Options | Recording in your sound card volume control panel - click on the speaker icon in the bottom bar to get to the volume control panel first):

Note: If you have difficulties accessing the sound card control panels (for example if there is no speaker icon), refer to the separate page about Sound Card Controls.

 The receiver demodulator is set up properly. Make sure that the sound card device and the audio input (mixer line) are properly selected (this panel is accessible under the Setup button in the Demodulator panel):

 The sound card may have the Left and Right inputs reversed. Normally, the Demodulator expects the receiver to be connected to the Right input. Using the reverse input makes the Demodulator use the Left input instead. (This is a very rare problem, so use this only when all other possible remedies have been explored.)

If you still can't hear any sound despite checking the antenna and speaker connections, and making sure the squelch and volume are set to initial levels, the receiver is probably faulty. While such events are very rare, they do occasionally happen. Please accept our apologies and return the receiver to your dealer for a warranty replacement. In USA only, please refer to the product return procedure below.

2.2. Noisy reception

In general, such problems are rare. If you hear severe background noise which disappears when the antenna is disconnected, then the problem is likely to be with the antenna. The first thing to check is the antenna installation. Perhaps the antenna is located or connected in such way that it picks up radiated noise from the computer more than the useful signal. Your computer noise may be arriving to the antenna either by direct radiation to the antenna or the antenna lead-in cable (impedance mismatching of a "long wire" antenna connected to the 50 ohm antenna input of the receiver may exacerbate this problem), or you may have a ground loop problem. You might also wish to experiment with various EMI reduction measures.

2.2.1. Antenna installation

The supplied basic antenna is a thin coaxial cable with a length of unshielded wire at the end. This wire is the actual active element, and should be placed as far away from the PC as possible. We suggest you fix it with an adhesive tape on a window frame as close as possible to the glass. Placing the antenna outside the building walls would be best, as they will attenuate the signal considerably.

Do not leave the antenna run close to the computer, or even let it lie on the floor. Some domestic appliances, such as fax machines, VCRs and TVs, can also generate interference, so it is best to place the antenna as far away from any appliances as possible.

For first trials with WiNRADiO and casual listening, the supplied "start-up" short wire antenna is quite acceptable. However, it is not intended for serious applications. As the lead is short and the antenna is therefore located close to the computer, it may also pick up some of the computer-generated noise, especially on lower frequencies. For optimum reception, a proper outdoor antenna, or an indoor loop antenna, is recommended.

Proper impedance matching is also important in order to improve antenna efficiency and to reduce noise: The receiver input is 50 ohm, while the impedance of typical long wire antennas is approximately 450 ohms - it is recommended to use an impedance matching transformer (sometimes incorrectly refered to as "antenna balun").

2.2.2. EMI reduction

Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) is what prevents us from receiving a clear signal, even when the receiver should be sensitive enough to receive it. There are many types of interference you can experience with radio receivers, emanating from both natural and man-made sources. Natural interference is produced by atmospheric phenomena such as storms and sun activity.

Not so surprisingly, man-made interference is often worse. Sources include electric motors, power lines, passing cars, welders, fluorescent lights, fax machines, computer networks, etc. Receiving antennas should always be as far away from sources of electromagnetic interference as possible.

One significant source of man-made electromagnetic interference is the personal computer, and the video monitor in particular. Since the WiNRADiO receiver requires a personal computer to operate, this creates a potential paradox. While the WiNRADiO receiver itself is designed to be substantially immune to interference generated by its host computer, any receiver needs to be connected to an antenna, and antennas cannot discriminate between useful signals and interference. The interference from your computer can either radiate directly to the antenna, or it can be conducted to it along the outer conductor of the lead-in cable.

Some computers are worse than others in terms of generated electromagnetic interference. The worst culprits are usually video monitors, which radiate radio frequencies at multiples of horizontal deflection frequencies. These frequencies range from about 30 to 100 kHz, and you can sometimes hear their harmonics right across the entire shortwave band. If you find strong signals sounding somewhat like a tractor engine, periodically spaced approximately 30 to 100 kHz apart (on modern hi-resolution monitors, the typical frequency is around 94 kHz), your monitor is most likely the cause.

To check this, tune to one of the interfering signals, then switch off the monitor and see if the signal disappears. You could continue using the WiNRADiO receiver, and live with the fact that some useful frequencies will be obscured by your monitor's interference, or you can replace your monitor with a 'quieter' one (modern LCD displays are far quieter than old CRT monitors, and are highly recommended for use with computer-based receivers), or you can try to relocate your antenna further away from your computer.

2.2.3. Intermodulation interference

Another type of interference which you may encounter is intermodulation interference. This is usually caused by strong local stations, whose frequencies combine to create 'ghost' signals on frequencies which are arithmetic combinations of the stations' frequencies. These 'ghost' signals can sometimes coincide with useful frequencies, rendering them partially or completely unusable. They will usually disappear when you switch on the Attenuator in the receiver control panel. You may also try shortening the antenna.

If you live very close to a strong local transmitter, these measures may be insufficient. In such case, you should be able to eliminate intermodulation by fitting a special filter to your antenna, to reduce the level of the signals causing the interference. The design and application of such filters falls beyond the scope of this page, since the large majority of WiNRADiO users should not experience this problem (after all, not too many of us live next door to a radio station). However, broadcast frequency filters and tunable preselectors are standard items and can be obtained from good radio equipment suppliers.

2.3. Sluggish or freezing display and sound drop-outs

Close all other simultaneously running programs to reduce the burden on the CPU. If the CPU usage shows consistently more than 80%, this may indicate insufficient CPU resources for the receiver application. (Check the CPU usage under the Settings button in the Demodulator window. The CPU resource meter is at bottom left.) Please note that the minimum CPU speed requirement for the receivers is 500 MHz (Pentium III or equivalent). While in most cases the receiver will run at significantly lower CPU speeds, this is not guaranteed, and individual PCs may significantly vary in performance. Modern PCs with faster CPUs are better suited for CPU-intensive software defined receivers such as the WiNRADiO G3 series. With contemporary PCs with CPU speeds over 2 GHz, the receiver application software places a negligible burden on the CPU (typically between 5-20%).

2.4. Receiver is off frequency

The receiver uses high-precision reference oscillator and is factory calibrated, therefore any remaining frequency inaccuracy is well below that normally available in receivers of this class. For demanding technically-minded users, it is however possible to improve the frequency accuracy yet further, to the level of expensive professional equipment. This is done by individual calibration. The calibration procedure is recommended for experienced users only.

3.1. Direct support center

Please use our direct enquiry form. We are always ready to assist.

3.2. Product return procedure

If your product is faulty and you wish to return it for repair or replacement, please refer to the information on the service page.