Quisk for Windows

A few notes on my experience, not comprehensive, just how I got it going.

January 2021:-

Windows 10:- Do not use the latest v3.9 Python, Quisk is not yet updated to use that.

I used python-3.8.6-amd64.exe [Microsoft offers a Python installation, I did not get that version to work so uninstalled it.] [amd, not sure, it is the only version and works with Intel. amd may have no connection with the CPU .]

Then, it is Command Line:-

pip install --upgrade pip This did not work! It failed after deleting pip. I had to find pip and install pip again (get-pip.py). I suggest ignoring this line. The others below were successful.

pip install --upgrade setuptools

pip install --upgrade wxPython

pip install --upgrade pyserial

pip install --upgrade quisk

Start Quisk:- python -m quisk

I made a .bat file and made a shortcut for the Start menu.

Some addresses/ notes.

http://james.ahlstrom.name/quisk/docs.html

https://www.hamradioandvision.com/installing-quisk-for-windows/

https://groups.io/g/n2adr-sdr/search?p=Created,,Quisk+windows,20,2,100,0&jump=1

http://james.ahlstrom.name/quisk/

https://packaging.python.org/tutorials/installing-packages/

From the group:- "There is no problem running two copies of Quisk. Just set up two "radios" in Quisk on the Config/Radios screen."

THIS NOW MAKES INSTALLATION BELOW OUT OF DATE.

Version used here is 3.6.16. (2014) There are now later versions compiled for Windows.

I've looked at Quisk. It is a fairly simple program with RXTX capability using an Ensemble RXTX.

Quisk here

http://james.ahlstrom.name/quisk/ obviously the Windows .msi. Have a look at the documentation and help files.

December 2016:- NOTE: A recent wxPython 3.0 or newer is required for Windows, and perhaps Linux too. Please update your wxPython.

Quisk Version 4.0.0 November 2015 ================================== This is a major new release of Quisk. Quisk now has configuration screens to display and edit its settings. For most users, this makes config files obsolet I have not yet tried this, installation will be the same, it should make my comments below about the configuration out of date.

A message on the Quisk homepage says "Before installing Windows Quisk, first think about whether you really want to do that. Quisk is a simple SDR program meant for experimenters and homebrewers. It doesn't have all the features of PowerSDR, and it has no menus to adjust its parameters; you must edit a config file to even change the sample rate."

But I think the adventurous will find it another way to RXTX in Windows. It has a built-in speech processing and will work CW with a Softrock USB controller.

Best use Vista or later. I have a problem, Quisk will never work properly in Windows XP. My Delta 44s will not work with it. Microsoft changed something in the sound handling with Vista and later versions.

However it will work on XP with USB sound devices. And my on-board Realtek works for speaker output.

My instructions for getting Quisk going in Windows:-

Python and wxPython must be installed. But not the latest version 3. The Quisk homepage says the Windows version requires Python version 2.7.

I had already got these installed by running the rtlsdr_scanner-setup-win32.exe installation.

http://sourceforge.net/projects/rtlsdrscanner/

This installation is for a program that makes a scan using a RTL dongle, producing a chart as wide as you define. There is, no doubt, another way to install Python but this does the job efficiently just leaving the small scanner executable which you may not require. Be aware that the Python and wxPython versions need to match. The scanner installation does ensure this.

Python and its dependencies is not a small installation, it has many stages and takes quite a few minutes.

Independent links:- Python 2.7.6 here http://www.python.org/download/ wxPython 2.7 here http://www.wxpython.org/download.php Note! I do not know if these two are compatible. http://wiki.wxpython.org/How%20to%20install%20wxPython

Quisk here http://james.ahlstrom.name/quisk/ obviously the Windows .msi. Have a look at the documentation and help files.

When you first start Quisk You may still use configuration files or read the "Help With Radios" tab. It will not run a Softrock but the "Config" button - "Sound" tab will list all the devices found. Open

"quisk_conf.py" found in your \My Documents folder. I suggest you make a copy of this file as a reference.

This is opened in Notepad from the Windows Quisk Start Menu, "Edit Configuration".

Or open "quisk_conf.py" with a text editor. Read the contents. Enter your soundcard details. Copy the exact details from the Quisk

Sound tab. For a fixed frequency Softock un-comment the lines indicated. This means remove the "# " Enter your centre frequency (Hz) in the second line.

Close Quisk, restart.

Now Quisk should work, even with a USB Softrock you may change the centre frequency with CFGSR.

I first tested with a FCD, using it's configuration utility for tuning.

Here is a config file for the USB RXTX

https://github.com/n1ywb/quisk/blob/master/softrock/conf_rx_tx_ensemble.py Basic RXTX config.

Copy the text to a text file and place in "My Documents"

Rename "My Documents\quisk_conf.py" then rename "conf_rx_tx_ensemble.py" to "quisk_conf.py".

Open this and again add your exact soundcard description. With luck restarting Quisk will control the Ensemble.

But I found IQ to be reversed.... see below.

Config default file:- https://github.com/n1ywb/quisk/blob/master/quisk_conf_defaults.py

Where you can find other conf files:-

.......ProgramFiles\Python\Lib\site-packages\quisk\softrock

....ProgramFiles\Python\Lib\site-packages\quisk\.. some other SDRs.

More about quisk_conf:-

The main configuration file is ProgramFiles\Python\Lib\site-packages\quisk\quisk_conf_defaults.py

This is read first then modified by reading \My Documents\quisk_conf.py

Look at quisk_conf_defaults.py, do not change it but there are a lot of notes in there explaining how to personalise Quisk by

editing quisk_conf.py.

One thing that may need to be added to quisk_conf.py is

channel_i = 1

channel_q = 0

to reverse IQ.

My Google Sites index:- https://sites.google.com/site/g4zfqradio/home