I have a LOT to digest!! I thank both of you for the detailed (and that is what I needed!) answers. THANKS to you both!
Steve KJ4SLK --- In digitalradio@yahoogroups.com, "KB3FXI" <kb3...@...> wrote: > > Jon, > > Excellent explanation! You should be a teacher (if you aren't already). > > And, Stephen... welcome to the hobby and digital modes. > > Here's my personal preference with some elaboration: > > Interface: USB Signalink > USB Signalink has an on board sound card so you don't have to tie up your > computer soundcard. It also only has 2 cables... one to the radio and a USB > to the computer. Power is supplied by the USB cable. I've found the devices > with rats nests of audio and power cables hanging off them give a much > greater chance for picking up RF and locking up your computer. > > Software: NBEMS / FLDIGI (www.w1hkj.com) > FLDIGI multimode software is built for all major platforms. So, if you go > from Windows to MAC, you just download the MAC version and away you go. This > is a preference thing, but I like the single window display of FLDIGI. > However, if you're going to get into contesting, I think the logging and > automatic rig control may be a bit more advanced and better refined on HRD. > Rig control is where your radio and software share info such as frequency, > filter settings, volume, etc. You can change frequencies and settings on the > rig from the software. I've not had much luck with NBEMS rig control but I > don't care enough about the feature to bother to trouble shoot it. > > With regard to the software.... the good thing is both HRD and NBEMS/FLDIGI > are free, so you can check them out and see what you think before going down > one path or another. > > I'd take up some of the fellows offers to help you down your way. And if you > can meet up and have someone give you a demo, that's the way to go. The first > time you open some of these programs, it can look much more complicated than > it actually is. > > Good luck and let us know when you're ready to make some digital contacts. > I've chatted with quite a few hams in LA on both digital and phone... maybe > we'll get lucky and meet up on a good path. > > -Dave, KB3FXI > > --- In digitalradio@yahoogroups.com, "JonP" <jperelst@> wrote: > > > > Some of your questions are sort of "which taste better -- apples or > > oranges?" and you may get all sorts of different answers depending on > > personal preference. I'll give you some of what I believe are the > > differentiating factors. I'll also tell you my personal decisions but they > > are mine and others will not agree because it's a personal thing. > > > > HRD vs. Others: There are a couple of programs like HRD, FLDIGI, and MixW > > (plus a few others whose names escape me at the moment) that are multimode > > and can do pretty much any of the "soundcard modes" (i.e., those digital > > modes that can be done with soundcards and don't require special modems, > > special TNCs, etc.). Then there are those built for individual "soundcard > > modes" such as Digipan for PSK and MMTTY for RTTY. > > > > In my opinion (and it's only my opinion), the primary difference is that if > > you go with a multimode program, there is a higher learning curve up front > > to get started on your first mode but then almost no learning curve to go > > to the next mode and the next mode and ... If you go with a specific > > program, you have a moderate learning curve up front for your first mode > > and then a similar learning for the next mode and ... Essentially, if > > you're going to do multiple modes it comes down to "pay me now or pay me > > later". > > > > Of course, you'll have the learning curve of best operating practices for > > each mode, but that has nothing to do with which software you're using. > > > > When it comes to capabilities to work in a given mode, I believe that the > > major multimode programs are as good as the equivalent single mode > > programs. For example, I believe that HRD or FLDIGI are just as good in > > PSK as is Digipan or any of the other PSK programs. > > > > Personally, I decided to go for a multimode program. I like the fact that > > I only had to learn the user interface once and could then quickly pick up > > additional modes. I regularly switch back and forth between PSK, RTTY, > > Domino, MFSK, MT-63, Olivia, etc. depending on what I'm hearing on the air, > > and being able to do it by clicking a button rather than shutting down > > software and opening up software is a major benefit in my mind (others may > > disagree, especially if they prefer to work one mode only). I would also > > say that if you have the smarts to get your general or extra ticket, the > > learning curve on HRD (or on FLDIGI) is not going to be a hindrance to you. > > > > As to outboard vs. inboard soundcard -- again a matter of preference. When > > you go "inboard" soundcard, you're depending on the soundcard that comes > > with the computer and you're depending on the computer having enough speed > > and memory to run the soundcard and the software at the same time. Not all > > computers do -- especially some of the cheaper or older computers. When > > you buy an "outboard" like the SignaLink, you know you're getting a > > soundcard that works well for this purpose and does not take much memory or > > processor speed. > > > > I prefer the "outboard". My primary ham radio computer is an Acer netbook > > and the internal soundcard is not as good as the soundcard in my "outboard" > > (a SignaLink USB), which means that I do better with the SignaLink on that > > computer. I do a lot of EMCOMM work and I like the fact that I can move > > the SignaLink from computer to computer without having to worry about > > whether or not the computer's soundcard is adequate. > > > > Cables -- believe it or not, another preference thing. If you buy one of > > the major soundcard interfaces such as a SignaLink or RIGblaster, they come > > with the cables you will need (you will specify which rig you have and they > > will include the right cables). There are people who prefer to build their > > own cables and even build their own interfaces. Depends on whether or not > > you like to tinker with a soldering iron. Knowing how many things I've > > ruined with soldering irons -- having built an Elecraft K1 AND two Elecraft > > K2s -- I didn't want to do any more soldering for a while. > > > > Note that the cables that come with the soundcard interfaces are for the > > digital mode, they are not the cables for rig control (actually changing > > frequency, power, and other settings through the computer). The 756 has > > good capabilities for that if you want to use them (you don't have to -- > > you can control the rig manually, which is what I like to do). If you > > decide to do computer rig control, you will need an additional cable and > > you will certainly need software that can do the controlling. Your 756 > > user manual specifies the cable needed for that (or you can build your > > own). Both HRD and FLDIGI do rig control as well as digital modes, and > > that might be an argument for one of them if you decide you want computer > > rig control. > > > > Wow, I've written a book. Sorry about that. > > > > I hope this helps and I hope I haven't started a flame war by expressing my > > preferences. > > > > Jon > > KB1QBZ > > > > > > > > --- In digitalradio@yahoogroups.com, "Stephen" <smyers10@> wrote: > > > > > > Is HRD the program to use, or should I start out with somethig that is > > > more simple? Do I get an "outboard" sound card? What cables do I need? > > > Any advice will be appreciated. > > >
