Steve,
There have been some terrific responses with some great advice.
I'll focus only on the interface between the radio and the PC's soundcard.
Even for casual usage, I'd recommend that you not use the built-in soundcard
that came with your computer, and that you probably use for PC things like
playing CDs or DVD sound, or even Echolink, VOIP or other PC mike/speakers
usage.
So either get an interface with an external soundcard built into it (the
Signalink USB is an excellent choice), or somehow get a 2nd soundcard for your
PC that you will use only for digital mode applications.
Just a few years ago, I'd have recommended for your tower or desktop PC that
you simply add a cheap sound card. But many people now are using laptops that
don't support adding cards to them. So if you don't go with a combined
interface/soundcard device like the Signalink, I'd recommend you get an
external soundcard connected to the PC with a USB cable. There are good ones
from the Creative Soundblaster line, but I'm sure there are many other good
ones. There are even some tiny USB sound dongles, but they really vary in
quality. Still, if you get one that works, they are small and easy to connect.
The reason you want a second soundcard is so that you can keep all your cables
connected up permanently and can switch to digital modes without any hassel.
You won't have to unplug the PC's mike and speakers and connect up the cables
to your interface. All your PC sound level settings will stay the same and
won't need to be adjusted when you fire up the digital mode.
The Signalink USB interface has a feature that some really like -- it has a
built-in VOX circuit that will key PTT on your radio when it hears the PC
generate output tone data. This means you don't need an extra cable from the
PC to the interface to carry PTT info. Hooking up a Signalink USB the first
time is really easy.
I personally prefer having the PC key the transmitter explicitly. This is
personal preference only, and many prefer the VOX approach. Anyway, I have an
external USB sound device connected to a Buxcomm Rascal interface. So I need a
cable from the interface to the PC (the current Rascal will suport either a
serial or a USB cable) for PTT. I don't mind this extra cable, and I like
explicit control of PTT. But that's just me.
Good luck!
Jim
----- Original Message -----
From: KB3FXI
To: digitalradio@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Saturday, August 21, 2010 2:03 PM
Subject: [digitalradio] Re: New guy
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" <jpere...@...> 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.
>
