> I have seen MicroHAM products in action and they are very well
> thought out and supported. However, you are comparing a $50 kit
> with a $450 Cadillac …
More like a single bit soldering iron with a multi-bit SMD
workstation. As I said, if all one needs is a USB based replacement
for the CT-17 the kit is fine but if one also needs a complete
solution for single radio or SO2R MKII/DKII/MK2R+ already provide
the isolated CI-V support. Similarly, if one is also in need of a
Band Decoder (particularly with no "band data" support in Icom and
disappearing LPT ports in computers) or is dealing with a mixture of
control protocols (PW-1 with a non-Icom transceiver), the value
proposition is very different.
In addition, I suspect the price of the $50 kit would be significantly
higher as a finished product. Amateur radio is fortunate in a way to
have folks that do these "niche products" mostly for the enjoyment and
challenge and don't need to recognize the full cost of overhead - but
too often such products also tend to be here today and gone tomorrow.
73,
... Joe, W4TV
On 2/28/2012 2:21 PM, Andreas Junge wrote:
> Joe, the K9JM solution might be just good enough for most people. I have seen
> MicroHAM products in action and they are very well thought out and supported.
> However, you are comparing a $50 kit with a $450 Cadillac …
>
> 73,
>
> Andreas, N6NU
>
>
> On Feb 28, 2012, at 8:01 AM, "Joe Subich, W4TV"<li...@subich.com> wrote:
>
>>
>> Larry,
>>
>> On 2/28/2012 10:28 AM, Larry Gauthier (K8UT) wrote:
>>>
>>> You raise a very good point. K9JM's new gadget is not the only option
>>> for safe operation of a PW1.
>>
>> Not that I'm complaining but K9JM obviously did not look very hard for
>> alternatives since band decoders which included the CI-V regeneration
>> capability have been available from microHAM for 10 years. Station
>> Master - which meets his criteria exactly - has been available for more
>> than three. Not only that, the microHAM product works with any serial
>> control (Elecraft, Icom, Kenwood, Ten-Tec, or Yaesu) format.
>>
>> It is certainly gratifying to see someone else validating the microHAM
>> approach even if the device has minimal capabilities beyond its role as
>> a CT-17 replacement for use with Icom transceivers and PW-1.
>>
>> 73,
>>
>> ... Joe, W4TV
>>
>>
>> On 2/28/2012 10:28 AM, Larry Gauthier (K8UT) wrote:
>>> Joe,
>>>
>>> You raise a very good point. K9JM's new gadget is not the only option
>>> for safe operation of a PW1. My update must include similar mention of
>>> microHAM and DXlabs solutions.
>>>
>>> -larry (K8UT)
>>> -----Original Message----- From: Joe Subich, W4TV
>>> Sent: Monday, February 27, 2012 6:25 PM
>>> To: dx4win@mailman.qth.net
>>> Subject: Re: [Dx4win] DX4WIN and Icon IC PW-1 data clashes
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>> Jim (et al),
>>>>
>>>> Yes, Jim and I have exchanged email about the CI-V protocol and his
>>>> efforts
>>>> to tame the PW1. As I understand it, K9JM's (www.k9jm.com) device is a
>>>> piece
>>>> of hardware, running custom software developed by Jim, that breaks the
>>>> CI-V
>>>> bus into segments and isolates traffic to the PC, the radio, and the PW1
>>>> amplifier as necessary. A neighboring ham has recently ordered one of
>>>> Jim's
>>>> CI-V Routers and has promised to let me run my CI-V tests against. If I
>>>> encounter any issues (which I don't anticipate) I'll work with Jim to
>>>> their
>>>> resolution.
>>>>
>>>> Otherwise, I plan to refresh my "Riding the CI-V Bus" articles with the
>>>> results... and of course will post a message to the reflector.
>>>>
>>>> -larry (K8UT)
>>>
>>>
>>> Several other solutions exist for the Icom/PW-1 CI-V bus clash and have
>>> been available for several years.
>>>
>>> microHAM microKEYER II, DigiKeyer II, and MK2R/MK2R+ all provide an
>>> optional isolated CI-V bus emulating an Icom transceiver that will
>>> handle a PW-1 (or any other accessory that uses CI-V for frequency
>>> control).
>>>
>>> microHAM Station Master is a CI-V interfaced band decoder that has been
>>> available for more than three years that includes a "PA Port" that will
>>> control a PW-1 (including, again, an isolated CI-V bus emulating an
>>> Icom transceiver) as well as several CI-V or "Band Data" (BCD) amps -
>>> including PW-1, SPE Expert 1K or 2K, Tokyo High Power 1.5Kfx or 2.5Kfx
>>> and Yaesu Quadra or FL-7000. Coupled with a BCD to 1 of 10 decoder,
>>> this support can also be extended to control 1 of n selected amplifiers
>>> like the MFJ ALS600/1300 and TenTec Hercules.
>>>
>>> For at least five years prior to Station Master, the original microHAM
>>> "Band Decoder" had an optional CI-V output (as well as BCD amplifier
>>> control) accessories to provide the same isolated CI-V bus capability.
>>>
>>> In all cases the microHAM solutions are not limited to Icom rigs as
>>> the auxiliary/isolated CI-V output is available with supported rig.
>>>
>>> 73,
>>>
>>> ... Joe Subich, W4TV
>>> microHAM America, LLC.
>>> http://www.microHAM-USA.com
>>> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/microHAM
>>>
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>
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