Re: [digitalradio] possible purchase
On Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:57:54 +0200, Simon (HB9DRV) simon.br...@kns.ch said: 1Hz tuning, Huh, so it is. I was looking at the specs as advertised on Universal Radio. I assume that 1 Hz tuning is available via CAT without having to use front panel controls. IF DSP not desirable for digital modes, IF DSP includes the tunable bandpass filters. I like the idea of rejecting QRM with an adjustable digital filter before it hits the audio stage. This is the only kind of DSP that I would find remotely useful for digital modes. For other modes I can do all kinds of audio processing with jack-rack or gAlan and LADSPA effects plugins [1]. Something to keep that quad-core processor warm. [1] http://plugin.org.uk/ Rock-solid stable, Remote-mount the radio head next to your monitor, Excellent value for money (especially the 100watt version) - it's a Kenwood! No argument about it being excellent value. Simon Brown, HB9DRV www.ham-radio-deluxe.com - Original Message - From: Stelios Bounanos digra...@enotty.net Errr, 10Hz tuning, no IF DSP, no external reference input. Perhaps the best for some unspecified definitions of market and digi use? :-) -- 73, Stelios, M0GLD.
Re: [digitalradio] possible purchase
Hah, Actually the 480 does have nice 500Hz filters so you can use this for getting rid of signals. The beauty of the TS-480SAT is that it's a pure analogue radio, the audio is good and pleasant to listen to. Simon Brown, HB9DRV www.ham-radio-deluxe.com - Original Message - From: Stelios Bounanos digra...@enotty.net IF DSP includes the tunable bandpass filters. I like the idea of rejecting QRM with an adjustable digital filter before it hits the audio stage. This is the only kind of DSP that I would find remotely useful for digital modes.
Re: [digitalradio] possible purchase
On Tue, 14 Jul 2009 13:59:55 +0200, Simon (HB9DRV) simon.br...@kns.ch said: Hah, Actually the 480 does have nice 500Hz filters so you can use this for getting rid of signals. The beauty of the TS-480SAT is that it's a pure analogue radio, the audio is good and pleasant to listen to. I do have a 500Hz mechanical IF filter in the FT-857 and use it for both RX and TX. It's a very big improvement over the 2.8 kHz filter but still lets a lot of splatter through when the band is busy, and IF shifting can only help so much. I know this method works very well but I consider it legacy. My definition of best rig for digital modes requires adjustable IF filters that can be narrowed to 50 Hz or so via (documented!) CAT control, so that the software can do this stuff automatically when the user clicks on a signal on the waterfall. Simon Brown, HB9DRV www.ham-radio-deluxe.com - Original Message - From: Stelios Bounanos digra...@enotty.net IF DSP includes the tunable bandpass filters. I like the idea of rejecting QRM with an adjustable digital filter before it hits the audio stage. This is the only kind of DSP that I would find remotely useful for digital modes. -- 73, Stelios, M0GLD.
[digitalradio] possible purchase
I would go with the antenna, since your 480 does not need an interface, working well with a direct connect from your sound card to the rig data port. Use menu item 60 to see a VOX signal at the port. I have also not had many problems with sound cards as supplied with computers, especially if you take the time to calibrate them. The 480 is perhaps the best rig on the market right now for digi use, in my not-so-humble opinion cheers John VE5MU
Re: [digitalradio] possible purchase
On Mon, 13 Jul 2009 08:20:21 -0500, John Bradley jbrad...@sasktel.net said: [...] The 480 is perhaps the best rig on the market right now for digi use, in my not-so-humble opinion Errr, 10Hz tuning, no IF DSP, no external reference input. Perhaps the best for some unspecified definitions of market and digi use? :-) cheers John VE5MU -- 73, Stelios, M0GLD.
Re: [digitalradio] possible purchase
1Hz tuning, IF DSP not desirable for digital modes, Rock-solid stable, Remote-mount the radio head next to your monitor, Excellent value for money (especially the 100watt version) - it's a Kenwood! Simon Brown, HB9DRV www.ham-radio-deluxe.com - Original Message - From: Stelios Bounanos digra...@enotty.net Errr, 10Hz tuning, no IF DSP, no external reference input. Perhaps the best for some unspecified definitions of market and digi use? :-)
[digitalradio] Possible Purchase
Hi All, I am in the proceeds of purchasing a new piece of radio equipment. I am tossing up between buying a new radio, new screwdriver antenna or a new sound interface. The first two are a lot more then the last. But that depends on which one I decide to buy. I had a look at the Rigblaster Pro, but at US$299 I felt this was a little high (I could be wrong here) I also looked at the Tigertronic at around $100 (a bit better price) My interest is in using it with my TS-480S/AT and any future rig I decide to buy. I am using all the digital modes. I would like it to be used on a couple of radios but that is not a high priority. I know this is very limited but what else is there to the interface. Some I have heard have better filtering and protection. Any thoughts would be grateful, direct would be fine too, see my address in the header. Regards Kevin, ZL1KFM.
Re: [digitalradio] Possible Purchase
Look at the microHam USB Interface III - soundcard and CAT in one package, I have one and use it with my own TS-480SAT. http://www.microham-usa.com/Products/USB3.html Simon Brown, HB9DRV www.ham-radio-deluxe.com - Original Message - From: Gmail - Kevin, Natalia, Stacey Rochelle I had a look at the Rigblaster Pro, but at US$299 I felt this was a little high (I could be wrong here)
Re: [digitalradio] Possible Purchase
Thanks Simon, But the big issue is the price. This one you mention is also up in the US$200 area, which is nearly NZ$400 for us, exchange rate. Makes me think twice before I purchase. I think I will get a sound interface it's just twisting my arm a little more to finally do the bank transfer. Regards Kevin., ZL1KFM BTW, version 7 is working great for me. Had one issue with DM780 shutting down when going into TX mode. Might of been because the network link was not active between it and HRD. - Original Message - From: Simon (HB9DRV) To: digitalradio@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sunday, July 12, 2009 9:34 PM Subject: Re: [digitalradio] Possible Purchase Look at the microHam USB Interface III - soundcard and CAT in one package, I have one and use it with my own TS-480SAT. http://www.microham-usa.com/Products/USB3.html Simon Brown, HB9DRV www.ham-radio-deluxe.com - Original Message - From: Gmail - Kevin, Natalia, Stacey Rochelle I had a look at the Rigblaster Pro, but at US$299 I felt this was a little high (I could be wrong here)
Re: [digitalradio] Possible Purchase
I continue to be puzzled as to why anyone would spend more than $50 on a soundcard and/or CAT interface, when both can be built for about $10 in parts. For the sound interface: * two 8:500 audio transformers * one 2n3904 transistor (for hard keying, if you don't want to just use the rig's VOX) * one DB-9 female connector * one 3.5mm audio patch cable (cut in half) * one mic or DIN connector * one altoids tin For CAT: * two 2n3904 transistors * five resistors (3x10k, 4.3k, 11k) * one DB-9 female connector * one connector suitable for your rig * one altoids tin The soundcard interface is nothing but the audio in/out lines from the rig connected to the soundcard with standard audio connections, optionally using transformers, and a single NPN transistor configured thusly: Collector: rig PTT pin Base: computer serial port RTS pin (DB-9 pin 7) Emitter: ground pins on rig and serial port CAT/CI-V interface is just two NPN's and 5 resistors. Google for schematics. Since I've never seen a rig that uses RTS/CTS handshaking, you can combine keying and CAT into a single serial connection. If you need USB audio and serial interfaces, they aren't too expensive. Don't know about sources in NZ, but they can be had in the US for as little as $5 each. -Joe, N8FQ On Sun, 12 Jul 2009 21:48:54 +1200 Gmail - Kevin, Natalia, Stacey Rochelle spar...@gmail.com wrote: I think I will get a sound interface it's just twisting my arm a little more to finally do the bank transfer. Regards Kevin., ZL1KFM
Re: [digitalradio] Possible Purchase
- Original Message - From: Joe Veldhuis kd8...@gmail.com To: digitalradio@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sunday, July 12, 2009 12:34 PM Subject: Re: [digitalradio] Possible Purchase I continue to be puzzled as to why anyone would spend more than $50 on a soundcard and/or CAT interface, when both can be built for about $10 in parts. Not everyone can see well enough to solder, not everyone has easy access to all the components. When I was starting in Ham Radio I built everything, now the only reason I use the soldering iron is for assembling cables, sadly the eyes no longer have what's needed. Simon Brown, HB9DRV www.ham-radio-deluxe.com
Re: [digitalradio] Possible Purchase
See page 30 of the June QST for an inexpensive interface design and circuit board. As of this date, 250 have been built and all worked without any problems as far as I have been told. No SMT parts are used, and soldering is easy, even for an old man like me. Cost of all parts is less than $20 and no USB or serial port is needed. Joe Veldhuis wrote: I continue to be puzzled as to why anyone would spend more than $50 on a soundcard and/or CAT interface, when both can be built for about $10 in parts. 73 -- *Skip KH6TY* http://KH6TY.home.comcast.net
Re: [digitalradio] Possible Purchase
As was mentioned, construction may be impractical for many hams. In my case, I have been soldering since around age 13 or so with my first crystal radio kit and later many kits and dozens of projects over the years, so it is not too difficult to make a simple interface. Today, because of my age, it is increasingly difficult to do close work without special help. I normally wear trifocals and the close-in distance is for book reading at around a foot, but it is very much at the bottom of the glasses and difficult to use so I sometimes use magnifying googles. Due to an error in having some bifocal computer glasses made, with computer on the main portion and the full lower portion for reading, it turned out that they cut the lower part so that the focus was more like 8 inches. This actually slightly magnifies things but the downside is that I have to work extremely close to the work which also means that I need to be careful with any solder splashes, etc. Speaking from personal experience, one should never solder without eye protection as I have had splatter several times, which would have been catastrophic without glasses or some shield. I might mention that for about 25 years I built and ran an electronic/AV/computer repair shop, so exposure was significant. The largest project I ever built was the Heath HERO robot, which was a very large undertaking for educational use through my employer. Realistically, most new hams do not do construction of electronic projects and many no longer own soldering equipment, so it is actually quite rare to find those who are both interested in such things and also interested in the communication aspects (much less the digital communication aspects) of ham radio. If you don't need full rig control, and can build the simplest possible kit, I recommend the Unified Microsystems SCI-6 Sound Card Interface at just over $30 delivered price here in the U.S. It would be difficult to build it from your own separately purchased parts at that price point. It includes both audio lines transformer isolated, which is not always true of other products, and it has a socketed optoisolator for PTT hard keying. It does require a COM or USB to COM port, however that may be preferable to VOX keying. The most difficult part is making up your own cables, and that may not be easy for some to do. 73, Rick, KV9U
Re: [digitalradio] Possible Purchase
If you do not have to have an external sound card the various interfaces that use your computers internal sound card are much less expensive. With some, such as the Rascal GLX you switch cables to use them with different transceivers. There are many other choices, I just happen to be familiar with that one. Tim, N9PUZ Gmail - Kevin, Natalia, Stacey Rochelle wrote: Thanks Simon, But the big issue is the price. This one you mention is also up in the US$200 area, which is nearly NZ$400 for us, exchange rate. Makes me think twice before I purchase. I think I will get a sound interface it's just twisting my arm a little more to finally do the bank transfer. Regards Kevin., ZL1KFM BTW, version 7 is working great for me. Had one issue with DM780 shutting down when going into TX mode. Might of been because the network link was not active between it and HRD. - Original Message - *From:* Simon (HB9DRV) mailto:simon.br...@kns.ch *To:* digitalradio@yahoogroups.com mailto:digitalradio@yahoogroups.com *Sent:* Sunday, July 12, 2009 9:34 PM *Subject:* Re: [digitalradio] Possible Purchase Look at the microHam USB Interface III - soundcard and CAT in one package, I have one and use it with my own TS-480SAT. http://www.microham-usa.com/Products/USB3.html http://www.microham-usa.com/Products/USB3.html Simon Brown, HB9DRV www.ham-radio-deluxe.com http://www.ham-radio-deluxe.com - Original Message - *From:* Gmail - Kevin, Natalia, Stacey Rochelle mailto:spar...@gmail.com I had a look at the Rigblaster Pro, but at US$299 I felt this was a little high (I could be wrong here) Announce your digital presence via our Interactive Sked Pages at http://www.obriensweb.com/sked Recommended digital mode software: Winwarbler, FLDIGI, DM780, or Multipsk Logging Software: DXKeeper or Ham Radio Deluxe. Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/digitalradio/ * Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional * To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/digitalradio/join (Yahoo! ID required) * To change settings via email: mailto:digitalradio-dig...@yahoogroups.com mailto:digitalradio-fullfeatu...@yahoogroups.com * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: digitalradio-unsubscr...@yahoogroups.com * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Re: [digitalradio] Possible Purchase
If you are not an ARRL member, a description of the interface described on page 30 of the June QST is here: http://home.comcast.net/~hteller/interface.htm 73 Skip KH6TY Tim N9PUZ wrote: If you do not have to have an external sound card the various interfaces that use your computers internal sound card are much less expensive. With some, such as the Rascal GLX you switch cables to use them with different transceivers. There are many other choices, I just happen to be familiar with that one. Tim, N9PUZ Gmail - Kevin, Natalia, Stacey Rochelle wrote: Thanks Simon, But the big issue is the price. This one you mention is also up in the US$200 area, which is nearly NZ$400 for us, exchange rate. Makes me think twice before I purchase. I think I will get a sound interface it's just twisting my arm a little more to finally do the bank transfer. Regards Kevin., ZL1KFM BTW, version 7 is working great for me. Had one issue with DM780 shutting down when going into TX mode. Might of been because the network link was not active between it and HRD. - Original Message - *From:* Simon (HB9DRV) mailto:simon.br...@kns.ch *To:* digitalradio@yahoogroups.com mailto:digitalradio@yahoogroups.com *Sent:* Sunday, July 12, 2009 9:34 PM *Subject:* Re: [digitalradio] Possible Purchase Look at the microHam USB Interface III - soundcard and CAT in one package, I have one and use it with my own TS-480SAT. http://www.microham-usa.com/Products/USB3.html http://www.microham-usa.com/Products/USB3.html Simon Brown, HB9DRV www.ham-radio-deluxe.com http://www.ham-radio-deluxe.com - Original Message - *From:* Gmail - Kevin, Natalia, Stacey Rochelle mailto:spar...@gmail.com I had a look at the Rigblaster Pro, but at US$299 I felt this was a little high (I could be wrong here) Announce your digital presence via our Interactive Sked Pages at http://www.obriensweb.com/sked Recommended digital mode software: Winwarbler, FLDIGI, DM780, or Multipsk Logging Software: DXKeeper or Ham Radio Deluxe. Yahoo! Groups Links -- *Skip KH6TY* http://KH6TY.home.comcast.net Announce your digital presence via our Interactive Sked Pages at http://www.obriensweb.com/sked Recommended digital mode software: Winwarbler, FLDIGI, DM780, or Multipsk Logging Software: DXKeeper or Ham Radio Deluxe. Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/digitalradio/ * Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional * To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/digitalradio/join (Yahoo! ID required) * To change settings via email: mailto:digitalradio-dig...@yahoogroups.com mailto:digitalradio-fullfeatu...@yahoogroups.com * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: digitalradio-unsubscr...@yahoogroups.com * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Re: [digitalradio] Possible Purchase
For many reasons I built my own and I feel it is foolish not to use an optocoupler when you already use two transformers. I am not happy with less than that. I use soundcard input and output with stereo miniplugs and serial port keying with a DB9 female connector. I use another female DB9 for audio I/O, wired to the same standard as Kantronics TNC's, so my old TNC cables are still useful. All using scrounged material, and does work acceptably well. I have included fixed attenuators in the newer cables to suit the radio, so the interface is the simplest. Of course, I understand all the explained reasons, but in my case, homebrewing is the easy way out. 73, Jose, CO2JA. Tim N9PUZ escribió: If you do not have to have an external sound card the various interfaces that use your computers internal sound card are much less expensive. With some, such as the Rascal GLX you switch cables to use them with different transceivers. There are many other choices, I just happen to be familiar with that one. Tim, N9PUZ Participe en Universidad 2010, del 8 al 12 de febrero de 2010 La Habana, Cuba http://www.universidad2010.cu - SEGUNDO SEMINARIO INTERNACIONAL LEGADO Y DIVERSIDAD. ARQUITECTURA Y URBANISMO. El rescate de los valores urbanos y arquitectónicos en tiempos de globalización Colegio de San Gerónimo, La Habana Vieja, noviembre 24-27, 2009 -
Re: [digitalradio] Possible Purchase
On Sun, 12 Jul 2009 09:25:10 -0500, Rick W mrf...@frontiernet.net said: As was mentioned, construction may be impractical for many hams. In my case, I have been soldering since around age 13 or so with my first crystal radio kit and later many kits and dozens of projects over the years, so it is not too difficult to make a simple interface. Today, because of my age, it is increasingly difficult to do close work without special help. I normally wear trifocals and the close-in distance is for book reading at around a foot, but it is very much at the bottom of the glasses and difficult to use so I sometimes use magnifying googles. There must be a lot of cheap second hand camcorders out there, many with both analogue and digital video outputs and plenty of optical zoom. I imagine you could easily display a good 10-20x image of the work on your monitor (perhaps with the aid of an external lens). That's a lot of magnification and as a bonus you can sit straight and not spend hours hunched over your desk looking at the work with magnifying goggles on. You also inhale less flux fumes and avoid solder splashes. -- 73, Stelios, M0GLD.
