Re: [digitalradio] The cost of digital mode interfaces
I've had nothing but good luck with the Rascal. Used it for about 7 years. The newer ones now support PTT over a USB cable. Some of the connectors, particularly radio connectors, can be difficult to solder up, so the radio cable for your radio included with the Rascal is very nice. Support has been excellent, in my case. I do suspect that negative emails to Buck result in negative emails back. I've been careful to research my question first, send a succinct email, and I've gotten quick and polite responses back from Buck. For those who choose not to homebrew their own soundcare interface, I would definitely recommend the Rascal. The current price of the Rascal that supports either serial or USB PTT is about US $80. http://www.buxcomm.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=indexcPath=2 Jim - K6JM - Original Message - From: David Struebel To: digitalradio@yahoogroups.com Sent: Saturday, March 06, 2010 7:21 AM Subject: Re: [digitalradio] The cost of digital mode interfaces A lot of hams have had problems with the RASCAL and the poor support and commications from the vendor of this product...See Eham reviews. http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/1384 I use and reccomend the Donner interface here with no issues and they are only $40... they come with all the connections for your specific radio and I think it also provides isolation on both the receive and transmit audio lines. http://home.att.net/~n8st/DDI-index.html Review http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/2073 73 Dave WB2FTX -- Original Message - From: Ralph Mowery To: digitalradio@yahoogroups.com Sent: Saturday, March 06, 2010 10:03 AM Subject: Re: [digitalradio] The cost of digital mode interfaces The basic sound card interface has never been very high. Look for one called Rascal. Here is one link to where to get them. http://www.packetradio.com/ I don't recall the price from years ago, but it was under $ 50 then. The kit was even less. Almost just the cost of the parts if bought in single lots. - Original Message From: Andy obrien k3uka...@gmail.com To: digitalradio digitalradio@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sat, March 6, 2010 8:34:05 AM Subject: [digitalradio] The cost of digital mode interfaces I was helping a ham get set-up for digital modes recently and turned to the issue of interfaces for digital modes. I researched the price for a Rigblaster Pro and was shocked that they sell for $299. My friend settled for another interface that cost $69, new. I was wondering about interfaces and wondering about whether the era of high priced interfaces might be coming to an end. I'm not talking about the ones that have extra features like electronic CW keying, high end soundcards , etc etc. I'm thinking that a device that has connectors, isolation circuits, pots, and a good solid enclosure, should be in the under $100 range. I know you can build your own for $20 or so, It is nice to see that many low price options exist nowadays. Andy K3UK No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.733 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2726 - Release Date: 03/06/10 02:39:00
Re: [digitalradio] The cost of digital mode interfaces
The basic sound card interface has never been very high. Look for one called Rascal. Here is one link to where to get them. http://www.packetradio.com/ I don't recall the price from years ago, but it was under $ 50 then. The kit was even less. Almost just the cost of the parts if bought in single lots. - Original Message From: Andy obrien k3uka...@gmail.com To: digitalradio digitalradio@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sat, March 6, 2010 8:34:05 AM Subject: [digitalradio] The cost of digital mode interfaces I was helping a ham get set-up for digital modes recently and turned to the issue of interfaces for digital modes. I researched the price for a Rigblaster Pro and was shocked that they sell for $299. My friend settled for another interface that cost $69, new. I was wondering about interfaces and wondering about whether the era of high priced interfaces might be coming to an end. I'm not talking about the ones that have extra features like electronic CW keying, high end soundcards , etc etc. I'm thinking that a device that has connectors, isolation circuits, pots, and a good solid enclosure, should be in the under $100 range. I know you can build your own for $20 or so, It is nice to see that many low price options exist nowadays. Andy K3UK
Re: [digitalradio] The cost of digital mode interfaces
A lot of hams have had problems with the RASCAL and the poor support and commications from the vendor of this product...See Eham reviews. http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/1384 I use and reccomend the Donner interface here with no issues and they are only $40... they come with all the connections for your specific radio and I think it also provides isolation on both the receive and transmit audio lines. http://home.att.net/~n8st/DDI-index.html Review http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/2073 73 Dave WB2FTX -- Original Message - From: Ralph Mowery To: digitalradio@yahoogroups.com Sent: Saturday, March 06, 2010 10:03 AM Subject: Re: [digitalradio] The cost of digital mode interfaces The basic sound card interface has never been very high. Look for one called Rascal. Here is one link to where to get them. http://www.packetradio.com/ I don't recall the price from years ago, but it was under $ 50 then. The kit was even less. Almost just the cost of the parts if bought in single lots. - Original Message From: Andy obrien k3uka...@gmail.com To: digitalradio digitalradio@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sat, March 6, 2010 8:34:05 AM Subject: [digitalradio] The cost of digital mode interfaces I was helping a ham get set-up for digital modes recently and turned to the issue of interfaces for digital modes. I researched the price for a Rigblaster Pro and was shocked that they sell for $299. My friend settled for another interface that cost $69, new. I was wondering about interfaces and wondering about whether the era of high priced interfaces might be coming to an end. I'm not talking about the ones that have extra features like electronic CW keying, high end soundcards , etc etc. I'm thinking that a device that has connectors, isolation circuits, pots, and a good solid enclosure, should be in the under $100 range. I know you can build your own for $20 or so, It is nice to see that many low price options exist nowadays. Andy K3UK -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.733 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2726 - Release Date: 03/06/10 02:39:00
Re: [digitalradio] The cost of digital mode interfaces
El 06/03/2010 8:34, Andy obrien escribió: I was helping a ham get set-up for digital modes recently and turned to the issue of interfaces for digital modes. I researched the price for a Rigblaster Pro and was shocked that they sell for $299. My friend settled for another interface that cost $69, new. I was wondering about interfaces and wondering about whether the era of high priced interfaces might be coming to an end. I'm not talking about the ones that have extra features like electronic CW keying, high end soundcards , etc etc. I'm thinking that a device that has connectors, isolation circuits, pots, and a good solid enclosure, should be in the under $100 range. I know you can build your own for $20 or so, It is nice to see that many low price options exist nowadays. Andy K3UK Mine is built using scrounged components, mostly. 1) A good quality japanese professional audio 10 k : 600 ohms transformer. Connected as step down, it doubles as an attenuator. Loaded with a 600 ohms resistor in the secondary. 2) Several 1:1 transformers. The last one I am using is ferrite pot core recovered from a dead modem, loaded with 1200 ohms and 2.2 nF in series gives insignificant square wave ringing on the edges when tested with audio generator / oscilloscope. 3) A 4N26 optocoupler with a red LED is series and a 2.2 k resistor. Also has a reverse bias protection shunt diode (1N4007 that was at hand) over the LED + optocoupler diode string. All contained in a small plastic box, from a discarded battery charger. I only paid for the new all metal stereo miniplugs that go to the PC soundcard. In use for at least a couple of years already. 73, Jose, CO2JA
