+++++++++++++++++++++ See also Digital Interfaces +++++++++++++++++ Date: Tue, 26 Mar 2002 11:16:51 -0500 From: Kenneth Hoglund To: Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion Subject: [123253] PSK31 Wow! Gang-- Making the hop into PSK31 and realized I needed an interface. Found a decent prewired and tested interface at http://www.packetradio.com offered by Bux Communications, run by Buck K4ABT. Ordered the interface yesterday am via the web, and the UPS truck brought it to the door at 10am today!! Now that's service!! Interface is called RASCAL and Bux has then configured for an impressive variety of commercial rigs. Most seemed to be $50 prewired and tested, kits of the same for $28. No interest yadda yadda---just passing on impressive customer service. 73 Ken KG4FGC +++++++++++++++++++++ Date: Tue, 26 Mar 2002 11:26:08 -0500 From: To: "Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion" Subject: [123256] Interfaces was PSK31 Wow! You can get what appears to be the same interface pre-wired from Donner Digital Interfaces for only $40 from Donner Digital Interfaces at: http://home.att.net/~n8st/ I have two of the Donner interfaces and they work great and I saved a total of $20. Duffy http://www.wb8nut.com +++++++++++++++++++ Date: Tue, 26 Mar 2002 11:51:09 -0500 From: Alex To: Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion Subject: [123258] Re: PSK31 Wow! I ordered the kit a while ago and I was truly impressed with the fast turnaround time (arrived 1 week after I sent in the check by snail mail) and the great packaging. It comes with everything included (including jumper wire and solder!), you only need a soldering iron. 73s, --Alex Kenneth Hoglund wrote: > > Gang-- > > Making the hop into PSK31 and realized I needed an interface. Found a > decent prewired and tested interface at http://www.packetradio.com > offered by Bux Communications, run by Buck K4ABT. Ordered the interface > yesterday am via the web, and the UPS truck brought it to the door at > 10am today!! +++++++++++++++++ Date: Tue, 26 Mar 2002 16:19:38 -0500 From: To: kr1st at amsat.org, "Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion" Subject: [123269] Re: Interfaces was PSK31 Wow! Yes, Donner has isolation transformers on the audio input and audio output. He also uses an optocoupler for the PTT. When I spoke with him he stressed the importance of having the rig isolated from the computer. He told me about a ham who went directly from the computer to the rig without any isolation and had a power spike go from the computer to the rig causing extensive damage to the rig. While he only knew of this one instance, he said it is a potential risk when going direct. Thus, he stressed the importance of an interface with complete isolation of the audio of the computer from the audion in/out of the rig. I used to do a direct connection with my Omni 6+ and told him I had it directly connected from the computer. He said I was lucky that nothing ever happened. With my Jupiter I could not connect it directly to the computer without the isolation as I had a feedback issue - that was the issue that led me to the Donner Interface. I guess I did not think about ! shipping as he lives about 30 miles east of me and I just went out and picked them up. I know a ham in St. Louis that said Ten Tec suggested he call Donner about an interface. I'm not inferring that TT endorses Donner, but the guy is very sharp and knows quite a bit about interfacing computers to the rigs. So it is only a $4.50 per unit savings, but to some hams, every dollar saved is worth it. Oh, just one more item, Donner does include a schematic with every interface he ships. Duffy > > From: Alex > Date: 2002/03/26 Tue PM 12:02:13 EST > To: "Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion" > Subject: Re: Interfaces was PSK31 Wow! > > $40 + $5.50 shipping are your actual costs for one interface at > Donner's. > > Donner does not use a PCB according to their FAQ to "keep the cost > down". There are no schematics on Donner's site. I wonder, does it have > two transformers? (we all know about that one expensive but handsome > lookin' inteface which only has one side of the audio path isolated...) > Also, does the Donner interface use an optocoupler for the PTT? > > What appears to be the same, might actually be quite different... > > 73s, > --Alex ++++++++++++++++++ From: "Dan Barker" To: "Elecraft" Cc: Subject: RE: [Elecraft] PSK31 interface? Date: Sun, 31 Mar 2002 08:29:55 -0500 OK Rick. That was more work (the drawing, especially) than building the = damn thing. I sure hope lots of people look at it! Dan / WG4S / K2 #2456 http://www.visioncomm.net/FatWire.html ...Would like to see your photo of the PSK-31 mod and/or cabling = you did. ++++++++++++++++++ From: cwbybee at attbi.com To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net Date: Tue, 16 Apr 2002 15:59:08 +0000 Subject: [Elecraft] RE: Plans for a pre-built Rascal digital interface for the Elecraft K2? That sounds like a good idea; though most Elecraft owners are, by nature, kit builders. However, there are quite a few Elecraft owners who had someone build the kit for them because they, for many reasons, cannot or do not want to do it themselves. For those folks, the option you state below, would probably be an excellent product. They could order it and would be able to easily find someone to wire the plug for them. I am also sending this to the Elecraft reflector so people can comment. If you want, I will forward any comments from the reflector to you. Cheers, Chuck KG6GUF -----Original Message----- From: BUX CommCo [mailto:k4abt at packetradio.com] Sent: Tuesday, April 16, 2002 11:38 AM To: Charles Bybee Subject: RE: Plans for a Rascal for the Elecraft K2? Importance: High I suppose I could build it and leave the 8 pin PLUG for the K at users to complete... I can do that... HI 73 de BucK4ABT -----Original Message----- From: Charles Bybee [mailto:Charles.Bybee at corp.palm.com] Sent: Tuesday, April 16, 2002 8:33 AM To: 'BUX CommCo'; Charles Bybee Subject: RE: Plans for a Rascal for the Elecraft K2? Point taken. Perhaps you could produce a mind->kit interface that would do the work automatically... hihi. Cheers, Chuck KG6GUF -----Original Message----- From: BUX CommCo [mailto:k4abt at packetradio.com] Sent: Tuesday, April 16, 2002 11:30 AM To: Charles Bybee Subject: RE: Plans for a Rascal for the Elecraft K2? Importance: High I cannot produce a NON-KIT version... as the K2 Manual allows the builter to wire the MIC to his/her preference.... kind of hard to read all those minds... hihi. 73 de BucK4ABT -----Original Message----- From: Charles Bybee [mailto:Charles.Bybee at corp.palm.com] Sent: Tuesday, April 16, 2002 8:19 AM To: 'BUX CommCo' Subject: RE: Plans for a Rascal for the Elecraft K2? Yep, I missed it at first. It isn't shown on the main page for the Rascal. Perhaps you should add it to the list, or don't you produce a non-kit version? I have ordered it from you. Thank you. Cheers, Chuck KG6GUF -----Original Message----- From: BUX CommCo [mailto:k4abt at packetradio.com] Sent: Tuesday, April 16, 2002 11:15 AM To: Charles Bybee Subject: RE: Plans for a Rascal for the Elecraft K2? Importance: High Did you miss it???? It's on the web page at: www.PacketRadio.com/psk31.htm 73 de BucK4ABT For PSK31, SSTV, and WSJT, SoundCard to Transceiver Interfaces, VISIT: www.PacketRadio.com/psk31.htm For Radio to TNC interfaces, VISIT: www.packetradio.com/Radio-TNC%20Wiring%20Diagrams.htm For Antennas, Accessories, and Connectors, VISIT: www.BUXcomm.com www.BUXcommCO.com www.BucksCommCo.com www.BuckCommCo.com For the PSK31 Tutorial, Visit: www.packetradio.com/bbbb.htm For Antennas, Accessories, and Connectors for HAM radio, VISIT: www.BUXcommco.com www.BUXcomm.com For topics of interest to all HAMs, VISIT: www.PacketRadio.com www.AmateuRadio.org -----Original Message----- From: Charles Bybee [mailto:Charles.Bybee at corp.palm.com] Sent: Tuesday, April 16, 2002 7:58 AM To: 'k4abt at packetradio.com' Subject: Plans for a Rascal for the Elecraft K2? Any plans for the Elecraft K2 Rascal? I think it would be close to the Kenwood but not sure. See www.elecraft.com. Cheers, Chuck KG6GUF ++++++++++++++++++ Reply-To: From: "John Clifford" To: Subject: RE: [Elecraft] Digital Interface Date: Mon, 2 Dec 2002 05:00:23 -0800 The Tigertronics looks like a good interface except that it requires a power source. This may be okay for shack usage, but is a drag in the field -- one more cord to bring/forget, one more device to pull on the battery. I have used both the WRM Rigblaster NOMIC and the BuxComm RASCAL interfaces. I find that the NOMIC is almost perfect for the K2... the cables are detachable so it's easier to store everything, doesn't require external power, in a metal box so if you step on it you won't hurt it. It's my choice for portable HF digital ops. The BuxComm RASCAL kits are of good design although they come in a cheezy soft plastic box... I replaced mine with a metal box from the local Active Electronics. They are also rig-specific in that they come with cables for specific rigs (types of plugs, wiring configurations). You could modify the kits by putting jacks on the interface enclosure (you will need another enclosure) to make it more flexible. These kits offer one advantage over the NOMIC... both transmit and receive audio are transformer isolated (transmit audio ONLY is isolated on the NOMIC). Of course, the RASCAL requires no external power. You can buy the NOMIC without any cables for $35 or so including shipping (don't get the software if you are going to use MixW, or if you have enough skills to download Digipan from the 'net, and if you can build/operate a K2 you have the skills)... that's how you want it since you will be making up your own cables anyway. You can get stereo patch cords from RS cheaply in the configuration you need, and you will have to make up your own interface-to-K2 cable... I bought a $6 6' Ethernet cable, cut off the end, and attached an 8-pin mic plug to it. My best K2 QRP HF digital QSO was to EM1KCC running PSK31 at 5 watts. Good luck, - jgc John Clifford KD7KGX Heathkit HW-9 WARC/HFT-9/HM-9 Elecraft K2 #1678 /KSB2/KIO2/KBT2/KAT2/KNB2/KAF2/KPA100 Ten-Tec Omni VI/Opt1 email: kd7kgx at arrl.net ++++++++++++++ From: Wilbert Knol Sun 23:59 Subject: Re: Pc/rig interface for packet To: Mike Markowski , Linux Hams > Would electrically isolating the Tx/Rx/PTT signals like in the Rascal > kit make a significant difference? I read that the isolation is > important if you want to use packet on HF. I won't go into details, but there are several reasons why HF digital modes are so sensitive to RF feedback. Audio isolating transformers often help, particularly in the TX audio path, but there are other tricks to reduce RFI. VHF/UHF FM packet is a lot more immune, and I've always managed without audio transformers. The down-side of audio isolating transformers is, that they can easily pick up stray magnetic fields from things like power supplies, from as far as half a meter or so away. And you won't even hear that through tinny little loadspeakers, but it will be bad enough to wreck your signal. The RFI acid test is, to transmit idle flags or calibration tones continuously whilst you vary TX power. You listen to the transmitted audio on a second receiver nearby (on a dummy load). Use a pair of good quality HIFI headphones. If the audio starts sounding raw when you increase power, you have RFI. If you kill the TX audio, you'll also hear stray 50 Hz pick-up. FSK modes are much less susceptible than linear modes such as PSK. Another thing to look out for: some people use handhelds for packet radio, that leave the internal condenser mike connected. Shack noise then causes packet corrupton. Anyway, all of this has little to do with Linux... HTH Wilbert, ZL2BSJ - To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-hams" in the body of a message to majordomo at vger.kernel.org More majordomo info at http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html ++++++++++++++++++