Don,
I agree that you shouldn't change it if you're happy. The Plus is either CW
or FSK but not both. The Pro does do both, and it does have RS-232 in and
out if the radio uses that for control, which I believe all do except for
Icom.
I can open up my Plus (not using it now) and check the shorting jumpers if
you'd like.
The Pro was attractive to me because it offered microphone audio to and from
the PC, which I originally assumed the Plus did, and it is switchable.
Ironically, I haven't used the audio capability yet for my intended purpose,
Writelog voice memories. I have only tried PSK31 briefly, so I don't use it
for that either. SO the reality is that my Plus is really all I need for
what I'm doing today.
I could probably check into the Plus box tonight.
Jim
----- Original Message -----
From: "VE3XD" <ve3xd@rogers.com>
To: "'Jim McDonald'" <jim@n7us.net>; "'RTTY Reflector'"
<rtty@contesting.com>
Sent: Wednesday, August 25, 2004 4:29 AM
Subject: RE: [RTTY] Distortion
Thanks Jim,
These are exactly the steps that I followed. I also tried shorting the DTR
pair even though that strictly shouldn't be necessary. I also prepared a
cable for the Rtty jack and shorting it did cause a shift in tone as, if I
recall correctly, was mentioned on AA5AU's website.
Kok Chen's point that the Yaesu rigs are really generating AFSK was
interesting and maybe confirms my opinion that the switch to FSK is not as
important as I once thought. Also I have been hearing that if the Rigblaster
is set up to operate FSK then it will not operate CW. That means a setup
change to go from one to the other. This is why some are moving to the Pro
model. But that is not without problems either. The Pro doesn't use a serial
rig interface which the Plus does making another homebrew cable necessary.
This really surprised me as the Pro has two serial ports but they are both
for computer interfaces as I and my local store understand it.
Maybe I should just stick with what is working well for me.
73, Don VE3XD
> -----Original Message-----
> From: rtty-bounces@contesting.com
> [mailto:rtty-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Jim McDonald
> Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2004 10:56 PM
> To: RTTY Reflector
> Subject: Re: [RTTY] Distortion
>
> Don,
>
> I have a PROII now but previously had an MP and then a MARK
> V. I used both with a RIGblaster Plus and then a Pro and
> then a HB interface, all on FSK (or the internal AFSK
> generator to be precise).
>
> I used a Kantronics KAM Plus, a HAL P38, and now MMTTY, both
> stand-alone and with Writelog.
>
> The December 2001 RIGblaster Plus review in QST might be helpful.
>
> In my notes for the serial keying jumper block in the Plus, I
> see that I had the first and last pairs of pins shorted.
> There is a shorting jumper across the PTT RTS pins and
> another across the key TXD pins. It is same as the last
> pictorial on page 9 of the manuals except that I didn't have
> the shorting jumper across the DTR pair.
>
> AA5AU's web site has the info on setting up MMTTY for FSK.
> http://www.rttycontesting.com/tutorials/tutorials.htm
>
> Of course you need to use the RTTY jack on the MP. I used
> RG-174 cables.
>
> I'm no technician either (I'm a CPA), but I find it
> satisfying setting these things up. Call me any evening if I
> can help (really) - (480) 354-2870 in AZ (on MST, not daylight time).
>
> 73,
> Jim N7US
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "VE3XD" <ve3xd@rogers.com>
> To: <W0YR@aol.com>; <rtty@contesting.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2004 11:18 AM
> Subject: RE: [RTTY] Distortion
>
>
>
> Let me explain why I still use AFSK. It's not that I want to
> but rather that
> it is the only RTTY mode I've been able to make work. I'm not
> an electronics
> technician or anything close but I can usually get things to
> work however
> FSK has had me stymied. This doesn't seem right as it is
> seemingly a rather
> simple mode to implement providing the right tools are
> available; ie. rig,
> interface, computer, and software. Well I have all four and
> yet no dice.
>
> 1. Rig: Mark V with the FSK direct input available. I still
> use AFSK on the
> packet jack and it works well.
>
> 2. Interface: Rigblaster Plus. According to the manual it is
> supposed to
> support FSK. I found several references to this, one being an
> article in QST
> that mentioned the need to use a jumper on the TXD pin. But
> there was no
> other tangible help in the article. Several other posts I
> found mentioned
> TXD but the references were obscure and of little value as
> there was no
> further discussion. There is no helpful information on the
> West Mountain
> website either about FSK with the Plus.
>
> 3. Computer: Still using a W98SE P450 devoted to the shack that does
> everything else well, CW, PSK, phone, logging, packet. Two serial
> interfaces, one for CW and one for rig control.
>
> 4. Software: Mainly Writelog with the MMTTY engine for RTTY.
> As with the RB
> there is very little in the help files for these programs
> giving directions
> in setting up FSK. Especially when things don't work exactly as they
> suggest. I've tried both with and without MMTTY and also
> MMTTY standalone
> but no go.
>
> So after 3 days of messing with the above before the weekend
> I gave up and
> went back to AFSK. Oh yes, when I restored all the settings
> CW would not
> work. Another hour to sort that out.
>
> So the question is whether it's worth the effort to make the
> switch. I have
> done very well in the past with AFSK. I have got to wonder
> whether anyone
> has ever noticed the difference. Especially as I only run low power.
>
> Don VE3XD
>
>
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