You're right, many people have success with this. I think most of my
negative experiences have been in multi-op operations where the computer was
busy reading packet spots, maintaining a largish shared log with several
other computers, band maps, windows with grey line maps, and the when the
log got particularly large, with corresponding longer search times for dupes
and filtering packet spots through the need list. In some circumstances
I'd have to press the Enter key to log the QSO in such a way that the disk
I/O generated by logging the QSO wouldn't cause CW stutter. It got in the
way.
This hasn't happened in some time, and with a portable operation it may
never happen at all, if your PC is fast enough (and most are pretty zippy
these days). I just became addicted to the WinKey solution and look for
that in an interface box. It's not essential for everyone, of course. I
think West Mountain's box is a great solution, it's quite compact and
attractively priced. However, I really wanted a WinKey in my interface box.
Mine is heavier, larger, and more expensive.
Dick, K6KR
From: Don Melcher [mailto:don@hfradio.com]
Sent: Thursday, October 29, 2009 7:36 PM
To: writelog@contesting.com; Dick Dievendorff
Subject: RE: [WriteLog] Simple & compact USB>Radio Control/CW/DVK/RTTY
interface
It is PC Generated. I haven't tried it in the "heat of battle" yet - just
some breif testing. I'll let you know if there is a problem. I know of the
problems associated with that method. I think is some part they might be
specific to a particular PC and what else is running in the background.
--- On Thu, 10/29/09, Dick Dievendorff <dieven@comcast.net> wrote:
From: Dick Dievendorff <dieven@comcast.net>
Subject: RE: [WriteLog] Simple & compact USB>Radio Control/CW/DVK/RTTY
interface
To: don@hfradio.com, writelog@contesting.com
Date: Thursday, October 29, 2009, 7:23 PM
Sounds nifty! Maybe cutting the audio cables and installing a couple of
3.5mm stereo plugs is in order.
What do you use for CW keying? I'm done with CW generated by the PC serial
or parallel ports. Is a K1EL Winkey incorporated?
Thanks,
Dick, K6KR
-----Original Message-----
From: don@hfradio.com
<http://us.mc6.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=don@hfradio.com>
[mailto:don@hfradio.com
<http://us.mc6.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=don@hfradio.com> ]
Sent: Thursday, October 29, 2009 7:14 PM
To: Dick Dievendorff; writelog@contesting.com
<http://us.mc6.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=writelog@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [WriteLog] Simple & compact USB>Radio Control/CW/DVK/RTTY
interface
Probably larger too. The P&P is smaller then a deck of cards. The only
complaint I have so far is the radio audio I/O cable is about 18" longer
then the control & cw cables. I put all 3 cables inside a mesh loom to keep
things neater.
73
Don
W6CZ/NM6G
------Original Message------
From: Dick Dievendorff
To: Don
To: writelog@contesting.com
<http://us.mc6.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=writelog@contesting.com>
Subject: RE: [WriteLog] Simple & compact USB>Radio Control/CW/DVK/RTTY
interface
Sent: Oct 29, 2009 7:07 PM
I shopped for a similar need and ended up with a US Interface Navigator that
includes a sound card and a WinKey as well as the other rig control
functions.
The connection between the interface box and the computer is just one USB
cable. The Navigator gets its power from the USB cable.
A rig control cable from the back of the Navigator goes to my K3 for FSK
keying, audio in and out, PTT, CW keying, and the CAT port. Cable are
available for a wide variety of radios.
It is more expensive than the RigBlaster, however.
I also have used microHAM products with good success.
I'm glad we have a multitude of choices in this arena!
Dick, K6KR
-----Original Message-----
From: writelog-bounces@contesting.com
<http://us.mc6.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=writelog-bounces@contesting.com>
[mailto:writelog-bounces@contesting.com
<http://us.mc6.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=writelog-bounces@contesting.com>
] On Behalf Of Don Melcher
Sent: Thursday, October 29, 2009 6:42 PM
To: writelog@contesting.com
<http://us.mc6.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=writelog@contesting.com>
Subject: [WriteLog] Simple & compact USB>Radio Control/CW/DVK/RTTY interface
I started looking for a simple, compact one radio USB>Control/CW/DVK/RTTY
interface to use with my Icom or Yaesu radios for portable use and I found
one. Thought I would share with the group.
West Mountain Radio Rigblaster Plug & Play fit my needs. USB & Audio I/O to
the computer. Control, CW, Audio and PTT to the rig. Works with all CI-V
Icom radios and most Yeasu with the apprpriate adapters. They say it does
not work for control with Kenwood but I am going to check that out with my
TS850 as I don't know why it doesn't work with some of the older radios that
are TTL. List for about $110.
For DVK, you plug the mic into the computer instead of the audio out of the
interface and it works FB. The radio audio I/O is via the ACC connector on
the back (Data on Yaesu). I have tested it with my Icom 703, 706IIG & 746 -
it should work with all Icom. Haven't had a chance to test it with my FT817
- the only Yaesu I have besides a FT1000D - and that radio is FAR from
portable. ;)
Don
W6CZ/NM6G
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
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