Randy,
I was once standing were you are rig/computer-wise. You didn't
mention what Mac you have so I don't know if it has a serial port -
they dropped those a while back in favor of USB.
You could get a USB to serial converter - it may or may not work.
You could run VirtualPC to simulate windows and run all the PC
software - it may or may not work - timing issues and I just read
that post about limited sound card functionality (sample rates).
You could check out MultiMode by Black Cat and make sure it is
compatible with your rig/Mac/OSX.
Note that Black Cat also has a software package called CW Keyer. It
wasn't clear how it actually keyed the rig.
I ended up buying a cheap 400Mhz Pentium II on eBay. For simplicity I
run Windows 98SE. I use this ONLY for ham software, I only send OUT
email via Eudora (no MS virus attracting apps). I use FirFox web
browser to view ONLY ham established web sites. Periodically I run
Ad-Aware and Spybot. The machine has stayed pretty clean. Hard Drive
was a little small at 2GB. I have about 1.5GB full. Unlike the user
friendly Mac, I can't just copy the contents of the old drive to a
bigger new one then replace the old with the new. So someday I may
have a major re-install project.
Though Windows 98SE has less system overhead than XP, it suffers in
that the available Memory for applications is constrained so I can
only run a few applications at once - For example, I can not run the
full DXLabs suite of programs - only a few at once. XP would cure
this but the higher system overhead means "more" of everything else -
more RAM, faster CPU, more HardDrive space.
For CW - while you are practicing with your key/paddle of course -
you can use the free CWType by DXSoft. You specify a COM port on the
PC, put a serial plug in it with a small switching circuit inside,
and wire a compatible straight key plug to the other end.
By using the larger Radio Shack serial plug enclosure, I could put
the switching circuit - a transistor, couple of diodes, and a
resistor - all inside. There are many published simple switching
circuits - I used one off of a review link from the DXSoft page for
CWType.
One end in the computer COM port, the other plugged into (or wired
for) the rig's straight key jack.
That's why I wonder about BlackCat's CW sending program - they don't
mention keying the rig.
If you are interested in a stand alone CW keyboard, send me email. I
have a Datong keyboard that can run on batteries or DC power, has two
ranges of speed control, and some memory banks. No software required.
I'd sell it because I like the feedback from seeing my typing on the
computer monitor via DXSoft's CWType - but that requires a computer.
With the Datong keyboard, you plug it into (or wire the plug for) the
straight key input of the rig and type away.
73,
Paul
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