[CQ-Contest] YCCC SO2R Box and 2 computers?

[Dick Green WC1M]

Hi Bob,

Depends on what you want to do. 

If you're doing plain-old SO2R, you can use a single YCCC SO2R Box with two computers by doing the switching manually from the YCCC SO2R Box front panel. Or, you can connect the YCCC SO2R Box to one of the computers and use the SO2R Box Utility to do the switching via mouse clicks. Neither method allows for automated switching by the logger or use of function keys in the logger to do the switching, but it does provides a way to switch the key/mic/headphones between the two radios, enable stereo audio, etc.

You can use manual switching for 2BSIQ, but I think it would be awkward and difficult. If done from the front panel of the YCCC SO2R Box, you would push the toggle switches apart for transmit on 1 and receive on 2, or push them together for transmit on 2 and receive on 1. Personally, I'd modify the YCCC SO2R Box to allow connection of an external push-button box with radio-style push buttons to do the switching (pushing in switch 1 pops out switch 2.) Even this way, it could be hard to synchronize manual switching with transmission.

Note that N6MJ/ZF2MJ uses two radios for 2BSIQ. He has what looks to be a custom interlock system that's probably driven by PTT on the radios, such that when one radio transmits it cuts off transmit by the other radio and switches the key/paddle/mic/headphones so that you're always listening on the radio that's not transmitting. There's a diagram of the station at about minute 33:00 in this video of Dan giving an excellent presentation on 2BSIQ and SO3R:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41DGL8yrWZM

The diagram is blurry. Dan might be willing to send you a PDF or give you a rough idea how the switching system works.

All that said, 2BSIQ works very well with one computer running DXLog, a YCCC SO2R Box and two keyboards. In that configuration, I don't think a second computer adds much value besides redundancy of the log. I'm not sure, but I think DXLog can be configured to broadcast QSO packets to a second computer running a passive copy of DXLog even when it's in single-op two-radio mode.

73, Dick WC1M

On 8/24/23, 7:43 AM, "kq2m at kq2m.com <mailto:kq2m at kq2m.com>" <kq2m at kq2m.com <mailto:kq2m at kq2m.com>> wrote:

John,


Thank you for your response and information. I wanted to do this on 
both CW and SSB,
and thought that 2 YCCC SO2R boxes might work as you suggested, but a 
few SO2R guys
familiar with the YCCC SO2R box have said otherwise.


I need to explore this idea a bit further before I give up on the idea.


Tnx & 73


Bob, KQ2M




On 2023-08-23 19:05, john at kk9a.com <mailto:john at kk9a.com> wrote:
> I have no experience with the YCCC box but I am wondering what mode you 
> are
> considering doing this on. There appears to be only one USB port so 
> probably
> only one computer can be used per box. You could send CW using two 
> separate
> YCCC SO2R boxes and two computers and you should be able to split the 
> audio
> through either one of them into your headphones. I do something 
> similar
> using two computers and two MicroHam boxes on RTTY.
> 
> John KK9A
> 
> 
> 
> 
> kq2m wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> Does anyone know if the YCCC SO2R Box can successfully support 2
> computers in an SO2R configuration?
> 
> I have already asked several knowledgeable people and they are not 
> sure.
> The SO2R mini can NOT support 2 computers.
> 
> Is anyone currently using one YCCC SO2R box for 2 computers? Is anyone
> using 2 YCCC SO2R boxes for two computers?
> 
> Please let me know.
> 
> Tnx & 73
> 
> Bob, KQ2M
> 
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