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

[kq2m at kq2m.com]

Hi Dick,

Thank you for your email.  That is fantastic information and I believe 
that is EXACTLY what I am looking for!

I need to read your reply again and reflect on the options that you have 
laid out and consider how it might be best for me to set this up. Since 
I do plan to use DXLOG, this sounds like a good solution for me.

TY also for the link to the N6MJ URL which I will view.  Dan has been 
very helpful in sharing some basic info with me on 2BSIQ and after I 
have a better understanding of all of this, I will reach out to him 
again for more detailed info.

It's remarkable to me just how many ways there are to set up everything, 
maneuver around equipment and setup limitations and with the vagaries of 
the preferences of each individual op.  LOL!

I really like the idea of having the 2nd computer connected to Computer 
1 on a passive basis to continually update an extra copy of the log as 
well as to be able to review the log while I operate on Computer 1.  Not 
quite the same as how I operate now using two computers and two 
keyboards with CT DOS, but it sounds close enough.

Tnx & 73

Bob, KQ2M



On 2023-08-24 13:48, Dick Green WC1M wrote:
> 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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