Fw: [Orion] Orion control with RigBlaster Pro?

[Steve Baron - KB3MM]

Why !? A TS520 <gr>

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Martin Ewing" <martin at aa6e.net>
To: <orion at contesting.com>
Cc: "Tom Whiteside" <tomw at ecpi.com>
Sent: Monday, February 16, 2004 01:53
Subject: Re: Fw: [Orion] Orion control with RigBlaster Pro?


> Tom,
>
> I think my setup is OK now, at least for the time being.  The RigBlaster
Pro has
> two audio output options that seem to make sense.  Without a schematic (or
> enough patience to trace the circuit), I can't tell if one is more
isolated than
> the other.  The "Speaker output" is high level and the "Microphone" is
naturally
> low level.  I can't see a major difference between them in terms of
grounding
> problems in my setup.
>
> I ended up using the Microphone output.  Had to sacrifice a perfectly good
CAT5
> cable to get the right connector!  The output level is rather low to drive
the
> Orion AUX input, but it is OK if I have my sound card set to max output
(almost
> 4 volts p-p) and the AUX gain at 100.  Running at max probably gives best
SNR.
>
> I did some hum/noise checks using Orion's monitor output (nice!) and with
the
> Transmitter disabled (nice again!).  With my limited measurement ability,
noise
> and hum are down by > 25 db from the normal audio level.
>
> The Orion seems to give good results on my PSKmeter, even up to full
power, much
> better than my old TS-520S.  I am not sure why this should be, but I won't
> argue.  (I will have to buy that fan!)  So, level setting is non-critical,
at
> least until the sound card starts clipping.
>
> One area where I wish the Orion had more capability is in
measuring/visualizing
> the audio output (waveform, level measurement, spectrum, zero beat
detection,
> etc.)  Also, the audio input - what is the actual input voltage/waveform?
The
> real estate and horsepower are there in the spectrum display area.  Some
day, maybe.
>
> Cheers,  Martin
>
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