[RTTY] Advise requested for RTTY Hardware

[Kok Chen]

On Aug 16, 2009, at 10:00 AM, Andrei Stchislenok wrote:

> For RTTY I don't need MK II-complicated box (for me, I dont have a  
> computer
> degree) :)
>
> 2009/8/16, Jim Reisert AD1C <jjreisert at alum.mit.edu>:
>>
>> microHam microKeyer II

IMHO, I agree with Andrei.  (Like Andrei, I also have a microKeyer II.)

Unless you also need FSK, voice and audio routing capabilities, and a  
built in WinKey chip, then the microKeyer II will have much more than  
you will need for basic RTTY functionality + CAT for rig control.

For a basic, easy to use RTTY/CAT box with a CI-V interface for your  
Icom rig, something like the microHAM USB Interface III (with built-in  
USB sound card) might be a good starter interface.  You do not have to  
deal with separate USB ports for the sound card and rig control.

The microKeyer II does has a second sound card channel for use with  
rigs with two independent receivers; the USB Interface III only has  
one channel.  However, unless you intend to upgrade to a FT-1000/2000,  
K3, Orion or IC-7800, you will not need that second soundcard.

Indeed, if you don't intend to use FSK and will be using AFSK for  
RTTY, the simplest interface for someone new to digital modes is the  
SignaLink USB.  Like the microHAM's USB Interface III, it also has a  
built in USB sound card.  In addition, the SignaLink USB has a audio  
driven PTT ("VOX") which is not present in the USB Interface III (but  
is available in the microKeyer II as "Auto PTT").

As long as you are using high duty cycle modes such as RTTY, there is  
fewer thing for your software to worry about when you use VOX PTT.   
The PTT circuit in the SignaLink USB asserts the PTT keying line to  
the rig whenever it detects the presence of an audio tone from the  
computer -- the software does not have to do a thing.

Note that the USB Interface III's FSK interface is driven by software,  
microHAM calls it a "pseudo FSK" -- check to make sure your software  
package handles it if you intend to use FSK instead of AFSK.  On the  
other hand, FSK is properly handled by the microKeyer II with pretty  
much all software (the only exception I think is fldigi on the Mac OS  
X; which should not be a concerned for Windows XP).

73
Chen, W7AY