[RTTY] Advise requested for RTTY Hardware

[Joe Subich, W4TV]

> 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.

That list isn't complete ... add the FT-9000 among others.  In 
addition, any pair of Icom transceivers can be configured to 
use one as a second receiver (a perfect use for the second audio 
capability). 

> 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.

USB Interface III works just fine with EXTFSK in MMTTY or 
similar software that provides software generated FSK on 
the DTR line.  

Pseudo-FSK or p-FSK is unique to fldigi which provides an 
on/off keyed 1 KHz tone on the right channel of the sound- 
card.  That tone is envelope decoded and used to provide 
the equivalent of software generated FSK.  USB Interface 
III is the only commercial interface to provide hardware 
support for both fldigi's p-FSK and q-CW modes. 
 
> 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).

Fldigi does not support "uart generated" FSK on any platform. 
The only way to do FSK (as opposed to AFSK) with fldigi is 
using an envelope detector/driver as is done in USB Interface 
III (or as documented in the fldigi help files). 

73, 

   ... Joe Subich, W4TV 
       microHAM America 
       http://www.microHAM-USA.com 
       http://groups.yahoo.com/group/microHAM 
       support at microham.com 
 


> -----Original Message-----
> From: rtty-bounces at contesting.com 
> [mailto:rtty-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Kok Chen
> Sent: Sunday, August 16, 2009 1:49 PM
> To: Charlie & Sally
> Cc: RTTY Reflector
> Subject: Re: [RTTY] Advise requested for RTTY Hardware
> 
> 
> 
> 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
> 
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