[RTTY] Soundcard Interface shootout?

[Jeff AC0C]

I don't think there is much difference in the sound card at the macro level. 
The generic sound card in the average PC (or the $15 dongle) gets you a lot 
of dynamic range.  And given most guys run the inteface on the back end of a 
rig with the AGC enabled, the DR demands on the card are pretty token by 
conventional audio standards.  There are some posts by Kok Chen in the 
archives which explain the concept of processing gain and how that ties into 
the combo of sound card plus software filtering.

So by far and away in importance, in my opinion, are the configuration 
utilities which handle the virtual com ports, box operation, etc.  I don't 
know about the other products but the uRouter application's utility is 
probably THE reason I stay with Microham stuff.  I've replaced the MKII with 
a MK2R+ for So2r - which at the time I bought it I was really disgusted at 
the cost, but having owned it for a few years now have a continual growing 
respect for the refinement and feature set the box has.  About every time I 
think "I wish this box would do XXX" - I find out that it does.  Latest one 
was the function buttons on the MK2R+ which lets you save configurations and 
tie them to a button.  Makes moving from RTTY So2r to RTTY DX to CW etc a 
snap.

I'm not trying to promote Microham other than to say I'm pretty happy with 
the stuff.  But I have had a lot of discussions with guys who are start out, 
as I did, looking at a few transformers and a couple of pots and asking "how 
hard can it be?"  If all you need is a AF connection, then yes it's pretty 
simple...  But consider how much of a RTTY nut you are.  What a guy needs 
today and what he needs next month may be different things..

73/jeff/ac0c
www.ac0c.com
alpha-charlie-zero-charlie

-----Original Message----- 
From: Peter Laws
Sent: Thursday, August 25, 2016 7:20 PM
To: RTTY contest group
Subject: Re: [RTTY] Soundcard Interface shootout?

On Thu, Aug 25, 2016 at 6:04 PM, Jeff AC0C <keepwalking188 at ac0c.com> wrote:
>   Ready to build my own, having built a basic box the first go around.

No, no, no.  Not going there.  I read your page but I still think they
are overpriced!  Regardless, I will probably get another.

Which is why I'm trying to find out who has the best sound processor.





-- 
Peter Laws | N5UWY | plaws plaws net | Travel by Train!
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