[VHFcontesting] Sound card interfacing, and an FT-897D

[Dan Evans]

Rovers!  Or anyone else that cares to comment :-)

I have a Yaesu FT-897D that I have been struggling with the sound card interface.  A few weeks ago, I ran across a good buy on a Saratoga EZ-PSK interface so I bought it to save some time.

Unfortunately, it uses the external speaker jack and the mic plug to connect to the 897!  My first thought was, "why would anyone build an interface to use the mic plug when there is an data socket on the back"?  Anyway, I hooked it up and used it work some FSK and JT65 and setup it up so I can use the voice and CW keyer in RoverLog.

It all worked, but, it's a real PITA to keep plugging in the interface, and then unplugging when I need to use the mic.  Particularly when using the voice keyer...   So I rewired the interface to use the data connector on the back.

Well, the RX audio from the radio to the computer is now to low for WSJT to pick up, even with the computer mic volume at max and the mic boost option checked.  I know the front volume control of the radio does not effect the audio at the data connector, but so far I haven't found anything in the menus or manual to increase the audio level at the data plug.  Has anyone else run across this problem?

Another major annoyance:  When I plug in the data connector it mutes the audio to the radio speaker!  This pretty much means there is no way to use a voice keyer...  Has anyone found a way around this?

I'm planning to hook up a couple of brick amps as well.  The CAT plug on the back has a pin for TX INH,  TX-D, and TX-GND.  Which do you use to key your amps?

73
Dan
 
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