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

[Dan Evans]

Good news!

I opened it up looking for a way to adjust the "levels".  And, not surprisingly, I discovered the problem was my fault...  I managed to create a solder bridge when I rewired the interface, and missed it when I put it back together.

There was a VR to adjust the audio level from the computer to the radio, which I tweaked up a bit since it was still a little low.  Now it seems to be working perfectly 

Thanks for all of the replies.  Now, I will be able to work digital modes and use the voice / cw keyer, without having to swap cables on the radio.  Much, much better...

73
Dan

-- 
K9ZF 
Amateur Radio Emergency Service, Clark County Indiana. EM78el 
The once and future K9ZF /R no budget Rover 
 ***QRP-l #1269 
Check out the Rover Resource Page at: 
<http://www.qsl.net/n9rla> 
List Administrator for: InHam+grid-loc+ham-books 
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On Saturday, April 12, 2014 9:32 AM, Rhinosix <rhinosix at aol.com> wrote:
 
Check with Donnar interfaces.  They may have info and/or products that 
>wouldbe of use to you.
>Jerry w2jcn
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Dan Evans <k9zf at yahoo.com>
>To: VHF Contesting Reflector <vhfcontesting at contesting.com>
>Sent: Fri, Apr 11, 2014 6:29 pm
>Subject: [VHFcontesting] Sound card interfacing, and an FT-897D
>
>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
> 
>--
>K9ZF
>Amateur Radio Emergency Service, Clark County Indiana. EM78el
>The once and future K9ZF /R no budget Rover
> ***QRP-l #1269
>Check out the Rover Resource Page at:
><http://www.qsl.net/n9rla>
>List Administrator for: InHam+grid-loc+ham-books
>Ask me how to join the Indiana Ham Mailing list!
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