[WriteLog] Which Sound Card?

[wa9als]

A few quick points - others will have more when they awaken this morning!

1.  You are well-equipped for contesting in general as far as rig and
computer, although you might think about a 40+MB HDD.  I've never heard
anyone discuss the speed of the HDD as far as WL is concerned, but of
course, faster is better if you're buying a new one!  A faster drive -might-
be helpful when saving a huge contest file, a problem I've never suffered
much!

2.  You don't have to have 2 soundcards to work SO2R and to record SO2R - WL
uses stereo channels, so you can record 2 radios with 1 soundcard.  For
RTTY, this means that you use the built-in WinRTTY modem software.  However,
some of us like to use the MMTTY RTTY software modem with WL.  If you want
to use MMTTY in an SO2R operation, you -will- need 2 soundcards - See
http://www.qsl.net/wa9als/so2r-mmttyx2.htm.  You don't need anything
"fancy" - A Creative Soundblaster 16 PCI is fine.

3.  Any Windows soundcard will probably "work" with WriteLog, but if you
want to do SO2R and maximize the utility of WL in all modes, you will want
one that scores 7f with the WriteLog SoundCheck program, available from the
WriteLog web site.

4.  Of course, read everything at www.k9jy.com and
http://www.geocities.com/writelog/!  K9JY discusses wave file compression on
his site.

----- Original Message -----
From: "RCARIELLO" <RCARIELLO@si.rr.com>
To: "Writelog" <writelog@contesting.com>
Cc: "RCARIELLO" <RCARIELLO@si.rr.com>
Sent: Wednesday, July 24, 2002 11:47 PM
Subject: [WriteLog] Which Sound Card?


>
> Hello to all,
> I have reviewed the WriteLog archives up to 2000 or so and the WritLog
sound
> card summery page. I have not found any conclusive information on which
> sound card is best to use with WriteLog.
>
> My primary function will be to record both SSB and CW contests for a
length
> of 48 hours or so onto the computer hard drive. I would like to be able to
> then burn this information onto a CD for permanent safe keeping and
review.
>
> The secondary function would be to try RTTY operation. This would be
> attempted with the same system only if it dose not compromise the systems
> primary function.
>
> I am using WriteLog V10.33c.
>
> My station consists of a Yaesu FT-1000MP, an Acom 2000a amp. A tri-bander
> and a few ground mounted verticals. I seem to be free of any large levels
of
> stray RF in the shake but I am still concerned of possible damage to the
> sound card used. The computer is a home built Pentium II 400 MHz with 256
MB
> Ram. The operating system is Windows 98 second edition. The hard drive is
> 20 MB, not shore of it's speed, but can be changed to a larger one or a
> second hard drive might be added for recording storage.
>
> The only addition that could be considered at this time would be a second
> radio and amp for SO2R. From what I have read I believe a second sound
card
> would be needed. Using the computer to generate voice messages it not
needed
> because I use the MFJ 434 voice keyer. I would consider replacing this
> function with the computer only if it dose not compromise the primary
> function.
>
> I am shore I am not aware of the many questions to ask but for starters:
> What is the best sound card to use?
> What is the size and speed of the hard drive I need?
> What recording program is best to use?
> What compressing should I use to still maintain good audio quality?
>
> Thanks for your help.
>
> Rich AA2MF
>
>
>
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