[WriteLog] Simple & compact USB>Radio Control/CW/DVK/RTTY interface

[Don Melcher]

Right - I am hoping because it is portable, single radio and the current PC's have more "omph" that it won't be a problem. I have 4 of the W5XB/MK1100 boxes for the 2 (eventually 3) SO2R positions at the "station". 
 
As for shortening the cables - I am still considering that. The control jack on the interface is an 1/8" Stereo mini-phone jack and the CW is a 2 mono 1/8" - so those ar easy. The Audio/PTT cable is terminated in a mini Din plug which plugs directly into the FT-817 and is used with adapters to go to the DIN jacks on the Icom. I may open it up and see if it can easily be shortened from that end. If not, I may just cut it and wire it to an 8 pin for Icom and use the Icom adapter to go to the 13 pin on the 703/706 since I may need the Icom band voltage out for antenna switching or amp interface (I have an ATA hard case that my PW1 fits into for transport). My goal is to fit the radio, power supply, PC, etc. into carry ons and the antennas - Sigma V, Sigma 40, Hy-Gain DP-19PD and related cables into a hard sided golf club case. I had it that way about 5 years ago when I went to V26DX (the antennas were "just in case" on that trip). A business/pleasure
 (co-ordinated with a contest) trip to EK is in the near future and I hope to do a lot more traveling when retired. 
 
Don
W6CZ/NM6G

--- On Thu, 10/29/09, Dick Dievendorff <dieven at comcast.net> wrote:


From: Dick Dievendorff <dieven at comcast.net>
Subject: RE: [WriteLog] Simple & compact USB>Radio Control/CW/DVK/RTTY interface
To: don at hfradio.com, writelog at contesting.com
Date: Thursday, October 29, 2009, 7:44 PM








You’re right, many people have success with this.  I think most of my negative experiences have been in multi-op operations where the computer was busy reading packet spots, maintaining a largish shared log with several other computers, band maps, windows with grey line maps, and the when the log got particularly large, with corresponding longer search times for dupes and filtering packet spots through the  need list.  In some circumstances I’d have to press the Enter key to log the QSO in such a way that the disk I/O generated by logging the QSO wouldn’t cause CW stutter.  It got in the way. 
 
This hasn’t happened in some time, and with a portable operation it may never happen at all, if your PC is fast enough (and most are pretty zippy these days).  I just became addicted to the WinKey solution and look for that in an interface box.  It’s not essential for everyone, of course.  I think West Mountain’s box is a great solution, it’s quite compact and attractively priced.  However, I really wanted a WinKey in my interface box.  Mine is heavier, larger, and more expensive.
 
Dick, K6KR
 

From: Don Melcher [mailto:don at hfradio.com] 
Sent: Thursday, October 29, 2009 7:36 PM
To: writelog at contesting.com; Dick Dievendorff
Subject: RE: [WriteLog] Simple & compact USB>Radio Control/CW/DVK/RTTY interface
 




It is PC Generated. I haven't tried it in the "heat of battle" yet - just some breif testing. I'll let you know if there is a problem. I know of the problems associated with that method. I think is some part they might be specific to a particular PC and what else is running in the background.

--- On Thu, 10/29/09, Dick Dievendorff <dieven at comcast.net> wrote:

From: Dick Dievendorff <dieven at comcast.net>
Subject: RE: [WriteLog] Simple & compact USB>Radio Control/CW/DVK/RTTY interface
To: don at hfradio.com, writelog at contesting.com
Date: Thursday, October 29, 2009, 7:23 PM

Sounds nifty!  Maybe cutting the audio cables and installing a couple of
3.5mm stereo plugs is in order.

What do you use for CW keying?  I'm done with CW generated by the PC serial
or parallel ports. Is a K1EL Winkey incorporated?

Thanks, 
Dick, K6KR


-----Original Message-----
From: don at hfradio.com [mailto:don at hfradio.com] 
Sent: Thursday, October 29, 2009 7:14 PM
To: Dick Dievendorff; writelog at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [WriteLog] Simple & compact USB>Radio Control/CW/DVK/RTTY
interface

Probably larger too. The P&P is smaller then a deck of cards. The only
complaint I have so far is the radio audio I/O cable is about 18" longer
then the control & cw cables. I put all 3 cables inside a mesh loom to keep
things neater. 

73
Don
W6CZ/NM6G
------Original Message------
From: Dick Dievendorff
To: Don
To: writelog at contesting.com
Subject: RE: [WriteLog] Simple & compact USB>Radio Control/CW/DVK/RTTY
interface
Sent: Oct 29, 2009 7:07 PM

I shopped for a similar need and ended up with a US Interface Navigator that
includes a sound card and a WinKey as well as the other rig control
functions.

The connection between the interface box and the computer is just one USB
cable. The Navigator gets its power from the USB cable.

A rig control cable from the back of the Navigator goes to my K3 for FSK
keying, audio in and out, PTT, CW keying, and the CAT port. Cable are
available for a wide variety of radios.

It is more expensive than the RigBlaster, however.

I also have used microHAM products with good success.

I'm glad we have a multitude of choices in this arena!

Dick, K6KR


-----Original Message-----
From: writelog-bounces at contesting.com
[mailto:writelog-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Don Melcher
Sent: Thursday, October 29, 2009 6:42 PM
To: writelog at contesting.com
Subject: [WriteLog] Simple & compact USB>Radio Control/CW/DVK/RTTY interface

I started looking for a simple, compact one radio USB>Control/CW/DVK/RTTY
interface to use with my Icom or Yaesu radios for portable use and I found
one. Thought I would share with the group.
 
West Mountain Radio Rigblaster Plug & Play fit my needs. USB & Audio I/O to
the computer. Control, CW, Audio and PTT to the rig. Works with all CI-V
Icom radios and most Yeasu with the apprpriate adapters. They say it does
not work for control with Kenwood but I am going to check that out with my
TS850 as I don't know why it doesn't work with some of the older radios that
are TTL.  List for about $110. 
 
For DVK, you plug the mic into the computer instead of the audio out of the
interface and it works FB. The radio audio I/O is via the ACC connector on
the back (Data on Yaesu). I have tested it with my Icom 703, 706IIG & 746 -
it should work with all Icom. Haven't had a chance to test it with my FT817
- the only Yaesu I have besides a FT1000D - and that radio is FAR from
portable. ;)
 
Don
W6CZ/NM6G



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