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KX3 AND DIGITAL INTERFACE QUESTION

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Dave Sublette-2

KX3 AND DIGITAL INTERFACE QUESTION

I have had my KX3 for just over a year now, and love it. I am wanting to
try some of the digital modes using a computer and a third party software
package. I already use a logging program which controls the KX3. I also
have a Softrock SDR receiver and use HDSDR to look at the spectrum. I tell
you all of this to establish that I am not a total newcomer to the concept
of computer/radio operation.

But when it comes to digital modes, I’m looking for some advice. Since I
already use the internal sound card, I believe I will need an external
interface with its own sound card. The third party software would then
select the external interface to look at for its display.

At this point I have two questions:

1) Since the computer can open several windows at at time, can I look at
the SDR in one window and run the KX3 on digital modes in another? I
should mention that the SDR is fed by another radio.

2) which interface with its own sound card would you recommend?

Thanks. I’m looking forward to being involved with this group.

73,

Dave, K4TO
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vk2rq

Re: KX3 AND DIGITAL INTERFACE QUESTION

1) yes you can run SDR in one windows and a digimode program like FLdigi for your KX3 in another.

2) pretty much any USB soundcard/dongle will work for basic digimodes. However, if you want to get something that can also be used for SDR (eg. Using the KX3 I/Q "SDR" output), then you'll need a stereo soundcard with a reasonable sample rate. Something like this will work well:
http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Labs-Blaster-Surround-System/dp/B0017QQQAE

73,
Matt VK2RQ

> On 6 Dec 2014, at 2:49 pm, Dave Sublette <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> I have had my KX3 for just over a year now, and love it. I am wanting to
> try some of the digital modes using a computer and a third party software
> package. I already use a logging program which controls the KX3. I also
> have a Softrock SDR receiver and use HDSDR to look at the spectrum. I tell
> you all of this to establish that I am not a total newcomer to the concept
> of computer/radio operation.
>
> But when it comes to digital modes, I’m looking for some advice. Since I
> already use the internal sound card, I believe I will need an external
> interface with its own sound card. The third party software would then
> select the external interface to look at for its display.
>
> At this point I have two questions:
>
> 1) Since the computer can open several windows at at time, can I look at
> the SDR in one window and run the KX3 on digital modes in another? I
> should mention that the SDR is fed by another radio.
>
> 2) which interface with its own sound card would you recommend?
>
> Thanks. I’m looking forward to being involved with this group.
>
> 73,
>
> Dave, K4TO
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]

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Dave Sublette-2

Re: KX3 AND DIGITAL INTERFACE QUESTION

Thanks to Bill and Matt for their prompt and helpful replies. I should
have mentioned that I think I need an external box type of sound
card/interface, and preferably one that can use the I and Q outputs from
the KX3. The reason is that I am already plugged into the audio jack on my
computer with the output from the SDR. My computer is a MAC Mini, which
has no means of accepting additional internal cards like the PC.

BTW -- I'm really enjoying my MAC. It runs OS X 10 - Yosemite and also
Windows7/64 bit. I have the Parallels10 program that runs both O/S's at
the same time. I am able to run ham apps on Windows that I cannot fine for
the MAC.

73 all,

Dave, K4TO

On Sat, Dec 6, 2014 at 12:50 AM, Matt VK2RQ <[hidden email]> wrote:

> 1) yes you can run SDR in one windows and a digimode program like FLdigi
> for your KX3 in another.
>
> 2) pretty much any USB soundcard/dongle will work for basic digimodes.
> However, if you want to get something that can also be used for SDR (eg.
> Using the KX3 I/Q "SDR" output), then you'll need a stereo soundcard with a
> reasonable sample rate. Something like this will work well:
> http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Labs-Blaster-Surround-System/dp/B0017QQQAE
>
> 73,
> Matt VK2RQ
>
> > On 6 Dec 2014, at 2:49 pm, Dave Sublette <[hidden email]> wrote:
> >
> > I have had my KX3 for just over a year now, and love it. I am wanting to
> > try some of the digital modes using a computer and a third party software
> > package. I already use a logging program which controls the KX3. I also
> > have a Softrock SDR receiver and use HDSDR to look at the spectrum. I
> tell
> > you all of this to establish that I am not a total newcomer to the
> concept
> > of computer/radio operation.
> >
> > But when it comes to digital modes, I’m looking for some advice. Since
> I
> > already use the internal sound card, I believe I will need an external
> > interface with its own sound card. The third party software would then
> > select the external interface to look at for its display.
> >
> > At this point I have two questions:
> >
> > 1) Since the computer can open several windows at at time, can I look at
> > the SDR in one window and run the KX3 on digital modes in another? I
> > should mention that the SDR is fed by another radio.
> >
> > 2) which interface with its own sound card would you recommend?
> >
> > Thanks. I’m looking forward to being involved with this group.
> >
> > 73,
> >
> > Dave, K4TO
> > ______________________________________________________________
> > Elecraft mailing list
> > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> > Post: mailto:[hidden email]
> >
> > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> > Message delivered to [hidden email]
>