RTTY/PSK interface for the K3

[Adriano Perazio]

New on digi modes, i´m wondering what´s the benefits of adding an interface to the K3?
I´ve been working with the K3 “internal” interface and seems to work very well. I know there´s an offset when you work AFSK (this case) instead FSK and with a FSK interface it would zero beat.
Am i right? Any suggestions of interface?
Main application is contesting.

Tnx in advance
PY2ADR / ZY2C
K3 # 4795 + P3 & getting another K3 next month.
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[Dave Johnson]

Adriano as you have discovered, the K3 works perfectly well without an
additional interface on data modes. Adding an additional interface is
of no value. While I don't work contests, I do use fldigi with my K3
and the logging program enters the centre frequency (as opposed to the
dial frequency) for Olivia, etc.

http://www.w1hkj.com/

You need the fldigi program and the K3 specific "rig" file (K3.xml).

73 Dave

>New on digi modes, i´m wondering what´s the benefits of adding an interface to the K3?
>I´ve been working with the K3 “internal” interface and seems to work very well. I know there´s an offset when you work AFSK (this >case) >instead FSK and with a FSK interface it would zero beat.
>Am i right? Any suggestions of interface?
>Main application is contesting.
>
>Tnx in advance
>PY2ADR / ZY2C
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[Don Wilhelm-4]

Adriano,

The K3 has full digital interface isolation built in.  Using nothing
more than 2 cables to the computer soundcard you can operate using VOX.  
Adding a serial cable between the computer and the K3 can add other options.

The only advantage for using an external digital interface is that many
provide an added soundcard.  That is an advantage for those who use a
laptop with only USB connections and an inadequate soundcard.
OTOH, an external USB soundcard may be a better solution than the full
"digital interface".

My vote is for the KISS principle - no external interface, the K3
already has it built in.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 1/11/2012 3:03 PM, Adriano Perazio wrote:
> New on digi modes, i´m wondering what´s the benefits of adding an interface to the K3?
> I´ve been working with the K3 “internal” interface and seems to work very well. I know there´s an offset when you work AFSK (this case) instead FSK and with a FSK interface it would zero beat.
> Am i right? Any suggestions of interface?
> Main application is contesting.
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[Rick WA6NHC]

My 'vote' is for both a USB sound card AND the serial interface (for control
or to use the internal digital modes).  That way you have more choices, more
new or different modes that the K3 doesn't 'know' yet and the OS sounds are
kept in the shack, not on the air.  ;-)

It's still simple, but the wire count is increasing.

Rick NHC

-----Original Message-----
From: Don Wilhelm

My vote is for the KISS principle - no external interface, the K3
already has it built in.

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[Don Wilhelm-4]

Rick,

I don't understand how the addition of an interface can give you
additional modes.  The modes come from the application software, not
from the interface itself.   True, the K3 has PSK D and FSK D modes, but
those have nothing to do with a soundcard nor with the Line In and Line
Out jacks - they will transmit RTTY or PSK31 without the need for any
external connections.
For soundcard based digital modes, one would use DATA A or AFSK data
sub-modes.

You make a valid point about the OS sounds - and that can be cured by
using a soundcard that is not the windows default (why buy a full
interface when a soundcard will do) - or if one wishes to use the
default soundcard, set it to "No sounds".
Setting the soundcard to "no sounds" is easy if you create a separate
user account for ham radio use - set that to no sounds, but when you use
the computer for office work or billpaying or games, etc, sign on as
another user which has sounds enabled.  OTOH, computers are cheap these
days, so having a dedicated computer for the hamshack is not out of the
question, in fact it is the best solution - use a desktop and put a real
serial port card in it and the problems with USB to serial adapters go
away, and you can add internal soundcards too.  Put the computer under
the desk where it is out of the way.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 1/11/2012 6:40 PM, Rick Bates wrote:
> My 'vote' is for both a USB sound card AND the serial interface (for control
> or to use the internal digital modes).  That way you have more choices, more
> new or different modes that the K3 doesn't 'know' yet and the OS sounds are
> kept in the shack, not on the air.  ;-)
>
> It's still simple, but the wire count is increasing.
>
>
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[Edward R Cole]

Not specifically for RTTY/PSK, but I use the K3 internal serial
interface (via USB adaptor cable) and line-in/out with an external
soundcard, the emu0202, which connects via USB to the
computer.  Especially nice since there are "knobs" for quick
adjustment of audio levels vs finding the soundcard dialog box for
making adjusments.  emu0202 lets me run 193-kHz wide pandadaptor
using the LP-Pan.

Primarily, I am running Spectravue or WSJT(JT-65) or WSPR software.


73, Ed - KL7UW, WD2XSH/45
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