Packet Radio

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Interfacing the PC to the Rig

There are six options:

  1. Soundcard for audio, a serial port handshake pin for PTT. Optionally this can use a "Rigblaster" or "Rascal" but these are not really needed. This is the cheapest and most flexible. The "sound card" can be an external USB connect box or integrated chip in Laptop or Desktop PC. An expensive one has no advantage at all.

  2. Serial port to a Radio with built in TNC. Not many have a TNC and often only one "modem"

  3.  Serial port to TNC connected as above to radio, or a radio "data port"

  4. A USB based TNC or a USB to Serial convertor for (2) or (3).

  5.  A MixW MixWBlaster. This uses a single USB connection and is a combination of a USB soundcard, USB adapter serial port and a "rig blaster". No additional connections or hardware is rtequired. The PC with this can be accessed via LAN from another PC! It is just as flexible as (1) but simpler to setup!

  6. TCP/IP network connection. Either a remote PC with MixW or a dedicated Packet rig.

Other aspects to consider with MixW

Selecting (1) Soundcard packet with MixW or (5) the USB MixBlaster with MixW does not just give 1200 Baud packet on 2m but the following:

  • Regular and Contest Log

  • CAT control (frequency is controlled from PC thus is correct in Log)

  • Rotator control (with suitable interface)

  • Second simultanous Rig control

  • KISS emulation for DOS or Windows programs on real or virtual COM port

  • Most different types of packet Modems (HF, VHF, Satellite, 9,600, 19.2K, Q15X25 etc)

  • All other Digital modes except specialist Moon Bounce and Metor Scatter modes, such as CW, RTTY, PSK, Hellscriber, SSTV, Fax, Pactor I receive, Amtor, Pictor, Throb, MT63, QPSK, FSK.

  • DSP noise reduction and notch filters for SSB listening (At least Q3 to Q4!)

  • 100Hz DSP "tracking filter" for CW listening

  • Send CW by keyboard, straight key or paddle

  • Key CW either by SSB side tone or CW key. SSB side tone gives a key click free signal on TX especially at higher speed. It allows you to monitor many CW QSO and "click" on the spectrum display to reply at exactly the same frequency. For the other operator it is identical to conventional "direct" CW. The SGC-2020 and other modern rigs infact key "CW" with a "sidetone" in SSB mode. They don't actually use direct CW at all.

  • DX Cluster dialog loading from Packet AND/OR Internet! DX Cluster spotting interface too.

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