Ham Radio Help Desk

Many times I have built home-brew radio to computer sound card audio interfaces with success. The goals were to have some fun with the many digital modes out there including PSK31, MFSK, Olivia and RTTY with an emphasis on PSK31.

Also available for use are handy CW decoders like CWGet and CWSkimmer.

To complete the computer to radio marriage I purchased and built a WinKey and Winkey USB kit from K1EL.

By this time, the number of cables between the computer and the radio was getting a little out of hand. I sought a new approach that connected to the computer with just one cable.
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While researching construction techniques for choke baluns I stumbled across a harsh reality.

The price of Toroid pieces can vary immensely depending on where you purchase it.

Case in point:

A 2.4 inch outside diameter ring toroid with type 43 material costs $13.65 from Palomar Engineers. The same thing costs $3.79 from Mouser.

Both are, I am pretty sure, model 5943003801 from Fair-Rite.

I just purchased twelve from Mouser at a bulk price of $3.51 each.

Price differences are what they are, but wow… this is a bit amazing. I am not afraid to pay good money for good things; I am not a cheap ham. However, I will draw the line at paying 3x the price for the same thing.

Recently I got up to speed with MixW for some PSK31 work. It works great.

I also tried out CWSkimmer with similar results.

I noticed there was an advantage of allowing each application access to read and control the radio so the frequency information correlates.

No problem I thought. However, I began thinking about the upcoming Virginia QSO Party where I will also be using a logging program from N3FJP or N1MM.
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Perhaps you have heard about PSK31 and the many other digital modes available to today’s ham radio operators.

You have gone the next step and know you need to, somehow, connect your computer soundcard with your radio’s speaker and microphone.

Many devices exist to help you do just that including US Interface, BuxComm, SignaLink, etc. I have my eyes set on the US Interface Navigator product to be my sound interface plus mop up a WinKey CW Keyer and rig control (CAT) in one box entirely powered by the USB port. Nice.

However, I am enjoying the digital modes today with absolutely no interface. How?
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During the past several Virginia QSO Parties, members in our club have experimented with several antenna solutions.

Some have the big bad beam high in the sky with an 80 meter dipole added.

Others have smaller beams and more wire antennas.

Others go mobile on VHF and HF.

Still others go expedition and construct antennas that lend themselves towards portability.

I am considering added a 75 meter turnstile antenna to my station.
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