‰  NOW 35 WPM  ‰  TEXT IS FROM APRIL 2017 QST  PAGE 73 ‰

HINTS KINKS  STEVE SANT ANDREA, AG1YK, HK ARRL. ORG  RIGBLASTER INTERFACE,
MYSTERY BALUN, AND NEUTRAL NO LONGER  TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE DATA SOCKET  TO
CONNECT YOUR COMPUTER AND RADIO FOR DIGITAL MODES, THERE ARE SEVERAL
WORKABLE OPTIONS, BUT SOME ARE MORE CONVENIENT THAN OTHERS.  WHEN CHANGING
FROM OPERATING SSB TO PSK31, DO YOU NEED TO LOWER YOUR MICROPHONE GAIN AND
DISABLE THE SPEECH COMPRESSOR?  WHEN YOU LATER RETURN TO SIDEBAND, HOW LONG
DOES IT TAKE YOU TO RESTORE THOSE PILEUP BUSTING SETTINGS?  A GOOD DIGITAL
INTERFACE SETUP ALLOWS YOU TO CHANGE MODES WITH MINIMAL ADJUSTMENTS.  ON
THE COMPUTER SIDE, YOU CAN USE THE BUILT IN SOUND CARD, OR ADD A SECOND
SOUND CARD DEDICATED TO DIGITAL MODES.  IF YOUR SHACK COMPUTER DOES DOUBLE
DUTY AS A MEDIA CENTER, A SECOND SOUND CARD MEANS YOU NO LONGER NEED TO
ADJUST VOLUME AND LINE IN SENSITIVITY WHENEVER YOU SWITCH FROM PLAYING
MUSIC AND VIDEOS TO DIGITAL MODES AND BACK.  IN ADDITION, MANY SECONDARY
SOUND CARDS CONNECT VIA A SINGLE USB PLUG, WHILE YOUR MAIN SOUND CARD
TYPICALLY REQUIRES ONE CABLE EACH FOR AUDIO INPUT AND AUDIO OUTPUT.  ON THE
RADIO SIDE, YOU CAN CONNECT VIA THE MICROPHONE INPUT AND HEADPHONE/ SPEAKER
OUTPUT, OR USE THE SIX PIN MINI DIN DATA SOCKET IN THE BACK OF MOST CURRENT
TRANSCEIVERS.  THE DATA SOCKET OFFERS FIXED LEVEL AUDIO OUTPUT, ALLOWING
YOU TO FREELY ADJUST THE RADIOS FRONT PANEL VOLUME TO MONITOR RECEIVE.  THE
‰  END OF 35 WPM TEXT  ‰  QST DE W1AW  ƒ