‰  NOW 40 WPM  ‰  TEXT IS FROM JULY 2014 QST  PAGE 52‰
AUDIO STREAMS AND TREAT THEM THE SAME AS THE SOUND DEVICE IN THE LAPTOP.  I
ALSO HAD TO ENABLE COM PORT FUNCTIONALITY SO THAT THE SOFTWARE COULD
CONTROL THE TRANSCEIVER VFO OVER THE BLUETOOTH LINK.  THE MANUAL COVERS ALL
OF THESE STEPS IN DETAIL.  USING DIGIPAN SOFTWARE, I WAS ABLE TO OPERATE
PSK31 FROM THE BACK PATIO, WHICH WAS A PRETTY NEAT TRICK.  IT IS EASY TO
IMAGINE A SUNNY DAY UNDER THE SHADE OF THE UMBRELLA, A COOL BEVERAGE AT
HAND AND THE LAPTOP ON THE TABLE, WORKIN

THE WALL CUBE POWER SUPPLY INCLUDED WITH THE INTERFACE, OR CONNECT IT TO
YOUR OWN 13R8 V DC SUPPLY.  THE INTERFACE IS DESIGNED TO BE COMPATIBLE WITH
AS MANY DIFFERENT TRANSCEIVERS AS POSSIBLE.  TO THAT END, THE BLUE COMES
WITH A COLLECTION OF PRE WIRED JUMPER BLOCKS.  YOU JUST PICK THE BLOCK THAT
MATCHES YOUR RADIO, OPEN THE TOP OF THE INTERFACE ENCLOSURE AND POP THE
BLOCK INTO PLACE.  IN THE EVENT THAT YOU HAVE A RIG THAT IS INCOMPATIBLE
WITH THE JUMPER BLOCKS, WEST MOUNTAIN RADIO ALSO PROVIDES A SET OF JUMPERS
AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR A CUSTOM CONFIGURATION.  THE RIGBLASTER BLUE INCLUDES
A CABLE WITH AN EIGHT PIN MICROPHONE PLUG AT ONE END AND AN RJ45 PLUG AT
THE OTHER.  YOU USE THIS CABLE TO CONNECT THE INTERFACE TO THE MICROPHONE
JACK OF YOUR TRANSCEIVER FOR PTT PUSH TO TALK KEYING AND TRANSMIT AUDIO.
ANOTHER CABLE IS PROVIDED TO PICK UP RECEIVE AUDIO FROM THE SPEAKER OUTPUT
JACK OF YOUR RADIO.  OF COURSE, YOU CAN CREATE YOUR OWN ALTERNATIVE WIRING
CONFIGURATION IF, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU PREFER TO FEED TRANSMIT AUDIO TO YOUR
TRANSCEIVERS ACCESSORY PORT AND OBTAIN RECEIVE AUDIO FROM THE SAME PORT.
THE RIGBLASTER BLUE HAS INPUT JACKS TO ACCOMMODATE JUST ABOUT ANY

WEST MOUNTAIN RADIO RIGBLASTER BLUE INTERFACE I CAN ALMOST HEAR THE SIGHS.
NOT ANOTHER REVIEW OF A DIGITAL MODE INTERFACE.  WELL, YES AND NO.  THE
WEST MOUNTAIN RADIO RIGBLASTER BLUE IS FAR FROM BEING YOUR RUN OF THE MILL
INTERFACE.  IN FACT, IT PROVED TO BE ALMOST 40 FEET FARTHER.  ALLOW ME TO
EXPLAIN THE BLUE IN RIGBLASTER BLUE STANDS FOR WIRELESS BLUETOOTH
TECHNOLOGY.  IT IS THE SAME TECHNOLOGY THAT RESIDES IN EVERYTHING FROM CELL
PHONES TO WIRELESS SPEAKERS.  BLUETOOTH IS PERHAPS THE MOST POPULAR SHORT
RANGE WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY ON THE PLANET.  IT ALLOWS YOU TO PLACE CELL PHONE
CALLS THROUGH A TINY EARPIECE WHILE THE PHONE ITSELF REMAINS IN YOUR POCKET
OR IN YOUR AUTOMOBILE GLOVE COMPARTMENT.  IT ALLOWS HOME THEATER
ENTHUSIASTS TO PLACE LOUDSPEAKERS THROUGHOUT THEIR HOMES WITHOUT THE
HASSLES OF SNAKING WIRES UNDER CARPETS OR AROUND BASEBOARDS.  AND IN THE
CASE OF THE RIGBLASTER BLUE, IT ALLOWS YOU TO OPERATE YOUR TRANSCEIVER AT A
DISTANCE WITHOUT A RATS NEST OF INTERCONNECTING CABLES.  WITH THE
RIGBLASTER BLUE YOU CAN PARTICIPATE IN YOUR WEEKLY PHONE NET FROM THE
COMFORT OF YOUR EASY CHAIR THE ONE IN THE DOWNSTAIRS FAMILY ROOM.  OR, WITH
A LAPTOP COMPUTER OR A TABLET, YOU CAN CONTROL YOUR RADIO AND OPERATE
DIGITAL MODES FROM THAT SAME EASY CHAIR.  CABLES AND JUMPERS THE RIGBLASTER
BLUE IS COMPACT AT ONLY 1 1/4 X 6 1/4 X 4 INCHES.  YOU CAN POWER IT FROM
‰  END OF 40 WPM TEXT  ‰  QST DE W1AW  ƒ