[Elecraft] Apple MacBook Pro Audio for PSK-31 with K2?

[Kok Chen]

On Dec 10, 2010, at 12/10    11:32 AM, Paul Wilton wrote:

> Just about any old USB soundcard will work with a MacBook Pro - I  
> use an old Creative USB Soundblaster that I picked up second hand.   
> Noting that you can plug in an iPhone headset, I did experiment  
> using an iPod Classic 4 pin 3.5mm to 3 x phono connectors but  
> decided it was too work to sort out since the "input" would be at  
> microphone level and would need a capacitor to remove the microphone  
> bias voltage.  Going with the USB soundcard was far easier.  You can  
> pick up some no-brand "dongle" versions for less than $10 on ebay.

Many of the MacBook Pro models have an integrated "analog" audio and  
"digital" S/PDIF built into the common 1/8" phone jack.

Either a plain wired 1/8" plug or a S/PDIF 1/8" plug will plug into  
that jack.

For example, you can connect the fiber optical output from an Icom  
7800 directly to the MacBook Pro as long as whatever software that you  
use can accept that one fixed sampling rate from the Icom.  Perfect  
galvanic isolation.  No RFI, no ground loops, no drivers.

I had responded privately to the person who started this thread by  
recommending the cheap and simple Griffin Technology iMic (not the  
greatest noise floor, but probably sufficient for his intended  
purpose), and the SignaLink USB if he wants hard keyed PTT.

73
Chen, W7AY