[Elecraft] [OT] PCI Express sound card for digimodes

[Matt Zilmer]

You might want to try the Creative EMU-0202 or that series.  Very fine
audio, and it sits on the USB bus.  No slots required, but it would
take up some desk and/or cubic space around the shack.

I use the -0202 for all sorts of digi modes (WSPR, JT65, PSK, and
other xSK modes) and it's very clean.   The -0202 is also one of the
recommended sound devices for use with LP PAN, in case that ever comes
up.

73,
matt W6NIA
K3 #24

On Sat, 30 Jan 2010 07:37:08 -0800 (PST), you wrote:

>
>Apologies for the OT question but I'm at my wits end. I just bought a new
>computer for the shack and find that I can't install my SB Live 24 card that
>I kept from the old one because it doesn't have PCI Slots. Instead, it has
>what I've been told are PCI Express slots. Even my local computer shop
>hadn't heard of a PC without PCI slots, and said PCI EXpress is only for
>graphics cards. But that can't be right as the computer has 4 of them, 3
>short ones which are PCIe x1 and one long one which is PCIe x16.
>
>The built in Realtek sound card has all kinds of controls for special
>effects, karaoke etc. but I can't find an option for "look, just convert it
>to digital as accurately as possible and don't mess with it." In any case, I
>really want to use the internal board for normal audio as it has front panel
>sockets for headphones etc. which is why I had the second sound card.
>However when I search for PCI Express sound cards they are all pretty
>expensive. The cheapest seems to be an Asus Xonar DX 7.1. I admit the DX
>part sounds promising, but it still has these special effects features and
>outputs for subwoofers and so on none of which I need.
>
>What's a guy who just wants to work digital modes to do? A few years ago you
>could buy a 16-bit ISA sound card for 15 quid. Surely we don't all have to
>go out and splash £200 on a RigExpert or MicroHam now? Someone suggested I
>got a "cheap USB audio device" but how cheap is OK? You can buy these things
>on eBay for $2, I kid you not, but I bought one once and tossed it after 5
>minutes it was so bad.
>
>I'd appreciate hearing from anyone who has had this problem and solved it
>satisfactorily because I'm getting withdrawal symptoms not being able to
>work digimodes. Is it just me, or is technology getting way too complicated?
>
>-----
>Julian, G4ILO. K2 #392  K3 #222.
>* G4ILO's Shack - http://www.g4ilo.com
>* KComm - http://www.g4ilo.com/kcomm.html
>* KTune - http://www.g4ilo.com/ktune.html