[Elecraft] RTTY/PSK interface for the K3

[Don Wilhelm]

Rick,

I don't understand how the addition of an interface can give you 
additional modes.  The modes come from the application software, not 
from the interface itself.   True, the K3 has PSK D and FSK D modes, but 
those have nothing to do with a soundcard nor with the Line In and Line 
Out jacks - they will transmit RTTY or PSK31 without the need for any 
external connections.
For soundcard based digital modes, one would use DATA A or AFSK data 
sub-modes.

You make a valid point about the OS sounds - and that can be cured by 
using a soundcard that is not the windows default (why buy a full 
interface when a soundcard will do) - or if one wishes to use the 
default soundcard, set it to "No sounds".
Setting the soundcard to "no sounds" is easy if you create a separate 
user account for ham radio use - set that to no sounds, but when you use 
the computer for office work or billpaying or games, etc, sign on as 
another user which has sounds enabled.  OTOH, computers are cheap these 
days, so having a dedicated computer for the hamshack is not out of the 
question, in fact it is the best solution - use a desktop and put a real 
serial port card in it and the problems with USB to serial adapters go 
away, and you can add internal soundcards too.  Put the computer under 
the desk where it is out of the way.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 1/11/2012 6:40 PM, Rick Bates wrote:
> My 'vote' is for both a USB sound card AND the serial interface (for control
> or to use the internal digital modes).  That way you have more choices, more
> new or different modes that the K3 doesn't 'know' yet and the OS sounds are
> kept in the shack, not on the air.  ;-)
>
> It's still simple, but the wire count is increasing.
>
>