[Elecraft] Need Audio for SignaLonk from Sub-Rx on my K3

[Joel Black]

Unless I am misunderstanding the question, you cannot. Not with a 
SignaLink. The SignaLink is a mono input sound card (unless you re-wire 
the plug to listen to the SubRX).

If you listen with headphones with the sub-receiver on, you will notice 
that the subRX appears in the right ear while the mainRX appears in the 
left. You can do the same thing (and I have) with a sound card that has 
a stereo input.

To my knowledge, there are three sound card interfaces *designed* for 
amateur radio:

1. Timewave Navigator (formerly by US Interface)
2. MixW RigExpert
3. MicroHam (various models)

At one time or another, I have looked at all three and debated which to 
get. After much agonizing and gnashing of teeth, I decided to stick with 
what I have for a few reasons:

1. I already had it (no money out-of-pocket)
2. The offerings only give me one thing I don't currently have 
(front-panel Tx audio adjustment)
3. I didn't need rig control which all of the three have - it would be 
wasted on me
4. They're relatively expensive ($250 - 300) even without the 
*necessary* cable which costs ~ $50 (you *can* build this cable yourself)

I use an off-the-shelf external USB sound card. It is a Creative Labs 
E-MU 0204 which I do not think is currently in production. You can look 
it up to be certain. The previous model (0202) is also a good sound card 
if you can find it. There are scads of internal sound cards available. 
The beauty of the K3 is you do not need the audio isolation transformers 
available in the SignaLink (or other sound card interface designed for 
amateur radio); they're already built in.

This is not directed at you, but it is a preemptive statement to those 
who will say you do not *need* the SignaLink: I apologize in advance for 
"shouting," YOU NEED A SOUND CARD THAT IS DEDICATED TO AMATEUR RADIO AND 
*SEPARATE* FROM YOUR MAIN SOUND. Just yesterday, on 20 m JT65, I heard 
someone's WinXP "shutdown" sound over the air. You spent a couple of 
thousand on the K3, please be kind enough to the rest of us to spend 
another $100 or so and get a nice sound card. Yes, you'll hear all day 
that the K3 has the ability to take audio directly from the sound card. 
It is a wonderful feature. I use it. I use it with an amateur 
radio-dedicated sound card only.

I wound up with the E-MU 0204 because I had experimented with kit-built 
SDR a few years back (I built a SoftRock TXRX Ensemble II and a Genesis 
G59/GPA10). The 0202 was already out of production, but the 0204 was 
available. I bought it used for about $120. They're less expensive even 
now. You do not have to go with my recommendation though. There are lots 
of choices.

Again, I hope I didn't misunderstand the question and just flooded you 
with un-needed information.

73,
Joel - W4JBB

On 5/13/14, 10:41 PM, Bob KD7YZ wrote:
> I am using the BNC connector for the Rx antenna and am receiving
> primarily on the internal 6m band.
>
> This is the first time I have tried it. Otherwise I have been working
> many bands and using JT65 with no problems
>
> I just now realised that my SignaLink soundcard in fact is NOT listening
> to the Sub-Rx because I shut off the mast mounted Gaasfet and although
> the sub-RX audio dropped way off, the JT65 program showed a steady,
> unchanging noise level.
>
> So how do I tell the K3 to put the audio from the Sub Rx and not the
> main Rx?
>