[Elecraft] Need local help

[Don Wilhelm]

Yes, the SignaLink is 'adequate', but if you care to reduce the received 
noise floor and copy weaker digital signals, you will want something better.

Many of the software digital mode applications provide a means to 
control transmit by means of a control command to the transceiver.
That eliminates the need for a hardwired PTT connection.  VOX is not 
difficult to set up for data modes because the audio stream is a steady 
level and not contaminated with room noise like you would find with 
using a microphone for voice modes.
The SignaLink uses 'sort of' a simple VOX circuit to produce its PTT 
output, so why not just use the transceiver VOX instead, it is there in 
the KX3.

While many use the SignaLink for digital modes, all I can say is that 
"it works".  A USB external soundcard works much better and for only 
about half the cost.
Of course, you will be using only the left channel of the soundcard, but 
that soundcard can be used for other purposes.  The SignaLink has only 
one channel, and cannot be used as a normal soundcard with stereo channels.

On 6/9/2015 3:43 PM, Barry LaZar wrote:
> Jim,
>      The SignaLink sound card is quite adequate for running digital 
> modes on HF, and it appears to be better than the one in my Toshiba 
> Satellite laptop. However, I do use a professional level USB card for 
> my panadapter which is far more demanding. And, PTT is less clunky if 
> you're not knowledgeable enough  to set VOX properly.
>