[Elecraft] What's best Soundcard Interface for KX3

[Kevin Stover]

The IQ outputs are for displaying the received spectrum on a pan adapter 
like the PX3 or other spectrum display software like NaP3 through the 
sound card in the computer.
The audio output at the headphone jack is for feeding audio to digital 
mode software like FLDigi or MixW to work modes like PSK31, RTTY and 
JT65/9. FLDigi, MixW, or WSJT/x wouldn't know what to do with an IQ output.

On 4/10/2016 3:12 PM, John Pitz wrote:
> On the topic of sound cards, I was wondering what the advantages are to
> using the IQ output of the KX3 as opposed to feeding the headphone jack
> into the input of the soundcard?  I believe the IQ output requires
> stereo input to work, but what are the advantages?  I have seen on this
> list quite a few people with radios that have an IQ output still use the
> headphone output to decode the digital modes.  I am under the impression
> that the PX3 can display a 200KHz slice of the RF spectrum using the IQ
> outputs whereas the best I can get out of fldigi is about 4KHz.  Is
> there any way to coerce fldigi to display a wider chunk of the band?  I
> am running fldigi on Linux.
>
>
> John
> KD8CIV
>
> On Sun, 2016-04-10 at 14:56 -0400, Don Wilhelm wrote:
>
>> George,
>>
>> You laptop may have only a mono input for the mic/line-in, but for
>> digital modes, only one channel is used, so it should work - just be
>> sure to turn off sounds from your OS so those are not transmitted on the
>> air.
>>
>> A simple and inexpensive USB soundcard can eliminate the problem of
>> sounds from the OS.  Just make certain the USB soundcard is *not* the
>> default sound device.
>>
>> For digital modes, you do not need an expensive interface.  Yes, some
>> provide ready made cables to connect with your radio, some have galvanic
>> isolation on the audio lines, and some provide PTT to the transceiver,
>> but VOX works just great with the KX3 for digital modes (you don't need
>> PTT).
>>
>> The big difference between soundcards (including those built into
>> interface boxes) for digital modes is the noise floor of the soundcard.
>> You mentioned Signalink, and while popular, it is not the best interface
>> available.
>>
>> Try your laptop internal soundcard before buying anything else, it may
>> be all you need.
>>
>> 73,
>> Don W3FPR
>>
>> On 4/10/2016 2:09 PM, George_yv5wz wrote:
>>> Thank you Don!
>>>
>>> So  you mean  I don't need to buy anything just my laptop....that's
>>> interesting!
>>>
>>> however, I'm kind of confuse....why so many brands of expensive interface
>>> sound card....does it represent any better signal or any using interface
>>> ?....I mean 100 Box (signlink)  against simple USB soundcard (12 box)
>>> .....does it really matter?
>>>
>>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
>>
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>> Message delivered to crustacean at brig-elec.com
>>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to kevin.stover at mediacombb.net
>


-- 
R. Kevin Stover
AC0H
ARRL
FISTS #11993
SKCC #215
NAQCC #3441


---
This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
https://www.avast.com/antivirus