[Elecraft] OT - WSJT-X & K3s

[Barry]

Don,
     I agree with you. I may not have been sufficiently clear. You do 
need a good stereo card for the spectrum display and another card, 
typically, for digital modes. I use and usually recommend the Signalink 
USB for use with digital modes for 2 reasons, they are inexpensive and 
they can key your transmitter directly. There has been a lot of 
discussion on what card to use for the spectrum display and a good 
source of data on cards is available on the LP-Pan site. I won't get 
into what I do and card I use as I don't want to start another branch in 
this discussion. Having said that, I am using a good professional level 
card for spectrum and CW Skimmer.

73,
Barry
K3NDM

------ Original Message ------
From: "Don Wilhelm" <donwilh at embarqmail.com>
To: "Barry" <k3ndm at comcast.net>; "Lynn W. Taylor, WB6UUT" 
<KX3.1 at coldrockshotbrooms.com>; elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Sent: 9/4/2017 7:55:55 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] OT - WSJT-X & K3s

>Barry,
>
>I would disagree with you on your SignaLink recommendation.
>The SignaLink is a single channel soundcard, and its sound quality is 
>"just OK" for digital modes.  Yes, there are connecting cables for 
>several transceivers available from SignaLink that make connection to 
>the transceiver easy and straightforward - but those are the only 
>advantages.
>
>There are external soundcards that will do a much better job for a lot 
>less money.  Especially if you are planning to use the RX I/Q outputs 
>on the KX3 or the outputs of LP-Pan for the K3/K3S for a panadapter 
>display.  A good panadapter display wants to use a soundcard with a 
>192kHz rating and typically 24 bits.
>You must have a stereo soundcard for the panadapter function, and the 
>SignaLink has only the left channel present.
>As for the SignaLink VOX, it is generated in the SignaLink from the 
>audio stream.  The KX3, K3/K3S VOX will work just as well as the "PTT" 
>from the SignaLink.  Due to the single channel implementation in the 
>SignaLink, it cannot be used for panadapter applications.
>
>So if you want a soundcard that can be used for both soundcard data 
>modes and a panadapter display, get a good external soundcard (look for 
>192kHz/24 bits).  It will likely have a lower noise floor than the 
>SignaLink as well.
>
>Soundcards that have been tested for Panadapter use are listed on the 
>www.telepostinc.com website.  There are some there that are 96kHz/24 
>bit which will not allow the full 192kHz width of the panadapter 
>applications, but that is usable if you only want to display up to 
>96kHz of the band.
>
>Of course, it you want a superior panadapter display, consider the P3 
>(for the K3/K3S) or the PX3 for the KX3.
>
>73,
>Don W3FPR
>
>
>On 9/4/2017 7:11 PM, Barry wrote:
>Use a Signalink USB to connect to your KX3 for
>>digital modes. It uses a USB connection to your computer and will key 
>>the transmitter when you tell the software to transmit. The Signalink 
>>uses an internal vox to know what to do and an acceptable sound card 
>>that will take the radio's audio and feed it to your digital software. 
>>You can plug a powered speaker into the Signalink's aux out and that 
>>will allow you to change modes without need to do anything that remove 
>>the mic and replace it with Signalink's mike cable. This allow greater 
>>ease in mode changing, and you can continuously monitor you received 
>>audio. Levels are set on the Signalink's front panel.