[Ham-Mac] Re USB Interfaces for Ham Radio

[David Anderson]

on 4/2/02 4:06 am, John Rollins at kd7bcy@teleport.com wrote:
> So what we really need for new Macs,
> and new computers in general(PC's are slowly dropping "legacy"
> support also), are USB-interfaced rigs, TNC's and everything else. If
> a KPC-3 can run off a 9v battery, why couldn't it run from USB or
> FireWire bus power? USB developer kits are a bit expensive for low
> end and home built stuff, they could easily and cheaply be installed
> in commercial rigs if the major brands decided to do it. I agree that lack of
'legacy' serial ports on new Macs is a problem if you want to control
equipment from your computer.

However there are serial/USB adaptors available that will work (KeySpan).
They are overpriced for what they are I feel however.

USB is limited to short distances unlike serial so this is a limitation.

The other problem is that special USB driver software is required, so even
though a Rig in the future may have a USB interface, chances are that it
probably won't come with a Mac USB Driver. I mean we already see this with
many consumer products and I would imagine that Ham radio would be even
worse.

I despair at the lack of real I/O available from Macs. Removing serial was
one thing, but removing sound IN jacks and also Infrared (which was handy
for syncing with Palm Pilots) is a real pain.

What I would prefer to see is Ethernet and TCP/IP protocols on Ham Radio
rigs 

73
-- 
David Anderson, GM4JJJ         E-mail: gm4jjj@amsat.org
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