[Ham-Mac] Getting into Digital with Mac

[Anthony Rodgers]

Hi Lew,

Does your radio have Patch In/Out ports jacks on the back? If so, you 
can do what I do - simply run leads between them and the 
microphone/headphone jacks on your Mac.

For software, I use the excellent cocoaModem software for RTTY and PSK 
- take a look at http://homepage.mac.com/chen/.

Let me know if you need any more information.

73 de VA7IRL,
--
Anthony Rodgers
Email: VA7IRL at rac.ca
iChat/AIM/MSN ID: arodgers at mac.com

Western Provinces Correspondent for the
Canadian Amateur Radio Bulletin: www.hfradio.net
Send submissions to: carb_west at mac.com

On Dec 7, 2004, at 9:52 AM, Lew Phelps wrote:

> I'm fairly newly licensed, and looking to expand my activity in 
> digital modes. I'm looking for basic guidance as to means of interface 
> between my Mac (15" AL Powerbook G3 and also G4 PowerMac) and my 
> radio(s).  I currently own only a 2 meter rig (Yaesu FT-1500), but 
> expect soon to acquire either a Yaesu FT-8900 (four-bander 10-6-2-440) 
> or FT-857 (all bander).  Or maybe the FT-8900 plus an Elecraft HF 
> transceiver.
>
> My interests at the moment include APRS (including potentially setting 
> up a remote weather reporting station using the FT-1500 as the 
> communciation link), satellite communication, and, more generally, 
> exploration of the various forms of digital communications available 
> today. (What a difference from hen I first held a license back in 
> 1960!)
>
> General questions:
> 1.  What's the best way to interface my radio to the Mac?  I have 
> experimented a bit with MultiMode, but so far have only been able to 
> get it to "read" signals from an APRS digipeater.  I'm thinking about 
> acquiring a TNC, and looking at the Kamtronics KAM 3+, the MJF unit, 
> and also am fascinated by the TNC-X kit. Regarding the latter:  do any 
> of the Mac applications available control the TNX-X, and with such 
> software, are there any limitations on what it can do? (It operates 
> only in the KISS mode, and I am frankly unclear from what I have found 
> whether KISS-mode only is a problem or not, with respect to things 
> like satellite communication.)
>
> 2. From a transceiver standpoint, does anyone have experience with the 
> Elecraft Mac interface software that is available? I know that Don 
> Agro's MacLogger DX program supports the Elecraft K2.  Does anyone 
> have experience with MacK2 by Steve Muncy? Is there any other 
> applicable software I should be looking at?
>
> 3. If you were in my shoes, what equipment and software would you be 
> considering?
>
> Thanks, and 73s
>
>
> Lew Phelps
> K6LMP
> Pasadena, CA
> Yaesu 1500-FT 2-meter mobile transceiver
> General Class
>
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