[Ham-Mac] Waterfall display questions

[Dan Romanchik KB6NU]

Hi, Robert--

I'm not sure what you mean when you say that CocoaModem requires a live audio input. I use CocoaModem with an old iBook G4. Because the iBook doesn't have a line in input, I use a Griffin iMic to provide both audio input and output. It connects to the iBook via one of the USB ports, and in CocoaModem, I select that port as the audio input.

73!

Dan KB6NU
----------------------------------------------------------
CW Geek, ARRL MI Section Training Manager
Read my ham radio blog at http://www.kb6nu.com
LET'S REALLY MAKE THE ARRL THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR HAM RADIO



On Dec 27, 2009, at Dec 27,12:12 AM, Robert Klein wrote:
> This is probably elementary, so please bear with me, but I am confused about
> digital mode software for the Mac.  I have a K3 and connect to my Mac (OS
> 10.6.2) via a Keyspan serial to USB.  That works great for logging software
> and the K3 Utility program. The K3 has data capability built-in, so it will
> decode PSK31 RX, for example, without the need for a computer.  The K3
> Utility terminal function will display the output and allow me to type in
> text to transmit, and these work to a degree.
> 
> I am trying to learn and use PSK31 et al., and I want to be able to see a
> waterfall display at the same time.  iSpectrum requires a live audio input
> device (microphone or line in) rather than the USB input.  CocoaModem 2.0
> and MultiMode Cocoa appear to require that also, as I could not figure out
> how to make them respond to the input from the radio.  I have the
> transceiver set to Data/PSK31 mode and tuned to a transmission, but nothing
> shows up anywhere in those programs, so I can only surmise that live audio
> is required.  I would prefer not to have to connect live audio because I use
> an external speaker and it just seems like a very clumsy way of going about
> it.  Neither program has built-in Help and the manuals are not at all clear.
> MacLogger DX does not appear to have a waterfall display for digital modes.
> I want to have software includes PSK31 controls and terminal, and
> Digipan-like display without having to run Parallels or the like with
> Windows.  I don’t want to have to buy a panadapter.  Would I have to run the
> live audio at the same time that I run two programs (K3 Utility, MacLogger
> DX or Aether, etc. AND iSpectrum or MultiMode Cocoa) at once to do this?  Am
> I missing something with these programs?  I don’t even know if there is a
> combination that is or is not compatible running at the same time.
> 
> I would very much appreciate the community’s advice on this.
> 
> Thanks and 73,
> 
> Robert
> KY1RK