[Ham-Mac] Confused on a mac

[Jim Lee]

>>   Have you set up your
>> antenna to resonate on the band(s) you operate on, or are you relying on
>> the auto-tuner to do the matching?
> Auto Tuner only. I thought that would be enough.
> I've been looking at an MFJ tuner, forget model number.
> I will buy it, if it helps.
>
This is where I think you should concentrate your efforts - the 
antenna.  Don't worry about another tuner for now.  The tuner is only 
supposed to make up for SLIGHT impedance mismatches between the rig and 
antenna system.  It is not going to increase your antenna's efficiency.

Since you're using a Buddipole, I assume you are using either their 
8-foot or 16-foot mast.  If you have configured the antenna as a 
horizontal dipole, then on the lower bands your antenna will have NVIS 
(near vertical incidence skywave).  This means that most of your signal 
goes nearly straight UP and comes back down within a couple hundred 
miles or so.  This is good if you want to talk to other people in SoCal, 
but not good for DX.

Try setting up the Buddipole as a vertical.  This will give you a lower 
takeoff angle, and you can tune it easily by varying the length of the 
counterpoise wire.  An antenna analyzer such as the MFJ-259B --REALLY-- 
helps here.  If you are going to spend any more money, that's the first 
place I'd spend it!

> . What I don't understand, or have not been able to connect the dots 
> on, is - What program do I use to tune the radio (select frequencies)? 
> What program do I use to do PSK 31? How do I know the software is 
> connected to the Radio via the C-IV cable?

To control the radio, you can use flrig or RUMtrol7k on the Mac.  I use 
flrig.  For PSK31, there are a number of choices - fldigi, cocoamodem, 
multiscan, etc.  I would choose fldigi because it can do many other 
things as well.  The CI-V cable (DigiMaster Pro) is only half of the 
equation - with the IC-7000, it ONLY allows you to control the radio - 
set frequency, mode, filters, etc.  You can't operate any of the digital 
modes unless you also have a sound card interface.  One that several 
friends of mine use is the SignaLinkUSB.  There's also the RigBlaster 
and several others.  Most are supported natively on the Mac - no drivers 
necessary.

73,
Jim W7JLL