John & Alan,
First, I have to congratulate you on venturing into digital modes. I cannot tell you how many older hams scoff at the newer digital modes as if they were nothing but teenage fads. I started in 1972 and I also started with a Kenwood TS-520S and an SB-220 (my third rig, the first one was a Hallicrafters TX and National Rx). I am still somewhat new to digital modes, but my perception is that most digital modes work through the audio in/out either rear panel or through microphone. The newer radios have specialized input and output in rear panel and I cannot recall if TS-520 did. Choosing a radio with this interface makes life a lot easier. I have not yet used the digital I/O of my ICOM 756PROII and I think I still use the audio I/O for digital modes. In some ways, the older tube radios a little better suited to digital modes b/c the tubes are more forgiving for a longer duty cycle operation. While you should not be transmitting more than 20-30 watts, mostly to avoid splatter on the PSK band-slice, you can push the power a little and not worry about thermal shutdown on the earlier transistor radios. I also refound SSTV. My first SSTV unit was a handbuilt LC circuit that changed voltage based on KHZ off resonance to decode SSTV and a small reel to reel tape recorder to save transmissions. But now with a computer and built-in sound cards you can have a blast even without much interface. Anyway, welcome and thanks for sharing your experiences. Michael K3MH _____ From: digitalradio@yahoogroups.com [mailto:digitalra...@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Alan Wilson Sent: Sunday, December 27, 2009 8:24 AM To: digitalradio@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [digitalradio] Re: Need your help picking HF radio. thanks for the info, I recently got a like new 520SE but never considered using it for digital work..73, Alan Hello to all Group Members... I am new to the Group - a 74 Yr Old -just returning to Amateur Radio, after an absence of nearly 40 years, licenced in 1956, when 'Digital' was just RTTY, and using 'proper' Teleprinters - Such as the Creed 7B (Anyone remember these 'clatterers' ? !). OK - I am new also to Digimode - so perhaps my unbiased view on the topic here may be helpful (or not?). I accidentally discovered PSK 31 about a month ago, and since then have downloaded the many Digimode programs from the net for evaluation for my needs, and read all I can on the topic, to get insight and knowledge. I started by just listening (or is it 'watching'?). I now have bought a 'proper' interface, and just this week have started transmitting. Only able to work contacts around Europe - Italy, France, Germany, Norway, Russia, etc on 40M at present, but am sure I will get further when my antenna is upgraded from a 20ft length of copper wire end fed through a 9:1 Balun at 15ft hight, to something better I am building. Plus when (and if!) the Bands 'Open Up' - I don't hear European stations working anything outside Europe at the moment, so I am quite happy that all is working as it should! So - after a long winded pre-amble - here is the reason I write all this, in this thread ! ....... The Thread starter was wanting to know what Transceiver to buy for Digimode, that was good and cheap ..... Answer from me.... I am using a 150 dollar (off Ebay) Kenwood TS 520SE 'Boat Anchor' - and love it. It does all I need and more, it has all the facilities and Specs that I need - and more, and - It was cheap !!! Sorry to 'ramble on, but when you are 74, you have earned the right to bore the ass off everyone !!! If - by some strange reason, you are interested in reading about my setting up the current station, all about the Kenwood TS 520SE Line, and my Amateur Radio 'Blog' - there are three really big pages of it among all my other interests on my web site at www.John4Music.TV All the best to everyone in the Group, for the coming 2010, Kindest regards, John G3OBU .............................................................. --- In digitalradio@ <mailto:digitalradio%40yahoogroups.com> yahoogroups.com, "kd7jeh" <mailto:kd7...@...> <kd7...@...> wrote: > > Merry Christmas to the Group, > > I am looking to buy another HF radio for PSK/digital. I am asking what features I look for and why. Next question, what radio offers more bang for the money and why? > > I would like to buy new but will consider a used one of older model not in current production. > > Kd7jeh > -- Keep up with Ham radio in the Bitterroot: http://bitterrootra <http://bitterrootradio.ning.com/> dio.ning.com/
