Rick, I don't understand how the addition of an interface can give you additional modes. The modes come from the application software, not from the interface itself. True, the K3 has PSK D and FSK D modes, but those have nothing to do with a soundcard nor with the Line In and Line Out jacks - they will transmit RTTY or PSK31 without the need for any external connections. For soundcard based digital modes, one would use DATA A or AFSK data sub-modes.
You make a valid point about the OS sounds - and that can be cured by using a soundcard that is not the windows default (why buy a full interface when a soundcard will do) - or if one wishes to use the default soundcard, set it to "No sounds". Setting the soundcard to "no sounds" is easy if you create a separate user account for ham radio use - set that to no sounds, but when you use the computer for office work or billpaying or games, etc, sign on as another user which has sounds enabled. OTOH, computers are cheap these days, so having a dedicated computer for the hamshack is not out of the question, in fact it is the best solution - use a desktop and put a real serial port card in it and the problems with USB to serial adapters go away, and you can add internal soundcards too. Put the computer under the desk where it is out of the way. 73, Don W3FPR On 1/11/2012 6:40 PM, Rick Bates wrote: > My 'vote' is for both a USB sound card AND the serial interface (for control > or to use the internal digital modes). That way you have more choices, more > new or different modes that the K3 doesn't 'know' yet and the OS sounds are > kept in the shack, not on the air. ;-) > > It's still simple, but the wire count is increasing. > > ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
