No TNC???

[VA3HIE]

I have heard some of the guys on the local repeater saying they aren't using a tnc. Is it possible to hook a radio directly to a compeuter and use the sound card or something? If so how is it done and where might I find info on this. I'm currently not working so money has got a little tight, but time is plentiful to work on things.
Thanks Mike

[K0HZI]

If they were chatting about digital modes like PSK, MFSK,
You can use the sound card and a simple interface, one cable to the audio output of your rig to your soundcard and a cable with audio pad 10 K to 1 K from the soundcard to the audio input to the rig, then a transitor "switch" for PTT on the com port.
See: http://www.waypoint.com/users/~discobay/manual.htm
Has links to free software.  If it is Packet then that is a different program called AGWPE and a terminal program is needed.

HTH