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[KX5JT]

Okay, you're going to have fun when it's all working.  See ya on the waterfall!

[KB6HOH]

David,

       Alot of good advice on here.
As a FYI I run 3 Icom HF Radio's and all 3 have the Tigertronics Signalink USB.
There are several good reasons to go this route.
1st - It has its own built in Sound Card. (Does NOT require the PC's Sound Card)

2nd - Only requires 2 Cables to operate ( 1-USB Cable and 1-Radio Cable )
(Some interfaces require an additional Serial Port, Audio Cables and Power Cable)

3rd - It has Front Panel Controls for TX and RX Audio Levels and a Delay control.

4th - PTT is controlled by the Signalink

5th - Powered is supplied by the USB Port on the PC. (NO External Power required)

Also note the Signalink does NOT have a CAT interface for PC to Radio Control)

Digipan is a great program for the new user. Very easy to setup. The program has not been updated and does not support any of the newer Modes or Features.

One program that is just as easy to setup and operate is FLdigi (www.w1hkj.com)
This program is very well supported and is becoming popular for Emcom work.

Also since you are new to the Digital World I highly recommend looking at the FLdigi Website. It has a link called "Sights and Sounds of Digital Signals". It will show you what a particular Mode sounds and looks like on the Waterfall, everything from PSK31 to MT63 and more. Fldigi is a Modular program that supports Rig Control as well as its own logging program and other programs. Also it has whats called RSID (Reed Solomon Identification) So if a station is running a program that supports it and the TXing station sends the ID the program, when properly configured will detect the Mode being sent and notify you of it and give you the option to jump to the Mode and location on the Waterfall.

Once you have mastered it then maybe move on to HRD/DM780. HRD is a great program BUT requires some good CPU processing Power and plenty of Memory (System RAM) especially if you have other programs running inthe Back Ground. You cant get a much better program than HRD/DM780.

Oh if you are into Emcomm then FLdigi is what you want.

Hope to see you on the Air.

                                73 de Steve KB6HOH
                                kb6hoh@comcast.net

[KR6ER]

KX5JT is right, we are HAMS and DM780 is a good program.  I just got into PSK31 and I use it. 

Jon
KR6ER

[W5DQ]

Some people keep trying to steer others away from DM780 and HRD.  They say it's "way too difficult to learn for the beginner".

PEOPLE, we are HAMS.  We ARE technically minded.  WE CAN LEARN.  I have NEVER found HRD and DM780 to be terribly difficult.  It is AMAZING and very well integrated.  We ARE technically minded.  WE CAN LEARN.  I have NEVER found HRD and DM780 to be terribly difficult.  It is AMAZING and very well integrated.  

PEOPLE, we are HAMS ......... yes we are but that in itself doesn't mean anything in setting up computer software.

We ARE technically minded ........ Yes, for the most part most of the people who decide to get into ham radio are technically minded although some more than others. YMMV!

WE CAN LEARN ....... Yes most can but that doesn't mean someone who has never setup computer software is going to be able to do it as easily as experienced hams. Some WILL need to be lead through the process step by step and then still have problems. 

I have NEVER found HRD and DM780 to be terribly difficult ......... You sound like one of the experienced ones. I too, have no problems in setting up the majority of software. I have nearly 30 years computer experience, first cutting my teeth on an old PDP-11 when working as a contractor for NASA. In another thread, the discussion was about the ability to setup Logbook of the World (LOTW). The comments there were many people found it just way to difficult to setup even though the ARRL posted STEP by STEP instructions on how to do it. To me it was as simple as turning on the computer but to some of the other posters, they gave up after numerous attempts and a plethora of problems in getting the software installed. I have setup numerous computers for LOTW and never had a minutes problem but seems others can't seem to say that. Not sure why since according to your post .....

"PEOPLE, we are HAMS.  We ARE technically minded.  WE CAN LEARN.  I have NEVER found HRD and DM780 to be terribly difficult.  It is AMAZING and very well integrated." ...... it should be a slam dunk.

I have found in trying to help others that some seem to grasp the most complicated process right out of the box while others can't seem to get the basics even when shown over and over again how to do it. My father, a 20 year Navy verteran, worked on sophisticated electronics for military aircraft yet he never ever perfected the process of burning a CD on his PC. I showed him how to do it numerous times, even wrote the steps down for him on a cheat sheet. Still would get calls on how to do it because he could not do it right. He could repair most any electronics circuit given to him but some things were just not possible for him. I never got him to do the CD correctly before he passed away.

Bottom line is many hams are analog thinkers and just don't play well with computers. It's not that they are wrong, bad or otherwise. It just isn't in their genes. The new crop of hams seem to be more computer savvy and take to digital modes and systems like a duck to water. Problem is many of those folks, smart as they are, can't and may never be able to fix a transceiver or work safely on high power tube amps. They just haven't had the experience and may not be interested in learning. Many can and will be able to do almost anything once they learn how. It's just a matter of the individual.

Gene W5DQ

[STAYVERTICAL]

Hi,

In HRD/DM780 the options button is your best friend.
Just find and press that button and you will be presented with a menu of options such as
waterfall, soundcard, macro's etc.
Then click on the function you want and check or uncheck boxes as you desire for your intended operation.

It is true that HRD/DM780 is not particularly onerous to setup but the interface and sheer number of controls
makes it understandably daunting for some people.
This is natural, but once you pierce the visual complexity you will see that it is not particularly difficult to configure.
If you can operate a modern ham rig, you can configure HRD/DM780.
I know many people sugggest Digipan for beginners, but why limit yourself to PSK31 when you can use FLdigi
which is a free program and about the same to setup as Digipan, while giving you multiple modes, RSID, and all
the modern goodies you will need.

The dumbing down of ham radio is not doing a service to those of us who indulge in this hobby, which by its
nature is technical and complex.

So, just keep plugging away at whatever program you decide to use and you will soon become an expert.
As Goethe the poet and philosopher famously said:

 “Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence.
Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent.
Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb.
Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts.
Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent"

73s