Topic: Make your own psk31 interface and save money. (Read 13074 times)

NB6Z · « **on:** February 11, 2001, 05:36:27 PM »

The products like RigBlaster are well and good if you get no satisfaction from building something that you can use for your hobby. You can make your own sound card interface that will work for your station as well as any store bought product.
Go to www/nb6z/psk31.htm#tips to find the details for making it yourself.
I put mine together in 1997 when PSK31 first came out in a windows sound card program. I used small RG-174 coax instead of shielded cable. All the material I used was available to me in my junk box out in the garage. Since I have not changed my XCVR in this time, I have not had to modify the interface.
The one important point about any interface is to NOT overdrive the MIC audio input circuit with the output from your sound card. This is the cause of poor IMD (intermod) and those nasty PSK31 sigs you see on the bands from time to time. Use lots of attenuation as described on the web site and make sure your ALC is at or near zero on the XCVR when transmitting. (ALC is your rigs way of protecting itself from overdriving by clipping your audio input to reduce your power output.)
See you on the digi bands!

NB6Z · « **Reply #1 on:** February 11, 2001, 05:40:11 PM »

That URL should be:
www.teleport.com/~nb6z/psk31.htm#tips or just www.teleport.com/~nb6z/psk31.htm

K0BZV · « **Reply #2 on:** February 12, 2001, 01:53:30 PM »

I could not agree more. There is an article in the Feb.
2001 issue of QST to build an interface. I 'collect'
sound card interfaces like I do CW keyers. Somewhere
there is THE interface just like THE keyer. I have got
5 interfaces and another under construction. A easy
(and inexpensive) option is either the interfaces from
BuxComm (www.packetradio.com) or from LECTROKIT. I got
them also. I felt the RigBlaster was a bit pricey and
I enjoy building things. Also, when it breaks, I have
a pretty good idea where it went wrong. My 1-cent on
the subject (I operate QRP!!). 73 de Carl K0BZV

WA9PIE · « **Reply #3 on:** February 18, 2001, 12:14:25 PM »

I'm still not over being amazed that folks actually buy these things. Borders on bizarre.

N3HKN · « **Reply #4 on:** February 21, 2001, 12:01:32 PM »

I bought the kit from BuxComm ($25 with shipping). Saved me a trip to the Shack and probably about $15 worth of stuff from them. The usual two transformers, opto-isolator, cables, PC board, and a case. He also tossed in an LED a chunk of hook-up wire, and a piece of solder. Add it all up and why leave home to get it. Finally, it keeps the cash within the Ham community.

Also see that RigBlaster has a $29 cousin now, same as above.

Dick N3HKN

Author Topic: Make your own psk31 interface and save money. (Read 13074 times)