Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011, 6:15 p.m. — Success! Success!! After goofing around for a number of months I finally got my FT-817 QRP rig on PSK31 (and other soundcard modes).

I initially believed the Signalink USB was defective, but that turns out not to be the case. As usually, it was an error in the setup and operation … plus a broken pin on the jumper block. On the 16-pin jumper block (used inside the Signalink to connect PTT with PTT, audio to audio, etc.) I found that one of the pins was broken, leaving an open ground. The problem I had was the interface keying the rig; it was keying the interface when the software commanded it to transmit, but the rig did not respond.

In addition to the ground, I had to crank up the audio output of the Signalink in order for it to trip the rig’s vox. That was a bit of a shock, as I didn’t think it was the audio level in was critical; apparently it was.

I have so little time on the FT-817 I had to call up the manual in order to set the ALC and some other settings. I’m not sure the biggest problem from the get-go wasn’t the low audio level going in. I bought another Signalink recently, thinking the other interface was bad; it is not! I guess now I have an extra one, lol!

I’m going to try out the FT-817 on PSK31 later, but first I had to write down all the settings so I don’t forget this the next time I break it out of the box.

I’ve spent all this time fooling around with trying to get this FT-817 on PSK31, I overlooked an obvious candidate for portable digital — my IC-706MkIIG. I have it in a “go-kit” of sorts (a foam padded case) that I used to transport it to the high school for the ISS contact. I have a reasonably small 33A switching power supply that should power it fine.

All this work is due to my desire to setup a portable digital modes demonstration. There’s a lot of interest in digital work, and doing a live demo is something I would like to be able to do. Now I need to order cables for the 706 … unless some of my other Icom HF cables will work.

All I know is that I’m tickled to death to have my FT-817 on the air; its a super little rig. I can name several rigs that I would sell before I let go of the little FT-817. I have the programming cable and software for it, but never have used it …

Enough for now, research awaits!

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