[WT-support] CORRECTING: Win-test newbie questions Parts I and II

[Bob Shohet, KQ2M]

I want to thank N6TV, OH6NIO and KD4D for the information provided in their very helpful multiple responses.  
I also want to apologize for the evident confusion that I caused by inadvertently seeing RJ45 (Ethernet) connections
in my head and typing USB.  Like knowing the callsign you just worked but mistakenly logging something else.   :-(  

I owe each of you a beer when I see you next.  How’s that?

It is apparent that my understanding of the “lock-out” and some other functions with these devices and software has NOT been correct,
and that this is especially complicated by the use of two computers with the Win-Test software.  This has been a large source
of my confusion, and now, some disappointment.  There are also apparently different ways to connect and use all of the devices 
depending of the nuances of the setup, tailored to the given equipment and the personal taste of the operator.

I need to think about all the responses some more, re-educate myself and then try the basic setup.  And I will do that next.
But I am really glad that I asked the questions first, because the setup would not have worked right and I wouldn’t have understood
why it didn’t.   There is still a lot in your responses that does not make much sense to me yet – but that is part of my “learning curve”.

One thing that I did want to ask.....

If you are using a no-tune amp like the ACOM 2000A, that has a DB9 connector for band data input directly from the radio,
is it advisable to use a Y adapter with 2  DB9’s so that you can feed that band data output to the band decoder and
the Amp?  I know that the ACOM 2000A adjusts in a few seconds to the transmit freq. but I suspect that it would
adjust more quickly if it received the band data info immediately from the radio.  Or would using the Y adapter
possibly compromise the info provided to the band decoder?  Your thoughts please.....?

I have one other response below in red....

73 and many thanks!

Bob  KQ2M

Looking at the Nel-Tech manual I don't see any way to control it via computer.   Or do you already have that working with CT?

  I used the headset audio to feed the directly into the input of the DVP card which was installed into the computer (and works
  with DOS but not Windows). The DVP had two outputs – output which I fed into into the input of the DVK and the other output which fed directly into
  the mic jack on the Yaesu.  When I pressed the appropriate keyboard key, the DVP keyed the radio with the selected
  DVP message. 

I don't understand why you would have two audio outputs connected in series to a Mic. jack, unless you needed 8 messages instead of 4.

I only get 4 messages but that is not why I use the DVK.  I use the DVK compressor which gives more punch to the audio and, over the years, 
I have noticed the difference in my “presence” on the band when I use it.  I also get through the pileups a bit faster.  It really has mattered!

  As you know, the K1EA DVP board will not work at all with Win-Test.  I would abandon the external DVKs for now and just try to get the sound card working as a voice keyer.

   is there an external voice-keyer that is known to work well with WinTest and WIN XP computer soundcards?

The sound card (+ Win-Test) is the voice keyer.  The MFJ-434 could work instead, but since it needs to be controlled by the same parallel port that you need to connect to the DX Doubler, you would need to buy a 25-pin Y-adapter like this one so that you could connect both your voice keyer and your DX Doubler to the same port.  Unfortunately, I can't tell if this Y-adapter has all the required pins connected (you need pins 2,3,4,5, and 6 (optionally 7 and 8) for the DVK, and pins 9, 14, 16, and 17 for stereo ON/OFF, TX Focus, PTT, and CW keying via the DX Doubler.  Pin 4 can also be used for independent headphone switching, so you can put both ears on Radio 2 while Radio 1 is transmitting.  But since the DVK also wants to use Pin 4, you won't be able to do both, which is why you should try to use the sound card solution first, before trying to get an external voice keyer to work.  Furthermore, automatic repeating CQ only works with sound card voice keying (because then Win-Test knows the length of each voice message).  Repeating CQ doesn't work with external voice keyers.

73, 

Bob, N6TV
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