Your laptop is known for dependability and you are planning to use a good operating system for the task. You will need a correctly-wired 9-pin to DB-25 cable.
What that means is that all of the 'handshaking' signals in the RS-232 interface are used for a typical de-9 ( most folks mistakenly call the serial interface a DB-9 ). What I liked about it was that the help menu was easily invoked- and especially that one could choose signalling types X-on/X-off, none, and the important one- full handshake. If I were to start up my PK-232 again, I would be looking for my old copy of ProComm- the shareware version. While your TS-520S does not seem to have the Negative TTL signalling, I bring this to your attention for future reference- and because the article also mentions Writelog for Windows(tm), version 10.47 A 'pull-up' resistor was also used in the case of the RigBlaster Pro, the article dated 7 July 2004.
Gene Hinkle, K5PA wrote an article showing how to add two 2N2222 (etc.) NPN transistors with 330 ohm resistors at the base to invert the signalling in both directions. it seems that back then, the TTL interface was using 'Negative Signalling' with respect to other makers. The reason that I looked it up was that a different older Kenwood rig, the TS-450S requires some modification. Other software may be available through or see Ham Radio Deluxe ( I have heard this is not in production- yet may be mistaken as there were different versions ).Īs to the TS-520S, the following site: seems to indicate that AFSK and FSK modes of RTTY are possible for production from your TS-520S ( yet be aware of the rules regarding HF modulation, rates, etc.
Would it be better to use the phone patch plugs in the back for RTTY (and maybe use VOX to key the rig)?Ĭomputer is a CF-30 Panasonic Toughbook running Win-7 64 bit with a serial port that seems to work.Īs to a program specific for your needs regarding RTTY- You may want to use the PK-232 Pakratt software just long enough to take the PK-232 out of the default SIAM mode- as in automatic signal detect. My use will mainly be rag chewing, DX, and making a few contacts during contests.Īlso, I'll be using it with an old TS-520S hybrid rig.
I know there are plenty of sound card programs for RTTY, but I'd like to try using the 232. Can anyone recommend a fairly simple to use and configure software for RTTY? I'm not much of a computer expert and need something that won't frustrate the hell out of me! I've used it in the past for PACKET and PACTOR using Winlink, but never tried it on RTTY. (Does anyone use RTTY anymore? - Heard what sounded like a contest not long ago.) Mine has been upgraded to the DSP version 7.2 (had to pop the lid to find out).
While being anti-social and stuck at home I was digging through some old junk and blew the dust off of the old AEA PK-232 PAKRATT, and am now thinking of using it for some RTTY.