Feature __ A Budget USB Data Interface > ewe Len Paget GMOONX is well known for his antenna Me articles in PW but this month he’s demonstrating see _ that well known trait displayed by Radio Amateurs the world over - how to spot a bargain! Boxed up smarty fora profesor ack yee Nowadays Radio Toetype (RTT, . ‘Slow Scan TV (SSTV) and data modes such as PSKSt a realy popular Thanks to f Bdvences in computing ! ! foun nad ha = brat of stele computer programs, all that's needed 10 receive these modes Is @ computer will a soundcard and simple cable between the A a computer's soundcard {and the trancooiver. ‘Transmitting is only marginally more complicated — requiring a single transistor : = GMOONX push-to-talk (p.tt) circuit connected to the computer's serial coms port or by using the transceiver's voice operated ‘changeover (VOX circuit. The trouble with the simplistic ‘approach is that audio earth loops can ‘occur betwaen the computer's sounded and the transceiver causing cistorion ‘on aucio (a) and radio frequency (ct imerference (f.) can be a major problem on transmit. To add the problem Inia emer computers don't have serial ports any more making interfacing more complicated, ‘Commercial interfaces are available that include audio ieolation, an onboard soundcard and the transceiver keying Circuit alin one box that address theseproblems. Unfortunately, they aren'ta cheap solution, While trauling the Intemet | came across a USB soundcard for less than £2.0n eBay, Fig. 1, and a thought was hatched! What about using one of these along with 2 USB-to-serial adapter, audio isolating transformer, p.tt. circuit and then build the lot into one box myself? ‘The USB Hub ‘The heart of the USB Radio Interface desorbed here is 4-way USB hub, again purchased from eBay Fig. 2, (but probably available elsewhere t00) | found that that once the USB hub printecs ‘icutt board (o.<.b.) was removed trom its case and I had timed mmm from the side ofthe board, Fig. 3, t would Ht into the side ras of a Hammond 14551202 enciosure. A small piece of pvc tape ‘overs the edges the p.c.b. to prevent the "racks snortng to ine enciosure sices ana to gives ita firmer ft I removed he existing USB Type plug on the USB hub and replaced iti @ USB type B Suchet. This was ‘mounted tothe rear ofthe enclosure to allow a standard USB cable to be used I preferred, you can leave the original plug ‘ait is end dangle out the beck of the interface and use a USB extension cable to connoctit tothe computor. With the USB hub now fited inthe enclosure, the USB soundcard is plugged into any one of the four avaiable ports. AS space is tight between the port outlets the soundcard is also removed from its case fd itis secretin plane using hetsmelt glue ‘The next part to be connected to the hub is the USB-to-serial adapter, Fig. 4. This provides the switching for the ptt ‘cw. circuits and a serial port for use with the transoelver's CAT nor ‘Most programs and transceivers alow the CAT interface to be used without Using the RTS/DTS lines allowing them to be used forthe p.Lt/cw. functions. Ham Radio Deluxe is one exception and f you se this — you'll need separate serial ports for pitticsw. and the CAT interfaces, ‘The PC system Windows XPallows ‘multiple USB-to-serial adapters to be Used and a second USB-o-serial adapter tobe fited in the enclosure if required ust plug it into the spare USB hub por. ins 4 (DIK), 5 (RIS) and 7 (Earth) on the USB-to-serial adapter are used to control the ptt and the cw. keying Circuit. The easiest way to access these Is to remove the interface trom the plaste ‘moulding. (| also shortened the cable to take insti eal). ‘The photo, Fig. 5. shows the trimmed U9 Hub with te sured, USEU- serial converter and @ USB memory stick and is used to store the drivers for the USB-to-serial adapter and the data mode software plugged in. As space is tight the ‘covers to the soundcard and memory stick are removed. The photo, Fig. 6, shows the USB hub and boards located inthe lower section ofthe enclosure ‘The PTT Circuit ‘Some designs use opto-solators to totally isolate p.t.t/ow. circuit from the transoaiver. | dan' because most ‘mains powered desktop computers and transceivers already share a common earth via as the mains and I've not found iteausing any probiems. The p.ttic.w. interface and audio isolation transformers are housed on a separate p.c.b. above the USB hub and are shown in Fig. 7 and the crcut, Fig. 8, uses a BUD48 transistor which ‘grounds’ the p.tt/ew. connection when operated your transcewer uses a metnoa ‘ther than grounding fo earth to operate the p.tt, and ow, functions ths interface vil nol work, The illustrations, Fig. 9 and 410 show the RTS/DTS solder points on the USB-to-2erial converter. If your transceiver uses a negative keying voltage, a pnp transistor euch ae the ECSSE should be substituted forthe present ono. Older valve type transosivers ofan used higher keying voltages. = sa hear this in mind and choose a suitable switching transistor as a BC548 has a maximum operatina voltage of only about 30V. Audio Isolation Although | don't isolate any of the p.tticw. keying cicuts, isolation of the audio circuit is 2 different matter. Most USB soundcards are designed to be used with headphones and audio hum, earth loops and rf can be a problem ifthe USB soundcard is not 'Solated from eartn, The simplest way to achleve de. Isiation is touse an audio transformer. Most commercial interfaces Use 3 0008 sulting transformer but these are expensive se serial ty ican ann: ae + ce Fig. tu: me use aoamter cae ea)‘and diel to source in smal quatitios. Inetoad | used an Eagle LT700 transformer — which is avaiable from Maplin and eBay for round £2 each The transformers have a 1.2kO input impedance and 30 output and give a reasonable match between the transceiver and the soundcard ‘The soundcard is connected tothe transformar using 2 3.5mm stereo plug Using the tip and outer ring connections. Note: Don't use a mann pling 8 this wil short one channel ofthe soundcard out Dependent on the transceiver and user port used the audio levels between the USB rato interface andthe transceiver to may be too high. Resistors R3/R4 and RSIRG as shown in Fig. 11. act a8 an attenuator to reduce the auto levels to ‘ith mits that can be easily aciusted by the sliders’ in the soundcard sofware ‘As the USB soundcards auc output is designed to be used with headphones cor amplified speakers itis aready at low level and may not require futher attenuation. I this is the case R4 may be omitied and R3 replaced with a wire link. The aucio level fom the USB radio interface shouid be set so thatthe ALC meter of your ransoeiver below ts ‘maximum recommended level ‘The PCB Lay-out The layout ofthe p.cib. are shown in Fig. 42 and component layout Fig. 13. The layout isnot rical and itis possible to Use Veroboard if you prefer. The p.cb. layout is centred on a 74 x 90mm biank piece of board so that it slides into the ‘enclosure's side rails. The completed pc. is secured in place using Not gue. Contiguring the interface Connect the interface to the transceiver ‘and a convenient USB port on the: ‘computer. The computer should automaticaly detect te hub, svurdcard ‘and USB-to-serial adapter. With the exceplion uf Ure USB-io-setial adapter all use generic divers and don't require a ‘set up disk when using Windows XP. The USB to Serial connector should come with @ driver dink. ‘When you plug the interface in Fig 4 ustraton of the Mi Soundeard menu ae (©) PW Publishing ‘your computer wil change the defaut soundeard to the USA soundesed Fam the Windows Start menu select. Setting, Control Panel, Sounds and Aun Nevicrs options then Audio tab and change back to the default soundcard ‘Start your data software and configure ito une the sound card on the USB radio interface using the drop-down menu similarto that shown in Fig. 14. The USB to-serial adapter software should set a new Com port number. Ths is usualy ‘one more than the existing com port number or Com 1 ifnone are fied, Fig. 15. The soundoard input levels should be set so that background is either black or dark blue and the ‘tramway’ lines on @ PSK signal should be clearly visible onthe waterfall display as shown in Fig. 16. ‘Transmit levels should be set so thatthe automatic level control (ALC) levels on the transceivers meter are not exceeded. Note: Remember to ‘switch off any audio processing when using data modes. ‘As well asa versaile data made interface, the USB Racio Interface can be used as both a cw. and voice keyer with contest logging progrems like NMI. Ideal for those long 12 midnight to ‘4am. shits where youve already worked most of the world and nobody else wants to speak to you! xMooris (9) ‘Simple & Errective ‘Although i's simple in Construction his USE raclo interface will give a good account of ise and do visually the all functions as the most ‘commercial units, It wil aiso tidy up the inevitable ‘rats net’ of wires that accumulate behind the PC when you use | the computer's own board ‘soundcard, leaving the original ‘computer soundcard avaliable for non-radio use, o Fig. 13: The pcb, component overay Pee oa ers Fi, 15: The Mod. and (CAT menu, Fig. 18: The Ma aco showing comect sound level. Downloaded by kind permission of Practical Wireless from wavw.GMOONX.co.uk