a NEW toy

[bailey]

I just finished a new toy for me.
I spent several weeks designing a circut using a max232a and some opto-isolators that is the interface between my ham radio and the computer.
I designed a printed circut board and made it the other day, then mounted all the parts on it, and made the connecting cables today, hooked it all up, and it works great.
now I can control my radio and work any mode I want from the keyboard and mouse.
I am using the software called ham radio delux.
it is a new toy for me to play with.

now the next project it to design and build a two sided circut board that will be some more toys.

I use the program called expressPCB that is used to design the schematic and the board traces. excellant program and its free too.

now you all know what I have been up to these last few weeks.
LOL

[pam123]

Great info.!
Ham radio isn't my interest but I know someone else who'd find this fascinating.
I'll e-mail him a link.

[sm100378]

Can you post some pics, and what you used to build?

TY

Originally Posted by bailey I just finished a new toy for me. I spent several weeks designing a circut using a max232a and some opto-isolators that is the interface between my ham radio and the computer. I designed a printed circut board and made it the other day, then mounted all the parts on it, and made the connecting cables today, hooked it all up, and it works great. now I can control my radio and work any mode I want from the keyboard and mouse. I am using the software called ham radio delux. it is a new toy for me to play with. now the next project it to design and build a two sided circut board that will be some more toys. I use the program called expressPCB that is used to design the schematic and the board traces. excellant program and its free too. now you all know what I have been up to these last few weeks. LOL

[bailey]

Originally Posted by sm100378 Can you post some pics, and what you used to build? TY

yes I will do that, its a cat interface plus a sound card interface. on one board and powered from the FT-857.
the cat interface is what I have working right now, but still need to make the cables for the audio part yet, doing that now, I will post a picture as soon as I can take some.

WB7DMX
bob

I buy the pc boards from ocean state electronics and the developer and enchant.
I print out the pc board pattern on transparencies with a laser printer, then use that to expose the photo sensitised pc board, then develop it, and then do the etching.
after that I drill out all the holes, then mount all the parts.

[bailey]

ok, here is the picture of the interface I built.

[tigstah]

thats pretty cool.
i used to work with a guy who did stuff like this.
i used to work for a local cable co.
he rigged up a limited basic cable box and somehow had it programmed to shutoff at 8am and turn on at 5pm. all because he didnt want his wife watching tv all day.
this guy used to rig up some stuff, we used to call him mcgyver.