PSKer & EasyDigi Update

I haven't been using my iPhone & EasyDigi interface to do PSK-31 digital as much as I used to.  Mostly, out of practice, but there was also a documentation issue.  My little 3x5 card "field manual" didn't quite have everything on it, including some oh-by-the-ways/gotchas I used to know but have somehow forgotten, and some features I knew were there but was also out of practice of using.  Too many after-findings scribbled in the margins.  Also, some iPhone 4s-specific things like "take off that bulky case."  Worst of all, there were no "now let's get back to voice" instructions, meaning that that procedure had to be reverse-engineered on the fly in the field every time.  Doable, but another layer of unneeded complexity.  So, I've spent the last week fiddling with the interface and the FT-817nd, and re-documenting things. (here's the original, now superseded documentation)  Before this too gets lost in a miasma of half-remembered things, here's the new doc:

EasyDigi Setup; (done) = set once & forget

1. PSKer: Gears > Always use built in speaker: Off (done)
2. iPhone:
• Settings > PSKer > Mic: On (done)
• Phone Volume 4-5 bars
3. Radio:
• Sp/Ph Switch --> Ph
• Volume/AF: all the way down, then slightly up; avoid overload
• VOX f-10A: On (only works with SSB, which we'll be using)
• VOX Delay #50: 100ms (done)
• VOX Gain #51: 35 (done)
• SSB Gain #46: 10 for digital (65 for voice)
• Set PWR to 2.5w
4. Use V/M to get to correct memory to set frequency, then use < > to use USB mode.
5. Adjust phone output, watching ALC meter while transmitting.

To Get Back to Voice Operations

1. Sp/Ph --> Sp (unless using phones)
2. VOX f-10A: Off
3. SSB Gain #46: 65 for voice (10 for digital)
4. Set PWR to 5w
5. Use band, mode, volume, etc. per usual voice operations.

Also Useful:

• #38 Op Filter: CW/Off/SSB -- my '817 has a 500 Hz CW filter under the 'SSB' setting. YMMV.

Finally, the 3x5 card was replaced by a 4x6 Rite-in-Rain page.  Slightly larger, much more robust.

This lightweight interface and a little plastic USB keyboard chops 3 out of 4 lbs off of pack weight relative to hauling out the laptop and SignaLink.  (That's -6 dB in weight!)  It's a little cramped for contest weekends, but all I really need for weekday trail afternoons on 20m.  Don't forget the 3.5mm-to-Lightning dongle, the EasyDigi interface box needs it.  I keep a dedicated dongle the same bag.

Rainy day.  Read, nerd out, fiddle with gear.  What else you gonna do?