Home
home products support company info   view cart
 

 

Material on this website:  copyright 1997-2012. It may be printed for your personal use but may not be used for commercial purposes, copied, or altered and posted on other websites
Array Solutions

Phone
(214) 954-7140
Fax
(214) 954-7142

Email Us

RigExpert Standard

USB Soundcard Transceiver Interface

 

 

Introduction

RigExpert Standard is an electronic device designed to operate phone, CW, and digital modes using personal computer and transceiver. Previously, a TNC or sound card was needed for this purpose, along with lots of cables, occupying computer sound card and serial ports. All of this is not needed anymore. Following up-to-date technology, USB interface is chosen to connect RigExpert Standard to a computer. No additional interface circuit needed for transceiver connection.

RigExpert Standard combines:
 
bulletTransceiver audio interface for operating digital modes, voice recording and playback – a totally compatible sound card for any ham radio software.
bulletCAT (Computer Aided Transceiver) system, which controls transceiver frequency, mode and other functions by computer, supporting various models of transceivers.
bulletFSK operation to get crystal-clear RTTY signal.
bulletAdditional port for connecting serial devices such as TNCs or antenna rotors.


 

   Imagine a bulk of different black boxes with lamps and switches, a dozen of cables hanging down the table. This gloomy picture is well-known for a ham who prefers computer-assisted contesting or simply wants to check out digital modes. He spends a lot of money buying all this stuff, and then a lot of aspirin is needed to soften his headache while hooking it up to transceiver and computer and trying to start up the whole system...
 
   We have done our best to make RigExpert Standard a breakthrough into the new era. Along with world-beater MixW software, it is a reconsideration of style a ham radio operator's workplace may be organized.
 
   For a novice, it is a first ever chance to make sure operating digital modes is really easy. It lets experienced DX-men and contestmen enjoy the power of modern technology. Portable operators will appreciate its simplicity and reliability. At last, new horizons are open for experimenters.
 
   RigExpert Standard is fully compatible with all existing radio amateur software, providing easy setup and use. Also, it includes squelch input for EchoLink software and even a separate DB-9 socket for TNC or antenna rotor.
 


 
 
RigExpert Standard features:
 
 
bulletAlong with MixW software, operates phone, CW, PSK31, RTTY, Packet, AMTOR(FEC), MFSK, THROB, MT63, Hellschreiber, SSTV, receives PACTOR and fax images - all in one! No TNC required!
bulletAny other soundcard software may be used: tested with DigiPan, MMTTY, EchoLink, etc.
bulletWindows 98/ME/2000/XP/2003/Vista compatible.
bulletMakes free computer soundcard and COM ports previously used for operating digital modes.
bulletUSB connection to computer.
bulletSingle 25-pin connector for transceiver connection.
bulletCAT interface tested with Icom, Kenwood, Yaesu, Ten-Tec, Elecraft and JRC transceivers. The device is able to work with any future type of transceiver.
bulletTransformer coupled audio input and output to minimize interference.
bulletShielded aluminum case.
bulletComprehensive documentation and support.
RigExpert Standard is a device for operating phone, CW and digital modes using personal computer with USB port. It provides:
 


 

bulletTransceiver audio interface       
 
Analog audio interface is a connection to transceiver audio output (external speaker connector or line output) and transceiver audio input (microphone connector or line input). Audio interface enables operating digital modes, recording and playing voice, as well as other useful functions (such as measuring levels of a signal from the air) by using a computer. Input (two channels) and output volume levels are adjusted by potentiometers on the front panel of the device.
 

 
bulletCAT interface for various transceiver models
 
CAT (Computer Aided Transceiver) system provides control of transceiver frequency, operating mode and other functions by computer software. Normally, modern transceivers have serial (with various signal levels) link providing CAT interface.
 


 

In RigExpert Standard, CAT interface port is seen as a COM port by computer software.
 

 
bulletFSK output
 
FSK (Frequency Shift Keying) is a popular method of transmitting digital messages over radio primarily used in radioteletype (RTTY) mode. Most transceivers provide FSK modulator feature to make the RTTY signal stable and clear.
 
 

 
A separate COM port is assigned for the FSK output when using RigExpert Standard. The FSK baudrate and polarity are  fixed and may be reconfigured by jumpers.
 
*** Note: due to changes in recent versions of the FTDI drivers, some programs (e.g. MMTTY) may not work properly with a current FTDI driver. You can download an older FTDI driver here. Only install this driver for the FSK com port. In Windows 7, you must remember not to let Windows update this driver for you automatically as Win7 will alert you to a newer driver being available once you install this older one. It is our understanding that the newer drivers (approx V 2.0 and after) dropped support for FSK functions on virtual serial ports. The driver here is V 1.0.2 and will provide FSK functionality with your Rig Expert Standard, Plus, or TI-5


 


 
bulletPTT and CW output functions
 
Transceivers provide PTT (Push To Talk) and CW (Continuous Wave) keyer inputs to allow setting the transmitter on or off and operating CW using external device (PTT pedal, CW bug or paddle, terminal node controller, or personal computer).
 
 

 
In RigExpert Standard, PTT and CW outputs are assigned to the RTS and DTR lines of a separate COM port.
 

 
bulletSquelch input
 
Some software, such as EchoLink, requires the interface to provide a squelch input to detect if the radio channel is busy.
 
 

 
In RigExpert Standard, the squelch input is assigned to the DCD line of the COM port used for PTT and CW outputs.
 

 
bulletAdditional serial port
 
 
Connecting TNCs or antenna rotors still require legacy COM ports which are unavailable on modern PCs. Having a 9-pin SERIAL connector (TXD/RXD/RTS/CTS lines) will resolve this problem. 
 
 

 
In RigExpert Standard, a separate COM port is assigned to the SERIAL input/output.
 

 

Front and rear panels
 


 


 


 
1.    ON.  Lights when the RigExpert Standard device is plugged in and the drivers are installed.
2.    CW. Shows transmissions in CW mode.
3.    PTT. Indicates when the transceiver transmits.
4.    CAT. Monitors CAT data exchange between transceiver and computer.
5.    FSK. Lights when RigExpert Standard is sending FSK data.
6.    IN1. Input level, channel 1 (main receiver audio).
7.    IN2. Input level, channel 2 (sub-receiver audio).
8.    OUT. Output level (audio to the transceiver).

9.     SERIAL. 9-pin serial port connector.
10.     TRANSCEIVER. 25-pin transceiver connector.
11.     USB. Connect to the computer USB port.
 

 

Specifications


 
General features
 
bulletTransceiver audio interface for operating digital modes, voice recording and playback
bulletCAT (Computer Aided Transceiver) system
bulletFSK output
bulletAdditional SERIAL input/output
 


Computer connection
 

bulletUSB (Universal Serial Bus) connector
bulletPowered from the USB port (consuming 100 mA maximum)
bulletNo external power supply needed
 


Transceiver connection
 

bulletSingle 25-pin connector for transceiver cable
bulletVarious transceiver models supported
 


Audio interface
 

bulletInsulated from digital nets
bulletMaximum input/output amplitude is 1V
bulletInput/output samplerate: 8 to 48 kHz
bulletTrue 16-bit DAC/ADC used
bulletVolume levels are adjusted by the front panel potentiometers and on-board jumpers.


CAT serial port
 

bulletBaudrate: 300-115200 baud
bulletElectrical compatibility: RS-232, CI-V, TTL or inverted-TTL (Yaesu, Icom, Kenwood, Ten-Tec, Elecraft and JRC transceivers)
 


PTT/CW outputs
 

bulletPTT output: open collector and TTL-level
bulletCW output: open collector, either software or WINKEY
bulletMaximum current is 50 mA
 


FSK output
 

bulletOpen collector output
bulletBaudrate is adjusted by the on-board jumpers (preset to 45.45 baud).
 

*** Note: due to changes in recent versions of the FTDI drivers, some programs (e.g. MMTTY) may not work properly with a current FTDI driver. You can download an older FTDI driver here. Only install this driver for the FSK com port. In Windows 7, you must remember not to let Windows update this driver for you automatically as Win7 will alert you to a newer driver being available once you install this older one. It is our understanding that the newer drivers (approx V 2.0 and after) dropped support for FSK functions on virtual serial ports. The driver here is V 1.0.2 and will provide FSK functionality with your Rig Expert Standard, Plus, or TI-5. ** Note: This driver was originally intended for the Plus interface, so it will be labeled as such when you look in Device Manager. 

 

SERIAL input/output
 

bulletBaudrate: 300-115200 baud
bulletElectrical compatibility: RS-232 (TXD/RXD/RTS/CTS lines)
 


System requirements
 

bulletDesktop or laptop Pentium computer with USB 1.1 or USB 2.0 compliant port
bulletWindows 98/ME/2000/XP/2003/Vista operating system
 

We have cables for most any Radio made. To view cables for your transceiver please visit the RigExpert cables page.

bulletCABLES in our price list for most rigs
bulletRigExpert Standard Manual
 
bullet res_manual.pdf Downloaded 959 times (in English)

 
bullet
bulletInstallation disk contents for RigExpert transceiver interfaces
Zip file: sre_260108.zip Downloaded 23 times

Includes: RigExpert Plus, Standard and Tiny installers. Drivers for Windows 98/ME/2000/XP/2003/Vista (32- and 64-bit), Mac OS 8,9,X and Linux.
Excluded: MixW, DigiPan and Adobe Reader setup files.

Attention: Unzip this file into a separate folder or burn to CD before running the installation program. Otherwise, installation will be incomplete.
 

 

Order  RigExpert Standard Controller