Now that the LD-1TR plays nicely with HDSDR, operating PSK-31 is a LOT more convenient.

HDSDR v2.15 has improved CAT capability, and using a serial port emulator like VSPE it is possible to make it look like a Kenwood transceiver to HRD. That doesn’t seem like a big deal for voice operation, but it is very nice for digital modes like PSK-31. When using a conventional transceiver like an FT-817, DM780 tells HRD to key the transmitter at the beginning of a transmission and unkey it at the end, and HRD sends a CAT PTT command to the transceiver. Now it’s possible for HRD to send a CAT PTT command to HDSDR, which in turn sends it to the LD-1TR. Otherwise, you have to hit “TX” twice, once on DM780 and again on HDSDR. That makes PSK31 a lot less fun.

It only took a few minutes to download VSPE and figure out how to configure it. I set it up to emulate Port 26, then set up HRD and HDSDR to talk to each other on Port 26. HRD connected to HDSDR just fine, thinking it was a TS-480s. I’ll post a video showing how to do it later.

VSPE is free for 32-bit systems, but for 64-bit systems you have to download a digitally-signed license, which the publisher had to get from Microsoft at a cost of $499 per year. As a result, he charges $24.95 (I think one-time) for the 64-bit version. I can’t argue with that, but I’m not too happy with MS for imposing that charge. Things like that make me wish there were Linux drivers for more devices.

Of course, you also need VAC, Virtual Audio Cable. VAC used to cost $40, but someone told me it had been reduced to $25. It’s well worth it. My video will show how to set that up, too.

When it was all done, I had a nice QSO with a guy in Austin, Texas, who was using a Flex 1500. As it turned out, he was a Flex Radio employee, operating the company station on a break. What a coincidence!

If you’re really ambitious, I’ve given you enough information for you to figure out how to set everything up. If you’re not that ambitious, wait for the video. It may be a day or two before it’s up, though, the process of capturing the screen video, encoding it into a WMV file, and editing it takes longer than you’d think.

73 de NI9N