Table of Contents
Summary of Contents for West Mountain Pro RIGblaster Pro
- Page 1 RIGblaster Pro Top of the line single radio interface to a PC with Rig control OWNER’S MANUAL http://www.westmountainradio.com 1020 Spring City Drive, Waukesha, WI 53186 tel 262.522.6503 fax 262.522.6504 sales@westmountainradio.com 2011...
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Page 2: Preface
Feel free to try all the possible functions of the RIGblaster Pro one at a time or all at once depending on your desire to experiment. In the spirit of Amateur Radio, that is what it is all... -
Page 3: Table Of Contents
COM PORT & RIG CONTROL JUMPER DIAGRAMS (P16) ........... 28 PTT LOOP JUMPER – P5 ....................30 RECEIVE AUDIO CONNECTION OPTIONS ................30 RIGblaster Pro TROUBLESHOOTING TIPS ................32 INDEX............................34 PLEASE NOTE: This manual will refer to the sound device on a computer as “Sound Card”. Although many computer sound devices are integrated onto the motherboard of the computer, the term will be used as a general description. -
Page 4: Unpacking
UNPACKING Items included with the RIGblaster Pro 1 - RIGblaster Pro Unit and Cover Screws 1 - Power Supply Isolated 12VDC 1 - RIGblaster & RIGtalk Software Collection 1 - Microphone Cable (RJ45 to 8 pin screw on) 1 - DB9M to DB9F Serial Cable 1 - USB Interface Cable 6 - Stereo Audio 6ft. -
Page 5: Panel Description
ADVANCED AUDIO PROCESSING CONSIDERATIONS later in this manual for more information. - “process” LED – A Yellow LED indicating that the RIGblaster Pro is in Process Mode This LED will turn on only when the “Process Switch” is on and PTT is pressed on the attached mic or via an attached PTT switch/foot switch or when PTT is activated by software through the serial port connection from the PC. -
Page 6: Rear Panel
- “cw” LED – This Red LED indicates when CW keying is active with appropriate software for CW keying. This LED may be on with the RIGblaster Pro turned off if the serial port to the PC is connected and the DTR line of that serial port is active. - Page 7 Yaesu radios that have DIN jack TTL CAT capability for controlling Yaesu radios with appropriate Rig Control software. Specific jumpering on the P16 jumper block inside the RIGblaster Pro is required for ICOM, TenTec or Yaesu radios. When jumpered for ICOM radios, both transmitted and received data are on the tip in relation to the sleeve and there is no connection to the ring.
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Page 8: Installation & Connections
Note: References used throughout this document, such as (R15) refer to the RIGblaster Pro Switch, Connector, Knob, Jack or LED as illustrated on these PANEL DESCRIPTION pages. Example; “This connection is made to the MICROPHONE OUTPUT (R15) on the RIGblaster Pro”. -
Page 9: Step 2 - Install Jumpers And Connect Mic Cable
Make sure the RIGblaster Pro Power Switch (F14) is turned off. Now plug the wire from the Power Supply into the Power Jack (R1) on the rear panel of the RIGblaster Pro. Plug in the Power Supply, turn off the RIGblaster Pro Process Switch (F10), and then turn on the RIGblaster Pro Power Switch (F14). - Page 10 Owners Manual Addendum” at the rear of this manual. One DB9 Male to DB9 Female Serial Cable is supplied with the RIGblaster Pro. The specific software and the manner in which intended operation of the various functions facilitated by the RIGblaster Pro will determine how to connect the serial cables.
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Page 11: Step 4 - Connect Audio Cables
On a PC, unplug the computer speakers from the computer and plug them into SPKR OUT (R8) on the rear of the RIGblaster Pro. Then plug one end of a patch cord to the jack on the PC where the computer speakers were plugged. Plug the other end of that patch cord to LINE IN (R9) on the rear of the RIGblaster Pro. -
Page 12: Step 5 - Set Audio Levels
Pro. Plug the other end of this cable to the connector to the radio that provides fixed level audio as outlined in the previous paragraph. Plug one end of a patch cord to LINE OUT (R10) on the rear panel of the RIGblaster Pro and plug the other end to Line In to the computer sound. - Page 13 Set the software to Transmit or Tune. Then slowly turn up the “level set” Knob (F5) on the front of the RIGblaster Pro to the point where the ALC just starts to move or a normal RF power output is achieved. The final setting must produce less than full RF power output from your radio.
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Page 14: Step 6 - Cw Cabling And Setup
After making or purchasing the correct FSK cable, connect the mini plug end to FSK OUT (R6) on the rear panel of the RIGblaster Pro. Connect the other end of this cable to the appropriate connection on the transceiver. Always check the wiring prior to connecting homemade cables to any equipment. - Page 15 RIGblaster Pro and the radio. Hook up an ICOM or TenTec (with CI-V) radio to a RIGblaster Pro by connecting one end of a patch cord to CTL IN/OUT (R4) on the rear of the RIGblaster Pro. Connect the other end to the “CI-V REMOTE CONTROL JACK”...
- Page 16 PC to the radio's RS232 control jack will be needed. If the radio is equipped with a FEMALE DB-9 RS232 connector for Computer Control (CAT), the following cable will be necessary from the B Port on the RIGblaster Pro to the radio RS232 DB-9. Both DB-9 connectors shown here are MALE connectors.
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Page 17: Step 9 - Advanced Audio Processing Considerations
STEP 9 - ADVANCED AUDIO PROCESSING CONSIDERATIONS A unique feature of the RIGblaster Pro is that it is possible to process, equalize, compress or expand transmitted audio. This is done simply by routing your microphone audio into your computer and back out to your radio while processing the audio (real time) with appropriate sound card software. -
Page 18: Station Hookup Diagram (Basic Sound Card Function)
STATION HOOKUP DIAGRAM (basic sound card function) See next page for a description of each numbered wire on this diagram. - Page 19 - This is a mini plug Patch Cord that connects the Computer Sound Card - Line Out to the RIGblaster Pro. One end plugs into the LINE IN (R9) jack on the rear of the RIGblaster Pro. The other end plugs into the Line Out jack on the Computer Sound Card.
- Page 20 8-pin Screw on Mic Connector plugs into the MICROPHONE CONNECTOR on the transceiver. - This wire, from the Power Supply (supplied with the RIGblaster Pro), provides power for the RIGblaster Pro. It plugs into the POWER 12VDC (R1) jack on the rear of the RIGblaster Pro.
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Page 21: Station Hookup Diagram (All Features & Functions)
See next page for a description of each numbered wire on this diagram. The diagram on the preceding page shows a RIGblaster Pro integrated into an Amateur Radio Station consisting of a Professional Quality Transceiver and a Desktop Computer with... - Page 22 PTT Control, CW Keying and FSK Keying - This is a mini plug Patch Cord that is used to interface the RIGblaster Pro to the Radio for Rig Control. One end plugs into the CTL IN/OUT (R4) jack on the rear of the RIGblaster Pro.
- Page 23 - This is a mini plug Patch Cord that connects the Computer Sound Card - Line Out to the RIGblaster Pro. One end plugs into the LINE IN (R9) jack on the rear of the RIGblaster Pro. The other end plugs into the Line Out jack on the Computer Sound Card.
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Page 24: Microphone Jumper Diagrams
MICROPHONE JUMPER DIAGRAMS 8 PIN SCREW ON MICROPHONE JUMPERING ALINCO, KENWOOD, SGC and ELECRAFT with 8 Pin Screw on Microphone Connectors INPUT SIDE Pin # MIC – INPUT Side White Jumper to PTT – INPUT Side White Jumper to Blue Shunt Jumper to Pin 3 - OUTPUT Side Blue Shunt Jumper to Pin 4 - OUTPUT Side... - Page 25 YAESU with 8 Pin Screw on Microphone Connectors (This jumpering is for older Yaesu radios with Microphones that have common PTT & audio ground and older hand mics, desk mics and Heil mics) ..........................INPUT SIDE Pin # Blue Shunt Jumper to Pin 1 - OUTPUT Side Blue Shunt Jumper to Pin 2 - OUTPUT Side...
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Page 26: Rj45 Modular Style Microphone Jumpering
Cable, screw the 8 pin plug in the front MICROPHONE CONNECTOR (F1) of the RIGblaster Pro and plug the RJ45 end into the radio RJ45 mic jack. Be sure to use the correct jumpering for the radio as follows and observe that PTT & MIC are crisscrossed INPUT to OUTPUT. -
Page 27: Receive Audio Available On The Mic Connector
On some radios output audio is available on a mic connector pin and, therefore, can be obtained with jumpering on the P1 jumper block inside the RIGblaster Pro. Consult the microphone pin assignment diagram in the radio Owners manual to determine which pin on the mic connector and thus which pin on the P1 jumper block to jumper to RCV AUD. -
Page 28: Mic Mode Jumper - P6
The MIC MODE JUMPER is located on the P6 jumper block and is used to optionally route the radio microphone that is connected to the RIGblaster Pro on to the PC sound Mic In connection and to either provide for bias in the case of electret microphones or no bias in the case of dynamic microphones. -
Page 29: Com Port & Rig Control Jumper Diagrams (P16)
PTT, CW & FSK and another for Rig Control. Because RIGblaster Pro has the capability to facilitate both Rig Control and FSK, each may require the TXD (transmitted data) line of a serial port or USB Interface Cable, making it necessary to have two SERIAL/COM RS232 IN/OUT ports on the rear panel of the RIGblaster Pro. -
Page 31: Ptt Loop Jumper - P5
PTT LOOP JUMPER – P5 The PTT LOOP JUMPER is used to loop PTT directly inside the RIGblaster Pro or, if desired, externally via a sequencer or other device. The factory default is with a Direct Blue Shunt jumper installed on the P5 jumper block. - Page 32 The normal RIGblaster Pro microphone cable therefore pushes the audio to the RIGblaster Pro. Once inside the RIGblaster Pro, audio is routed to the circuitry that goes onto the computer Sound Card via additional jumpers on the P1 jumper block. In this illustration, two additional white jumpers to the P1 jumper block are added to achieve this routing.
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Page 33: Rigblaster Pro Troubleshooting Tips
PC boot-up, then the sound card software is not correctly set and configured to activate transmit. Read the software Help file to ensure it set to communicate PTT control to the serial port that is connected to the SERIAL/COM RS232 IN/OUT A on the rear of the RIGblaster Pro. - Page 34 Verify audio transmit tones from the PC and that the level indicator on the RIGblaster Pro is lit. Verify that the RF drive on the radio is set to maximum and the microphone gain is normal. Turn up the level set knob until the desired output is achieved.
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Page 35: Index
INDEX AUDIO IN, 6 P16 jumper block, 6, 13, 14, 28 Blue Shunt Jumpers, 3 P5 jumper block, 30 c.s. LED, 4 P6, 16 CD-ROM, 3 P6 jumper block, 27 Cover Screws, 3 Patch Cord, 3 CTL. IN/OUT, 5 Patch Cord Labels, 3 cw LED, 5 POWER INPUT, 5 CW OUT, 6... - Page 36 RIGblaster Pro Warranty RIGblaster Pro is warranted against failure due to defects in workmanship or materials for one year after the date of purchase from West Mountain Radio. Warranty does not cover damage caused by abuse,accident, misuse, improper or abnormal usage, failure to follow instructions, improper installation, alteration, lightning, or other incidence of excessive voltage or current.
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