RIGblaster Nomic
R
R
rig to sound card interface
USB universal
OWNERS MANUAL
7TH EDITION
WEST MOUNTAINWEST MOUNTAIN
ADIO
ADIO
http://www.westmountainradio.com
1020 Spring City Drive, Waukesha, WI 53186
tel 262.522.6503 fax 262.522.6504
© 2008 West Mountain Radio, All rights reserved.
All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Contents of Package
1 -RIGblaster Nomic (COVERS LOOSE FOR EASY SETUP)
1 -Acessory Zip Lock bag:
4 Single pin jumper wires, white with black connectors
4-#6 black stainless steel sheet metal screws
4-double sided adhesive pads
4-stick on protective feet
1 - RIGblaster/RIGtalk CD
1 - 3’ Modular RJ45 to 8 pin round screw on microphone cable
1 - 3’ Modular RJ45 to Modular RJ45 plug in microphone cable
2 - 6’ 1/8” stereo mini plug audio cables
1 - 6’ DB9M to DB9F RS232 serial cable
1 - USB to RS232 serial converter with 6’ cord
1 - Owner’s manual
MISC-Other cables or accessories that you ordered, see your invoice
IF YOU CAN’T FIND IT HERE GO TO OUR SUPPORT PAGE:
http://www.westmountainradio.com/supportno.htm
Owner’s Manual
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RIGblaster Nomic USB
Owners Manual
Thank you for purchasing a RIGblaster nomic. We hope that it provides many hours of
amateur radio enjoyment.
FOR MAXIMUM ENJOYMENT PLEASE PROCEED IN ORDER, STEP BY STEP! DO
NOT CONTINUE TO THE NEXT STEP UNTIL YOU HAVE CORRECTLY COMPLETED
THE STEP YOU ARE ON.
NOTE: IF YOU CALL FOR SUPPORT WE WILL TO NEED TO KNOW WHAT STEP
OF THIS MANUAL YOU ARE HAVING A PROBLEM WITH. WE MAY NOT BE ABLE
TO HELP YOU IF YOU HAVE NOT READ AND FOLLOWED THE STEP BY STEP
INSTRUCTIONS.
1. INSTALL SOFTWARE AND START RECEIVING: You do not need the RIGblaster
for receive, only for transmit, so leave it in the box. Put our CD in your CD drive and,
after a few seconds, the CD menu should appear on your screen. If the menu does
not appear, you probably need to set your CD ROM drive to autorun (as explained in
Windows help). If you cannot get the CD to autorun, browse to the CDROM and double
click the autorun.exe file in order to display our CD menu.
Please read the CD “read me” file first! We put it there for to read! Note that this product
manual is also on the CD but either the paper or electronic version may be more up to
date with the latest version appearing on our support page.
After reading the Readme file, click the software collection XMIT button; click and select
the PSK31 mode button, and then click the WINPSK program install button. This installs
a simple and easy PSK31 program to get started with. (Only if you are an advanced
user should you install your choice of program or mode.)
Connect your radio’s speaker output to your computer’s line input (mic. on a laptop)
using one of the supplied 1/8” stereo mini plug audio cables. Other connections may be
used but we suggest you test initially with this simple hookup. If you have purchased a
fixed level audio cable from us, made for your model radio, then follow the instructions
that came with that cable for connecting a receive audio signal. Note that you may
use any audio output on your radio (speaker, headphone, record, phone patch, data
audio out) and either of your computer’s inputs, line or mic. inputs. To choose the best
connection, consider the signal levels and your preference for operating convenience.
WARNING: Be certain your computer is powered from the same AC house wiring circuit
(on the same circuit breaker) as the rest of your ham station! This is safer and better
for many reasons that are both related and unrelated to the RIGblaster installation.
Next tune in a signal for the mode and program you have installed and are running.
For PSK31 it is best to tune to 14.07015 USB.
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RIGblaster Nomic
Open the sound card “Recording Control” panel and select whichever input you are
using, mic. or line, and slide the slider up until see the signals you radio is receiving on
the software’s waterfall display. Note that on most computers you cannot set the input
level to a sound program with the volume control sliders; you must use the recording
control sliders! Set the level as described in the help files and instructions supplied
with the program you are using (We do not write any software so our instructions are
specifically for setting up a RIGblaster. The software instructions should come with
the program.)
After confirming that your software is receiving properly, check that it will generate a
transmit tone. You should be able to hear transmit tones, as sound, coming out of
your computer when the software is placed in its transmit mode. This is an important
test of the computer and software operation. With no transmit sound you will not be
able to transmit!
If you have a problem with this step simply install and try another similar ham radio
program instead. If another program works you can be sure you there was a problem
with the first program. If several programs do not work then double check your sound
card virtual settings and your audio connections.
For more information on using and operating a sound card in a ham station read
K1UHF’s “The In’s and Out’s of a Sound Card” in the October 2003 QST:
http://www.westmountainradio.com/pdf/Ins&Outs.pdf
Continue to the next step only after you have confirmed that you can receive signals
and can hear transmit tones generated.
2. SET THE RIGblaster MICROPHONE WIRING JUMPERS: Different brands of radios
use standard microphone connectors but wire them differently. We have solved this
problem by using jumpers.
You must install jumpers to match your radio’s microphone wiring. The correct jumper
configuration depends on the brand of radio and the type of microphone connector.
Metal eight pin round screw on microphone connector diagrams on page 7 and square
RJ45 modular 8 wire telephone style plugs on page 8. Be certain to use the diagram
that matches both your brand of radio and the type of microphone connector that it uses.
.
If you cannot find the appropriate jumper diagram for your radio check our support page:
http://www.westmountainradio.com/supportno.htm
WARNING: It is possible to damage your radio by shorting out a DC voltage that may
be on your mic. jack. Be certain you have the correct jumper wiring before turning on
your radio.
TIP: The diagrams depict the actual appearance of the jumper block in the RIGblaster.
The black squares with the wires depict where the black and white wire jumpers go. A
circle denotes that no jumper is installed on that pin.
Owner’s Manual
3
After completing the jumper Installation you may put the cover on. Carefully align the
circuit board and covers, making sure that the side screw holes line up. Be careful
not to put force on the potentiometer level control adjustment shaft. The supplied
screws are sheet metal type and must be driven in firmly with a fresh, properly fitting,
#2 Phillips head tip. The screws will be tight at first and then go in easier. Do not over
tighten when they reach bottom.
After you have installed the jumpers and the covers, connect the appropriate RIGblaster
mic. cable, either RJ45 or 8 pin round screw on, between the RIGblaster and your radio.
Proceed to the next step for testing.
3. CONNECT SERIAL CONTROL CABLE: All Amateur Radio sound card programs,
over 100 of them, without exception, require an RS232 serial port for proper operation.
However, most new computers no longer have this connection. Your RIGblaster is
supplied with two cables to provide your choice, and full functionality, with both older
DB9 RS232 serial ports, or with a USB connection. The supplied USB cable will emulate
a DB9 RS32 serial port by converting a USB (universal serial bus) to a RS232 port.
Check to see if your computer has an available DB9 RS232 serial port. If you do, use
the supplied DB9 male to DB9 female cable to connect between the computer’s DB9
RS232 port and the RIGblaster’s DB9 “SERIAL IN” connector. Set the extra USB cable
aside for future use.
If all you have on your computer is a USB socket then use the supplied USB to DB9
converter cable instead.
Refer to centerfold of this manual for a hookup diagram.
If you use the DB9M to DB9F continue to step 5 otherwise if you use the USB cable
continue to the next step.
4. USB CABLE DRIVER INSTALLATION (Skip this step if you are using a actual RS232
serial port on your computer)
The following procedure is to install the software drivers in order to make the USB
cable hardware communicate with your computer. (Mac or Linux drivers are available
on the CD ROM but these instructions are only for Windows 98SE, ME, 2000, XP and
Vista 32 bit.)
A) Insert the West Mountain Radio CD ROM in your computer’s CDROM drive.
B) Plug the USB connector into an available USB socket on your computer. If possible
one you will keep it in.
C) A “New hardware found” Windows Plug & Play Wizard window should pop up.
D) For XP and Vista you should allow Windows to automatically complete the installation.
E) For Windows 98SE, ME and 2000 “tell” Windows to go to a specific location and
direct Windows ONLY to the CDROM drive letter that has the West Mountain CD in it.
F) At each prompt select whatever response that will cause Windows to complete the
hardware installation. (DO NOT cancel, go back, stop, or abort the installation! NO
MATTER WHAT!)
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RIGblaster Nomic
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