I have tried most of the free and quite a few of the expensive rig control and logging packages. I have settled on Ham Radio Delux and DxKeeper as the main station software while running Microsoft Windows XP on either of the station computers. The interface between DxKeeper and HRD is dm780_dxk_gw_2. All of this is great free software that is available to all hams.The main computer is a Dell Dimension running a Pentium 4. It has 4 Gigs of memory and almost a Terabyte of disk.
I use my underpowered antique Dell laptop when I am upstairs and don't want to go down into the dungeon to play on the radio. I link the two using LogMeIn Free. It is good for PSK but not for voice which really doesn't matter because I run mostly PSK. If I want to work CW, I need to be in the dungeon since the link does not transport sound.The digital interface is an external sound card feeding a Nomic interface with the addition of a transformer on the receive side to control hum.
I have several HF antennas, a Wideband HexBeam, A Force 12 GT5 Sigma half wave vertical, and a hamstick dipole for 40 Meters. Soon to be added to the farm is a 30 ft vertical fed by an SCG coupler. The top 50 inches or so is a copper cactus for 2M and 70cm. Hopefully that experiment will work and stand up to the high winds here on my hillside.
I built a Wideband HexBeam from available plans. My first attempt at building a HexBeam was a great success, unfortunately my 30 ft pushup pole came down in a wind storm during December 2008. I had seriously under estimated the wind effects blowing straight up my hill into the antenna.
The Force 12 Sigma GT5 vertical is a great antenna when you need a small light easily mounted antenna but it is no comparison to a beam when it comes to getting out. I have done well using the Force 12 and have recommended it to all who ask about it. The best part is no radials because it is a half-wave antenna.
When I finish getting the Hex up in the air I will start on my next antenna experiment...an aluminum mast isolated from ground and fed with a SGC Coupler. What's so different? I have a copper cactus 2M J-pole mounted on top with the transmission line feeding throught the center of the tubing. It should work...we will see. The idea is to cut down on the number of poles in my yard so hopefully the arrangement will work and not have any feedback or generate strange signals.
