TO: ALL WOOD COUNTY ARES MEMBERS (OFFICIAL)
ALL ARES AND NON-ARES AMATEURS ANYWHERE (INFORMATION)
FROM: KEN HARRIS WA8LLM ARRL DISTRICT 3
EMERGENCY COORDINATOR WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS INC.
WOOD COUNTY ARES BULLETIN NR 19.46 DATE: November 17, 2019
SUBJECT: WHAT ARE SOUNDCARD PROGRAMS?
Soundcard programs have been around about as long as there have been soundcards. Soundcards are now a part of most personal computers. They used to be a card that you plugged into a computer. It is the part of the computer that generates the audio you hear when recording and playing music, or the voice you hear when using your computer for voice communications. It is the part of the computer that converts audible sounds into a digital format signal, and digital signals back into audible sound.
The soundcard can be used for a lot of things that Amateur Radio operators can take advantage of. With the right soundcard program, you can transmit and receive digital signals such as Packet without have a device such as a Terminal Node Controller, or better known as a TNC. There are soundcard programs that allow you to send and receive Morse Code, better known as CW.
Since Amateurs have learned that soundcards can be used for more than Packet and CW, those who know how to write computer programs have been inventing new digital programs for Amateur Radio. It seems like they come up with a new digital program every time you turn around. They keep trying to find a digital mode that can be used to communicate through bad and noisy band conditions. They also write programs to allow more stations to be on the air at the same time in limited space, without interfering with each other.
So the next time you hear about soundcard programs you will know there are more ways to use them. The next bulletin will talk about how to interface your computer to you radio and take advantage of soundcard programs.
Ken Harris WA8LLM
WCEC
Wood County WV