Icom 700 Pro for weather fax

[Auriga]

I understand that there are free software options for viewing weather faxes on a PC connected directly to an SSB. However there does not seem to be a suitable outlet from the Icom 700 Pro for making the PC connection. Does anybody have experience connecting into the rear panel external speaker outlet or any other suggestions? If applicable please specify any pin connections. I spoke with Icom tech support but the answer was not very compelling! Any help appreciated.

[fairbank56]

Pin 2 and 5 of the ACC(1) jack. Pin 2 is ground, 5 is a fixed audio level. This goes to the audio line input of your laptop. Fax frequencies are generally published as assigned frequencies, not carrier frequencies so you will need to tune to 1.9Khz below the published frequencies.

Eric

[svHyLyte]

Alternately to the foregoing, you should be able to plug your speaker output jack into your microphone input on your laptop (although you'll have to experiment with volumn control). As far as weatherfax programs, I don't know of any that are free. You might want to take a look at Charts--Traditional and Electronic for commercially available software. You might also look at JVComm32 . The demonstration version is free but of limited utility.

FWIW...

[Auriga]

Many thanks for the help. Because it is easier, I have put together the cabling to connect the Icom rear speaker outlet to the laptop. I still need to download software, then try the arrangement. If not satisfactory, I shall switch to the approach from Fairbank56, but would appreciate an explanation as to how to identify pins 2 and 5 of the accessory jack.

[fairbank56]

The problem with connecting the speaker output to the mic input of the laptop is that the mic input requires a very low signal level so you could seriously overdrive, and possibly damage, the mic input circuitry without using an attenuator which would normally be done if you must go that route. Your much better off using the low level fixed audio output of the accessory jack. The pinout for the jack is in the manual.

Eric

[Auriga]

Thanks, Eric. Found the pin out in the on-line manual. But still a bit confused!!
Do both pin 2 and pin 5 connect to the computer (stereo) mic. input leads? Does it matter which way round? I am confused by the term "ground" - you are not referring to the cable shielding are you? Sorry for being "electronically challenged" but I quite often get there in the end!!

[fairbank56]

Yes, connect pin 2 to cable shield which connects to the shield of the mic plug, pin 5 goes to the tip of mic plug, leave the ring of mic plug disconnected.

Eric

[Auriga]

Thanks, Eric. So it sounds as though I should use coax cable instead of the 2 wire shielded cable???

[fairbank56]

Doesn't matter. I typically use rg174 coax for something like this. Very small, lightweight and flexible.

Eric