Question T4A07
From subelement T4 - T4A
Which of the following connections is made between a computer and a transceiver to use computer software when operating digital modes?
Why is this correct?
The computer's "line in" connects to the transceiver's speaker connector to receive audio from the radio. This allows the computer to "hear" incoming digital signals for decoding. The speaker connector provides the audio output that would normally go to a speaker, but instead feeds into the computer for processing by digital mode software like WSJT-X.
Memory tip
Remember the data flow direction: "line in" means audio going INTO the computer, so it connects to audio coming OUT of the radio (speaker connector). Think "computer listening to radio" - the computer's ear (line in) connects to the radio's mouth (speaker out).
Learn more
Computer-radio interfaces require three essential connections for digital mode operation: receive audio (radio speaker to computer line in), transmit audio (computer line out to radio microphone input), and transmitter keying (computer controls when radio transmits). The speaker connector provides audio at the proper level for computer processing, while the microphone input accepts computer-generated digital signals for transmission.
Think about it
Why do you think the speaker connector is used instead of connecting directly to the radio's internal audio circuits?