The new USB Rig Interface Kit

I know it’s been a while since I posted any news about this much-anticipated kit.  I have been pretty busy with MK-1 firmware, a new PCB revision, documentation, a new ID-O-Matic manual, and of course my regular job!  However, I have resumed work on the new USB Universal Rig Interface kit.  The firmware is mostly there, and I’ll be building a new prototype this week.

After taking a long look at the features and design, I have decided on a completely new approach to the “rig-side” hardware design.  I’ve been trying to balance cost and complexity, against the need for optical isolation with some rigs to prevent ground loops and audio hum.  I believe I have come up with a good solution, and will need to build it to see how well it works.  I don’t want to sacrifice the ability to work with just about any serially connected device, which was a real strong point of the original USB interface kit.

I can tell you for sure that the new kit will be 100% thru-hole construction, no surface mount.  You will be able to easily and quickly change the polarity of all signals, and there will be a couple of LED indicators to tell you what’s going on.  I do plan to offer a very nice aluminum cabinet as an option.

That’s all the information I have to share right now — check back here for updates on the progress of the kit!