Ray,
?? Cliff has a great point about NoMachine, it does do audio forwarding, and you can set it up to work with digital modes like FT8. I've used NoMachine before in a similar setup, but I have not used the audio forwarding features.
?? An article showing this might be of some use to you:
(I suspect that's what you were thinking of, Cliff, although I think this is an updated version. I remember the old one. In fact, I think you sent it to me...)
?? If you want frequency agility, you need a radio with computer aided tuning, or CAT control, to change channels or frequencies. I have a Kenwood TS-2000, which is almost completely controllable with a PC. But. it's overkill for nothing but local repeaters. If not using a CAT enabled radio, you need a radio for each frequency and some software to direct the audio. Again, impractical.
?? Personally, I would look for something like a TS-2000 with DTMF remote control. It works reasonably well, and it's stand alone. You just have to use it as a cross band repeater to an HT, or you wire it to a PC like that setup I linked to above. I think there are other radios that do the same thing.
?? I really don't like using a computer to control a radio, but that's just me.
73 de KG5ZSU
Thomas (Tommy) Brooks
Ray KE5VJH
Tommy Brooks