It's kinda like a sound card in that it appears as an audio device to
the computer. It has isolation circuits so a transient on your radio
doesn't blow up your computer and a VOX circuit so that it can key the
radio automagically. Your $10 sound devices don't have any isolation
nor do they have the VOX circuit, so your mileage varies.
I use the sound output of my computer and a USB to serial interface to
do my digital modes. I have an interface box I bought as a kit from
Unified Microsystems to do isolation and level adjustment. I had to
build my own cables, though, although the FT-102 interface is just three
cables with RCA connectors on both ends. I'd guess that the SignalLink
is attractive to people who are primarily interested in the convenience
of a single-box solution.
I don't know why that they can't make it appear as two separate USB
devices, one an audio device and one just enough of a serial port to
allow the keying of a radio, but it's probably something technical, like
they're using an off the shelf USB audio part and there would be a lot
more engineering required if they wanted both functions in the same
box. Of course, they could build in a USB hub ($2) and put a USB to
serial controller ($5) and do the same thing with less engineering
effort. I don't know if they could still hit the $120 price point if
they did that.
On 01/24/2015 05:32 PM, Scott Royall via BVARC wrote:
I just looked up the Signalink USB, and what I'm reading tells me that it's
simply a high-priced soundcard. Really? I do the same thing with multiple
$10 soundcards. I use one soundcard per radio, and I have two IC-7000s
controlled by one laptop. In theory, the upper limit on the number of radios
one computer can control is around 250 because of the USB interface. What
most people don't get is that all digital modes are just various ways of
encoding information as what a radio would decode as sound. That's what the
soundcards are for, to convert the information to and from sound. Great, but
that doesn't require expensive soundcards.
-----Original Message-----
From: BVARC [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Jon Noxon via
BVARC
Sent: Saturday, January 24, 2015 04:57
To: Randy Pugh; BRAZOS VALLEY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB
Subject: Re: [BVARC] New signal-link USB for sale
Don't be hasty there Randy.
In fact, HRD and Signalink USB do not know much of anything about each
other. You have it working with DM780, so all is well. For any other digital
sound card programs you may be trying to use, you will have to select the
Signalink as the sound card, except to select it, you use "USB Audio CODEC"
which is what the Windows operating system knows it as. Rig control is
MOSTLY handled by HDR (or another rig control program), the exception being
that you CAN but DON;T HAVE TO use the Signalink to trigger your PPT input,
but that option is in the specific digital mode program, not the HDR base
program.
So here are the things to look out for:
1) What digital sound card mode are you using?
2) What rig control method are you using?
3) Is the correct sound card (e.g., "USB Audio CODEC") are you using
selected in the digital application?
4) What method are you using to start transmit (PPT or VOX or Rig
Control) You will have problems if there is a conflict here.
5) Remember that the Signalink installs as a "USB Audio CODEC" and
that is what you select to set up most programs.
I've only tried four or five different programs with my SLUSB and all were
successful. I did have issues related to item 4) early on, but discovered
and corrected them to avoid triggering conflicts.
In summary, I used DM780 for PSK and RTTY without problems and once made a
contact in OLIVIA; I use WSJT-X for JT69 and JT9; its configuration lets me
use HDR for rig control and choose a method for triggering the transmission
(VOX or Rig Control).
If you can get to the iHOP Saturday for the breakfast session, we can work
through it. Bring a notebook and a pen.
Never say die de KF5TFJ/Jon
On Jan 23, 2015, at 11:15 PM, Randy Pugh via BVARC <[email protected]>
wrote:
Hello,I give up after several attempts HRD will not work other than DM
780.I have tried and spent money,lots of time on the phone both with HRD and
Tigerlinks with no success connecting my radio to the windows 8.1 computer.I
am offering the signalink for sale at a reduced price.The buyer will most
likely have to buy a connecting cable specific to their radio.Jumpers are
included for internal setup and instructions are on the Tigerlinks web
site.73s de AA5OA.My contact information is on the BVARC web page.
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--
Jonathan Guthrie
ARS KA8KPN
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