If it is like the Signalink USB, Linux should recognize it immediately. You will have to select it in FLDigi.

One basic rule of thumb...

"The early bird gets the worm..."

Try http://www.kc8unj.com/ft60.html. It's free and works...

1) Set RF power on radio to full.
2) Set mic gain to normal SSB level.
3) Turn compression off.
4) Set output power with TX control on Signalink USB. You should have little or no ALC showing.

If the repeater shack is not temperature controlled there may lie your problem. May be as simple as a correctly placed light bulb to add so heat to the repeater.

You might consider joining the APRSIS32 Yahoo group. Lots of help there, I'm sure.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/APRSISCE/

You can search the messages without joining.

Might I suggest a Linux variant, such as Puppy or Ubuntu. FLDigi will work on either very well. Couple it with a Signalink USB and you're good to go for digital operation. There are also logging softwares available for Puppy and Ubuntu, and yes, you should be able to import you existing log.

Also, Puppy will run off a bootable USB stick...

Entire packet systems including digipeaters, nodes, mailboxes, and Winlink RMS available on 145.550 in McMinn and Bradley counties in TN.

If you will contact me via email, I'll do my best to help you.

na4it at yahoo dot com

If you will send your programming file to "na4it at yahoo dot com" I'll have a look at it.

It is needful to note that MT-63, Olivia, Contestia, EasyPAL, and some other modes are a "low audio frequency" mode. It will require more drive to operate, as the "audio power" is not there. And some rigs may not be able to effectively operate these modes, as the transmit bandwidth may cut off higher than the frequency of the modes tones.

The call you use depends on the frequency you are on.

If on marine freqs, use your marine call, if on amateur radio freqs, use your ham call.

If you are tied to a dock, theoretically, you are not marine mobile. I would probably us "portable" of maybe add the call district you are in, if different, such as KE5YKH/6 or something.

1) A car or truck your wife hates.
2) One you have no qualms about drilling holes into the body.

Hams don't let friend use Windows Vista, 7, or 8.............. LONG LIVE XP!

Make sure to get the "daily build" version or Chirp will not work.

You can also get the "factory" software at http://www.powerwerx.com/wouxun/usb.html.

See the bottom link on that page. It's free.