|
New to Ham Radio?
My Profile
Community
Articles
Forums
News
Reviews
Friends Remembered
Strays
Survey Question
Operating
Contesting
DX Cluster Spots
Propagation
Resources
Calendar
Classifieds
Ham Exams
Ham Links
List Archives
News Articles
Product Reviews
QSL Managers
Site Info
eHam Help (FAQ)
Support the site
The eHam Team
Advertising Info
Vision Statement
About eHam.net
|
| Reviews Summary for microHAM USB Interface II |
|
Reviews: 23
|
Average rating: 4.6/5
|
MSRP: $159
|
Description: These USB Interfaces provide a solution to the lack of
available Serial (COM) ports for controlling your radio on
laptop and newer desktop computers.
The USB interface II includes full optical isolation of all
control signals (radio control, CW, PTT and Squelch) and
high quality audio transformer isolation (with level
trimmers) for audio to your radio's rear panel audio input
and from the radio's constant level audio.
microHAM USB Interfaces have built-in hardware support for
any radio - you no longer need additional level converters
like CT-62, IF-232, FIF-232, CT-17. The drivers include
support for software CW keying (DTR) and PTT (RTS) - there
is no need for additional hardware.
|
|
Product is in production.
|
|
More info: http://www.microham-usa.com/Products/USB%20interfaces.html
|
|
Email Subscription
You are not subscribed to this review.
Subscribe!
My Subscriptions
Subscriptions Help
|
You can
write your own review of the microHAM USB Interface II.
|
OH1VR
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Mar 18, 2010 00:55
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Easy with K3
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
|
Just connect it between your K3 and PC. It works, it is small and the configuration is easy even to me. I do not know anything about complicated technical things. So being logical: It must be good because I got it functioning on first try.. :)
|
|
K4IA
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Mar 17, 2010 18:42
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Good with K3
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
I disagree about the K3. I use a Microkeyer interface because it has:
1. built in keyer with more memories than the K3 and a convenient speed knob that isn't shared with two other functions
2. auto switching between my microphone and computer depending on mode
3. PTT controlled by a USB command fully adjustable to prevent hot switching
4. easy-to-adjust audio level knobs for input and output
5. DVK using the sound card and 9 memories. No need for an expensive add on board in the K3
6. the ability to fine tune keying characteristics
True you do not NEED an interface to run PSK on the K3 - but there are plenty of reasons you might want one.
|
|
OZ1GCT
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Dec 5, 2009 01:38
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Great Interface
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
|
I have used mine for more than 2 years with my laptop in the one end and my ft-1000 mp or ft-2000d in the other end. Worked all kind of digital modes/operation with absolute no problems whatsoever. My software is HRD and DM780.
|
|
N5UM
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Dec 4, 2009 17:58
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Great!
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
|
I have had my Interface II for over a year now. Use it with both my IC706MK2G and my IC756 (ole' blue screen) and it works flawlessly. I use Logger32 for everyday logging and N1MM for contest logging and both work great with it. Direct FSK using MMTTY was no problem once I downloaded the EXTFSK program (from the MMTTY website) and installed it, and set one virtual COM port up for both PTT output (using RTS) and FSK output(using DTR). I have used it with Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7 and with no issues whatsoever.
|
|
IW5EIJ
|
Rating: 2/5
|
Dec 4, 2009 02:06
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Absolutely not worth the money
|
Time owned: months
|
Too much money for no so good workin' device.
In EU this costs more than 110EUR plus 55eur for cable!!! Ok it does it all, CAT, digimodes interface etc etc... let's try it!
It's fine crafted, nice cabinet, built with care.
First "problem" needs power supply... grrr i got no aux out on my rig so i got to wire it to station PS.
Problems starts installing drivers and software: it's not too user friendly. Anyway you can do it.
Then you got to configure your digi software for microHAM.
Things starts to get worse: using MMTTY require you to run additional sw for a virtual TXD to key fsk modulator... hmmm...
Finally it seems to work, i got my pc running 4 sw: microHAM one, MMTTY, usb add on for MMTTY and logging sw!
Ok now hardware. I connect DB15 cable and start to plug radio: AFSK, ok... CW, ok..., FSK... where's the FSK wire?? Why it doesn't work? Data plug it's connected! ???
Have a look at cable schematic and... FSK wire it's left disconnected out of data plug! GRRR... ok i get my soldering iron warming and start disassemble plug.
Another surprise: plug is internally filled with silicone resin, impossible to rework it without cut cabling and have a new plug!
I decided that's enough! I reassembled cable, disconnected it all and put all back on his box. Next day it was for sale on eBay!
I can't accept to spend more than 160EUR and two evenings for cabling programming and have such problems.
Who needs an RTTY interface who doesn't work FSK (or it does it with lot of work before).
I reconnected my fully insulated homebrew interface, no additional software needed, no driver or plug-ins running: just plug and trasmit!
And all for a 15€ of bits and pieces and lot of fun have a handmade thing running so good.
My suggestion?
-You have not serial port? Ok you need something like this but you can spend much less money.
-You got a serial port or a decent adapter? Dust off your soldering iron, get all bits and pieces you got for sure on your drawer and spend the rest at restaurant with your YL!
And i'm a ham radio operator not a pc operator!
|
|
K3UG
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Nov 8, 2008 09:30
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
microHAM USB Ingterface II .... excellent product.
|
Time owned: 3 to 6 months
|
Bought mine at Dayton 2008... I had already purchased a RigblasterPlus when I saw the microHAM product.. I soon realized that it was FAR superior, and it's only $10 more! I got my money back from WestMountain Radio and bought one!
What do you get for that extra $10? A far superior product that also includes RIG CONTROL! You have to go all the way to the Rigblaster PRO ($300!) to get rig control.
This is a great product.. I have it working FB with DX4WIN and MMTTY and Writelog. Also, I use it with an FT-2000D, an ICOM IC-756PROIII and an ICOM IC-7000 .. all, work beautifully.
Buy one, you won't regret it.
|
|
K3UG
|
Rating: 5/5
|
May 22, 2008 21:42
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Excellent Product
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
Bought it at Dayton 2008 .. had it working within about 10 minutes of installing it.
I mainly wanted an interface for my IC7000 for portable use with Writelog and MMTTY.. both work FB and I have true FSK by using EXTFSK. (FSK on the DTR not the TXD). CW is also FB. I'm not a PSK31 enthusiast, so have not tested that aspect of it.
High quality, and works FB. My Rigblaster Pro is for sale!
|
|
N2RRA
|
Rating: 5/5
|
May 22, 2008 20:46
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Awesome! Buying another!
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
Can't say I've had any problems with brokens wires like the fellow down below, but I guess if your not careful it's easy to blame the other guy.
I've had mines for 2 years and it has been working flawlessly, and now adding another to the shack to an Icom 7000. I highly recommend this unit for ease of digital communications.
73!
|
|
AD7EF
|
Rating: 4/5
|
May 22, 2008 20:25
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Works great, but the cables don't travel well
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
I've had my unit for about a year and a half. I bought it with cables for both my Icom 756-ProII base-station and the Yaesu FT-897D I use on the road.
Initially, I found that the microHAM USB Interface II performs as advertised. I used it with HRD to experiment with a wide variety of digital-mode programs.
I probably wouldn't have spent the money on the Icom cable-set if I had known how inconvenient it is to switch between different styles of radio with this interface... you have to open the case and move a bunch of jumpers around to switch between the Icom and Yaesu configurations.
However, I primarily wanted to use this interface when I was on business trips with the FT-897D. As I was saying, that went well for the first few trips, but then I started experiencing intermittent control problems, and intermittant audio on receive.
I checked the interface with my Icom system, and found it was working just fine there. So then, I opened my Yaesu and started looking for some loose connections around the CAT jacks. It's a long, sad story, but I managed to blow up my FT-897D when I mis-aligned a ribbon connector between two pcb's! In addition to several hours of sleuthing, I ended up buying the service manual and a $5 IC to repair that damage.
The problems were actually due to the flimsy 30-gauge solid-conductor wires in the interface cables. A couple of these wires had broken away from the connector pins in the D-connector that plugs into the interface box. After re-soldering the affected leads, everything was back to normal.
I don't know if microHAM has these cables made by another contractor, but they're nowhere near the quality of the circuitry inside the interface box. Probably not a problem if you install the hardware once or twice at a fixed location, but not a good choice if you plan to throw the cables in a "go kit".
I'm planning to rework the cables with better quality wire when I have the time, but for now I'm just real careful how I handle them, and I know what to look for if I experience further problems in the meantime.
73's
Mark
AD7EF
|
|
AI4LG
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Mar 4, 2008 05:57
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Still Fantastic!
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
Over a year later, my USB Interface II is still functioning flawlessly. Re: negative comments about Joe's customer service - My experience was exactly the opposite. Prompt, helpful, and patient with my "senioritis." Gold standard customer service in my book! Read all the reviews here and consider how many are "0" - then form your own opinion of what may have happened!
de AI4LG - Rick
|
|
If you have any questions, problems, or suggestions about Reviews,
please email your Reviews Manager.
|
|
|
|
|
