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| Reviews Summary for Navigator by US Interface |
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Reviews: 41
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Average rating: 5.0/5
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MSRP: $369
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Description: The Navigator is a high quality interface between the rig and the computer, for use in running the digital modes such as PSK31, Olivia, MFSK, Hellschreiber, MT-63, etc. It also works fine for SSTV using many popular software programs such as MMSSTV.
The Navigator interfaces to the rig using a USB port, thus it does not require a serial port on the computer. It provides CAT control to the rig via a serial connection from the Navigator to the rig. The Navigator is completely configured and defined in software, and future updates are expected to be flash-ROM updates that can be installed by the user.
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More info: http://www.usinterface.com
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write your own review of the Navigator by US Interface.
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LU5OM
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 19, 2008 14:56
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FINALLY...DIGITAL PEACE!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Life is never easy in the digital world (except if you do CW, of course! :-).
The Navigator is a very solid interface and, in my case, it only took a few emails and phone calls to have Glenn and Clint direct me towards digital success.
I checked into the forum and there was Clint ready to help....I had a problem with my cable and Clint was willing to accept my phone calls and help me repair it.
I am a happy fellow and perhaps now I can enjoy RTTY as much as I did, 35 years ago, with my modified TR4, Hal ST5 and the model 15 Teletype machine. Life was noisier in those days, of course, but it was certainly much simpler.
I do a lot of CW...the K1EL keyer inside the Navigator is also a pleasure to use.
My radio is a Yaesu FT857D (no FSK...you will have to do AFSK)
My (main) software is Logger32 + MMTTY + MMVARI;
Contest software, N1MM. But, the Navigator also works like a charm with Digipan and MixW and other programs.
Just one USB cable to the PC...what a relief! No more fiddling around with those dreadful Windows sound controls. The navigator has its own quality sound card inside.
Glenn and Clint are very knowledgeable fellows and will assist you, and stay with you, until your unit is properly set up.
The Navigator is an exciting piece of equipment, and I can only give it my highest recommendation.
73
Manuel
LU5OM & CT4IK
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K9IUQ
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 19, 2008 04:00
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Worth Every Penny
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I bought this at Dayton Hamfest 08 and met Glenn and inspected the Navigator before buying. Even though it was WAY more money than my XYL wanted me to spend I bought it.
Now I am an experienced digital op, been doing it forever. Have had many interfaces. Rigblasters, Signalink, Microham, PK232 (:>
I know what makes for a good interface. I bought Navigator for 3 primary reasons. Builtin soundcard, Winkey onboard AND the biggie - it does FSK. Cheeper interfaces dont do the above 3 reasons.
Navigator is the top of the line. Works perfect. There is a very good readson it has a perfect 5 here on eham. Dont let the price scare you, it is worth every penny. Cant say that about many things these days..
Stan K9IUQ
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VE7AXU
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 17, 2008 08:59
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Best of the best interfaces
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I've owned two of these in shacks for more than two years. They work flawlessly and without any glitches. They are very easy to use, and provide stable service without interuption. The designer and vendor both provide unparalled service when owners do have qustions. This is the one to own.
VE7AXU / VA7PX
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KF8KL
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 2, 2008 10:10
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Sets the standard
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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The Navigator sets the standard for interface hardware, only surpassed by Glenn's customer service. My Navigator is hooked up with a Tentec Jupiter. After having a slight problem (I neglected to change the Audio Source item on the Jupiter menu screen) I left a voice mail for Glenn. He called me back immediately even though he was on his vacation! We went through the different software screens and tweaked all the settings. Now that's customer service! The Navigator works flawlessly and I couldn't be happier with the product and the customer service. Bravo Glenn--amateur radio needs a few more like you. Mark--K8LD--
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W2RS
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 26, 2008 14:54
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Outstanding!
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I use the Navigator with two radios: the Argonaut V and the Orion II. Although both are from Ten-Tec, they are quite different. The Navigator works with both flawlessly, with no changes required except for plugging in the right Navigator-to-radio cable.
I'm 65 and retired, and certainly no computer expert. The telephone support from Glenn was outstanding, and with his help I got the Navigator installed and working with no problems. To me, that's reason enough for ordering one.
I use the Navigator on CW, RTTY and PSK, with MixW, HRD/DM780, and Winkeyer 2 software. Everything works as it's supposed to.
A great product.
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W5AER
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 5, 2008 23:39
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Top Quality
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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After buying several brands of interfaces, the Navigator is a keeper. The others either stopped working (RigExpert) or didn't do what they were supposed to (SignaLink). Having been a quality control manager, the Navigator rates at the top. Just like my Omni-VII, it does what it is advertised to do. I had hooked up directly to the Omni, and used VOX, but I didn't have the control I have with the Navigator. Certainly worth the cost.
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K0XD
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 29, 2008 20:16
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Great hardware, Super customer service backup
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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HARDWARE WORKS PERFECTLY ESPECIALLY WITH HRD AND DM780 BUT BEST OF ALL IS CUSTOMER SERVICE WITH ANY COMPUTER AND SOFTWARE PROBLEMS. GLENN WILL GET IT WORKING!
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ZL1WN
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 13, 2008 19:04
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I 'm buying another
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I ordered my Navigator via the Internet, it arrived in NZ (yesterday) very quickly.
It took me less than 2 hours to have it up and running, in which time I had to find the bits to make up the interface cables for my Orion II.
The software loaded perfectly on my Vista machine.
The manuals are very good and lead you step by step with setting up the normal digital programs.
It was much easier to get going than my normal sound cards, which use virtual ports etc.
I had a couple of questions for Glenn, about using the Navigator with various programs I need for EME, those have been answered extremely fully and quickly.
Would I buy another, yes, I will shortly place an order for another unit, which I will use with a forthcoming Elecraft K3.
Disclaimer: I have no connection with USInterface except as a very satisfied customer.
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WG9U
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 9, 2008 08:07
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Superior Engineering and Design Feature Sets.
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I’m in a profession where you only hear about your failures and never the successes, with respect to consumers/customers, it’s the nature of engineering for the most part. However, I received my new Navigator yesterday and after some relatively extensive examination and practical application, I have to say the actual unit/product has exceeded its hype on the forums, and the marketing literature. Thus, the reason for the review.
A plethora of individuals in this section have already pointed out some of the most outstanding feature sets and engineering designs, so I won't go over the same ground twice. In fact, there are so many features you need to go to the site and spend some time researching the device. Before moving on, I would like to briefly interject, that the noise floor specs. that Glenn touts are actually, quite conservative. The Navigator's performance in field testing was quite a bit more impressive. More on that later.
In reality, I’m a skeptic by nature, a critical survival instinct in my professional, which makes my next statement all the more pertinent. The Navigator unit is one of the most well designed, best manufactured digital interfaces I have used to date, bar none. The surface mount assembly is of excellent quality, and the case design could pass Mil Spec – MIL-HDBK (1000 – 1499). OK, you may have to add an insane quantity of additional screws…! The organization, conciseness, and clarity of the documentation would allow my seven (7) year old grandson to install and configure the device, and have it up and running in under thirty (30) minutes. Additionally, with the exception of the actual radio interface cable, the package came complete with every item you need to get up and running. Everything from application software, operating system drivers, and a audio CODEC, to USB interconnect cable was included, nothing further to buy. The “all-in-one” Navigator has eliminated multiple devices in my shack and greatly reduced my overall long term equipment costs and clutter.
The flash update capability is a very attractive and necessary feature for me personally. A note on that; actually Glenn and I spoke about this and although it IS direct flash capable, the US Government required them to limit that functionality to its units only. Commercial upgrades will be handled by use of software downloads... Effectively, same same, for the end-user.
You may be asking, so what's that noise floor mombo jumbo and what does that mean to me? Simply stated; you can detect signals i.e. see them in the waterfall (and decode), that are buried in the the noise with other interfaces. I contribute that to the superb RFI filtering and audio isolation. I did a comparison between the Navigator and two top name brand interfaces that I own, utilizing a simple static environment methodology (SEM) and the results were quite definitive, although it was a subjective comparison, from a standardized product testing perspective. The Navigator exhibited a marked sensitivity advantage, with regard to signal reception. Please note, that the results I obtained were based on controlled, however, very limited test parameters, and were strictly subjective in nature. Your results may vary based upon a multitude of environmental variables, such as computer, radio, transmission line isolation, RF leakage, etc. in your particular shack. I am confident however, that in a comparative test between interfaces in your particular environment, the results will be similar, relatively speaking.
The bottom line is that in my brief experience with the Navigator, it is a superior device electrically and functionally, in all respects. I can say without a doubt that this was the best equipment investment I’ve made in a long time, and worth every penny.
73,
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KA0G
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 27, 2008 12:40
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Outstanding! Does everything I could expect
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I received my Navigator two days after ordering it. No small task since Glen is on the other side of the country. Once I cleared up one ambiguity about how the comm ports were set up, I was up and running. This unit works flawlessly. If only HRD had direct FSK, things would be even better. MMTTY does support direct FSK though, and my TenTec Orion II works nicely with the Navigator as the interface. The sound codec in Navigator is awesome too! The waterfall is much cleaner when compared to my old computer sound card.
The $369(US) might seem a little steep to some. To me, it is a very worthwhile investment.
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