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write your own review of the Blackcat Systems CI-V USB.
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K0ZL
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 16, 2009 20:42
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Black Cat Systems USB CI-V works with SPE EXPERT 1K-FA and Icom
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I am using the 4 port USB CI-V interface from Black Cat Systems on my station. We are only using two ports at this time, one for the Icom 756 non-PRO and one port for the Expert 1K-FA amp.
On our eMachines Vista computer, it came right up and found the USB device when I put in the supplied CD. It assigned the "box" to Serial Port 4. I set up Ham Radio Deluxe to go find the Icom on port 4, 9600 baud, same as the rig. Rig "CI-V TRANCEIVE" is set to ON.
The Expert, meanwhile, is connected via it's RS-232 port and a straight DB-9M-F cable to the computer's legacy serial port on the back; the Expert console software sees the amp on Serial Port 1.
When I control the rig from HRD, the Expert follows right along, beeping at me if I select a band for which I don't have an antenna.
I have not tried any of the less expensive USB CI-V adapters, but feel that the Blackcat is a "sure thing"; it's in a nice box, the drivers work well, and shipping was very fast. Why gamble on something cheaper, that might not work?
The box is very light and will mount nicely on a vertical surface with some sticky Velcro.
Inside the box, it can be seen that the manufacturers used a bit of filtering on the CI-V ports, which in the 2, 3 and 4 port models are simply paralleled. I have noticed no RFI on the system at all, running a KW to an 80M dipole 30' up and located about 20' south of the shack.
All in all, a great value and a great experience.
73!
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N1YE
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 4, 2009 18:02
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Good perfomer
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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This unit does what it was designed to do. It connects the CI-v control lines of my Icoms to my logging computer. It worked flawlessly out of the box under Windows XP and Ham Radio Deluxe. I had to download Linux drivers to use it with Ubuntu Hardy Heron, grig, and Xlog. On my system,it emulates Com 4 in Windows XP and /dev/ttyUSB0 under Linux.
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WE1X
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 30, 2007 05:07
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Simple and Affordable
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Purchased the 4 unit model two weeks ago. Prompt delivery. Installed easily with perfect connectivity among my IC-7800, 756ProII, 718, and R75. Using it with Ham Radio Deluxe and the companion DM780 multimode software, MixW, and Logger32 ... no problems whatsoever. A nice affordable alternative to Icom's CT-17.
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KB5DRJ
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 20, 2007 06:32
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Works perfectly
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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The USB CI-V from Blackcat Systems is a little white box with a USB plug on one end and a CI-V plug on the other. It interfaces a computer to a rig with a standard CI-V jack. The unit tucks nicely under my IC-718. It comes with a CD with Mac and Windows drivers. The cables are very long. so the computer could be about 12 feet away from your rig.
I am a Mac OSX user, but I run Virtual PC in order to run N3FJP’s software and occasionally Ham Radio Deluxe. When I ordered the USB CI-V from Blackcat Systems I was hoping that it would work in Virtual PC 7.02. I’m pleased to say that it does and the installation was simple - just install the OSX driver then set Virtual PC to use the USB CI-V as COM1 Port. Forget about fighting with Virtual PC’s USB support. Just set it up as COM1 and it’ll work great! :)
The CI-V USB also works great with MacloggerDX for OSX.
I do not know how this unit compares with other similar devices since I don't have any of the other devices. I do know that this unit works perfectly for me and deserves a 5.
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