Print

[AC1LC]

First and foremost I'm a cheap Yankee.  Rather than buy a Signalink for the occasional Winlink email it was suggested to me to buy an audio USB dongle and the related cord that plugs into the 6 pin data port on my Yaesu FT450D.  I did - I got this audio/USB adapter - https://www.sabrent.com/product/AU-MMSA/usb-external-stereo-3d-sound-adapter-black/#description

It's plug and play, no drivers required.  Supposed to work on Windows, Linux and Mac.  I'm running Winlink via WINE on Ubuntu on an old Macbook laptop that I use for my radio setup.  I can also run Windows 10 via Virtualbox on Ubuntu and Windows 10 on my newer Macbook via Bootcamp.  Yeah, I know...buy a Windows laptop.....see first line above...cheap Yankee.

The sound adapter is recognized when it's plugged in.  I plugged a set of headphones into the output port from the computer on the adapter and it works so I know the computer recognizes it.  I can see the adapter listed when I go into Ubuntu settings too.

When I fire up Winlink and attempt to set up the parameters for broadcast transmissions vs telnet I get an error message back telling me that the COM/Serial port will not open.  I then tried it on the Virtualbox and under device manager COM/LPT is says the hardware is not installed.  But, the adapter does show under the sound devices.  I plugged my Anytone 878 into the computer as I use Virtualbox for the CPS software for the radio and it immediately saw the radio and assigned a COM port to it so I know the computer is doing that correctly.

What else should I be looking at?  I haven't used Windows in years having switched totally to Mac OS about 15 years ago.  I'm still learning my way through Linux/Ubuntu so I'm not sure which direction to go with that either.  I tried several of the different mode settings for Winlink and they all return the same error message when it tries to start - COM unable to start.

[KG4RUL]

What you have installed, for the USB audio dongle, is a CODEC (Coder/Decoder) for processing audio.  What Winlink is looking for is a serial com port for radio control.

[K4GTE]

A USB audio dongle will not work with Winlink. As KG4RUL stated, Winlink needs radio control. Get a Signalink USB.

[AC1LC]

OK thanks.  I know the audio adapter will work for FT8 - supposedly - so I guess I have to spend the $ for a Signalink.

[W1VT]

Lenovo ThinkCentre M92p SFF - i5 3570 @ 3.4 GHz-8 GB RAM -256 GB SSD -Win 10 Pro
Buy something like this just for ham radio.  A surplus industrial computer with a built in serial port.

Only use it for ham radio and you can significantly reduce your risks of getting hacked.  Download stuff with your Mac and move it to the shack PC.
Buy a big monitor.  They aren't that expensive if you just need size.