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Reviews For: K9JM CI-V Router

Category: Interfaces, Radio to computer, amp, rotor, coax switch, internet

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Review Summary For : K9JM CI-V Router
Reviews: 8MSRP: 160.00
Description:
An intelligent CI-V interface for Icom PW-1 amplifiers.
Product is in production
More Info: http://k9jm.com/CIV_Router/CI-V%20Router.html
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0084.1
WA9IVH Rating: 2021-07-04
Buy one...it works! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I added a used Icom PW-1 amp to my shack in January 2021, and was concerned about possible CI-V bus collisions. Also, I use a SteppIR Yagi, so I was looking for dedicated CI-V ports to connect my radio, PW-1, and SteppIR to. The K9JM router was the answer! There were some simple DOS-style steps to configure, but the manual provides the information you need. Once done, it's "set and forget." An added benefit...the router sends the radio's status every few seconds, so my SteppIR no longer needs a logging program to be running on the computer to send freq. information to the SteppIR and the PW-1. In fact, as long as the radio is powered up, the antenna and PW-1 get the information they need. (Assuming your PW-1 is one of the later models with this capability.) Very slick!
AD0YO Rating: 2019-07-25
It just works! Time Owned: N.A.
Unboxed it, plugged in the included wall wart. Connected between my ICOM IC -7300 Remote jack and a USM serial adapter plugged into my Windows 10 Pro.

It Just Worked!
KU4SD Rating: 2018-04-17
Works but needs updating Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
The concept is great, and it works fine, but there is an issue. The router crashes on an Icom 756 Pro 3 above around 28.4 Mhz. I cant use the router and work the 6 meter band or most of the 10 meter band. The manufacturer knows about the issue and really needs to fix it. He told me it does the same thing on a 7300 but since he owns an Icom 756 Pro 2 he cannot see the error. I am hoping to see an update to the software to fix this issue, but the software hasn't been updated since 2016. I would have given this a 5 rating if this issue did not exist because it does what it is supposed to do otherwise.
K2AK Rating: 2014-12-25
Does Not Work For Me Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I spent at least 6 hours trying to get this to work properly. I went step by step through the guide and could not get the PW-1 to synchronize with radio 2. Worked fine with Radio 1 but not at all with radio 2. Went round and round with seller/engineer/whoever and was tired of the insults that I didn't know what I was doing. He kept stating that I didn't explain what I did. Very disappointed! Obviously there is a defect in the unit that I received. I went back to the CT-17 and have no problems at all. My experience with this product is very disappointing. I am a software engineer of over 20 years and ham for 38 years so I am not stupid like the seller accused me of being.

Jeff - K2AK
KQ4KK Rating: 2014-11-24
Easy to setup Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Jim, Got your CIV-A Arduino router in the mail about an hour ago. I downloaded the 31 pages of instructions….. JEZZZZZ. What did I get myself into.

I started reading the first 10 pages or so…jezzz. So, I downloaded the Arduino zip file and guessed at the USB drivers. Installed them.

Plugged in the router with the provided USB cable, plugged in my STEPIR controller that I had been using on another ICOM, plugged in my PW-1, and plugged in my ICOM 9100. Started HRD.

Did not use the wall wart provided.

Turned them all on. Set the STEPIR controller to GEN COV Mode.

THEY ALL WORK, TRACK AND DO WHAT THEY ARE TO DO the first time. Did not read the other 20 pages.

Thank you
KZ1W Rating: 2014-06-03
easy and it works Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I now have two for multi ops, works fine with 756P3s and THP amp+tuner or RigExpert amp and N1MM or DXlab and Bandmasters and SteppIR controller. No glitches and reliable band changing and frequency tracking across the board. I did find that when swapping radios around, the router needs to have no power - both usb and wall wart so it looks for the new radio.
W7TUS Rating: 2013-10-08
Solves the problem Icom didn't solve Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
When I bought my Icom IC-PW1 I also joined the PW1 Discussion Group on Yahoo! By the time the PW1 arrived I had read all about the CI-V issues when using more than one radio. There were several proposed solutions and the quickest one for me to implement was the K9JM CI-V Router. It arrived quickly and I got it up and running with a couple of mornings work. I called Jim a couple of times for clarification and he got back to me quickly with clear and concise answers. The customer service is excellent. I've been using it for about 6 months now and there hasn't been a single glitch. It's like having a 1KW transceiver. I use Ham Radio Deluxe (V6.1) and all I have to do is double click on a spot in their spotting program and the Icom IC-756PROIII, the PW1, the SteppIR antenna all change to the selected frequency/band. I have integrated it with a US Interface Navigator for digital modes and the entire network works without a hitch.
W6DE Rating: 2013-05-03
What a CT-17 should be Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have been using K9JM CI-V Router over a year now. The CI-V Router is what the CT-17 should have been. The CI-V Router is the computer interface between your computer and your radio/PW-1/antenna.

The K9JM CI-V router is one solution to the problems described in K8UT's web site article: "Riding the CI-V Bus."

I am no longer afraid of frequent band changes when using my ICOM PW-1 and ICOM 756 PRO III radio with a computer logging program. The amount of relay sequences has gone from sometimes two clicks per band change to always being one set of clicks per band change.

The CI-V Router also eliminates the erratic and erroneous band changes that sometimes happened with slight frequency tuning, i.e., when tuning to hear the other station better.

I am very pleased with my PW-1 now simply because the the CI-V Router makes the PW-1 the amplifier it should have been in the first place.