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Reviews For: BuxCom Rascal

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

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Review Summary For : BuxCom Rascal
Reviews: 121MSRP: 49.00
Description:
Computer-radio interface
Product is in production
More Info: http://buxcommco.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
001214
W1JIM Rating: 2002-03-16
What more do you need? Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
There is not a lot to this. 2 transformers, an optoisolator, LED, resistor, cap and the required cables. Anyone who is into ham radio enough to be looking at this site could build this in an hour. Buck makes models for many different applications and it only costs $27.95 shipped priority. I got one for travelling with my 706 and just ordered another for the base. BOTOM LINE: It's simple, cheap and it works! If it looks too cheap then put it in an expensive box!
Oh, and Bucks a good guy!
W9VX Rating: 2002-02-28
The Rascal 3 is a Great Product Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I purchased the Rascal 3 in kit form for my Yaesu FT-847. It was a snap to build and works great. I use it for HF/VHF PSK31, SSTV, and Packet. I have never had a problem with it and had several questions that were answered quickly. I would recommend this product for anyone who wants to use a soundcard interface for digital modes.
HB9FNO Rating: 2002-02-18
This REALLY is plug and play...! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
...and not - as unfortunately quite often - plug and worry...

I've ordered one, did not once have to wait two weeks for getting it (living in Europe...), pluged it into my FT100 (into the rear side data-connection, not the mic-jack!) and had fun with it...!

No jumpers to set (like on my other interface I use with the TS690) and the radio's microphone still usable (which would not be possible with many other interfaces connected into a YAESU FT100).

Fine business, thank you BuxCom!

Dani, HB9FNO
W8BRI Rating: 2002-02-15
Great Product, Great Service Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I have purchased 2 of these units in the past year and have had no problems whatsoever. I initially had a couple of questions which were promptly answered. I would buy from Buxcom again in a heartbeat. Thanks for a great unit and great service Buck!

Brian W8BRI
V73GOD Rating: 2002-02-13
Ease of Use Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Own a RigBlaster and A RASCAL. I prefer the RASCAL for the following reasons: No Wall Warts, hate those extra power supplies and less cable spaghetti in the way. Works as well as the RigBlaster but like many I was disappointed that 2 Meters was not keyed on my IC-746. I can live with it. The case is cheap, the wires have no strain relief but it works and the price was low enough to try it (PSK) without shelling out a couple hundred for a TNC or a PK-232MBX arrangement that needs a new firmware every 20 days. It also works well off of my laptop so when I am island hopping, I can work PSK without any major gyrations and needs. It's a solid 4/5 here and it's been bounced around a lot in the past year. Bert WH7USA/V73GOD
KC9AWR Rating: 2002-01-31
fair to good Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Ordered the kit for a yaesu ft-90/100 for a yaesu ft-1500m.

The case is a soap box that you have to drill holes in for cable outlets and the LED.

Uses velcro to hold down the board in the case.

No strain relief for the cables, I used black tape to make a strain relief.

The kit was well documented and assembly instructions were good.

For $27.00 including S/H it is a good deal,uses two audio transformers to isolate radio and computer ground on the audio lines and a opto-isolator for the PTT isolation.

Assembley was straight forward, and includes a 6-pin socket for the opto-isolator to prevent burning it up during soldering.
NW7U Rating: 2002-01-17
Well, it works ok, but... Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I've built LOTS of kits in the last 27 years. I nearly kept Heath alive single-handedly. So this looked like a cheap and simple way to get on PSK.

And I did get it put together, and it does work. But if you've never built a kit, DON'T START HERE. Instructions are fair at best. The board has traces that require long heat times. And the enclosure is a joke --- mine is held together with 2 yards of electrical tape.

But my REAL complaint is the attitude. If you're not familiar with the ICOM 13 pin plug, you may not appreciate this --- the kit I bought was sold as being specifically for an ICOM 706. It arrived with a cable and bare plug.

I sent a nice email stating that my eyes weren't what they used to be and asked what my options were.

Instead of trying to sell me a made-up cable, which I would have purchased, THE GUY REAMED ME! He made it clear that if I was arrogant enough to buy a kit, I was on my own. It's the first time anyone in the ham radio sphere has ever told me to not bother them with questions.

In retrospect, looking at his site now, it's clear that he doesn't trust anyone to assemble his kit and doesn't want to hear about it if you have a question or issue.

Summary --- the kit works, Bux doesn't.

KC9ALQ Rating: 2002-01-17
Get what you pay for. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The Rascal will not key the VHF transmitter on the Icom 746.

I was amazed to receive the kit in 2 days, had it together in an hour. Found the generic directions/pictures to be somewhat confusing with no detail for your specific radio. The box and mounting stuff was pretty chincy but for 27$ I can't complain. I wouldn't recomend this as a first time kit to build.

Don't like the extra heavy duty Rascal to radio 5' coiled cord. The coil is so strong you stress the kit and radio to try get any length out of it.

No smoke when I plugged it up and I used the Rascal for a few weeks on HF doing PSK and SSTV. Then last week my 2 meter buddies wanted to try some stuff out on VHF. I thought something failed me when I couldn't send any data. For some reason the transmitter was not being keyed but the Rascal TX Led light was coming on just fine. I discovered if I manually keyed the transmitter things were all fine. We then moved to HF and found my Rascal was again working just fine.

Looking at the manual, it says that the PTT line for the accesory jack that the Rascal plugs into only keys the HF transmitter. So I went to BuxCom and got 2 real quick replies for my problem saying they don't have the radio doc's and that I have a setting wrong in the Icom.

After reading the manual some more I discovered that on another accesory jack there there is a PTT line for the VHF rig. BuxCom has yet to reply to my 3rd email.

Anyway, its obvious BuxCom doesn't do much testing. I don't understand how they can provide radio pinout withouts documentation on the radios. I think the real fault is with Icom, audio in and out of one jack with an HF PTT and for VHF PTT use another jack. I also feel Buxcomm is also at fault for not telling me the product only works on HF.

I have been reading about the rigblaster, while I don't know that it works I'm going to try one. It has a lot more features than the Rascal. Connects via Mic jack to eliminate above problems has a jack to feed your PC speakers else if you want PC audio when not doing radio you must swap cables, this gets quite annoying.

Anyway, the Rascal kind of works for the Icom. If you only do HF and don't mind swapping cables for PC audio then I would buy it again. I want to take advantage of the sound card TNC replacement software and manual keying of the transmitter is no longer acceptable.


K6HIP Rating: 2002-01-12
Decent could be better Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I give it a 3.5 for the following reasons:

1. Cheaply put together.

A. Much of the assembly is secured via "hot glue"

B. Strain relief is in the form of wires tied
in knots instead of using proper strain relievers

2. Missing important feature:
Absolutely no "on/off/bypass" switch in case
something goes wrong.

3. Enclosure doesn't stay closed and is made from
a cheap plastic "travel soap" container. Mine
came from the factory "scotch taped" closed.

The lid doesn't hold itself on and the entire
enclosure is molded from cheap plastic. This
also doesn't help it keep from picking up
stray RF.

4. For $50, it has about $6 dollars worth of
parts, and from the looks of the construction,
about $3 worth of someones time to put
together.

on the PLUS side, it did actually work as advertised for the most part, and
did show up so I can't moan too much.

I will probably buy a rigblaster next time.
K7MNS Rating: 2002-01-12
Great Product Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Bought the Rascal/SE. The PTT switch did not work when it arrived, so Buck had me send it back. He promptly fixed it and returned it. Great product with excellent support.