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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
N7PUX Rating: 2004-12-15
Better than expected. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Ordering on the internet was easy. Shipping was prompt. Price was right. ($39.95). It worked when I plugged it into my Dell and Yaesu FT920. I couldn't ask for more and then I got the free CD and a little gift besides. Wow!
N9PVW Rating: 2004-10-26
Great Devise Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I'm also very glad I bought The Rascal GLX before I read the latest review. I ordered mine on Tuesday and had it Thursday. I couldn't ask for better service. Up and running in less that a hour without any complaints. It is connected to my TS870. Using Ham Radio Deluxe for software. For the price, you can't go wrong!
VE7RZ Rating: 2004-10-05
Buxxcom review Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I didn't have time to build an interface before field day, so i ordered it online Sunday nite, it was shipped Monday and I had it Thursday of the same week. It was truly plug and play and worked flawlessly. We tend to run FD pretty hard and it never gave me a hiccup in 24 hour of nonstop use. Best bang for the buck? You bet!!
N5KBP Rating: 2004-10-05
Best bang for the buck Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've built 2 of these and love both of them. The kits are complete and instructions are good enough. On both I have added circuitry for computer control inside the box supplied. As far as the customer support goes. I emailed Buck needing another copy of the assembly instructions and he emailed them back very quickly. To address some of the problems some people have been having.

1 No CW keying.
You can break the dtr or rts (depending on your software) out before it goes to d1 or d2 and tie it to the rtty transister. Then use that transistor to your CW jack. I have mine in parallel so I can use my hand key or the computer to do cw.

2 Not keying the vhf on the icom 746.
That Icom's fault not Buck's. Why they broke out a seperate keying line and put it on a seperate acc jack is beyond me. The solution I used is simple, just build another cable to plug into the acc jack that has the vhf ptt and run it in parallel with the hf ptt. Problem solved.

Overall the buxcomm interface is ther best bang for the buck available. It is very generic and may take a little modifying to make it do everything you want. If you don't want to do that or can't then spend more money for a fancy do all (which won't do as much as you can do with the buxcomm) interface.

Marty
N5KBP
K9FV Rating: 2004-07-14
No product support Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I ordered the Rascal GLK kit with the understanding it would work CW from the software programs with the purchase of an additional cable. From what I can see there is NO way this can happen because the software programs us pin #4 to key the CW line, and pin #4 is tied to pin #7 for the PTT.

IF Buck had some product support it would help, but I have searched and not found any way to contact him. The kit does work ok for RTTY and psk31.

Ken
N5KDA Rating: 2004-06-26
Quick and easy digital QSO's Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
After a couple of years of cables running all over the shack for RTTY, WSJT, and other modes I decided to clean things up a bit. I was also unable to use SSTV because I was using the mic port for TX and it was too much trouble to swap between the mic and computer during a qso. Using VOX to key the rig was also a pain because each mode seemed to have a slightly different audio level and I was always turning knobs to keep everything running. This little box from BuxCom works just as advertised. It was quick and easy to hook up and I was making qso's in less than 15 minutes. I run MMTTY, MMSSTV, WinPSK, and WSJT on my Icom 756 Pro II and The rascal runs them like a champ. Maybe I missing something but I don't see any reason to pay more when the RASCAL can do all of it for less. I ordered online and the unit arrived three days later. I haven't looked at the CD that came with it much but it looks like most if not all of the popular sound card mode software is on there along with some other stuff. My hat is off to K4ABT.
VE3TIZ Rating: 2004-02-20
Meets price point perfectly Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I put in my order for the Buxcom interface prior to reading these reviews. While waiting for the interface to arrive, I read with cautious amusement the comments made pro/con regarding this interface (and Buck's personality). As such, I've been anxious to write my own review once this product arrived and was installed in my shack.

1st Impressions; On-line ordering could have been easier. The process is a bit cumbersome but not too difficult. Somehow my VISA card did not make it to Buck correctly, but he was good enough to phone me LDX and let me know that I needed to re-submit my order, which I did. The important thing is that he does have a secure site for ordering. As promised, my order was shipped the next morning. Buck is prompt and also appears to be knowledgeable about how to ship a parcel to Canada. That is important to me.

The much derided "soap box" casing is not nearly as bad as some have claimed. The product is actually neatly constructed. Remember, this is a $39.99 interface! I believe you are getting just what you are paying for, perhaps a little more. The "soap box" case is perfectly functional and helps keep the price down.

The cabling is also well made and all correctly wired. I had my SSTV running in as much time as it took to run the cables between the computer and the radio. A few changes to the MM-SSTV setup (ie. COM1 keying) was all I needed to do. The inclusion of a free software CD-ROM was a nice touch.

Bottom line; Building an interface on your own can be frustrating and the parts can easily add up faster than one realizes. If you want to get on the air quickly and inexpensively, I would heartily recommend this product to you. If you want a fancy metal box and more features, fine... but for those who can't afford a Rigblaster or who want a more economical solution for whatever reason, the Buxcom interface is just right.
KH7L Rating: 2004-01-28
Good product Great value Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I got this shipped to Japan. Everything is straight forward. I did have a minor problem on my computer settings with my FT-817 but the Yahoo group guys offered suggestions on my mic settings.

Everything works great, RTTY and PSK is why I got it. They give you the schematics on CD for the various rigs to interface. I homebrewed a few cables of my own for older radios. 4 pin mic, 8- pin mic, etc.
KF6GOM Rating: 2004-01-10
Great Product Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
ordered the Rascal GLX and extra cables for my
Radios and worked perfectly.nice construction, and
loaded with extras on his CD that is included,
also built the Rascal in the Kit form for a Elmer
Ham and he enjoyed it as his Christmas Present.
Great to Deal with , Buck seems to be the Expert
when it comes to Packet Radio and Other Modes.
Overall Excellent Value and Price for The product.
KG4VPV Rating: 2004-01-02
Good Stuff Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Works great for everything I ask it to do. One thing though, more of a suggestion than a complaint. Redesign the box to use a db9 female. This will elminate the issue with having to do close quarters soldering with the wires (Which can be difficult with my fat fingers.), and cutting the end off of the supplied DB-9.