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Reviews For: G3LIV Isoterm-Multicon Interfaces - All models

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

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Review Summary For : G3LIV Isoterm-Multicon Interfaces - All models
Reviews: 145MSRP: between £40 and £60
Description:
Rig to PC interface with opto-isolator.
Fits most rigs (hf and vhf/uhf)
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.g3liv.co.uk
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
151455
VE1VOX Rating: 2010-11-15
AAA+++ Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Finially I got serious about giving PSK a try. Wanted a quick setup reliable and good looking. Where else to look but eham. Johnny had a solid 5 count so I thought I would give his USB interface a try. I was not sorry. I can only echo what everyone else has already said. I had a couple of computer hiccups, nothing to do with the interface, just a finicky netbook. Johnny helped me through these although it had nothing to do with his hardware. Quick replies and patience with a "newbie", Johnny was great to deal with. If only all products had the customer service that G3LIV offers. Give his products a try, it's money well spent.
M0TTY Rating: 2010-09-26
The Best Time Owned: more than 12 months.
If you are looking for an interface for the digital modes, and are concerned about quality, performance, ease of use, reliability and good old fashioned customer support, then Johnny G3LIV is your man with his range of interfaces.

I have to say before i continue this review, that i am in no way associated with Jhonny in anyway, other than a highly satisfied repeat customer.

I originally ordered off of Johnny the Isoterm multicon cw back in 2006, this unit has performed faultlessly to present. There was no install issues with setting up jumpers etc. with this unit as there simply isn't any, just an rs232 coms connecter for rig ptt control and two 3.5mm jacks for audio to/from interface & pc.
What i found just as useful is that Johnny, with his interfaces, incorporates a mini 6 pin din socket on the units, this is used for the rig output/input audio and tx using a lead terminated in a mini 6 pin din plug at one end for the interface, and the reqd. data plug for the various rigs data/accessory ports terminated at the other.
So should you have various rigs that you use on digi modes, it just leaves you requiring the applicable leads and not a seperate interface for each rig used.
The same applies if you originally ordered an interface for lets say an Icom 7400, ( as all interfaces come ready wired for your choice of rig, included in the price, at the time of order ), which you later parted with for a Yaesu ft2000d, you would just need to contact Jhonny for the replacement lead, should you not be confident wiring your own.
I have been so impressed with Johnnys products, that i have ordered many units for friends and fellow hams, as well as pointing many to his site.
I ordered his ISOTERM DUAL DELUXE 4 days ago, as i have a Yaesu ftdx9000d that i use on hf, And a Kenwood ts2000 that i use for vhf/uhf digi modes as well, this interface is living up to Jhonny's excellent standards, controlling each rig at a push of a button, no changing leads any more, phewww, hi hi.
As you may be able to tell, Johnny manufactures various interfaces for various situations, so check out his site, or give the guy an email or call, he is very pleasant to talk to, humorous and will not try to sell you something you do not need, and any problems/questions you may have are swiftly answered or rectified.
The products speak for themselves, as many others who have left reviews here have said.

All in all, an excellent product, an excellent service and an excellent guy

Well done Johnny de daz M0TTY
G4KHG Rating: 2010-07-03
Excellent product ! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I thanked Johnny, G3LIV, for the ultra-prompt despatch of the Isoterm Multicon USB which arrived carefully and soundly packed.
It is a very handsome piece of equipment and it works extremely well with both my Icom 756PROIII and (with change of cable from unit to rig) on my holiday Icom 706MKIIG.
A big bonus is the facility to adjust transmit and waterfall drive easily from the front panel of the unit.
I am delighted with it. Many thanks to Johnny for fine product and service--Eddie, G4KHG
HS0ZIB Rating: 2010-06-24
Great product - and great customer service! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I purchased a Multicon USB unit to use for PSK31 with my Kenwood TS-850S at my QTH in a rather remote part of Thailand. The unit was delivered after about 3 weeks (normal period for Thai postal service!). After installation, the unit worked just fine - no problems at all.

A week or so later, the transmit drive levels suddenly dropped to a very low level. I contacted Johnny and he checked previous fault reports to see if he could identify the problem. It transpired that a 10k resistor in the transmit drive path had gone high in value (very unusual fault and Johnny binned his stock of 10k resistors as a result of finding this fault - in case the resistors were a bad batch).

Due to my remote location, I had no possibility to purchase a new resistor, but found that the unit worked just fine if I simply bypassed the failed resistor and adjusted my transmit drive levels.

Imagine my surprise a few weeks later when out of the blue I received a postcard from Johnny with two 10k resistors attached!!

Since that incident, I have used my Multicon every day without problems, making contacts into the USA and South America with 100 watts and my trusty (and very good) Zero-Five 43 foot vertical antenna.

I'm shortly moving back to Phuket Island again (IOTA AS-053), and of course my Multicon USB interface will be going with me. Thanks again Johnny for a great product and especially for your outstanding after-sales and support service in my time of need! - Simon
W5LZ Rating: 2010-05-28
Happy camper! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Just received a 'Dual Deluxe Interface' which can switch between two radios with the push of a button. Only took me about half an hour to get working. That's fast for me, and no reflection on the instructions which are good. Maybe 30 seconds to 'adjust' for each radio, then everything was working.
This is all in a mobile, by the way. Only 'problem' now is cleaning up the 'dead bug' cabling all over the seats. That can wait, I'm having too much fun playing right now to bother with it.
My experience with this sort of thing is dated, it's been quite a while since I've dealt with it. Wasn't any such thing as USB then, I'm totally lost with that part of it. Even built a couple of interfaces in the 'dark-ages' (MsDos-3, said I was dated!)
I'm very satisfied. That G3LIV may drive on the wrong side of the road, but he can make a nice interface.
Paul / W5LZ
G3UEQ Rating: 2010-05-12
Fantastic interface Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
A friend of mine recommended this, ordered it and it arrived 3 days later. Drivers loaded perfectly, set everything up and had contacts on PSK31 in minutes. Use it on TS-450SAT and Icom IC-706MK2, isolation is great, no hum loops etc.Well done Johnny!
W8JXM Rating: 2010-04-29
WHAT A GUY !!! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Needed something simple for PSK. Chatted with Johnny and I was sold. Isoterm arrived 6 days after order. Packed very well and all cables included. On the air in 15 minutes and Johnny was there to "hold my hand" if necessary. Been having a ball on PSK. 93 reviews say it all Johnny the Gent and his products are 5++++
EI4DQ Rating: 2010-04-22
v good Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Purchased the usb isoterm , from johnny g8liv worked first time, After first installing the drivers, Looks nice, Works well. I use mine on eme, I did a small mod on the cable , so it would first switch my sequencer, Great job thanks Johnny
G0CAS Rating: 2010-04-14
Very good Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I also had the FSK problem (and just one other minor little niggle) on my TS2000 but after several hours on the telephone Johny arranged to send me a new PCB which arrived just 4 days later. I fitted it and then everything worked flawlessly. (once we managed to install the drivers correctly - my fault).
Thank you Johny for a good product.
Thank you also for the excellent support without which I would have never got into the data modes.
The amount of time Johny spent on the telephone sorting out my problems made the cost of the unit well worth it.
I am happy to leave the feedback you asked for.
GOOD STUFF !!
G0RIF Rating: 2010-04-07
Great! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I've had my Isoterm Multimode interface a few days now and I'm very pleased with it.

I did get one a few weeks ago but I too had the FSK issue which seems to be due to Yaesu making some changes in the FSK keying voltage required on newer rigs - I have an FT-950.

Having discovered the issue and having spoken to Johnny on the phone at length trying to resolve it he sent me a test board with different opto isolators to try. I confirmed that this now keyed the FSK line with the new opto isolator and I confidently ordered my revised unit.

Sat on top of the radio this unit really looks the part and in use it works a treat. CW keying and FSK RTTY are both working just fine as is PSK31 where the pots to vary audio drive levels in and out are a real advantage (for PSK31 and similar digimodes) where a degree of fine tuning on audio in/out is required.

As many have said before me, Johnny is a true gent and a pleasure to speak to and do business with (did I mention his immediate offer of a full refund and the speed with which this was credited back to my PayPal account on realising the initial FSK issue...?).

All in all a great unit at a good price from a genuine nice guy. Thanks Johnny.

Dean - G0RIF