| N3VMC |
Rating:      |
2008-07-09 | |
| Works flawlessly |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
Ive never had a problem with my RigBlaster plus! I work all the digital modes worldwide without a hitch! It was easy to setup and it is easy to use! I have it hooked up to my Icom Pro-III and I wouldnt change a thing!
I know a handful of hams who bought this after I purchased mine....they say the same thing....I even gave them a hand in setting them up! Dosent take a rocket scientist! |
|
| WB6Q |
Rating:  |
2008-02-17 | |
| In my junkbox |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| I have purchased a few ham related items in my day that turned out to be junk, but this takes the cake. Tried to install the drivers from the CD and that wouldn't work. Went to the items listed on the disk and did an install, maybe, my computer said the drivers installed but who knows. When I tried to read cw and psk31 using their programs I got nothing but gobblie gook. The only thing that worked was the mike connection through the RIGblaster plus. I hated the thing so much I didn't even call West Mountain Radio to see if somehow it could be fixed. This unit is a good idea gone really bad, and I got burned for 150 bucks. Thought about selling it on e-bay, but unlike AES that sold it to me, I could not unload this on another person and live with myself. |
|
| G8IOK |
Rating:   |
2008-01-30 | |
| If your transceiver has CAT then this is not needed |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
This device has no isolation transformers therefore there is no isolation between your computer and your transceiver.
If you have a rig like an FT1000MP or FT847 then it has CAT plus various data sockets. Plug your serial cable between the computer and the rig plus the audio cables via the data port and you will have effectively the same set up for PSK31 or RTTY. Better still get a two (for mono) or four (for stereo - Softrock etc.) and get the audio isolation you may have thought you were getting with one of these.
My homebrew interface sports 4 transformers and 4 LED isolation chips giving me full isolation between computer and rig.
The only features you will be missing are:
1)the ability to send CW via the computer and
2)a microphone switch (which is irrelevant when using the data port).
On the positive side the CD is a good compilation of soundcard software. If you do not have CAT then the VOX transmit relay facility could make the purchase worthwhile. |
|
| VE7GL |
Rating:   |
2007-10-28 | |
| Missing a key feature |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| There is audio isolation on the input but not on the output. This can create RFI and audio hum issues for those using this unit for any kind of audio back into the computer, DVK for example. I've had to add external audio isolation for both the RIGblaster Plus units I own, and for the price of an additonal $3 transformer that shouldn't have to be. |
|
| KG5I |
Rating:     |
2007-05-01 | |
| Nice, reliable interface |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I have owned my Rigblaster Plus for a couple of years now. It has worked as advertised since the day I installed it. I'm the first to admit it can be tricky getting the audio in/outs all setup. For example I had to use a Y-adapter from the sound card speakers because for some reason they would not play when plugged into this unit. Small issue that was easily solved.
Recently the mic cable adapter begin to lose connection causing a loud buzz in my tx audio. I ordered a replacement cable and back now as good as new. You can find them priced under $100 online which is a very good price for a solid-performing interface. It does an excellent job of isolating that mic. I think my favorite feature is the CW-keyer. Let the Rigblaster do the dahs & dits. (well for now anyway until I can get a Begali) I have enjoyed this Plus model so much, I actually bought the Pro a couple of weeks ago. Now the fun really begins. |
|
| W6CJ |
Rating:  |
2006-12-20 | |
| Not Impressed - An Expensive Mike Switch |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I purchased a WMR Rigblaster Plus, along with an SCS PTC2-EX TNC, in hopes of having all of the digital modes at my disposal- for both Amateur and MARS routine and emergency communications. It did not meet my high expectations.
The advertising implied that the Rigblaster Plus can be left connected to a transceiver without connecting/disconnecting mikes and audio cables. Wrong. About all you get is the 'convenience' of leaving the mike attached (to the Rigblaster), but you have to throw the mike switch in many circumstances. You still have to deal with connecting/disconnecting speaker or headphone cables as you switch from the Rigblaster Plus back to normal operation, or build Y-adap[tors and yet more hookups. WMR should have gone all the way and provided a design that can be left connected. My radio room now looks like a junior science project when I operate soundcard modes. In some radios, you must connect the radio mike to the Riblaster Plus rear panel and connect their mike jumper between the front panel and your mike input. This is awkward with some mikes or headsets.
The manual is a joke. The "basic station hookup diagram" does not show cable location on the computer, or more importantly, on the rear of the Rigblaster Plus. The internal jumpers (different for each radio make or model) in the manual were in error, so errata sheets were enclosed. The errata sheets, however, are apparently B&W copies of color printouts and you cannot see some of the jumper terminations.
Setting levels sounds easy. Not. Connecting the receiver output to the computer input, then watching the PSK31 "waterfall" worked great (I think because the Rigblaster Plus was not involved). Next, you have your radios SSB/ALC/VOX working normally. Now you have to adjust levels in the computer and on the back of the Rigblaster Plus. I could not find a medium setting where the signal would hold VOX reliably and not drop out or cause the VOX to cycle. You may find that when chasing audio level settings in the computer and on the rear of the Rigblaster Plus won't work, you may end up changing levels in the transciever- requiring yet more computer and Rigblaster settings.
The housing and board were well made, however, the RJ45 jack seemed loose and travels up and down a little.
If you want the soundcard modes for reliable disaster, MARS, or special events communications then I cannot suggest one of these. By the time you made all the adjustments and finished playing with the cables someone could have handled the emergency traffic with a morse key at 10 WPM. Too many variables and things to go wrong. My Rigblaster Plus is not going to be a part of my deployable HF-VHF-UHF transit case station. I'll find another way to use the soundcard modes.
On the other hand, if you like experimenting and tweaking (Lots of adjustments and cables to give a feeling of accomplishment) this may be the one for you.
WMR does make good products- I use their PowerGate and Rigrunner units in my personal stations and in my agency's EOC, and I may see if I like their USB computer interface better.
What I would like to see (Listen up WMR, SCS, Kantronics, HAL) is ONE BOX that will do all of the soundcard modes and TNC digital and analog modes- including Pactor 2 and 3- just connect it to the accessories jack on the rear of the transceiver, leave your mike/phones/speaker/key alone. |
|
| K7JBQ |
Rating:      |
2006-08-31 | |
| Great product, great software collection |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
After trying to get another Interface to work (turned on the transmitter and kept it on whenever the computer booted up, and conflicted with the modem) I swapped it back to HRO and got the Plus, which I should have done in the first place.
Earlier reviews were negative about the manual. The manual packed with the unit now is spot on. Follow it, step by step, recheck the jumper connections, and you'll be on the air in no time.
Worked PSK for the first time last night, and looking forward to getting back on RTTY and SSTV for the first time in many years. |
|
| KA2UUP |
Rating:      |
2006-08-31 | |
| 4 years later still the best |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
Since my last review I changed my computer to one with USB ports so i have to use a USB to serial converter. No problems there. MMMTTY and HamScope (uses the MMTTY engine) are no problem once the external FSK file is loaded.
I recently ordered a MixW PigExpert to get rid of some cable cluter. However, it is going back because of the mess in setting it up. So, I continue to use the RIGblaster because of its ease of use and reliability.
----------------------
Earlier 5-star review posted by KA2UUP on 2002-09-24
Just ordered the cable for true RTTY FSK operation with the ICOM-746 ACC1 port. Excellent reports all around.
I specially like the AUTO function. Excellent feature for us that tend to forget to "throw the switch" once in a while. Very well constructed.
Bert @ KA2UUP |
|
| W5DAG |
Rating:      |
2006-04-30 | |
| Outstanding Interface |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| This is one awesome little interface. I've used it with my ICom IC-746pro and IC-718 HF rigs; it's done a fantastic job with every digital mode I've thrown at it. When you combine it with MixW, Digipan, WxToImg, and other digital mode software packages, you have an all-around digital station that just won't stop. I plan to keep my Plus model for a long time; it's well worth the money I invested. |
|
| W4VD |
Rating:      |
2006-04-16 | |
| Great Product |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
After having a nomic that I was not impressed with, I must say this a very nice unit, easy to set up, once you have it installed correctly it like it's not even there, just operate whatever mode you want, SSB CW or digital and don't worry about the Rigblaster. It will all work automatically. Say you click SEND and transmit SSTV Scottie 1 when you meant to send Scottie 2, you can just key the mic and say "wait a sec", click scottie 2 and go again, it goes between the mic and the sound card with QSK speed, I had a homebrewed unit before this and I had to flip a switch to go from the PC to the mic, SSTV is so much easier with the Rigblaster Plus's auto mode,
90% of my time is on RTTY and I picked up the Plus unit mostly for the FSK keying feature, and it works great! It makes contest and crowded band conditions better without the use of AFC on AFSK. It's easier to pull out the weak signals.
I had it running in minutes overall, but mine wasn't too easy getting going on RTTY with the FSK keying feature, it seems the FSK is reversed on the TS-940 from the rest of the world and there was nowhere in the software to reverse the FSK, only in AFSK could you reverse it. Some folks said I would have to mod the unit for the 940, so I called West Mountain to get their opinion and they were very helpful, (and surprised that they weren't aware of this already) about 6 hours later they called and had located a neat little DLL file called EXTFSK and after extracting it to the MMTTY directory and restarting it, I had a little extra popup window in MMTTY with a checkbox for reversing the FSK (and several other neat things) and was QRV with FSK.
Excellent customer service |
|