| AC1LC |
Rating:      |
2022-09-07 | |
| What a difference! |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I'm a cheap Yankee so I always try to pinch pennies when I can. Rather than buy a Signalink or other brand soundcard I went the cheap route and got a $7 USB soundcard online and put together my own cables that went from the soundcard to the headphone and mic jacks on my Yaesu FT450D. It worked....for the most part. I could send and receive emails on Winlink and tried FT8 with WSJT-X and I did work stations all over Europe and the U.S. But at times it just didn't want to work as there seemed to be a lot of noise in the system.
I bit the bullet, broke open one of the mason jars I had buried in the back yard and bought a Signalink. Got it yesterday morning and hooked it up. Wow! What a difference. Before WSJT-X was showing maybe 6 or 7 callers on the roster, now there's so many I can't keep up with them. I'm picking up stations in China and Indonesia. Never saw them on the list before. I couldn't see anyone other than the US, South America, Europe and the middle east. It's the same antenna, same radio, same computer so the Signalink has to be the difference. Winlink seems to work much faster too. I'm assuming it's because of the reduction in noise from my homebuilt system versus the Signalink setup that plugs into the data port on the rear of my radio. Well worth the purchase price in my opinion. Setup was very easy, Tigertronics provides step by step instructions with photos that lead you through the process. Got to the last step, fired it up and the screen on WSJT-X came alive. So glad I finally did this the right way and got the unit. Next step is to figure out how to do RTTY! |
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| K7LRB |
Rating:      |
2021-04-15 | |
| Why use anything else? |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
Not sure why there is more than one place to post a review for the SignaLink USB, but here is a 'reprint' from the "other post" :
Very best wishes and GREETINGS!
Larry here, K7LRB. I have been a ham for over 61 years and have been very active the entire time, including when I was deployed overseas. Most of that time, particularly early on, I have worked primarily CW. I have been working the 'digital' modes (please, let's not start the CW is/is not a digital mode nonsense!) since the Commodore 64 days, mainly RTTY, before AMTOR was even a 'twinkle in the eye' of its originator. In any case, over the past, approximately, 20 years I have used a plethora of interfaces with mixed success, including 'homebrewed'. I have been using the Tigertronics SignaLink units for at least the past 15 years, beginning with the models SL-1 and SL-1+ and currently use SignaLink USB units. I currently own 7 of them (count 'em SEVEN!). The reason for the seven units is the topic for another discussion but, suffice it to say, I am trying to "cut back"!
I am VERY active on the digital modes, including but not limited to, PSK, Olivia, Contestia, et al; Packet, VARA, VARA FM, yadda yadda yadda. You get the picture. During ALL that time and with ALL the SignaLink units I have used, I have never had a single problem, issue or 'glitch' with any of the them at ANY time. I have used them in fixed station, mobile, portable, battery and solar powered operations with 0, as in ZERO, problems. The quality control is beyond reproach and the ease of use is beyond comparison. I have used "built in" sound cards in various rigs and, although they do "work", I find that they do not perform as well as a SignaLink and are not nearly as "user friendly". I find it hard to beat having TX, RX and 'Delay' controls 'always' at your fingertips; no menus! I have tried various other, stand alone, interfaces as well and have never found one that performs as well as the SignaLink.
I see that some users have reported "issues" and I simply do not understand it. I suppose it is possible for a "bad" unit to get shipped, but again, having owned and operated nearly a dozen units (over the years), I would think that, somewhere along the way, I would have experienced, at least, a 'similar' issue. IF I ever did have a problem, I have no doubt Tigertronics would promptly "make it right".
I will never "knock" another company's products but I simply do not understand why anyone would use anything else! The SignaLink is the epitome of 'user friendly', is very competitively priced and is backed by a company with a stellar reputation.
Thank you Tigertronics for GREAT products for ham radio!
Larry, K7LRB |
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| NN2X |
Rating:      |
2021-03-31 | |
| Great Support |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
Must recently, I got back into Ham radio (I did not want to leave in the first place, but that is another story)
I had issues setting up my Signalink, to the Rig, (FT 450), and I gave a call to Signalink, and left a message...2 hours later I got a call...(A real person)...And he spoke English! Oh, and highly technical...What a concept...
Bottom line, support is great, I can only imagine all the various rigs, and working with Ham Radio Deluxe with all the different situations, it has to be a nightmare..
Bottom line, great support I am up and running ! |
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| W0BKR |
Rating:     |
2021-02-02 | |
| Good unit, wish it did FSK |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| Mine is set up with the FT-1000MPMK5. Works okay but have to set the radio in packet mode to use it. Wish it would work in RTTY Mode and FSK. Cable from Signalink goes to PACKET DIN connection on radio. Other cable on signalink goes to Computers USB port (or one of them). I had to dink around with MMTTY settings to get the radio to transmit, kinda confusing but after a few hours, all is working. |
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| W3LFR |
Rating:      |
2020-12-02 | |
| Works great on FT8 |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| Mine is the USB model. It was a slight headache to open the unit and install six jumper wires. Otherwise it was easy to set up and operate with my Kenwood TS-590SG. I like the level controls on the unit so that I don't have to adjust the PC sliders. Both interface cables and a well-written instruction manual were included. They even included a hex key for opening the unit. I'm enjoying FT8 DX for the first time. |
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| W0AWL |
Rating:      |
2020-10-18 | |
| On the air in a couple of hours. |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| Set up was very easy due to the jumper module, and only two cables to connect. Configuring the FT8 program and making changes in Windows 7 sound control panel was also easy due to the enclosed directions which used pictures to assure you made the correct choice. |
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| W2VS |
Rating:      |
2020-06-07 | |
| WELL MADE DEPENDABLE PRODUCT |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I purchased the product just for VHF packet. I installed Winlink Express and the UZ7HO Soundmodem on an HP desktop computer. I am using a Yaesu FT-8800R dual bander.
The product comes with all the necessary cables. I highly recommend purchasing the jumper module for $9.95. The unit comes with stripped jumper wires but inserting them is fine work and while not all that difficult if you are not used to that kind of work just get the module.
The team at Tigertronics is friendly and helpful.
The instructions for the Signalink USB are well written and need to be carefully read!
The unit is really a "set it and forget it" device. I have the TX and RX set at 11 O'clock and have not changed the settings. As recommended DLY is fully counterclockwise.
There are many sets of instructions for setting up the Signalink USB with Winlink Express and the UZ7HO Soundmodem. One of the best is W4CA's and can be found at:
https://w4ca.com/winlink-express-over-vhf-using-signalink-usb/
Any problems you may encounter are far more likely to be caused by inputting wrong values in the Soundmodem and Winlink Express and not any issue with the TNC. So carefully go through those steps. Also, make sure you install the Soundmodem where it is easy to find! The default location may be difficult to find so install it where it can be found.
I highly recommend this product. It works as advertised and I have had no issues with it.
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| N5OFF |
Rating:      |
2019-01-20 | |
| Well made product! |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| I bought this product for my return to digital modes after a 25 year break. The documentation is outstanding. I ordered the included cable for my HF rig (Icom) and soldered the jumpers by hand (you can order a jumper bard for your rig but I didn't). Plugged it all in and followed the docs. Worked FB right away. The box and cables are well made and should last a long time. I could not be happier. Thanks Tigertronics. p.s. Great deal from HRO with free shipping. |
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| V47JA |
Rating:      |
2018-08-11 | |
| Nice little box |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| I bought the SignaLink about 5 years ago to try 20m DiGi modes. I went on for a couple of hours and hated Digi modes, so I put it in the closet and forgot about it. Fast forward to a couple weeks ago I decided to try FT8, and got it out of the closet and thanks to the help of N5DG and the SignaLink all went easy. Just set the jumpers on the SignaLink for my new radio, plugin a couple cables to the radio and Laptop, and away you go. Nice little box.... |
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| KC9SXB |
Rating:      |
2018-08-10 | |
| It's a beast |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| I've had this in a pack and hauled, dropped, froze, and used it over the years. It just works! Made my digital life easier, that's for sure. If I were to do it all over again, I'd go with another USB version. Just set the jumpers and forget it is there. What more could you ask for? |
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