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Reviews For: microHAM USB <-> Radio Interface

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

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Review Summary For : microHAM USB <-> Radio Interface
Reviews: 28MSRP:
Description:
USB Interfaces completely cure the problem of a lack of Serial COM ports for your devices. Solves problems of interconnectivity between computer and radio, keying, rotors, SO2R box, and TNC. Attach as many USB Interfaces as you need for full connectivity.
Unlike common computer mass "USB to Serial adapters" our USB Interfaces are carefully designed for maximum immunity against strong RFI and harsh environment and at the same time be "RF quiet". Each data input is filtered by 3 poles low pass LC filter.
Interfaces are powered from USB port and do not need additional powering. Current consumption meets USB 1.1/2.0 bus powered standard.
Product is not in production
More Info: http://www.microham.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00285
N5NWI Rating: 2004-08-05
No brainer, nice product. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
From unpacking to operation took about 30 minutes including installing Ham Radio Deluxe. Installed on a 366 Mhz HP laptop under Windows 2K Pro with no problems. EZ physical hookup to my Icom 706MKIIG.

MicroHAM USB worked fine with Ham Radio Deluxe, my USB GPS unit and Buxcom Rascal GLX, again NO problems.

It took about 3 weeks to come from Europe but it was well packed and worth the wait.
NI0C Rating: 2004-06-19
Another satisfied customer Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
My unit arrived by mail less than two weeks after placing my order on the web site. I'm using it to control my TS-850S with DXBASE 2005 logging software on a HP Pavilion laptop with Windows Me. I like the idea of using a USB port for rig frequency and mode control, because it frees up my serial port for CW keying. It also eliminates the need for the Kenwood IF-232C interface.

I was struck by how tiny the unit is, and the fact that it provides CW and PTT functions in addition to the frequency/mode control. (Maybe I won't even need to use my serial port).

Like other users, I did experience an initial "glitch" in installing the driver software, but received prompt and friendly help via e-mail correspondence with Jozef. In my case, the initial installation (using the CD provided) appeared to work okay, yet Windows failed to assign a COM port number to the unit. This prevented me from addressing the interface from my logging program. I fixed this by using "System Restore" on my computer to uninstall the driver software and then reinstalling the software. This time I got the required COM port number and the interface works great. I'm attributing the glitch in installation to my poor operating system (Windows Me).
K3NC Rating: 2004-06-02
Really Really Good Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I love getting rid of the rat's nest of wires between the computer and the ham desk. This little device is very well made, cheap, uses USB and does everything it is sold to do.

Very happy with the purchase and surprised how easily it was to order and how quickly it came. The drivers installed strangely under XP and I uninstalled it and reinstalled it and it worked FB. Took me a little while figuring out how to make it work with the various programs I use (DX4WIN, Writelog, MixW) but all set up and even the computer generated CW sounds like a pro!

Would buy another when the need ever arises!
AA8QL Rating: 2004-05-21
Nice piece of gear Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This little gadget really works slick.

I ordered mine standard mail and it showed up in less than 2 weeks. I have had no reason to open up the case but externally the workmanship is very good. Long cables, nice strain relief and good, soft, quality cords. None of this garbage that still shows the kinks 3 years later.

I was 1/2 asleep when I first tried to load the software in my cantankorous old laptop on Win98. So I emailed Jozef and he had me back on the right track with an answer in 20 minutes. (I wonder when this guy sleeps) I also loaded the software in my XP machine just out of curiosity, and it installed without a hitch. So no worries there.

Bottom line: I like it a lot. I would buy another one in a heartbeat. Now I just have to stop waffling and settle on a good logging program.
N1DL Rating: 2004-04-27
It does everything it said it would! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
With just a little more than a week left before I departed for a 6 week long South America Ham Vacation I realized that my LapTop PC would not be able to handle both the Radio interface (logging with IC706MKIIG) and the digital modes and CW decoder due to the limitations of having only one Serial Port.
When I learned about MicroHams USB interface I emailed for info, received a response within hours and ordered a unit right away. Sure enough only a few days later, in time for my departure I received it in the mail.
Installation with Windows XP Pro was simple and everything worked as advertised. The quality of the plugs, cables and workmanship is excellent and the packing was more than sufficient for the trip from Europe to Florida.
During my trip I predominantly worked digital modes and CW and all my logging was done with DXBase 4.0.
I can highly recommend both the product and the company. It is refreshing to experience responsiveness and quality product.
Karl N1DL (also VP8DHP, and portable from PY, LU, CE, OA, HC and TI)
W6LBV Rating: 2004-04-25
Excellent product! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The “bottom line” for this review: “This puppy actually does the job......and it takes just five minutes of setup from unpacking the shipping box to active computer<–>radio data link.” In my case, it was an 800 MHz Pentium III to Kenwood TS-850AT, running under TRX Manager. But as with everything else which is “too good to be true,” there are also some cautions needed with this product.

Web-based “order to delivery” was 14 days (as mentioned previously, the product is manufactured in Slovakia). MicroHam was prompt in acknowledging the order and in later providing shipment information including the tracking number, but their failure also to provide the name of the carrier prevented tracking of the air mail shipment. The shipping carton was well packed and the contents undamaged, and the order was complete as delivered.

Construction of the interface, judging from external examination, seems quite good. The manufacturer appears to intend the product not to be capable of field modification or repair, and no schematic or parts information is included (but schematics may later be published on their Web site). On the other hand, once the unit has survived the “infant mortality” period there should not be a need to repair it.

Installation and configuration is very straightforward, consisting of letting the computer detect the new Plug and Play hardware followed by loading of two sets of drivers from the included CD-ROM and then a re-boot. This takes less than five minutes, if all goes well (and it should).

Nevertheless, the installation directions are specific only for Windows XP and not for earlier versions of Windows. Since I am using Windows 2000, I needed to infer some of the steps and their expected screens. Minimal installation instructions for non-XP Windows versions should be included (these are being prepared, according to MicroHam). There are no operation instructions, but none should be necessary.

Operation of the control link can be observed by flashing red and green LEDs on the interface box, leaving no doubt about success. A label on the interface box indicates the function of each LED. To date I have observed no “glitches” in the interface operation.

Several cautions are in order, however. Since the interface sits on the USB bus and is powered by the bus itself, it is possible that the power supply capabilities of the bus can be exceeded if other USB devices are used concurrently. I noticed this when both a wireless mouse receiver and the interface attempted to operate from the same (externally powered) USB hub and neither would operate properly. (This could also be a port conflict.) Transferring the mouse receiver to a computer USB port while leaving the interface on the hub corrected the problem.

Each purchased interface is built for a specific make (and in some cases, model) of radio. The interfaces for the older, non-RS-232 radios connect to the existing (non-standard) data ports on the radios, using made-for-purpose cable connectors. In the case of my Kenwood, these are ports labeled “Remote” and “ACC1". The “Remote” port is used by the interface for transceiver keying; unfortunately it is also needed and was already in use for auxiliary amplifier keying and ALC interfaces. This meant that I needed to go into the supplied MicroHam cable and connector and add new conductors to bring these additional functions out. In radios with such multiple use ports, the manufacturer should “stub out” the additional conductors from the supplied interface jack so that they would be available for use without further disassembly. MicroHam indicates that they can supply an adapter, at extra cost, to correct this problem; check the Web pages.

The passage of time will eventually prove out the interface, but it clearly is already a winner for sheer ease of installation and use with newer computers that have USB-oriented serial lines. Would that all commercially-manufactured products were as trouble-free at the outset.



K4IA Rating: 2004-04-17
The USB Answer Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
What does it do? You can run from a USB port in your laptop to the serial port on your radio AND a CW and PTT output to your radio. You could buy a USB to serial cable a little cheaper but you will have to go in and pull off the CW and PTT from the RTS or DTR yourself and build a little interface. You won't save much money doing it yourself and you might have problems with the drivers. Ordered on 3/31, received on 4/17. All the way from Slovakia.

We exchanged a few emails as I requested a slightly different cable out to my Orion. The Orion default was to have the cable terminate in a DIN but that would preclude me using the other pins in the DIN plug for audio so I asked for RCA. I goofed and told them RCA female when it should have been male but that is my fault. They will do it any way you ask, just be sure you ask for the right thing!

I plugged it into my laptop and installation was a cinch. At first the program wanted to assign the Port to Com 5 but Writelog won't recognize Com 5. Control Panel -> System -> Hardware -> Device Manager -> Ports -> double click "USB<->RS232." Then Port Settings -> Advanced -> and change the Com Port number to an open port between 1 and 4.

I configured WriteLog and everything worked perfectly the first time. CW does not stutter even at 50 wpm.

I am very impressed with this little box and would recommend it to anyone looking to solve the "I've only got USB" problem.
WJ7H Rating: 2004-04-04
Perfect solution Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I’ve just received my unit. Installation was a snap on Windows XP. This is exactly what I’ve been looking for to interface my laptop and my TS-450. It took all of about 5 minutes to set up N1MM logger and the DXLab software to use it. I have not wanted to pay the same amount of money for similar products only to need to buy a USB to serial adapter for another $20-$30. This is a simple, all-in-one solution. Great product!