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Reviews For: West Mountain Radio Plug-n-Play

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

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Review Summary For : West Mountain Radio Plug-n-Play
Reviews: 39MSRP: MSRP $99.95 + shipping
Description:
Built-in USB interface provides rig control, CW keying plus carrier detect for Echolink operations. The plug & play works only with a radio's data or aux jacks, not a mic jack and may be orered for your particular radio.
Product is in production
More Info: http://westmountainradio.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00394.6
JDEVARIE Rating: 2008-03-01
OK interface Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Well, the interface does what it says it would do, it allows me to use digital modes without a TNC. It does this as expected. I only hope that they update it soon to get rid of the audio cables. It would be nice to have only to connect the interface to the computer's usb cable and the radio's terminal. Tigertronics has the signalink USB which incorporates a usb sound card but it is not perfect either. The audio wires thing is getting old fast, this is 2008 let's move forward. There is enough clutter in everyone's shack already.

jd
KW4J Rating: 2008-02-25
Works great for me! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I used mine for the first time during FD 06 with a IC-703 and it performed flawlessly. No gliches and the cables remained firmly intact for the entire period. Easy installation and use. It is one of the best products available for portable operation.
K6AAQ Rating: 2008-02-25
Works Great! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I bought this interface to work PSK-31 with an Icom IC706MKIIG. Like anything else you read the directions, load the drivers and start using it.
The CD has free software to use many modes and I have started doing Slow Scan TV using the MMSSTV software provided.
Works great...not overly complicated and very cost efficient. You can't go worng!
KM6EG Rating: 2008-02-20
Very good interface Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Very small, well made product powered by computers USB port. Also ordered the CAT cable for my FT857D. Drivers worked perfectly with Win XP, SP-2. PSK31 and rig control worked first time with MixW. Optional CW cable not needed as my AT-100 pro uses this for tuning. Was going to get Signal Link USB but didn't want to wait. Only little faults are cables to computer should be a foot longer and the 6 pin DIN is tight getting to the radio's Data jack.
G0RIF Rating: 2008-01-30
Will run FSK over CW keying circuit Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I purchased one of these recently specifically to provide FSK RTTY keying to my TS-480. Using the standard data jack supplied and an additional cable between the CW output and pin 8 of the remote connector (8 pin mini DIN) I now have FSK RTTY working with my RB P&P. I use MMTTY software with the EXTFSK extension.

My only niggle was driver installation which could be slicker but they did install and the unit worked first time. I also run PSK31 using the 480 with no problems.

I look forward to years of good service from this unit.
N6NKN Rating: 2008-01-21
Just As The Name Implies Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I know zip about the digital modes, but I'm learning. Installation of this product was simple as long as you follow the detailed instructions on the enclosed CD, which also includes the software necessary to interface the Plug & Play to your computer.

After that bring up your favorite program, tell it which port the Plug & Play is using, and within minutes you can be on the air.

I was on 40 meters sending SSTV in about 20 minutes.

A fine product that does exactly what you expect. And, oh yes, it came in three days when the competitors product takes weeks.

Want to get into digital modes the easy way?
Buy a West Mountain Radio Plug & Play.

Rick N6NKN
KI4MSJ Rating: 2007-11-18
GREAT Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Well, being new to this type of mode, I chose the P&P to use with my laptop and FT897D. I have to admit that I still need to fine tune the radio. It is an easy, quick hook-up. I did call to West Mountain to ask a couple of questions and found them less than willing to help and they refered me to the manual. I do not follow reading directions as well as asking in person. I also own the Pro and ran into the same problems. I have bought many items from this company and feel that they have good products but, wish there customer service and phone etiquette were better. All in all, as far as thier product goes, I gave it a five for ease of installation, convienience and quality
NJ3A Rating: 2007-10-20
Easy - RTTY Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Bought this to interface with HRD (rig control) and DM480 (digital master software). Once I put together the control cable...easy once you look at the instructions and have the right plugs...I just had to dig thru the box of various connectors... Installation is easy...follow the instructions...install the software FIRST, then the USB adapter and you'll be up and running soon. Assuming you already know how to use the logging or SSTV or RTTY or PSK31 etc software, you should not have any problems. Great buy...about $100+/- a few bucks at HRO. Be sure to get the right cable for your rig. I run an IC-756 ProII and it works great.

Good luck...have fun...
NJ3A
KN4RA Rating: 2007-09-10
Too Easy! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
FT-897D and PC with win2000pro

Tnx to HRO (Mark) in Atlanta...All cables were included in the box along with software. Nothing else was needed but my favotite SSTV program. Tweaked the 897 and computer mic settings and wa la. Digital SSTV with jpeg quality! Sweet! I'm hooked. We have a SSTV group in our area and everyone is having a blast.

Note: West Mountain recommends that directions are followed closely during initial setup. Just remember to install the software FIRST! I wish that I could give this jewel a 10, but 5 is the limit. If you want the best, go with the WMR PnP.
N8QID Rating: 2007-08-20
Very easy! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The RigBlaster Plug & Play is very easy to get working with your radio, as long as your radio is supported. (Just check the West Mountain website for a list of supported radios.)

I bought this to run PSK31 with my Yaesu FT-857d. Basically, when you buy this unit, you will be buying a USB to serial port converter, and audio cables that will pass the audio to/from your sound card and rig.

Most (if not all?) ham software is designed to switch the PTT on your radio using a serial port. So the RigBlaster Plug and Play is just a USB serial port, so the software can switch your radio's PTT.

The Rigblaster doesn't do any audio processing whatsoever. It simply allows the audio from your computer's sound card to pass to the radio, and the radio's audio output to pass to the sound card.

Possibly the best feature of the Rigblaster Plug & Play is the CAT control jack on the box. This allows computer aided control of the rig, but unfortunately an interface cable is not included in the box! If you look through the manual, there are relatively simple instructions on how to create the cable.

It is a nice compact unit, but for the price I was expecting audio processing on the device rather than using the computer's sound card. However, it works well and does what it is supposed to do, so I'm rating it a five.