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Reviews For: SignaLink USB Computer-Radio Interface

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

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Review Summary For : SignaLink USB Computer-Radio Interface
Reviews: 261MSRP: 89
Description:
The new SignaLinkTM USB combines the performance of our SL-1+ with a state of the art “built-in” low-noise USB Sound Card. This innovation delivers optimum performance while eliminating the need to attach to your computer's existing sound card. Convenient front panel controls and simplified installation make this one of the most user-friendly interfaces on the market.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.tigertronics.com/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
152614.7
G7PUK Rating: 2010-09-28
Good all round interface Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I purchased this interface to make digimodes a little easier rather than using home made of cumbersome isolating transformers or cheap connecting tx cables.
I chose this as it is a small package and covers a huge range of rigs for the price.
After it arrived..well packaged and well stocked info in paper format (although i had to refer to the web site for extra info)I unpacked and configured for my radio, all straight forward.
Setting it up using software on my machine was easy and had the unit transmitting SSTV within minutes.
The only down sides i see to this unit are
1. the front panel controllers are very flimsy and would have been a big improvement with chassis mounted units.
2. A longer and better quality mike lead would have been advantageous.
3. Dip switches could have been used on the back of the unit to change mike wiring when using multiple radios. or a mike socket on the unit to keep a mic plugged in or to use your own mike lead ext etc.

These are only small things and once the unit is set up there really is no need to touch it unless rig swapping so for this reason i will give this unit a 4/5. I feel that if these changes where made the unit would be improved but would probably cost allot more.
KV2O Rating: 2010-09-08
Awesome Product - Love it! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have always wanted to use the digital modes and when they recommended this at HRO, I bought it and I and I am so delighted with it.

It was so easy to get up and running. I have a FT-950, vertical antenna from a Manhattan apartment, a SGC-230 tuner and a fully powered Dell. I also use HRD and DM780.

This works great. First PSK contacts were DX! I can't recommend it more. Great product. I wish they made more things
5B4AHL Rating: 2010-08-28
excellent Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
so simple to install and operate, use through the acc port to free up your mike + phones.
I use often with logger32 software for psk31, rtty and mfsk16..also playing with JT65.
If you're serious about digital modes this is for you.
KQ6EA Rating: 2010-08-01
Wonderful Little Box! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I've had this little guy sitting around for a while, and finally decided to get it running today. I bought some of the optional headers for the configuration socket, as the idea of inserting wires into an IC socket doesn't appeal to me, and after soldering the jumpers on the header, I plugged everything together, and fired up fldigi. Within seconds I was copying QSO's on 14.070, looked for a clear spot, and hit the "CQ" button. YO4RYU/MM came back to me, and we had a nice chat, even though I was fumbling with fldigi.
Really neat little box!
STAYVERTICAL Rating: 2010-05-28
All fun - no fuss Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.

I love digimodes. How hard can it be to get on them? just put a few cables between PC and radio and its done! Thats true - if you are prepared to deal with hum, rf feedback, constant volume adjusting, possible destructive ground loops and PC dings going over the air.
After building many interfaces, I finally ordered a tigertronics signalink USB interface, mainly to tame the rats nest of wires between radio and PC.
It arrived promptly, and after fitting the internal jumper block for my radio (ft817), I put it through its paces.
At first, I could not get it to activate P.T.T. so I read the instruction sheet.
Following the advice to adjust the volume sliders in the windows sound configuration panel, it worked fine.
Now the negatives - the front panel potentiometers are a bit flimsy for my liking.
I don't think they will fail, but being pcb mount types they need to be handled gently.
That finishes the negatives.

After that it is all positive. The unit gives trouble free digital operation, no RF feedback troubles, no constant volume monitoring, and no ground loops. This unit has an internal soundcard, which free's up the PC soundcard. Just remember to configure your PC soundcard as the default for sounds, as sometimes when you add the tigertronics, it becomes the default card (winXP).

After the great results with my first signalink USB interface, I bought a second, which worked perfectly as well. This seems to one of those products in which quality and function come together well, and is a credit to Tigertronics.

I had a great time making all those digital interfaces, and I eventually obtained excellent results, but if you want something that just works and gets you on digimodes quickly, this unit seems to be the answer.
KI4HFY Rating: 2010-05-21
Fantabulous!!! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Just buy one....You will not be disappointed! All of these reviews can't be, and are NOT WRONG!!!
The PSK-31 bug has bit me pretty hard. The SignaLink USB works as advertised. Get one soon.....YOU WON'T BE SORRY. See you on the waterfall!!!
N4JRR Rating: 2010-04-25
Easy even for me!!! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I got back in to ham radio a couple of years ago after a long absence & am just now getting into digital, so I ordered a SignaLink USB to go along with my new Yaesu FT-950. Using the FT-950 RTTY/PKT (Data) jack and Tigertronics' excellent instructions I was connected and made my first BPSK31 contact in less than an hour. If I can do it, anyone can! Everything is working flawlessly.
WU8P Rating: 2010-04-11
Excellent ! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
This is a great concept, having a sound card built into the Interface. Very easy to set up. Very good documentation. Very well constructed. Easy to use. Excellent product for the price. MFJ should look into the way Tigertronics operates a company. I now can see why there was a backlog when the SignaLink USB was first placed on the market.
AD7TO Rating: 2010-04-10
Very good interface Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've owned the Signalink USB for 2 years now and has worked very good. I have it wired for my Yaesu FT-450 it was very easy to setup. I have also ran the interface with Windows XP, Windows Vista 64-bit and Windows 7 64-bit. I have had no issues at all with getting it setup in all these operating systems. There is some good info at the Tigertronics website, on how to get your audio levels etc set in Vista or Windows 7.

My only issue I have is this. And this is not a problem with product at all. It took about 7 weeks to get my unit from Tigertronics. I would call them about every 2 weeks and ask when is my unit shipping out. And I would always get told that it would be shipping in a week or two. Then 2 weeks would go by and still not shipped. On one phone call to them. I was told they where hiring more people becasue of many orders to fill for ham radio retal stores.
Now about a month ago I tried to call them to ask about there new plug and play boards. I called 7 times over a few days and never got through and I could not even leave a message.
I would have thought that in 2 years they would be able to keep up with the demand a little bit better. And from what I understand some people are still wating many weeks to get there Signalink units.
AB3CN Rating: 2010-04-06
Excellent and easy Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I bought the unit direct from TigerTronics with a high expectation that it would be as advertised; Not some great hype over Mighty Fine Junk. The unit arrived and I configured it for my IC-7000, set the dials for RX and TX at Noon, installed DigiPan and first contact was with Captian David, KE5AAO/MM off of the coast of Anogla, West Africa. Yep, DX from Baltimore, Marland on 50 watts and a long wire thrown up into a tree on my yard. Quality of the unit is equal to the performance of the unit, which is excellent. PSK31 is making Ham Radio fun for me again. Thank you TigerTronics!