This page shows how to configure a SignaLink USB unit using an Icom ID-5100, KT-8900, and IC-207 radios. The instructions can easily be adapted for other radios. You will still need to use the instructions that come with the SignaLink to complement.
Once the SignaLink is working, it can be used to run Winlink, APRS, Packet, SSTV, ...
Read and follow the instructions that come with the SignaLink unit carefully. This page skips over some important details.
If your radio requires the “RG45” cable (like the IC ID-5100), you should purchase a SignaLink USB that comes with a different cable (such as the “6PM”) since regular Ethernet patch cords are easy to come by.
Connect the Signalink to the computer in this order:
SPKR
jack using the audio cable included.
RADIO
jack using a short Ethernet patch cord (RG45).
Open Sound Settings
→ Sound Control Panel
Playback Devices
Speaker
and click on Set Default
at the bottom of the window. This will ensure that any Windows generated sounds are played through the speakers instead of being transmitted on the air.
Properties
Levels
: Set the levels to 0dB or 100%
Enhancements
: check Disable all enhancements
Spatial sound
: Turn Spacial sound format OFF
Recording
tab
Microphone
and click on Set Default
at the bottom of the window.
USB AUDIO CODEC
and click on Default Communication Device
There should be a green check mark beside the speaker/Microphone (general computer sounds), and a green telephone beside the USB AUDIO CODEC (Default for communication sounds)
Sounds
tab
No Sounds
scheme and do not Play Windows Startup sound. This will ensure that Windows sounds don't get transmitted over the air.
USB AUDIO CODEC
and select the Listen
tab and check the Listen to this device
box to hear the radio through the computer's Default Playback Device
.
exe
somewhere on your desktop for easy access.
For the Device Settings
TX corr. PPM
and RX corr. PPM
are device specific and were measured using the CheckSR program (see below).
AGWPE Server Port 8000
is enabled for EasyTerm by UZ7HO
For the Modem settings
:
Kiss Optimization
is needed for Winlink
TXDelay
from 250 msec to 500 msec
CheckSR is a small, standalone, application that consist of a single exe file. When you double click on it, once it’s saved to your desktop, it provides the capability of analyzing your sound card offsets and gives you the corrections in parts per million (ppm)
This offset (in my case -27 PPM and -27 PPM) can be entered in the SoundModem settings (see above).
Open Sound settings
→ Sound Control Panel
→ Recording
→ double click on Signalink
→ Levels
Without proper instruments this is a bit of a subjective test, but it's better than nothing.
USB AUDIO CODEC