Sunday, March 6, 2011 — Having wrapped up an extended session with my non-functional Signalink USB interface and a soldering iron, I now can attest that I have a very well soldered non-functional Signalink USB interface.
During discussions at a recent hamfest about the problem I had with my latest Signalink USB not working, it was suggested that I check the PC board closely for cold or missing solder joints. I broke out the bright desk lamp and magnifier, and found some connections that didn’t look soldered.
The PC board on the Signalink is doublesided, and on the top of the board on a couple of areas, there was no solder. I reflowed those solder joints, adding a bit of solder as needed. I’ve been all over the board, reflowing solder joints … to no avail.
So now I’m just going to have to buy another one. I don’t know what I can do with this one; it may work with rigs that port the audio to the interface on a different connection (when connected to my Yaesu FT-7800, the audio that goes to the interface has to come from the speaker connection at the rear.
But that will be an experiment for another day. I’m tired of fooling with it and not being able to fix it.
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The Cave City Hamfest was this weekend, and it was a good one, as usual. I spent my time on “official business,” and didn’t buy anything. I enjoy going, but the drive down required an amphibious vehicle: I hydroplaned about half way between the Lebanon Junction and E’town (and that’s quite a trick going uphill, lol!)
One of my ham friends picked up an Icom IC-7200; its a cute little rig, but it struck me that it isn’t much more than an IC-718 w/6 meters in a slightly larger package. Both good radios, but I don’t need either right now.
Saw a boat anchor I really, really wanted — a guy had a National NC-300 with matching speaker for $200 — and had it playing. I didn’t have the cash with me, and even if I did, I don’t have a place to put it. Once I clean up the shack and have table space, I’ll buy a NC-300 or 303.
But a Signalink USB is my next purchase — new, not used.