Review on 💻 IO Crest SY-AUD20205 USB Audio Adapter: Enhance PC and Mac Sound with Stereo Sound Card via USB Port - Silver by Abdy Traini

I bought this device to work with Raspberry Pi2 (900MHz, quad core, latest version ) to use software amateur radio APRS Direwolf V 1.2. I used the SignaLink USB which worked great but cost over $120. This thing costs less than $10, but of course there's nothing in it that can activate PTT (to turn the radio on and off for transmission). SignaLink doesn't have to worry about additional PTT as it's included in the SignaLink box (it actually uses high quality fast VOX, but you pay for the benefits and sound card quality). Suffice it to say that SignaLink is a GREAT product and I still use it on another computer and radio with an Ubuntu distro. What's amazing about this Syba USB audio adapter is that it works with a high demand program like Direwolf (which does incredibly complex things to decode and encode data rather than something as simple as playing music). Distortion inherent in the sound card or low noise levels may render this device unusable for Direwolf. The software actually measures how well the sound card is performing, and the Syba works just as well as the very expensive SignaLink. The most impressive thing is that it does this for around $8.50! Pros: 1. Raspbian (Wheezy) on Pi2 recognizes it when installing. Just turn off the RPi2, plug it into an available USB port, and boot up.2. It even works with a USB hub (which is not recommended by Direwolf's author, but works with a plug-in powered 4-port USB hub)3. Works on par with a high-quality external SignaLink.4 USB sound card. Works with stereo or mono 3.5mm input and output jacks.5. Very small size. Cons: 1. You still need to connect cables to connect to the radio for PTT and also get sound to and from the radio.2. It's not that there's anything wrong with Syba itself, it's that additional hardware is required to confirm PTT in this app. Syba shouldn't do this, so it's not a "bug" or "flaw", it really is, but there's still one thing to be found to have a full fix for using the encoding/ Ham Radio Direwolf decoding program . data and send/receive the data to the radio for sending and receiving. Solution to the PTT problem: 1. Cheapest: Use one of the many available GPIO pins on the RPi2. This works fine but should not be used directly, a buffering scheme should be used. This makes the project even more difficult. It's not expensive, but it's "another" step. If no buffer circuit is used, the RPi's output will be destroyed, which could completely kill the RPi.2. Create your own VOX (Voice Controlled Transmission) block. Very inexpensive but not as "fast" in terms of switching between transmit and receive as wired PTT (push to talk).3. Use Easy Digi's ready-made USB-RS232 interface. Google the Easy Digi USB and you can find it on eBay for $42. Many radio amateurs have purchased these interfaces and they are highly recommended. This is the solution I use as $42 covers some very important issues. The interface box contains input and output jacks (standard 3.5mm mono jacks) for transferring audio to and from your computer's sound card (Syba)b. The interface also includes either a microphone or a data cable to connect to the radio for PTT (microphone) or for PTT and Audio To/From (data cable). The radio you are using will determine whether you need a microphone and audio cable or just a data cable with both (e.g. Kenwood G707 and D700)c. Full ISOLATION of the computer sound card and PTT (DTR and RTS) from the radio. This is done via audio converters on the audio output and input lines to/from the sound card, and via an optocoupler between the DTR and RTS interface lines (used for PTT) and the radio itself. Special operating system requirements: (and Direwolf software) . The Syba sound card in question must be configured for Raspbian (RPi) or Ubuntu or your chosen operating system. not the one that is in the computer. The Easy Digi USB interface must also be connected to the operating system. It is automatically detected but needs to be "bound" to ttyUSB0. If you need help, join the Digiwolf user list on Yahoo and be sure to read the Direwolf 1.2 User Guide (*.pdf). Summary; This is an excellent sound card solution. for Ham Radio software/projects under Windows or Linux. The price is amazing and the quality is quite acceptable. Supported without special drivers on Linux (and possibly Windows, but I haven't tested it yet). There is an online support group that is familiar with Syba and can help you with your project.73, N0AN