Description
Digirig Mobile is a digital modes interface for amateur radio.
This listing is for revision 1.11 using TRRS connectors. Backward compatible to rev 1.6
- combines audio codec, serial CAT interface and PTT switch
- supports full featured CAT interface: PTT, bands, tuning etc. (not just VOX based PTT)
- uses a single USB connection to computer minimizing the cables mess
- serial computer aided transceiver (CAT) port can be configured for logic levels, RS-232, CI-V or TX-500 (learn more)
- works with all major OS flavors: Windows, MacOS and Linux
- permanently available independently from CAT port an open-collector PTT switch controlled by RTS signal of the COM port to interface HTs and mobile radios
- axillary connection points to CM108 codec – for simple Allstar homebrew node builds
- uses widely supported CP2102 serial interface (latest driver) and CM108 audio codec (generic audio device – no driver necessary)
- small rugged aluminum enclosure ideal for mobile operations
- interfaces the transceiver using widely available 3.5mm jacks (TRRS) for simple homebrew cable builds
- growing collection of pre-made cables including popular Icom, Yaesu, Elecraft, Baofeng, Xiegu transceivers
- isolation can be easily added using inexpensive USB isolator dongle
Notes regarding the interface configuration:
- Audio + PTT are always available independently from serial CAT and they work for minimum required digital modes configuration with any radio
- CAT configuration is done with solder jumpers and can not be changed operationally
- Check the transceiver cables listing for your radio. The description will have CAT configuration requirements
- Learn more about CAT configurations here
This listing does not include cables. The USB cable is a standard USB Type-C cord which must support both power/charging and data.
Please refer to the blog post for configuration information and schematic containing the pinout reference if building homebrew cables.
FCC Part 15 Compliance Statement
Digirig Mobile
Robert Tykulsker (verified owner) –
A sound card interface and rig control in one solid package. I just hooked up with the G90 cables https://digirig.net/product/xiegu-g90-cords-digirig-mobile/ to my G90 and have solid HF performance with FT8 and WSJT-X and Winlink. The ability to have rig control along with the “best/next” feature of Winlink HF is a joy.
I did have to download drivers from Silicon Labs for Windows 10 from here: https://www.silabs.com/developers/usb-to-uart-bridge-vcp-drivers
For WSJT-X, I configured my Xiegu G90 as an Icom IC-7000 and baud rate 19200. PTT method of CAT
For Winlink HF, I configured my Xiegu G90 as an Icom 7200, Icom address of 70, and USB. Radio Control 19200 baud and PTT via CI-V
I can’t wait to cut up a 6 pin MINI-DIN cable so I can work with my VHF/UHF radios!
David Simmons (verified owner) –
Its a great device in a small package, Had really good luck so far with my G90 which I’ve set aside specifically for digital use, and linux with WSJT-X for FT8. Its small and compact and in a sturdy enclosure
with my distribution of linux (manjaro linux) it was plug and play, no drivers
Was surprised how easy it was to setup, if you have a g90 and want to give this device a try, I highly recommend you have a look at the guide here, it’ll save you some time from falling into the same pitfalls as I did, such as forgetting to set input form mic to line, etc.
https://digirig.net/setting-audio-levels-for-digital-modes
John Byerly (verified owner) –
Absolutely love digirig mobile. This thing works great! The one-wire interface with the USB isolator is the epitome of quiet. I have given away my other digital interfaces and use digirig with my X5105 and G90. Going to order another now.
Peter McQuain (verified owner) –
Worked perfectly the first time! Love having CAT and audio on one device. Oh, and the pictures are misleading – this thing is much smaller than it looks and rugged! Excellent work!
astrodroid (verified owner) –
This interface rocks, Love it!
It works and looks professional grade.
Bought the Digirig Mobile + USB isolator and cables while looking for a solution to get FT8 for my son’s FT-857.
Denis K0TX was very helpful when I explained that I would like to get the interface ready for field day and shipped them in a hurry.
Dennis answered question quickly and courteous on the same day or faster.
I’m impressed by the Build Quality, which is professional grade.
Got it all working and on Saturday morning had my first ever 2m ssb FT8 qso with Ft. Stockton TX. That is some 450 miles away, I was surprised.
I’m writing a how to for the Yeasu FT-857 integration with the Digirig Mobile and will post it on the Digirig forum.
John Livingston (verified owner) –
Got mine and love it! I’m new to digital modes and I was struggling getting the cables made, audio setup, serial setup, etc on my own for my Xiego G90. I’m a techie, but not an electronics guy… anything beyond making a Cat5 cable is beyond me. So getting an all-in-one unit with pre-made cables was really, really, nice. IMHO it’s what the CE-19 should have been to start with. Ordered it with cables etc, much cleaner setup than anything I’d had tried previously and definitely the way to go for a Xiego.
Robert Düring (verified owner) –
Works perfect with my Lab599 TX-500 transceiver (after a small modification, thanks Denis for your great customer support and quick response!)
A tidy and clean setup with a minimum of cables.
Paul Robinson (verified owner) –
Received my Digirig Mobile recently, and it’s an amazing little box…So much easier to work with than the CE-19, especially with the ready-made cables. If you’re looking to explore digital modes like FT8 and such, I can’t recommend Digirig enough, Excellent product!
mserio1982 (verified owner) –
Being interested in POTA due to HOA antenna restrictions I ordered a Lab599 TX-500 transceiver to activate portable cw and digital modes. While waiting for shipment of my TX-500 I reviewed all the data info I could find for it. The Digirig product name kept coming up as the prime choice for portable rigs, so I bought a 1.6 model and the cables for it from Denis. My rig came in a few days ago, so I have been doing the learning curve on the operations. Today I tackled the data modes — what a pleasant surprise!! The Model 1.6 worked perfectly, the cables were all top quality and a good time was had by all!!! I’m an old codger and pretty ignorant of all of this digital and SDR stuff, so if I can set it up and get it working, anyone can. Thank you Denis for making such a nice product available for such a reasonable price!! 72, 73 es tu!! Mike KG4MTN
danieltwagaman (verified owner) –
A breath of fresh air into a lagging part of our hobby. I’m relatively new to ham radio and when looking around the market for digital interfaces they were all some bad combination of stale, expensive and the un-fun kind of DIY. After a few weeks of window shopping and weighing my options to get my Icom 706mkiig interfaced with my computer I stumbled onto the digirig. It claimed to have a flexible PCB layout if you wanted to hack it, worked out of the package with your radio, and the store offers every cable combination to connect to various rigs, even the odd RTS PTT of my 706mkiig. I was sold. I can’t believe how tiny it is and how well it works. The ready-made cables are what cinched it. The other options I looked at cost more and still required me to hack together a few other cables just to hook it up. Got the cables and a fantastic interface for a very fair price and all in a very pro package. The metal case is sturdy and well designed, as is the PCB. The cables are strong and have ferrites attached on both ends. Very sturdy, slick and small bundle of radio fun.
Full disclosure, mine did not work at first. I thought it was software at first. After a few days of troubleshooting I sent an email to Denis here at digirig. He responded within minutes and gave me succinct troubleshooting instructions. There is an oddball issue with either my particular radio or CI-V board that was causing rig control errors. In a few short emails Denis quickly narrowed it down based on some simple continuity tests and was the problem was corrected with a well placed cut to a solder pad on the circuit board, and voila! It worked perfectly.
I would not usually recommend a product that required modification out of the box. As I said, it was an oddball problem with my rig and you will very like have yours work right out of the box. And honestly, looking at the alternatives (especially for my radio) this is no big deal. Every other option required me to solder my own cables and move jumpers around before I could use it so a certain level of DIY is part of the process. If I had a new 7300 or any number of other slightly newer rigs no assembly would have been required. Also Denis was so specific and quick to respond that I was ok with making the modification to a new purchase. He was supporting the product, and I never doubted that we would get it to work one way or another.
In summary, it’s amazing. Full rig and ptt control for your transceiver in an incredibly small, sturdy metal case for less than any other option. A large array of cables for different rigs are available from the store. And if you hit a snag during setup that reading the manual doesn’t fix, email for help. You’ll get it. I was able to play in the recent WPX RTTY contest and had a blast. Now I’m making contacts on ft8 with a modest antenna in the middle of Philadelphia. Digital is fun and digirig makes the hardware part easy, which I appreciate since the software part has its own learning curve. Enjoy!
Dan W4GMN
Norm Pritchett (verified owner) –
Absolutely delighted with my new Digirig Mobile. Had my bargain-brand Radioditty RD-5R handheld up and running with Winlink over VARA FM in minutes. I had originally tried to get this radio doing two-way digital comms using VOX, before I threw in the towel, concluding that my computer absolutely needed PTT control over the radio. The product is more compact than the photos led me to believe, and definitely a sturdy design — both qualities very important to me for it’s likely this will go on portable emcomm deployments. I am equally impressed with the quality design of the cable for the Baofeng radios. Those radios are notorious for RF feedback issues into their mic jacks, but these Digirig cables are well choked to eliminate that. End of the day, I am nicely-equipped to do all manner of VHF/UHF digital comms now on a collection of inexpensive (okay, “cheap”) radios I own, with a very affordable, practical, elegant and quality interconnect solution. Thank you, Denis!
Norm AC6DF
SupG (verified owner) –
My Digirig fired up and worked flawlessly right out of the box. On a Windows system as well as a Raspberry Pi system, tested on two different radios. Denis has done his homework and the end result is a tiny and easy to use interface! He was very responsive to my questions and I couldn’t be happier with my purchase. In fact I plan on getting another Digirig for my portable go-bag and leaving my SignaLink permanently connected to my station in the shack. The Digirig is in a stout enclosure and all the components are high quality. I can’t express how impressed I am with its performance and tiny size.
Jay
73 de N0SR
Mauricio Farias (verified owner) –
Excelente solución para conectar mi celular Samsung Galaxy S9+ con mi equipo Yaesu FT-818 mas un adaptador USB OTG y la aplicación FT8 Radio (versión 105)
FT-818 con CAT: 9600bps y DIG MIC: 65
También lo he probado con mi laptop mas JS8Call. Los driver del Digirig CP2102
Todo funciona muy bien.
Espero usarlo mucho en SOTA en las montañas de Los Andes.
johngriswold (verified owner) –
Gee, I like to be different, but I have to give five stars, too. The Digirig worked perfectly out of the box. I had issues getting the sound levels right, but I was on the air with WSPR and FT8 in pretty short order.
I wanted to dust off my KX3, but I’m rubbish at CW. Digital seems a hot topic, so a little research turned up this GEM of an interface. The matching KX cables work a treat. A very clever product – I wish I’d thought of it!
borneonoise (verified owner) –
What can I say that hasn’t already been said? A superb piece of kit that one must have. My Yaesu FT710 had com port problems and this saved me so much. Was fortunate to be recommended to get this and Denis K0TX was nothing but super helpful with my enquiries. Helped me to get it up and running and now am able to rig interface once again with AC log. The materials used are of high quality. Even the cables are superb. Can’t thank Denis enough for this. Highly recommended to get this. Doesn’t take up space at all. Just superb!
Jim Carson (verified owner) –
I have a couple of these – one for my Elecraft KX3, which I’ve used for POTA operations (Iceland, Faroe Islands, US, Canada), and the other for my Kenwood 710 VHF (Winlink). It’s tiny, works flawlessly, and uses only one USB connection to the computer. The custom cables make this super easy, and I appreciate the filters on the USB-C connector.