DigiRig Modem and Rig Control for Lab599 Discovery TX-500

[@danielhuelsman]

I bought one of these to use with my Xiegu G90 for digital modes, and I love it for that

[@RicSpivey]

It is FANTASTIC for that lol. Miles better than the ce-19

[@LJH08Ralith]

Just ordered a Digirig for the TX-500 a day ago! Thanks for the settings ! The TX-500 is a great radio hope to see your videos on it soon ! W4LJH

[@HamRadio2]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@johnschrader4886]

Same, here.. thanks so much for this video!

[@jims5470]

This works great. Got my old FT-897D up in less than 10 minutes. It just works.

[@VA7BC]

You are great at explaining complex items in understandable terms. Certainly a gift. Thank you for this video 73

[@HamRadio2]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Craines]

I ordered a Digirig soon after ordering my TX-500. I’m looking forward to using both, but it may be awhile before my radio comes in.

[@wild-radio7373]

Mine just arrived ♡ very much looking forward to setting it up 😎👍📻🔥 thank you for posting this!

[@HamRadio2]

Have fun!

[@daveN2MXX]

The digirig is a great piece of equipment, and offered for sale at a very reasonable price.

[@dansloss2566]

The TX500 needs the Digirig version 1.6 and it’s a good idea to mention the intended radio when ordering, so that Digirig has the right voltage jumper setup.

[@mostlypostie1]

That is great, and is an extremely 'universal' interface. Hopefully they can add some more pre-made cables. No doubt homebrewing your own cables for other rigs won't be too hard.

[@HamRadio2]

True

[@KO4DFJRadio]

Jason, can you do a video on how to hook up the TX500 and PA500. LOVE YOUR SHOW, 73

[@tonyridlen]

Jason I know absolutely nothing about digital modes but I feel like you do a tremendous job of explaining that stuff on this video! 73 KC9QVE Kokomo,Indiana

[@HamRadio2]

Thanks!

[@bodstrup]

Have TX-500, Digirig just arrived. Preparing Surface Go (that has been resting in a PeliCase for ages) as the WSJT-X host

[@petemillis4666]

Really great video explaining the set up so clearly. It's greatly appreciated! In have received my DigiRig and leads today for my TX500, already got everything installed along with FLdigi and ION2G, now looking forward to see what can be done. Cheers, Pete M3KXZ

[@HamRadio2]

Thanks for watching

[@randygc3704]

Good video. I've been looking at this unit since seeing Julian talk about it. I just placed my order for a Digirig and IC706MKIIG cables today. One use of an FM HT with Digirig would be using it for Packet or VARA FM Winlink if you are in range of an RMS node. My primary plan is to use it with the IC706MKIIG in my truck for portable HF VARA and Packet/VARA FM Winlink ops for EMCOMM.

[@johnkeo358]

Thanks for making this video, it really helped guide me

[@kh6qmchristophercolquhoun695]

I use on my G90 in Hawaii for FT8! I was using the UK cable and this is way better. Only place found a USB-C shielded cable.

[@HamRadio2]

It's gotta be better than that CE19 thing that Xiegu makes

[@kh6qmchristophercolquhoun695]

@@HamRadio2 Yes, Better than XGComms one

[@nonokodog622]

I want to explain some things I've learned about serial communication with devices in the case this helps someone out there who is really confused. I've worked with serial devices professionally for a *short* time and I'm sure I'm still wrong about some details. If you know better than please comment back. All these radios, as far as I can tell, use RS-232 protocol to talk bc it's cost effective. This is a *loose* standard that specifies what voltage is a 1 or a 0. That's about it. In the old days, Transistor-to-Transistor logic (TTL) was sent using higher voltages than modern transistors, 3-25 VDC. These days newer chips use something lower I think it's around 5 VDC. To be clear, USB is also serial but a different standard. That has to be broken out to the multiple pins on the RS-232 *standard* and given the proper voltages. These conversion chips are not only used with radios but tons of legacy equipment. You'll see that some serial-to-USB conversion chips are specifically for 25 V or 5 V. Most are 5 volts. There's a chip called FTDI which is a producer of these common chips. They cost more than knock-offs because they handle the conversion better and there's probably some patents so the knock off's cannot just clone the chip exactly. In the old days, embedded systems were very slow and memory was limited. Thus they would be easily overwhelmed if too much data came streaming into it's data port (serial port). They used Data-Ready, Clear-to-Send and Ready-To-Send signals on separate wires / pins to mitigate those issues. Modern embedded micro controllers do not need the three separate signals. However, a radio may use DTR for data and RTS for PTT which is convenient. Or the radio can just read a specific code for PTT and command data from just one wire/pin. The data sent are binary numbers usually each has a special meaning. Some devices can "talk" using ASCII commands which are nicer to read for humans when programming. The binary numbers are 16 bits or two bytes long. There's a preamble that means, "hey I'm talking!", then the data ( like a frequency value), then a post-amble (I'm done talking). The radio then replies that the command was received and often a code for success or failure. The driver is the connection between the OS's low level kernel and the higher level program like FlDigi or JS8Call. The kernel makes the connection painless for the programmer they just say, "open the USB port and connect" and it happens. A main feature of DigiRig interface, is that is combines an audio chip (and codec) and the FTDI conversion chip in the same small package. There's a built in USB bus which combines the signals into a single USB connection. I didn't know until I watched the video, that there's also an EPROM chip with the Windows driver to talk to the FTDI chip. That's super cool.

[@mikethees6434]

I'm looking for something like that for my truck thanks for the video

[@johnpeterson7264]

I’m very interested in using this with the ICOM 706mkii -would you consider doing a video along these lines ?

[@HamRadio2]

Yes I have the cables and unit for that also. I'll be trying it with my IC-7000 and my 706MKIIg

[@Siskiyous6]

I ordered one last night to go digital while doing SOTA.

[@HamRadio2]

Great choice!

[@m_a_s6069]

The heck with FT8 over FM, but you can do Winlink. The digirig can also do CHRIP on the Baofeng.

[@Frank_K4FMH]

I have a Baofeng sitting in its charger working as an iGate for a big footprint APRS Digi 3 miles away…connected to a small footprint pc via $8 usb sound card…Agwe siftware TNC. Been in operation for 3 years now.

[@Frank_K4FMH]

JASON: Are you getting spammed here? I sent you an email…no answer.

[@DominicMazoch]

Fascinating! Admiral Spock

[@agplay2290]

Ok. Noob question. What is the end purpose of the device? And is Internet on the computer necessary when using it?

[@HamRadio2]

I don't mind noob questions. This device allows your radio to connect to a computer so that it can work digital HF modes. NO...you do not need internet to make it work.

[@rodneyashcraft4440]

So there’s different digirig boxes for different radios or is he referring to the cable set?

[@HamRadio2]

If you want CAT Control, there are different DigiRig boxes for different manufacturers. But any of the boxes will work as a soundcard for any radio, with no CAT Control.

[@rodneyashcraft4440]

@@HamRadio2 Understood thanks for clarifying.

[@WhatsUpWithSix]

Can't find the link to the setup doc you mentioned in the video?

[@HamRadio2]

It should be on the digirig website.

[@thuff3207]

I have one for my KX2 but I have tested yet.

[@don_n5skt]

I have heard of Digirig. Think I saw it on Julien's channel. I would be interested in it for some of the older radios I have. Older Yaesu's and Kenwoods. Possibly the KX3.

[@digirig]

Don, Digirig supports all the transceiver brands you listed with pre-made cables available for popular models. It's actually the same model of the interface just different serial CAT configurations.

[@don_n5skt]

@@digirig Thanks for your reply. So I need to get one of these and a few cables ;)

[@ynot6473]

i've got a G90 and i'm looking to go digital soon. so i'm looking at a digirig or a signalink.

[@ik04]

I built one of those and placed it in the extended battery for a UV-5R. It cost $8 in parts.

[@danielji2742]

Does the DigiRig do packet radio?

[@HamRadio2]

It is just a connection between the computer and radio, so it will do anything that uses that connection.

[@shortdrawwhitetail1222]

@Ham Radio 2.0 hi I was wondering if you could recommend a good backpack hf /uhf/vhf cw transceiver that can reach all of the world if one exist. the usage would be for emergency and connecting with people all over the world and i want to have everything at my disposal.. for the home/bay station I went with an ic 7300. just couldnt pass it up. thank you and looking forward to the live video

[@donaldsmith3048]

It should work for Winlink FM. I don't know if it will do winlink Vara FM high speed. Maybe you can find out, or someone on here may know. I need to do Winlink Vara FM!

[@terryclair2914]

didn't directly mention it that I heard but is the DigiRig Windows only?

[@HamRadio2]

I believe it works on multiple platforms but let me confirm

[@aldewitt9]

A video on setting up profiles in want would be helpful.

[@HamRadio2]

Thanks, I will look into that.

[@j.d.-alawyerexplains5064]

@@HamRadio2 That was supposed to be WSJT-X but Autocorrect struck again.

[@hdcd1]

When are the lab599 cables for the DigiRig shipping??

[@digirig]

In March if everything goes as planned. Gigaparts will have a few TX-500 kits.

[@AliReza-zx8km]

Nice............................ ❤️

[@martinsalt1839]

Hi great video and is helping me to set up the Digirig to the TX-500. Can you post the link to the groups.io pdf document you mentioned in the video as it sounds like it would be very useful in setting this up. Many thanks Martin M0UMS

[@steveashwb7veq479]

Windows os okay but what about those of us who uses Linux for out OS?

[@digirig]

Digirig works with all of these systems

[@steveashwb7veq479]

@@digirig Howabout the drivers?

[@digirig]

@@steveashwb7veq479 Audio codec is a standard USB device and doesn't require a driver. The serial UART is CP2102 with the driver present on most systems. The link for the latest driver is in the product page.

[@steveashwb7veq479]

@@digirig Okay, Thank you! I'll have to look into it and see if i can get one to work. 73s.

[@HamRadio2]

Sounds like its time to do a video with the DigiRig and a RPi

[@Screamingtut]

Way cool Jason! will that work for an ft-891?

[@HamRadio2]

I believe they have a version for Yaesu

[@wushock92]

Yes they do. I'm thinking of getting it rather than fabing my own cables.

[@digirig]

With FT-891 you can use Digirig's audio and PTT. There is no serial CAT connection exposed by this transceiver model. For that you can use a separate USB cable directly to the computer.

[@chrisr4861]

I’m using this with my FT891 for FT8. Works great! As mentioned earlier cat control on the 891 is via USB to computer and the digirig handles the sound card duty.

[@donfreese1440]

I’m lost….real simple terms, what does it do?

[@digirig]

It's kind of modem that allows your computer to send/receive digital data on the air using your ham radio transceiver.

[@GearZenChannel]

Why do you need an external sound card when every laptop has one built in?

[@HamRadio2]

The external sound card is for the radio, not the laptop.

[@GearZenChannel]

@@HamRadio2 OK. So what is the point? Isn’t one sound card enough? Seems like an unnecessary expense and accessory.

[@HamRadio2]

@@GearZenChannel If you want your radio to talk to the computer and work HF digital modes, you need this. The radio can't use your computer's sound card. Some radios have their own built-in soundcard, so this device isn't needed. But for this specific radio, it has no radio sound card, so you need this device to interface it to a computer.

[@GearZenChannel]

@@HamRadio2 My TX-500 works perfectly fine with my Macbook internal sound card and no radio sound card for any digital mode that I care to use. The data port pinout is in the manual and all you need is an audio cable. You can make one or buy on ebay. Also, the radio already has VOX PTT for digital modes, so keying is no problem. I don't care about CAT control at the moment, but the radio already includes a USB cable for that and the settings are in the manual.

[@HamRadio2]

@@GearZenChannel So you are building a cable because the USB that comes with the radio doesn't control everything. Which is the same thing I said.... The DigiRig is 1 option to get the radio to interface with WSJT-x and other software on the computer, it isn't the only option.

[@williamchildress5869]

I ordered a digirig and the cables for my TX-500 that were preset for this radio. I find that the input audio levels into my Windows 11 laptop is way too hot. I cannot adjust audio to a proper input level. If I mute it, they are gone as expected. Has anyone experienced the same issue?

[@HamRadio2]

I haven't taken the plunge into Windows 11 yet but I suspect you need to go into the Sound Properties and adjust the input (mic) settings and turn it down for that specific DigiRig input.

[@williamchildress5869]

@@HamRadio2 That’s what I thought, but it makes no difference when I adjust the mic levels. I renamed the inputs upon installation and I had to download the drivers for my new laptop because the device drivers weren’t on my machine. I went to Silicon labs to get the drivers. Everything seems to be functional except the input levels. I think I may need to cut the trace to access the 20db pad in the digirig. I posted to the digirig guys to get their input.

[@HamRadio2]

Adjusting the levels in Windows 10 worked for me with this unit

[@williamchildress5869]

@@HamRadio2 I found a setting in Windows 11 that was checked . Unchecked it and it works.

[@smorrisby]

It's the DIN series of connectors. Poor mans Cannon XLR.

[@majorkonfuzion1007]

Watch out !! Beware : "You won " watsup scam messages.

[@HamRadio2]

Yep, he's been reported to YT several times now

[@JeffHochberg]

I feel badly for anyone that bought a Lab599 TX500 radio...with it being developed in Russia... One of my friends bought one a few months ago and he loves it but now he's worried about not being able to get support or firmware updates. Sucks!

[@petemillis4666]

I'm having problems setting FLDIGI and FLRIG up with the DigiRig and TX500. Have you tried this at all? 73 de M3KXZ

[@HamRadio2]

No, I haven't