Hello, I have purchased the Digirig DR-891 for use in POTA on my Yaesu FT-891 for FT8, and it works awesome. However, I also have the Icom ID-5100, and I emailed support to ask them if the DigiRig DR-891 would also work on my ID-5100 and I was told that yes, it will, with this cable
wich I purchased. However, I can not get enough audio out of the digirig to key the radio. I was able to borrow a friend’s EasyDigi for Icom , and hooked that up to the radio and it works flawlessly. This DR-891 however is giving me fits, even though I’ve maxed out all audio settings in my PC as far as the digirig is concerned.
Has anyone had any luck getting this setup to work for the 5100 ? What were your settings?
The first software I’m trying to utilize is SoundModem. However, I will say that no matter what computer I use, the desktop, or the laptop, this 891 is only recognized as a " USB sound device". Since that is so, the Settings I have in SoundModem doesn’t point to a PTT Port, it points to “None” , with AI research saying that is supposed to trigger VOX keying the radio. However, I’ve tried every port in that setting, both with Dual PTT selected, then with Dual PTT selected along with Swap Com Pins for PTT, and then with only Swap com pins for PTT and not Dual PTT , on every port setting on there and none of it will key the radio. It does receive, but it won’t key up. Google Gemini and CHatGPT are the only elmers I have outside of google and these forums. I even downloaded Vara FM due to these forums and I tried all the settings in those threads here regarding PTT as well, none of them worked. Gemini suggested that it is faulty because it’s only being recognized as a USB audio device and not triggering a com port when plugged into the computer, but I know that AI is wrong more than it is right.
DR-891 doesn’t have its own serial ports. When used with FT-891 the ports you see on the computer are coming from the radio passing through Digirig’s USB hub.
In case of ID-5100 you’ll need to configured PTT by GPIO3. In soundmodem this method is called EXT.
OK Great! I’ve downloaded the PTT.DLL from UZ7HO Personal page - Packet-Radio - English version and placed that inside the same folder as soundmodem.exe and it is working find , downloading winlink emails right now.
Would it benefit me to get this 5100 it’s own digirig MOBILE , rather than using the digirig dr891?
THanks for the help, much appreciated.
You are not going to get additional functionality from a separate Digirig, but it will be easier to keep the interfaces connected/packed with the individual radios vs switching them around between the two.
Also, you mentioned that the DR891 does not have it’s own com port, does the Digirig Mobile? I keep finding conflicting information on that. I really would rather use a Digirig instead of a Signalink , but I’m also ready to be able to use my 5100 and at present, I’m not able to do so with this DR891 like I need to.
Correct, DR-891 doesn’t have its own serial port. When used with FT-891 the computer will see the COM ports from the radio and for other radios DR-891 functions similarly to Digirig Lite by offering several hardware PTT options. Configured correctly DR-891 will work for your ID-5100 for basic operation similar to Signalink (audio + PTT).
Digirig Mobile does have serial port onboard and you will need to use this model when interfacing with the CAT-capable radios that don’t have their own USB interface. If you want to get a separate interface for your ID-5100, you can get Digirig Mobile in CI-V configuration. Additionally to the basic operation, this will give you the option to attempt an optional serial CAT control connection to the radio as discussed here.
