Did some fiddling with RCForb. Got the levels tweaked as best I can tell, but didn't have time for on-air tests. Discovered a few "bugs":
- Tuning mode uses the default sound device. No matter what sound device you select for mic and speakers, it insists on transmitting the tuning tone through the default sound device. I hit tune, and was blasted by a loud tone in the face. Fiddle fucked around, and discovered if I switched the default sound device to the signalink, it tuned perfectly. Tx/RX audio works as designed; only the tune setting seems to do this.
- With the 857, audio only goes out the "DATA" port when in data mode. Data mode is a separate mode outside of USB/LSB/AM/FM/CW. You can set the mode to USB or LSB (typically USB for digital modes) from the menu, but not remotely. So, while I can now do SSB voice remotely, I can only do it via USB.
- Mic gain, while cranked up, seems to be weak. Weak to the point that the signalink delay feature cuts in and out. Not necessarily bad, but not necessarily good. Audio looks good in RCForb, and everything works 100% in digital modes. Probably need to do some on-air testing/fiddling.
- Roughly 10% of the time, the tune feature causes the whole setup to lock up. RCForb says the radio is busy, like it's losing com. Terminating the server program will fix it, or remotely terminating power. This could be a problem if you don't have the ability to remotely power off or remotely connect to the server.
All in all, not a perfect fit, but not bad either. I probably need to do some more fiddling, but it's heading in the right direction.