Cables

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I have tested a number of 2-wire cables with different radios and discovered that certain radios can be problematic - notably the VX-3, FT-2800 and FT-1802 (but see note 8 below for the current production of cables manufactured by Maxton). The matrix below summarises the results of my experiences:-

N.B. Where necessary a DIY pigtail adapter has been used to connect the cable to the radio's programming socket.

  Affordable Radio Maxton RPC-
Y1-U (4)
Maxton RPC-
Y7800-U (4)
Icom OPC 478 G8XGG cable 4/6
(5)
FTDI TTL-
232R
(3)
G4TIC
DIY
G4ZLP
Digi
master
G4ZLP
Serial
RTS
CT29B & CT29F
TTL2USB
CT-1/2
TTL2USB CT-3 Yaesu CT-42 cable set
FT-60 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
VX-3 Y (7) Y (7) N Y Y Y Y Y Y Y(2) Y N
VX-6 Y Y N Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
VX-150 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
VX-170
FT-270
Y Y N(6) Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
VX-177 Y Y N(6) Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
FT-1802 Y (7) Y (7) N Y Y Y Y Y Y Y (2) Y N
FT-2800 Y (7) Y (7) N Y Y Y Y Y Y Y (1) Y N
FT-7800 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
FT-8800 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
FT-8900 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y

nyt = not yet tested

Note 1: added a 47K resistor across R12 to raise voltage
Note 2: replaced the 47K resistor added in note 1 with a 100K potentiometer and adjusted o/p voltage to 3.8V
Note 3: The TTL-232R cable is adapted to 2 wire operation using the circuit by G4HFQ on the Links page
Note 4: If you have problems with the drivers please contact me. I have versions for Windows 2000, XP, Vista and Win7
Note 5: cable 4 for the mobiles, cable 6 for the handhelds
Note 6: VX-170 and VX-177: the OPC-478 did not work when connected via several USB/serial converters - one with a FTDI chip and another with a Prolific chip; tried on both XP and Vista. When connected to a real serial port it worked.
Note 7: 27 Feb 2009 - the latest production of cables has been changed to increase the output voltage and now work OK with the VX-3, FT-1802 and FT-2800. If you have an earlier version of the cable then see the Links page for a mod to change R11 to 22K for an output of around 3.7V.

Here is a picture of my TTL2USB CT-1 unit that I have modified to enable me to vary the output voltage as mentioned in Note 2:

 

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