|
DB9 connection to
PC's serial port |
|
FT-847, VR-5000 |
A serial cable with pins 2 and 3
crossed, sometimes called a null modem cable. See your local computer store or do an
internet search for "null modem cable" |
|
FT-1000MP |
A serial cable with pins 2 and 3 not
crossed, sometimes called a straight cable. See your local computer store or do an
internet search for "serial cable" |
|
FT-100/D, FT-817/ND, FT-857/D,
FT-897/D |
A 3-wire cable with a level converter
built-in. Yaesu number CT-62 or equivalent. See your local ham-radio store, or:
G4ZLP
- UK based - CT62
G8XGG - UK based - FT-Cable-1
R T
Systems - US based -
CT-62 |
| FT-1802, FT-1807, FT-2800,
FT-2900 |
A 2-wire cable with a level converter
built-in.
G4ZLP
- UK based - CT29-F
G8XGG - UK based - FT-Cable-4
(fit a RJ plug)
R T
Systems - US based - CT-29F |
| FT-7800, FT-7900, FT-8800, FT-8900 |
A 2-wire cable with a level converter
built-in.
G4ZLP
- UK based - CT29-B
G8XGG - UK based - FT-Cable-4
R T
Systems - US based - CT-29B |
| FT-60, VX-3, VX-150,
VX-170, VX-177 Refer to the cable
retailer's site for the adapters required with waterproofed models |
A 2-wire cable with a level converter
built-in.
G4ZLP
- UK based - CT29-A
G8XGG - UK based - FT-Cable-6
R T
Systems - US based - CT-57B |
|
USB to serial
converters |
| If you don't have a serial
port then use either of these converters and the DB9 cables above.
USB/serial adapters
from FTDI. On the left the more expensive US232R-10 in retail packing
with driver CD. On the right the economy UC232R-10 which comes in a
plastic bag.
Both work fine and
have manufacturer's drivers for all operating systems including Vista.
Click the images to link to the FTDI
web site. There you can find further details as well as an online
purchase link. |
In the US you can also get
these from Mouser
 
|
|
USB connection to
PC's USB socket |
|
The USB MultiFace adapter uses different plug-in cables to suit
each radio type. You
can also make your own cables to connect your radios. Radios personally tested: FT-60,
FT-2800, FT-7800, FT-8800, FT-8900, VX-3, VX-6, VX-150 and VX-170 |
UK based.
USB attach
USB MultiFace
and the appropriate cables for your radio.
|
| A direct attach USB
cable.
The CT-3 USB adapter uses different plug-in cables to suit
each radio type. You
can also make your own cables to connect your radios.
Radios personally tested: FT-897D,
FT-1802, ft-2800, FT-7800, FT-8800, FT-8900, FT-60, VX-3, VX-6, VX-150,
VX-170 and
VX-177 |
US based.
Using the
internal jumper in the CT-3
for 2 and 3 wire operation. |
| Drivers for USB cables
based on the Prolific PL2303
Windows 2000 and Windows XP
Windows Vista and Windows 7 |
I have found that many of the Prolific
drivers available on the net and from several cable sellers simply do
not work reliably. These work fine for me - 64bit Windows 7 included.
Download and run the
appropriate driver installer. If you are running Vista or Windows 7 then
right-click on the installer executable and choose Run as Administrator.
Be sure to have the cable disconnected from the PC when you run it. If
the installer initially asks if you want to un-install the existing
drivers then say yes; then re-boot; then run the installer a second time
to install. |
| Direct attach USB cables
based on the Prolific PL-2303 chip.
Top left - 4-way non-threaded Maxton RPC-Y1-U. Radios tested:
VX-3, VX-150,
FT-60. If you have an early (pre Feb 2008) version of this cable that does not work with
your VX-3 then see the next item below for a change to R11 to make it work. I have acquired a small quantity of the revised Maxton
RPC-Y1-U cables and have tested them on my VX-3. If you are having
trouble finding one that works please email me.
Top right - 4-way to 4-way threaded
adapter. Radios tested: VX-6, VX-170, VX-177
Bottom left - 6-pin mini-din. Radios
tested FT-7800, FT-8800, FT-8900.
|
A company based in Canada
called
Affordable-Radio is selling these cable on eBay. They also do
programming cables for other radios with USB and 9-pin serial
connections. 
|
|
Valley Enterprises sell
Maxton programming cables, including one for the VX-8. In Categories
choose Two-Way Radio, then Programming Cables, then Yaesu/Vertex |
 |
| Maxton USB cables
manufactured pre Feb 09 OK2UQL tells me that by
replacing the R11 47K resistor outlined in red with a 15K one he was able to
make his programming cable from Affordable Radio work on a VX-3. My own
cable is of an earlier layout but replacing R11 (47K) with a 22K
resistor worked fine (gave me a voltage of 3.7V).
The actual voltage of your USB 5V line can
vary between 4.75V and 5.25V and will affect the final output voltage
from the programmer. I recommend a resistor value for R11 that gives you
about 3.7V |
 |
| A direct attach USB cable
based on the Prolific PL-2303 chip with the special screw-in connector
for the VX-170/177. If you are having problems getting a
driver for XP or Vista then please contact me.
Radios tested: FT-60, VX-6, VX-150,
VX-170, VX-177; and with a DIY adapter to 6-pin mini-din FT-7800, FT-8800 and FT-8900.
VX-3, FT-1802 and FT-2800 did not work
with its output voltage measured at 2.89V - but see above for a R11
resistor change that can make it work - aim for a voltage of around 3.7V. |
A UK based company in
Glasgow called Radioarena
stock an item like the one below.
Look in the category 'Programming, Vertex/Yaesu, USB RIB-less Programming Cables, CT-091'.
They also do other programming cables including the VX-8 as well as many
other items of ham radio interest.
In the US you can get a similar looking cable from
KAWAMALL. However, their own web
store is geared towards bulk purchase so use eBay instead (their part
VX7RUSBCBL) which is tailored for small quantity purchase. Search eBay
for 'yaesu vx-7r usb cable' |
|
What other hams have used |
| Rich, N1VAJ uses a Belkin
USB to serial portable adapter. He uses it with a VX-170, VX-177 and
FT-7800. His email to me is on the right -> |
I had the opportunity
to pick up the Belkin USB to Serial Portable Adapter, Model #F5U409v1 at
a local office supply store that was closing. I tried it out will all
three radios and it worked flawlessly. Just for the record I am running
Windows XP SP3, P4 processor 2GHZ w/1GB of RAM. |
| Problem:
A uk ham
contacted me with a problem reading his VX-3R radio. He was using a
9-pin serial programming cable bought on eBay and having problems
reading. On checking the voltage between the 4-way plug body and ring 1
it read 5.6V - evidently not regulated and too high for the radio.
|
Solution:
I
suggested making a pigtail adapter for his FT-7800 programming cable -
there is a picture of one I use further up this page. His solution to
the problem was to use a USB/serial adapter. The voltage on its RTS/DTR
pins was lower than the computer's on-board serial port and reading was
then OK using the eBay cable. |
| John, VE1JS uses a
Rig Expert Tiny to
program his FT-7800. Probably this would also work with other 2-wire
programming interface radios. His email to me is on the right -> |
I have an ICOM
IC-706mkiiG which I use in my shack for various purposes, but mostly on
6m. To go with it, I have a Rig Expert Tiny to do Digital Voice Keying
and Rig Control with my logging programs. Among other things, this
device contains a USB to Comport converter for rig control (actually two
of them, the other is a CW/PTT interface.)
The ICOM system uses
exactly the same type of I/O for its rigs as does the FT7800! That is, a
single wire plus ground for both input and output of data to/from the
computer.
I unplugged everything from the '706 and plugged the rig control
cable into the '7800 through a "tweeny" cable made from a discarded
mouse cable, told your program to use COM6 and there it went. Just as if
I had bought a new cable for many $$$. I was able to both read and write
memories to my Ft7800.
I hope this is of use to others who may wish to save some money. |
| Jack, VK3WWW uses a
Microham
IC-13 to program his FT-8800. Probably this would also work with other
2-wire programming interface radios. His email to me is on the right -> |
This may help some of your users: In the
shack I have an IC706MK2G and for the programming and rig control I use
a "Microham" IC13 usb interface. I looked at the Yahoo groups list and
could not find any mention of this unit for the FT-8800 but it did
mention another version of Icom Programmer.
As the 706 uses a 3.5 stereo plug, making the
adaptor was a simple process. I purchased a 3.3mm stereo line socket and
a Mini Din plug that suits the Yaesu radio. About 800mm of shielded
cable and we were ready to assemble.
Assembly was straight forward using Pin 2 Gnd
and Pin 3 on the 6 pin Data port. For the IC13 end it is just the Gnd
and Tip leaving no connection to the ring.
Microham supply a device router program and sets
up Com3 as a USB/Serial virtual com port.
All is working 100% and I am very happy because
being of the older generation, I find all these sub menus on the
transceiver make programming from the radio a bit daunting. |
|
Adapter cables and
DIY circuits |
| The VX-8 connection is a
proprietary 7-pin design. The Yaesu CT-134 clone cable and the CT-M11
external headset connection cable for the FTM-10R both have the correct
plug attached. In conjunction with a
FTDI TTL-232R-3V3 cable it is easy to make up a suitable lead. See
the 'Connection to the radio' section of the
FTBVX8 Help file
for more details and pictures. The picture on the right is a cable made
by JA1OGS |
 |
|
The Yaesu CT-91 cable is the
easiest way to connect to a handheld such as the VX-3, VX-6, VX-7, VX-170 or VX-177. You can then connect your
level converter to the 2.5mm stereo socket (not the 3.5mm socket). Tip is unused,
ring 1 is data, ring 2 is unused, common is ground.
The CT-91 4-way plug also fits the FT-60 and
VX-150. |
 |
|
A DIY adapter cable to enable
my 6-pin mini-din FT-7800 cable to be used on my FT-60, VX-3, VX-110 and VX-150. Uses half a
CT-27 clone cable and the mouse port off a dead motherboard. The outer diameter of the
shoulder is 9mm, 1mm less than the Maplin QT65V 4-pole plug. |
 |
|
A DIY change to the Maplin
QT65V 4-pole plug to enable it to fit into the recess of a FT-60, VX-110 or VX-150
handheld. The original threaded portion of the plug was carefully cut off with a hacksaw.
Not very elegant, but effective; I prefer the solution above using half a CT-27
cloning cable.
For 2-wire programming purposes tip is unused, ring 1 is data, ring 2 is
unused, common is ground. |
 |
|
A picture of the FT-60 Mic/SP
socket showing the recess. The VX-110 and VX-150 are similar. This recess is a fraction
over 6mm in diameter. The Maplin QT65V 4-pole plug has an outer diameter of 10mm and will
not fit fully home - hence the hacksaw job above. |
 |
| The pin-out of the
packet socket found on the FT-7800, FT-8800 and FT-8900.
For 2-wire programming purposes
use pin 3 PTT for data and pin 2 GND for ground. |
 |
| The pin-out of the RJ connector found
on the FT-1802 and FT-2800 and a
front view diagram of the mic socket. |
  |
| A DIY 6 transistor level converter
article by G4TIC. This will work with radios that use a 2-wire
interface e.g. VX-150, VX-170, VX-177, VX-6, FT-1802, FT-1807, FT-2800,
FT-7800, FT-8800, FT-8900. I have built this circuit myself and it works
fine. A picture of my board is on the right. Because they were already
available I used 1N4002 diodes instead of 1N914 and PN2222A
transistors instead of 2N2222.
Roger Maeder has sent me some files to help with creating a PCB for the
G4TIC interface. See opposite for a) a zip file of the files; b) a
picture of the completed board |
Click the picture to see a larger image.
Click the link below to see G4TIC's article.
G4TIC.pdf
a) PCB
track
b) photo of completed board |
| A DIY RS232 to TTL level
converter by DL8WA which has an adjustable programming voltage |
DL8WA 2-wire level converter.doc |
| A DIY adapter to enable the
FTDI TTL-232R
USB to TTL Serial cable to be used with 2 wire radios. This works with
all my 2 wire radios. |
3
wire to 2-wire adapter.doc |
| A DIY level converter by
IW2DPO using the FTDI FT232R chip. It has an option to invert the
output. |
iw2dpo usb programmer.pdf |
| A DIY level converter for the VX-8 using
a MAX3232 by Tim W5FN |
VX8 PROGRAMMING
CABLE.pdf |
|
A DIY level converter by Aleks
S56AL which uses the FTDI chip FT-232BM. It has been successfully used with VX-7R,
FT-8900, FT-817 and IC-706MkIIG. |
http://lea.hamradio.si/~s57nan/ham_radio/index.html |
