|
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:
G3LIV
- UK based - MultiCAT Control Cable
G4ZLP
- UK based - CT62-P
G8XGG - UK based - FT-Cable-1
R T
Systems - US based -
CT-62 |
| FT-1802, FT-2800 |
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-8800, FT-8900 |
A 2-wire cable with a level converter
built-in.
G3LIV
- UK based - MultiCAT Control Cable
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-29A |
|
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-1 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-60,
FT-2800, FT-7800, FT-8800, FT-8900, VX-3, VX-6, VX-110, VX-150 and
VX-170 |
US based.
Using the
internal jumper in the CT-2
for 2 and 3 wire operation. |
| A direct attach USB
cable The VX-2
programmer can be bought boxed or bare. An on-board link enables 2 or 3
wire operation. 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 (with a mod for current
production radios), VX-6, VX-150 and VX-170 |
EU based.
Alexander
Meier Elektronik
The site is in German but with the help
of web-based translation is easy enough to follow. Click the Produkte
link in the left hand panel then look for the Ham Radio/ATV link, then
item numbers 10 107 and 10 125.
|
| Direct attach USB cables
based on the Prolific PL-2303 chip. I am using Prolific's own generic drivers on Windows 2000 Professional, XP Home and Vista Business 32-bit. I got them
here
from Prolific's web site.
Left - 4-way non-threaded. Radios tested: VX-150,
FT-60. This cable did not work with my VX-3.
Right - 4-way to 4-way threaded
adapter. Radios tested: VX-6, VX-170, VX-177
|
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. 
|
| A direct attach USB cable
based on the Prolific PL-2303 chip. I am using Prolific's own generic drivers on Windows 2000 Professional, XP Home and Vista Business 32-bit. I got them
here
from Prolific's web site.
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. |
A UK based company in
Glasgow called Radioarena
stock this item.
Look in the category 'Programming cables, USB Programming Cables, CT-091' but
they also do a lot of other items of ham radio interest.
In the US you can get this 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 |
| 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 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. For 2-wire
programming purposes use pin 6 PTT/CLONE for data and pin 4 GND for ground. |
 |
| 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. |
Click the picture to see a larger image.
Click the link below to see G4TIC's article.
G4TIC.pdf
|
| 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 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 |
