Изборник Затворити

Universal CAT and programming USB to RS232 TTL interface for ham radio

Скраћена веза: https://pedja.supurovic.net/veza/7437

As soon as I got first two ham radio rigs, I needed to connect them both to PC, to program memories or use CAT control from logging software. I realized that it is impractical to have as many USB to RS323 adapters as rigs.

As serial connection for radio requires just RX, TX and GND lines, and it is the same for most of modern radio stations. It is actually only radio connector that is different – signaling is the same.

It showed up quite easy to build simple multirig adapter. All you need to do is to use existing USB to serial interface adapter, cut it’s cable in two and insert male and female three pin 3.5 mm jack (commonly used as stereo audio connectors).

Female jack, as less common, should be set on USB interface side and male for various cable adapters set for each rig.

Here is schematics of an interface with adapters:

Universal CAT USB RS232 TTL interface (Yaesu, Kenwood, Baofeng, Wouxun, Zonton)

– 8 pin mini din male for Yaesu radios

– combined 6 pin connector I used for Kenwood, Baofeng, Zonton, Wouxun and other compatible radios

This allowed me not just to easily connect my radios to PC, but also radios of my friends. So far I used this for Yaesu FT857, Yaesu FT-857D, Yaesu FT-897, Yaesu FT-817, Kenwood TK-250, Baofeng UV-B5, UV-B6, Zonton 999, Wouxun KG-UV6D and others.

And yet, if new rig shows up all I have to do is to create adapter for it – interface stays the same. I have collected pinout info abut number of other radios but I will post here updates only as I try them out.

What USB to serial interface to use

Almost any will do. The most important point is to use interface with TTL levels for RS232 as most modern rigs use TTL not RS232C levels. These are actually cheaper as they lack additional TTL to RS232C conversion. You may buy such adapter for few bucks. If you get one with RS232C levels then you have to make additional interface to convert that to TTL (by using MAX232 chip or transistors).

Avoid Prolific chipset adapters. They actually work fine, but usually not straightforward to use. Reason is that market is overwhelmed with Prolific clones (which are very cheap). Those clones work fine, but Prolific decided to protect itself by issuing drivers that do recognize clone chips and do not work with them. That means, you have to play a bit with older drivers to make them work. Although I understand Prolific point I think they shot themselves in the foot. As the only way for ordinary buyer to recognize clone from original chip is to buy and check if the newest drivers work, people simply avoid hassle and turn to other brands.

Update! New article adds FT8900 and similar radios: https://pedja.supurovic.net/universal-cat-and-programming-usb-to-serial-ttl-interface-for-ham-radio/

10 Comments

  1. Z34PEC

    Hello.
    Is it possible to find/see USB cable adapter for Albrecht DB271 radio statoin ? I have one, but unfortunately, the cables hat I have for similar stations (baofeng, kenwood, etc) do not work (they work well for declared stations, like my second Baofeng UV-B5).
    Regards,
    Z34PEC

  2. Richard K

    What specific software do you use for control of the uv-b5. I can program the frequencies and such, but to control transmit and receive, what do you use?

  3. Nikola

    Pozdrav i pre svega svaka čast na ovom i ostalim tekstovima. Pitanje za ovaj tekst je da li imaš saznanja da li je moguće iskoristiti USB DATA kabl od mobilng telefona (poput CA-53 za Nokiu ili recimo od Samsunga SGH-E390) kao USB-RS232 adapter? Nešto nemam uspeha u pronalaženju precizne specifikacije ovih DATA kablova, odnosno koje nivoe telefoni imaju za Rx Tx, a čini mi se da rade upravo to što treba i za programiranje radio stanice.

    Nikola

  4. Jovan

    Zdravo, kako cu da znam na ove kineske verzije koja je ta „prava“ verzija? Pokusavao sam da povezem FT897 sa nekoliko ovih jeftinih (ispod jednog eura) ali nisam imao nesto previse uspjeha. Da nisi slucajno probao CAT na FT736?
    73

    • Пеђа

      Нисам имао проблема ни са једним, ни са оним најјефтинијим кинеским ни са оним који сам сам правио од серијског адаптера.

      У сваком лучају проблем најчешће јесте само са драјверима.

      Наричито је проблем ако адаптер корсити клинирано Prolific чип, јер тванични драјвер препознаје клоновеи неће да ради с ањима. То се решава иснталацијом старије верзије драјвера (верзија 3.2.0.0) која ради исправно.

      На Windows 10 је мало проблематично инсталирати старији драјвер јер он омдах уради ажурирање на најновији. Мора се Windows 10 подесити да не ажурира драјвер.

      Ако некад пролазиш кроз Ужице, најави се, па ћемо пробати и са мојим и са твојим кабловима.

      Нисам пробао са FT-736 а колико видим по интернету он је проблематичан.

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