USB-Cable

DJ1YG

Hi all,

     I was fascinated about the new USB cable option and hoped to finally succeed in connecting my tuner to my 6700 radio after several attempts with DUtil failed. The tuner is as old as my Yaesu FT 2000 and the two worked together perfectly using the BCD band data A, B, C and D supplied by the Yaesu trx. The tuner is a Hamware AT-402 unit.

     To connect my 6700 and the tuner I would prefer to use the FTDI USB to serial Cable DB9M but the USB-Cable Interface Guide does not address the 4 pins of the DB9M providing the 4 BCD signals.

Any idea? Thank you

vy 73, Dieter, DJ1YG

Mack

Dieter, You must use a bit cable like this one sold by Flex or other distributors. https://www.amazon.com/FTDI-C232HM-EDHSL-0-Assembly-USB-MPSSE-Output/dp/B00HKK4PUE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1481654883&sr=8-1&keywords=ftdi+i2c+cable . Look at the USB guide and you'll use wires 2, 3, 4, and 5 to your own connector. Set the USB on the Flex to BCD. It'll work. 73, Mack W4AX Alpha Tester

Jon_KF2E

I believe you would need to use the USB to Parallel cable. Here is the link...

http://cart.flexradio.com/USB-to-Parallel-adapter-for-the-FLEX-6000-series_p_1001.html

This is the link with the data to use the cable...

http://www.flexradio.com/downloads/usb-cable-interface-guide-pdf/?_ga=1.249011335.1678774256.1417055...

Jon...kf2e

Rob Blackie

what exactly IS the deal with this "usb cables" thingy in the newest beta release ? whats it for ?

Al_NN4ZZ

Hi Rob,
The purpose or difference with the new radio USB support is that you can now control your station peripherals without using a PC for the connections.  The connection is made directly from the USB ports on the back of the radio.   Previously many folks used a program like DDUtil that runs on the PC, connects via the CAT program and uses the COM ports on the PC. 

There is support for both serial (DB9) connections and parallel (BCD) connections with the new USB radio ports.  I was using DDUTil and the PC serial (com ports) to control my amplifier and antenna switch.  I changed my setup to use the Radio USB ports.   In my case both peripherals just need frequency data.  If you are using a peripheral that requires other command logic (like a SteppIR antenna) you can still use the new USB port but it won't support the commands like 180 reverse, etc.    So unless / until FRS adds specific control support some folks will want to stay with the DDUtil type control. 

I used both the serial and BCD methods and documented the setup and wiring on my web page:

http://www.nn4zz.com/FLEX6700.htm#Setup_and_testing

Hope this helps...

Regards, Al / NN4ZZ  
al (at) nn4zz (dot) com
SSDR / DAX / CAT/ 6700 -  V 1.10.8
Win10



    

Tim VE6SH

Al

Excellent description.


73

Tim VE6SH

WA6FXT Mike

Al, It's my understanding that DDUTIL can use the USB Comm cables attached to the radio also as COM ports via SmartCAT; therefore, still being able to remotely using a laptop.

Al_NN4ZZ

Hi Mike / WA6FXT
I didn't see that feature mentioned anywhere but I haven't been looking at the remote operation aspects.  Also I don't see anything but PC COM ports listed in DDUtil drop down boxes.   Is there documentation on how to set this up somewhere?

Regards, Al / NN4ZZ  
al (at) nn4zz (dot) com
SSDR / DAX / CAT/ 6700 -  V 1.10.8
Win10

Tim - W4TME

Al - your question would be better served for the Community if you would create a new topic for the DDUtil question.

Al_NN4ZZ

Done.

https://community.flexradio.com/flexradio/topics/can-ddutil-access-the-new-radio-usb-ports

Regards, Al / NN4ZZ  
al (at) nn4zz (dot) com

Tim - W4TME

Thanks Al.

Ria

One advantage that is overlooked for the serial cable feature is that it's possible to now assign CAT data by antenna port and not just by slice. This was not in DDUtil, at least not that I saw. DDUtil forced you to the TX slice, always and it only really was useful on one port. This didn't work for some SO2R setups or more complicated setups with antenna switches and tunable antennas (eg SteppIR). 

Ria

One advantage that is overlooked for the serial cable feature is that it's possible to now assign CAT data by antenna port and not just by slice. This was not in DDUtil, at least not that I saw. DDUtil forced you to the TX slice, always and it only really was useful on one port. This didn't work for some SO2R setups or more complicated setups with antenna switches and tunable antennas (eg SteppIR).