Direct connection from Flex 6600M to THP 1.5Kfx amplifier without DDUTIL

Geoff_W8GNM

I am trying to control frequency band selection on a Tokyo Hi-Power HL 1.5Kfx linear amplifier  using an FTDI USB to serial port converter directly from the Flex 6600M rear panel USB port to the amplifier serial port using the Kenwood control protocol.
I would like to avoid using an external PC with DDUTIL.
The FTDI serial port is correctly recognized and the port settings are correct, but there is no communication.  Is the Kenwood protocol automatically selected when I enter CAT into the port setup menu or do I need to select the Kenwood protocol in some other menu.
I am running firmware revision 2.1.30.103 on a Flex 6600M
Thanks for any suggestions.   W8GNM

K3SF

see flex document on USB cable usage and setup

http://www.flexradio.com/downloads/usb-cable-interface-guide-pdf/?_ga=2.27715580.1964054534.15180321...

this should apply even using 6600M

i dont know if there are any setting in your amp that are required
i run a KPA500

Paul K3SF

Dick B

Note, I had to use a null modem cable, actually just wired two connectors back to back in null modem configuration. Wiring is on the Internet try Search.

Art, N4PT

Yes you need a NULL MODEM adapter. I used this https://www.amazon.com/Male-Female-Null-Modem-Adapter/dp/7564005068. This makes for a very neat installation. The adapter is at the 1.5 end of the cable.
The FTDI works very well except when you **** the slice TX flag the Tokyo-Hi power goes to 160 meters. 

WX7Y

I am using these FTDI chipset USB Null modem cables and they have worked very well plugged into the FLEX 6700's USB ports and on the RS-232 side every thing else I have tried it on has also worked.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XG6S7YQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

73's 
Bret
WX7Y

ctate243

check and make sure your USB port is working ok by turning on logging(blue button) and making sure there is telemetry..  then you can focus on the correct cable.

Geoff_W8GNM

Thank you all for the quick and helpful advice.   The problem was the need to place the RS-232 null modem, Tx/Rx crossover device, in series with the connection.  Everything is working well now.
A work around for the amplifier switching to 160m when the Tx slice is turned off is to trigger the COM port from TX ANT-1 instead of TX SLICE.   This keeps the amplifier on the right band regardless of whether the TX SLICE is enabled or to which tuning knob the TX SLICE is assigned.
73, W8GNM

Ken - AE8I

I’m attempting to accomplish exactly the same thing as described by W8GNM in his original post, except that I’m using a FLEX-6500 and Tokyo Hy Power (THP) HL-2.5Kfx. The 6500 software is completely up-to-date.

Unlike the THP HL-1.5Kfx which has a nine-pin serial connector on the back panel, the HL-2.5Kfx sports a 15-pin connector. The HL-2.5Kfx came with CAT cabling that allows for communication with many of its ICOM, Kenwood (15-pin to 9-pin) and Yaesu contemporaries. I have successfully implemented frequency tracking between my ICOM-7700 and the THP amp, via the THP supplied ICOM CAT cable, so the THP frequency tracking has worked in that instance.

In what may be seen as a clear demonstration as to just how much I don’t understand about serial communications, I’ve mated my FTDI serial to USB cable with the THP supplied Kenwood CAT cable (with 9-pin female-to-female adapter and with/without a null modem in series), but with no success in implementing frequency tracking between my 6500 and the THP HL-2.5Kfx. The 6500 sees the USB cable in the settings, but logs no data.

I’m using the same FTDI serial to USB cable that worked well in allowing my 6500 and Palstar AT-AUTO tuner (Kenwood protocol) to communicate, so presumably this cable is working properly.

The schematic for the THP Kenwood CAT cable is found on the bottom of page 18 of the HL-2.5Kfx manual, found here: http://www.ab4oj.com/dl/thp/hl2_5kfx/manual_hl2_5kfx_complete_schematics.pdf 

So, is this cabling arrangement fundamentally unworkable as I’ve described it, or does its failure to work point to some other issue such as a defective THP supplied Kenwood CAT cable or setting error of some sort?

Ken  AE8I