USB Cable Question

JohnSweeney

I apologize for my question that is obvious to others, but I am a new Flex owner.  I am trying to interface a Flex6500 to an Expert Amplifier.  I have built the cable to connect between the Expert and the USB-Serial interface.  I went to the Flex 6500 manual to understand how to use the USB ports and it refers me to the SmartSDR manual.  I checked the SmartSDR manual and it refers me to the USB manual which I have.  I have 3 different USB-Serial devices.  When I plug them into the 6500, should they show up immediately in the USB cable menu in SmartSDR software?  I have tried all 3 cables and nothing shows up.  Does that mean they are not FTDI?  I have no way of checking them, but they work fine if I connect them to a Windows10 USB port.  Is there somewhere else in the software that I have to activate the USB ports?  Set up a CAT port?   The USB manual assumes the adapters are listed in the USB Cable menu, but nothing shows up.  Any advice would be appreciated.

Mark Wohlschlegel

John you can buy a pre made cable from Bob. The distributor of spe in Texas. He built 2 for me one for my Yasushi dx 5000 and one for my 6700 Mark WC3W

Bill English

John I bought a dual two in one off of Amazon for like 25 bucks and it works fine. It shows up at once and you have a drop down box to select what you want to use each one for. I did not have to install any drivers, it just worked. 

JohnSweeney

Thank you for all the replies!   Wow - what a group!  Turns out none of the 3 were FTDI.  I found a fourth one and it showed up immediately.  Thanks again for all the tips.

ctate243

Yep.  very important.  Genuine FTDI.  no exceptions.

JohnSweeney

I have found that out, but I could not tell if the units I had were FTDI or not.  Once I knew that a good one would automatically show up, I would have known and would have ordered a new one.  Fortunately I found one at the bottom of the USB box that worked!

JohnSweeney

Thank you for taking the time to reply!

JohnSweeney

Mark - thank you!