USB FTDI cable/null modem to SteppIR not talking

N8FNR

KENT HUFFORD

What did you do with pin 3?

N8FNR

Not doing anything with pin 3. The instructions I found here were for only pins 2 - 2, 5 -5 and 7 - 9. https://community.flexradio.com/flexradio/topics/usb-cables-with-old-steppir-controller

KENT HUFFORD

KENT HUFFORD

N8FNR

I will give that a try. Thanks!

Frank WA3NHK

Henning - DL6DH

Hi, you just need the pins 2, 3 and 5. Do not care about the rest, they will come into the game when using Flow control. I do not know any modern serial device needing hardware flow control any more... 73 Henning

N8FNR

Tried the above 2-3, 2-3, 5-5 and 7-9 on the controller side. Still no communication (sigh).

Jon_KF2E

Try plugging it into the data out port on the steppir.

N8FNR

Frank WA3NHK

Zack....you said you connected 7 & 9 together on the "controller" side.  Do the same on the connector facing the radio as well.  Also make double sure that your bit rate and parity config are consistent.

Geoff AB6BT

Just curious...why would you connect RTS to RI?

Frank WA3NHK

Actually, I had a minor brain burp.  Pins 7 and 9 need to be made common on the steppir controller connector only.  They can remain unconnected at the radio end of the serial cable.  The steppir controller uses them for some sort of TTL-level pass-thru. within the connector  Not entirely sure why, but it's mentioned in a flex PDF regarding the different USB cable options.

WD4EGF

The USB Cable manual mentions crossing pins 2 and 3... 2/3 on this end go to 3/2 on that end, as well as the 7/9 connection at the Steppir end.  5 to 5 for ground too, though the manual doesn't say that explicitly.  Looks like the CAT command comes from the Ant Controller, requesting the freq as per the source you setup in the radio, so the serial cable has to have both send and receive circuits in place.

Good Luck, Don

Frank WA3NHK