IC-7600 and PGXL

Mark

Has anyone successfully interfaced an IC-7600 to a PGXL?

I had the 7600 interfaced to my Ameritron 1306 using the Band Data from the ACC2 connector (a voltage output from 0 to 8v on pin 4 based on the band). Looking at the documentation for the PGXL I don't see where that will work.

If so, how did you do it?

The amplifier is working great interfaced to my 6700 over the LAN.  I would really like to have the 7600 connect to the B side of the amp inputs.

Thank you & 73,

Mark
N4EOC

Mark

K1DLM

Mark

Ria

Well it supposedly works. Now I’m curious so I may actually have to try one of my icom radios. In a pinch you can use manual mode.

Mark

W9WLX_Chuck

If you're using a  1/8" Stereo Cable, that may not work.  The Icom CI-V cable is TRS (stereo) on one end, but tip/shield (mono) on the other.  The mono end is used on the radio side.  Using TRS to TRS may be causing a short.

Mark

W9WLX_Chuck

Ria

I second the mono cable. I’m guessing that configuring it in PGXL utility was done already. Manual mode is accessed by touching the front screen and then you can select a band. It’s not super obvious. Ria

Mark

Hi Ria,

It appears that the released firmware 3.1.2 that is in this PGXL does not support manual mode.  Touching the screen does nothing.

Ria

I have seen this in earlier firmwares. Try touching the radio name itself like the little rectangle. I have an alpha release on mine but I’m pretty sure it’s been there for a while.

Mark

No joy Ria.  Must be a Alpha thing... Is the radio name is just the 'CAT' in this case since it's not a Flex, or the digits in green to the right of that which might represent the operating frequency?

Thanks again!  I'm still searching for a mono plug, or an adapter from a mono plug to a stereo jack.

Mark

Hi Chuck,

This is interesting, because the programming interface that I've been using has a stereo plug that goes into the radio.  I would have thought that a stereo plug would have worked to take the CI-V signal 'out' of that jack as well.  I'm still poking around in my shack to see if I can create the cable you spec'd.

ctate243

mark.. out of curiosity have you tried using an all cabled scenario?  like an rca tx from the flex rather than lan on the a side along with the icom on the b side?  . 

Mark

Hi Chris,

Not entirely sure what you mean, but no, I have not tried using an RCA TX from the Flex.  The LAN connection is working fine.

It looks like the PGXL knows that there is a CI-V/CAT connection on the B side but it just isn't interpreting the input correctly. (the B entries show a band {20 in most cases}, the blue AB, CAT, and a series of digits after that (14.400.000 in this case).  Even when I change the 7600 to another band (say 80m for example) the B display will blink but then come back to where it had been.

73,
Mark

ctate243

I am curious if it works with the flex taken out of the formula.  just see if you can get the CI-V working without the flex in the picture.  thats what I am curious about.

ctate243

the fact that it shows up for a second, but then dissapears and stops working is what has me wondering if the flex telemetry is somehow overiding it.

Chuck - W9WLX

I found it seems to be some jacks work and some don’t. Must just be slightly different tolerance. I ran into this when I upgraded from a Rigblaster Pro to a Rigblaster Advantage a while back with Icom gear. Pro worked but Advantage needed the CI-V cable.

Mark

Hi Chuck.

I have a 'cable' that has a mono plug on one end and is unterminated at the other.  I'm going to solder a stereo plug on that end with the tip and ring sharing the same wire that goes to the tip on the mono plug.  Wish me luck!  Thanks again!

Mark

Mark

Hi Chris,

Turning the Flex 6700 off didn't seem to make a difference.  Neither did disconnecting the Cat-6 cable.

Mark

No, no good.  I confirmed that the tip/ring on the TRS end went to the tip on the mono end, and the shield went to shield.  Plugged the TRS end into the PGXL and the mono end into the 7600 (per your other response) and the PGXL said "NO!". As in lost any indication that it was seeing a CAT/CI-V connection any more.

Mark

Ria,

P.S. - yes I am configuring it in the PGXL utility as I go. Each time I make a change to anything on the 7600 radio side especially.  I'm picking the IC-7000 item in the PGXL utility for the B side of the CAT/CI-V tab.

For reference, here are the settings in the IC-7600 "Others" setting menu that have anything to do with CI-V as far as I can tell:

CI-V Baud Rate: 4800 (although I've tried up to 9600 as well on each end)
CI-V Address: 70h (matching the IC-7000 default address)
CI-V Transceive: On  (I've tried off and then the PGXL loses the 'CAT')
CI-V Output (for ANT): On  (I've tried off as well - made no difference as I remember)
USB Serial Function:  CI-V  (not sure this has anything to do with it)
Decode Baud Rate: 4800  (again, tried 9600 also; doubt it has any relavence)

Thanks & 73,
Mark

Mark

Ok Ria,

Some progress - as far as the Manual mode goes.

My friend just suggested that I unplug the CI-V cable and try pushing on the front panel.  That worked!  Appears that while the cable was plugged in the amp thought it was getting band info that way and refused to go into manual mode.

So I can at least select a band by hand at this point.

Of course, it would be super if I can get it to work automatically.... ;-)

73,
Mark

Dan Quigley, N7HQ

W8ASA

October 10, 2020: Has anyone resolved this issue? A friend has a 6600 and PGXL, and they play nicely together. He has an IC-7600 as a backup, and wants to use it, but the CI-V just won't work reliably.

Question: Can he use the ACC2 from the IC7600 and connect it to the RS-232 on the PGXL? What are the RS-232 pinouts on the back of the PGXL?

Thanks,

Ken W8ASA