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FLEX 6600M wired via USB to SPE 2K, but SPE is not following Flexradio bands change

HB2U
HB2U Member ✭✭
edited July 2024 in Peripherals & Station Integration
Hi there, I am trying to connect my 6600m to my SPE 2K. Using the USB FTDI to serial DB9, I made my second cable with RX TX GRN connection to DB15 connector on back of SPE (CAT 1 as I am connecting the flex under Input 1).

I could set the HI/MID/LOW power limitation as per SPE 2k manual and I see on my Flex the power is well set and changing for each band/power level, this whenever I change band or Power level on SPE 2k. I can't set 100% manually on SmartSDR due to config it limits to the max set power on the SPE (which is correct), by using the arrow on the SPE 2K I can fine tune the limit.

BUT whenever I change band on my Flex 6600M, the SPE does not follow (only once I start transmitting as it has an integrated circuit to detect the band). I think it should follow automatically, without waiting for me to transmit....

I set SPE CAT interface to FLEX 9600Baud as on the USB CAT cable parameters
Data bits = 8
Parity = None
Stope bits = 1
Flow control = None

What am I doing wrong?
Thank you.

Best Answer

  • N5NHJ
    N5NHJ Member ✭✭✭
    Answer ✓

    Your schema is right and the FDTI is standard. Looks like you have one channel (RX or TX) on (hopefully) the FTDI that is not working.

    "Note that if I am using below wiring scheme… the band change does NOT WORK, SPE does not follow my band change, BUT I can set the Power Level and they keep in 'memory' for each band/power level." SPE is transmitting, Radio is receiving fine; Radio transmits but nothing is received.

    "If I invert orange and yellow wire, the SPE follow the FLEX band changes, BUT the Power Level can't be adjusted." Doesn't make sense, if you connect RX and RX, TX and TX nothing should work.

    • Double check the soldering on the SPE DB15, make sure there is not a sort of shortcut on the TX or RX pins.
    • In the USB Cable Advanced configuration, under flow control, check different options.

Answers

  • KD0RC
    KD0RC Member, Super Elmer Moderator

    Here is how I have mine set up for my KPA 500 amp:

    image.png

    Do you have the cable type set to CAT? On the radio side of your interface cable, do you have RTS tied to CTS? I am not sure if this is necessary for the Flex radios.

    From The SPE 2K manual:

    image.png

    You might want to verify that your RX232 and TX232 lines are not swapped. It is very easy to do because one side's TX is the other side's RX.

  • N5NHJ
    N5NHJ Member ✭✭✭

    Looks like the SPE can communicate with the radio (Setting power) but the radio doesn't communicate with the SPE (band change not following). Double check the wiring. Configuration should be OK. 73, Max

  • KD0RC
    KD0RC Member, Super Elmer Moderator

    More from the SPE manual:

    image.png

    Make sure that FLEX-RADIO is selected as the CAT interface. If you already have this, you might want to try a baud rate of 115200. The manual references the CAT CONNECTIONS chapter, but I did not find it. Somewhere else it references 115200 as a baud rate, so maybe that is the default for this amp. Not really sure that is it, but lacking a way to test it, maybe you can give it a try.

  • HB2U
    HB2U Member ✭✭
    edited July 2024
    Thanks! TX and RX were inverted... now SPE is following Flexradio band change.... but the Power setting is not working anymore....

    Should I jump CTS and RTS on Flexradio side? Which PIN are those?
  • N5NHJ
    N5NHJ Member ✭✭✭

    on a DB9, 7 and 8

    All you have to learn about serial connector pinouts (virtual-serial-port.org)

  • HB2U
    HB2U Member ✭✭
    edited July 2024

    ell thank you for your help, but it does not work for me….

    I have a USB FTDI cable without DB9 connector, but loose wires. Based on below standard color code CTS and RGS are the brown and green. I shorten them but then power does not adjust anymore.

    Note that if I am using below wiring scheme… the band change does NOT WORK, SPE does not follow my band change, BUT I can set the Power Level and they keep in 'memory' for each band/power level.

    If I invert orange and yellow wire, the SPE follow the FLEX band changes, BUT the Power Level can't be adjusted.

    Maybe my USB FTDI cable is not standard???

    USB FTDI FLex 6600M to SPE 2K.png
  • HB2U
    HB2U Member ✭✭
    FLEX CAT USB CABLE.png

    Above is my Flex Setting matching the SPE set to CAT FLEX at 9600bauds

  • HB2U
    HB2U Member ✭✭

    Thanks i changed the FTDI USB cabke to another spare and it worked straight ahead. I guess the other FTDI chip/cable has a defect

    73s

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