FTDX-101D AND PGXL

Larry _ NY8T · August 2021

Asking for a friend how to setup the CAT connection for band changes.

Straight thru RS232 cable between PGXL and 101D

TX PTT Cable

ALC cable

Setup in PGXL app for yaesu FTDX 3000, 5000, 9000

Is there a specific baud rate needed, tried 4800 on both amp and radio also tried 38400 baud on both amp and radio.

Whats the secret, it will work with RF Detect but can't get CAT working.

Larry NY8T

ChrisNia · March 8

I requested guidance - via help desk; for the integration of an existing FTDX101 and PGXL and TGXL with a new 8400 ATU; what I received was a cut and paste explanation of the virtues over a 8000 series SDR vs FTDX101. Literally paragraphs explaining the simplicity of the integration of flex products. There was little explanation regarding technical details of integration with NON flex transceivers. I have come to the conclusion that technically proficient support staff will not routinely review these forums. We are left to forage for ourselves. I am actually very cool with that. If Flex has staff bloat , the product value decreases and the price increases. You either make quality products at fair prices with minimal support staff or create a bloated organization filled with powerpoint presentations from managers that do nothing and manipulate data to put their uselessness in a good light.

Back to the point. As an example of lack of "ownership" of a tech support platform; I have yet to see a comprehensive and well maintained database of the various common permutations of flex equipment with common non-flex gear. I am sure the originator of this thread and I are not the first persons (nor the last) to have this integration issue.

David Decoons, wo2x · March 9

Hi Chris,

I am in Presale Support and recently handled a support case for a 101MP and Tuner Genius integration. I did not handle your support ticket.

For the Power Genius you have two options to have band changing of the amp follow the radio. You can use CAT from the radio to the PG XL or band data.

Band data connects with a custom 5 wire cable from the DB 15 linear jack on the 101D to Band data A on the PG XL. References to both the Yaesu manual and Power Benius manual for Pinots or respective connectors.

A better way is to use the radio’s CAT out and the advantage of CAT is on SSB and AM the amp will be biased at 4 amps while single tone modes such as CW and DIGIU will be biased at 2 amps when MEffA is enabled. This allows the amp to run more efficiently, with less waste heat and the fans on the amp will not ramp up as quick.

Note - if you want to use CAT with other hardware and software you will need a method of sharing the CAT out from the radio. One option is to use the program Win4Yaesu and connect CAT from the amp to the PC then set up Win4Yaesu to share that to both virtual com ports (for logging and digital software) and a ISB to serial cable with a DB-9 female to female null modem adapter from PC to the PG XL CAT A port. If you need support on Win4Yaesu, the author can provide that.

You will need the keying line out of the 101D to PTT A In. (RCA male plug at amp).

In the radio menu, set CW QSK Delay to 30 ms. This affects all modes, including SSB. This is the delay from either CW key down or PTT to when RF is generated.

In the PG XL set CAT to enable and choose Yaesu2. Set Baud rate to match radio baud rate and use 8,n1.

73

Dave De **** wo2x

Presale Support

vk2on · September 10

G'day Dave

I have a PGXL and FTDX101. I am using the CAT option, RS232 out of radio to the serial in on the PGXL. When the radio is switched to SSB, the radio bias turns green and reads AAB. It will NOT go to AB when I switch the radio to either CW or DATA. I know the amp is capable of it because it switches the bias fine with my IC7600 across a CI-V connection. Change modes and the bias changes as you describe.

Do you have any thoughts on what I am missing with the 101-PGXL connection?

Regards
Aaron
VK2ON

Mike_VA3SP · October 1

Aaron, the FTDX101(D or MP) and the FTDX10 will not work correctly with the PGXL CAT. The PGXL doesn't recognize the mode changes sent to it by these radios and so does not set the bias correctly. The PGXL will respond to an SSB mode change but once in this mode, it will not change the bias for other modes. Otherwise the CAT works correctly.

Dave WO2X assisted me with confirmation testing of this problem and confirm my findings in July. 4O3A has been advised of this bug in FW version 3.8.9. I am eagerly waiting for a correction.

Also, if you try to drive the Antenna Genius and the PGXL using the FTDX101 BCD output (parallel wiring). This will not work either. The low state current for the AG is about double that of the PGXL and the sum exceeds the ability of the FTDX101 to sink. If the current was the same for both devices, the FTDX101 would work ok. The FTDX10 however, works fine. The schematics for the two radios reveals the why.

73, Mike

David Decoons, wo2x · October 2

I would suggest checking with Yaesu support. The 101D is not sending the standard CW CAT mode command but rather CWL or CWU. Yaesu should fix this.

David Decoons, wo2x · October 2

Here’s a link to 101 CAT reference manual. The radio is sending 07 for CW instead of 03. Standard MD; should return MD03;

Again, contact Yaesu.

73

Dave wo2x

Mike_VA3SP · October 2

Yaesu CAT protocol does differentiate between CW-U (MD03) and CW-L (MD07). But this is the same as Elecraft CAT protocol. The only difference is Elecraft doesn't send the "0" in the strings.

The Elecraft CAT protocol is able to correctly change the mode and hence bias on the PGXL. Toggle between any modes, works correctly.

The Yaesu CAT protocol is not handled correctly by the PGXL in that once the amp is in AAB mode, it will not change back to AB mode. This IS a PGXL bug.

If the radio/amp is started in AB bias and CW(U/L), DATA-U, RTTY-L, it remains in AB bias when the mode is changed. But change to SSB and the bias changes to AAB and will not change back to AB.

If you send the PGXL the CW-U mode command, which as you think is the standard CW mode (MD03) then change to SSB. Try to change back using MD03. It doesn't work. And try this with any other mode, too. Once the PGXL is in AAB bias, it cannot be commanded back to AB bias.

FTDX-101D AND PGXL

Comments

Leave a Comment

Categories