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F 6700-USB cable

Mr Radio
Mr Radio Member ✭✭✭
in Peripherals & Station Integration

I work on interfacing my F 6700 with SPE amplifier using Flex USB port. In SSDR I opened USB cables window, plugged in a quality USB to RS 232 cable with but nothing appears in it. Have tried two cables with the same result, one of them is a MOXA USB to RS232 converter, I also tried a MOXA hub.

Need you advice.

Tom

Answers

  • KD0RC
    KD0RC Member, Super Elmer Moderator

    Hi Tom, the USB cable needs to be a genuine FTDI cable.

  • Mr Radio
    Mr Radio Member ✭✭✭

    Thanks for your comment, OM Len. All cables I tested work with other applications but not with my Flex.

    I have tested my another cable from my Elecraft KX3 and this one works. I made an adapter to its audio plug, connected a DB 15 connector and my SPE amp works fine.

    One more question: In SSDR I can not increase RF power to more than 2 W. I can move RF slider but it instantly goes back. This power output gives me about 130W out on power MID range on SPE.

    Is it a way of going slightly more with RF out on Flex? What sets the limit on 2 W RF output?

    Tom

  • KD0RC
    KD0RC Member, Super Elmer Moderator

    Hi Tom, make sure that Max Power is turned up:

    image.png
  • Bill AB7AA
    Bill AB7AA Member ✭✭✭

    Mr Radio,

    I have successfully interfaced my SPE 2K-FA to my 6700 by plugging the USB cable straight from the 6700 to the amp with no RS-232 adapter. You heard me correct. You'll have to look in windows device manager to find the serial port assigned to that USB port and then use the flow through feature of SmartSDR and SmartSDR CAT.

    You'll also have to use SPE's Term_2K_232 program and NOT the Term_2K_USB version that would normally be used with the USB cable. A USB hub will be required to provide enough ports for all of the requirements because you'll also need a custom USB cable for frequency control of each VFO (KC5PCB2 makes them) for fully automatic control (2 cables for SO2R).

    This setup works well with Smartlink over the internet and does NOT need a local computer attached directly to the AMP! It does require a computer at the user end to run both SmartSDR and the SPE app. This is just a quick overview of the setup and I'm working on a more complete set of instructions

    I have been using this setup for months and in many ways like it better than my PGXL. It is a more complicated arrangement but is totally immune to Lan issues that connect the Flex, PGXL, TGXL, AG. All of its corresponding components are internal to the SPE amp.

    More detailed instructions whenever I get the time to put it together.

    73,

    Bill AB7AA

  • Mr Radio
    Mr Radio Member ✭✭✭

    I do appreciate your interest and responses, OM Bill and OM Len.

    My SPE is a 1.5 model ad does have an USB. I prepare my setup to use it as my PG will be undergoing repairs in Austin.

    I checked max power in TX settings and is 100% interestingly it remains 100% even if I change it to a lower value and open TX window again.

  • Mr Radio
    Mr Radio Member ✭✭✭

    An update:

    In SPE I changed CAT to Kenwood and SPE also follows Flex. Moreover, in SSDR I can adjust RF power to any level.

    Thanks for assistance OMs

    Tom

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