OM3RKP

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Yaesu CAT cable (Constructions)

Yaesu CAT cable If you would like to use a benefits that offers computer controlled RIG you need to use a CAT interface between PC and RIG. I have build few simple CAT cable for me and my friends for Yaesu FT-857.

The CAT cable is based on IC MAX232. It’s real simple circuit, works fine, but be careful – wrong voltages on RxD and TxD might damage the CPU in transceiver.

Schematic circuit shows the simplicity of MAX232 – it’s a voltage converter between RS232 (serial COM port) and transceiver bus. I did not find in radio shack an SMD version of IC. From that reason I can’t built it in the Canon 9-pin plastic cover, it’s too big to fit inside. I have used a 25-pin plastic cover with 9-pin Canon connector that is fitted into the metal plate sized as bigger connector.

PCB dimensions are 20 x 30mm. It’s a small one sided PCB drawed by hand.

MINIDIN 8-pin

Because female 8-pin MINIDIN connector in FT-857 is bellow the coller is getting hard to put in the male MINIDIN connector. I am using only a connector body with plastic package that is keeped with few turns of electric tape.

CAT cable is working fine. For a connect switch the radio to 38400 Bd (or lower) in MENU-SET #19 and CAT-MODE in MENU-SET #20. My laptop doesn’t have a COM port, so I am using USB to COM interface which is connected to described cable.