Multi-radio serial / parallel port interface
Asterisk parallel port interface
Motorola Radius Maxtrac GM300 Programmer
Kenwood KPG-4 Compatible Programmer
Alinco DJ-G29t programmer ERW-7 ERW-4C compatible (also mobiles such as DR-735)
Icom CI-v interface
EF Johnson 8615/8640/8655 interface
Twin MAX232 interface box
Icom 706 HF amplifier keying circuit
Yaesu VX5r programming interface
Two Transistor Level Converter
LVB Tracker / Kansas City Tracker interface
Click on picture to enlarge image.
All of these radio programming cables use a level converter circuit, RS232 to/from TTL. The level converter
can be as simple as two transistors, or to be fully RS232 compliant, a Maxim MAX232 chip. In fact, a MAX232 has two such circuits on a single
chip!
This page has information on my shack projects. See the
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Click on a link below to jump directly to a schematic.
Note: Some schematics are shown on different pages from this website.
New simple interface for Allstar
Designed for use with the
ARIusb fob
Also included are two NPN transistors which are connected to the ARIusb fob GPIO outputs 1 and 4. The GPIO outputs on the CM119 chip used in the ARIusb
are only capable of sinking 8 mA, not enough for anything useful by itself. Instead, we are using the ARIusb fob GPIO
output to key our transistor, which can sink up to 200 mA! The solid-state relays I have require between 13-20 mA at 12 VDC.
I designed one of the outputs with a 3 foot long wire lead to connect to a solid-state relay, while the other output connects to the Motorola 16-pin
connector. In my case, the solid-state relay controls a DC cooling fan for my radio, while the other output connects directly to the Motorola 16 pin
accessory connector. There are many things that the radio can be programmed to do when this pin is active, but I currently have the Motorola radio set
up to inhibit transmitted PL tone. The idea here is to turn off transmitted PL tone only when my node is identifying.
This interface can be constructed for about $10, and will noticeably improve the audio on your Allstar node, both in transmit and receive. For the
audio lines, I recommend using shielded wire. I like to use old PC monitor cables for this purpose, they are available and usually free! One monitor
cable typically has 3 shielded wires, up to 6 feet in length and about 6 stranded wires, and sometimes features ferrite cores that can be used for
other purposes.
The Radio Shack transformers are unobtainium now, so I put together a full schematic soon along with the part list I used.
Kenwood TK760/TK762/TK860/TK862 Programmer
Click on picture to enlarge image.
Icom CI-v interface
Click on picture to enlarge image.
EF Johnson 8615/8640/8655 programmer
Click on picture to enlarge image.
For the EF Johnson radio programming cable, I used a standard CAT5 cable with RJ45 connector on one end, and a 1/8" (3.5mm) stereo connector on the other end. The RJ45 connector must be ground down to fit the socket on the EF Johnson radios. I start with a bench grinder and finish with a file.
After purchasing my Alinco DJ-G29t, I was amazed to find out that Alinco expects you to buy not one, but TWO cables in order to program the radio! Combined, the cables cost nearly $100!
You can build your own ERW-7 ERW-4C compatible cable for next to nothing with items you probably have laying around. If you do not have access to a MAX232 chip, use the two NPN transistor plan (also on this page). Besides the level converter, a steering diode is used, so that TxD and RxD can occupy the same pin.
Note that on Alinco mobile radios (such as the DR-735) that also use the ERW-7, the center pin of a 3-terminal 3.5mm plug is used, rather than a 4-terminal plug.
Electrically, this cable is the same as the Yaesu VX5r, but a standard 4 pin 3.5mm connector does not fully insert into the Alinco.
I solved this problem by using the 4 terminal plug from an old set of Ipod earbuds. Lightly burn off the enamel coating from the wires before soldering.
Also, note that you will have to remove the heat shrink from the Ipod cord and insert the plug quite far into the radio to reach the contacts (due to the recessed design of the speaker/mic jack).
Twin MAX232 Interface box
Click on picture to enlarge image.
I built this MAX232 interface box in 2012 to replace a single MAX232 box built in 2002. I wanted to try using Ham Radio Deluxe as my satellite tracking/tuning software, and it would not operate more than one radio per RS232 port! The Icom CI-v protocol allows for up to 4 radios to share a single interface, but Ham Radio Deluxe does not support this.
This unit acts as two RS232 to TTL/CMOS level converters. Many devices such as radios use serial data communication, but do not use RS232 levels (-12v / +12v). These devices instead use TTL/CMOS levels (0v / +5v).
This unit has two DB9 ports, and two 3.5mm jacks. Each circuit is identical, but completely separate. This box is essentially the same as two of the expensive Icom CT-17 boxes, although this can do even more!
Since level converters are widely used to program radios and interface equipment, I use mine for a variety of tasks in the shack. Instead of building a new MAX232 circuit for each type of radio I wanted to interface, I built one interface box, and would build a simple cable from the interface to each radio.
While cables are available for purchase from the radio manufacturers or aftermarket, I'd much rather be able to make my own cables.
The interface features two 3 terminal (stereo) 1/8" (3.5mm) jacks for TxD, RxD and Ground. The 1/8" jacks are wired as such:
Circuit A: Tip = RxD (Max232 pin 9)
Circuit B: Tip = RxD (Max232 pin 12)
I chose this pinout so that a simple 1/8" (3.5mm) mono/stereo adapter could be used for Icom CI-v. This combines
RxD and TxD on the tip of the mono plug, and ground on the ring of the plug. A simple 1/8" mono plug can then be used from the
interface to the radio(s).
I also decided to power my unit independent of the PC and radio. I included a 5 volt regulator on the PCB and installed a power
connector on my project box. This will allow operation with all PCs and radios. A 9 volt wall wart from a discarded cordless
telephone powers the unit. For mobile/portable use, a simple 9-volt battery would suffice, or I could use vehicle power instead.
Middle = TxD (Max232 pin 10)
Ring = Ground
Middle = TxD (Max232 pin 11)
Ring = Ground
LVB Tracker / Kansas City Tracker interface
I built this interface originally for my Kansas City Tracker board. I have since added a LVB Tracker box to my station. This interface takes
much of the load off the tracker box, and also adds 4 directional LEDs in a diamond pattern, so it is easy to see when the computer is steering
the antennas.
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